Reparation is more than remedying losses it requires attending to past patterns, present impacts, and future potential." She explains, “As these proposals show, the scope for an architecture of reparations is as large as the imagination and as varied as a community is, and needs. Part of our exhibition for the Biennial included a large book, bound with a hanging clamp (something common on a construction site or to hold drawings for use, rather than the binding that you might find in a bookstore) and Michelle Wilkinson, curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, very generously agreed to introduce the collection of proposals. Some submissions consist of beautifully written reflections and essays, some outline the benefits of implementing very specific heating and cooling strategies, some create provocative spatial conditions through drawing, and others take the opportunity to connect what has happened in Bronzeville to communities outside of Chicago. We received such a wide range of submissions - it has been incredible to see so many different approaches. How do these various perspectives inform your research? Can you speak to how you plan to engage or integrate these ideas further into your research? Submissions were made by architects, emerging practitioners, artists, some students, and even a physicist. Presented together in Architecture of Reparations with a series of collages and historical materials is the request for proposals (RFP) that invited designers to share ideas for restorative housing in Bronzeville. There is so much life and activity in the neighborhood and the large areas of empty land don’t match the energy of the place. I started digging into the history of displacement because I wanted to understand the condition of vacant lots in between occupied row houses. I moved to Bronzeville in 2016 - I had heard stories of the cultural significance of the neighborhood from my relatives and I had spent years weaving in and out of it as a kid. Isabel, as a Chicago native, what influenced your decision to focus on the history of displacement in Bronzeville as opposed to other neighborhoods in Chicago? Can you explain how you introduce the neighborhood to those that are not familiar with Chicago? “Riffing” involves improvisation or experimentation within an established structure and we think the idea of riffing is reflected in the way we iterate and talk to one another. The name comes from the fact that we are each bringing different interests and perspectives to the table, and we would like to embrace this during the design process rather than suppress it. We formed Riff Studio shortly after the third and final thesis project, Architecture of Reparations. We started working together informally in 2017 by supporting one another on our individual thesis projects in graduate school. Can you tell us about how you formed your group and what inspired the name Riff Studio? Riff Studio is a newly formed collective. Rekha Auguste-Nelson, Isabel Strauss, and Farnoosh Rafaie Thus the circle closes again and new is connected with old - rich in tradition.Architecture of Reparations : Interview with Riff Studio Original bricks from the old building have been carefully restored and reinstalled in the store - an architectural heritage and special highlight of the Razny boutique. Along the branded boutiques, the customer moves slowly from the jewelry to the watch area. Razny's in-house jewelry pieces are prominently displayed. The Bridal Corner shines in bright colors. The different areas are visually highlighted. The focal point and first point of contact is the oval counter, which allows customers to move freely and gently guides them through the store. The result is an inviting layout that gives customers an overview of the entire range of products and welcomes them as soon as they enter. Our partner company Obrist interior AG was responsible for production and installation. For the traditional family business Razny Jewelers in Chicago, Studio Tonic was allowed to design, plan and execute the entire remodeling and expansion of the boutique in Chicago.
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