This simple farm house and attached barn, Casetta Santa Maria,  has an open view of the rolling hills of Southern Tuscany. The two-story house is flanked by a spacious barn on one side, and a small ruin on the other. While adhering to the strict planning laws of Tuscany, the barn is converted into ateliers, the ruin into a bathroom. (2022-2023)

The abandoned land and 100 olive trees are in the process of being revitalised.

The roof of the barn needed to be entirely rebuilt, the foundation of the house reinforced, the rainwater system entirely redone. Traditional tuscan roof and fascia with reclaimed, antique roof tiles are used to connect to the surroundings. Local and traditional building materials, such as tuff stone, travertine floor tiles, wood and terracotta are used.

This simple farm house, Casetta Santa Maria, is located in Southern Tuscany. The two-story house had only a small toilet and shower, which was only accessible from within a bedroom on the upper floor.

While adhering to the strict planning laws of Tuscany, a small ruin at the entrance to the house is converted into the main bathroom.

The form of the ruin needed to be exactly retained. Now a large opening is a door that creates an indoor/outdoor shower and is an exterior bathroom entrance for summer guests. An interior connection is established, off of the kitchen.

Traditional tuscan roof and fascia with antique, salvaged roof tiles connect with the surroundings. The interior is from local travertine, partly custom chosen and cut.

Curated Selection of Public Lectures & Workshops

(Organized by Theme)

---

Ecology, Soil & Spatial Transformation

Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic — 2024
Permaculture in Architectural Design: Symbiotic Relationships
Evening Public Lecture

Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic — 2023
Nature, Garden and Architecture: Relationships
Lecture in Architecture Theory

Online Lectures (2020–2022)
Permaculture, ecological systems, and urban design
TU Braunschweig · USF Florida · University of Michigan · Brno University of Technology

---

Future Urban Housing & Participatory Development

Sydney Architecture Festival (World Architecture Day Oration) — 2017
From Profit-driven to People-led Housing for Sydney
Keynote invited by the NSW Government Architect’s Office
3-day festival: lecture, expert workshops, discussions, excursions

ETH Zurich · Affordable Housing Forum — 2017
Presentation of new research from Vienna & Berlin
(CoTA Summer Research Grant)

IBA Stuttgart 2030 — 2017
Keynote: The Self-Made City – Urban Living and Alternative Development Models
Panel moderation & summarizing commentary (2-day event)

FutureBuilt International Conference, Oslo — 2016
Keynote: From Self Made City to Strategies for Future Urban Living
Expert workshops & discussions (3 days)

Ars Electronica Festival, Linz — 2015
Keynote: POST CITY: Habitats for the 21st Century
Panel with Geeta Mehta & Carlo Ratti

Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM), Frankfurt — 2015
Keynote for the exhibition Building and Living in Communities
Publication release

TU Delft “Draw the Line” Conference — 2015
Keynote & workshop with experts and students

MADRID · CAOM Architecture Center — 2015
Opening Statement & Public Events for the URBAN LIVING Exhibition

University of South Florida, Tampa — 2015
Lecture & student reviews

---

The Self-Made City: Alternative Urban Development Models

TEDxBerlin, ICC Berlin — 2013
City 2.0 – The Self-Made City
Public Talk

Royal College of Art, London — 2014
Lecture & workshop
Part of the Self-Made City Comes to London series

International Architecture Biennale, Venice — 2014
Official Contributor to the 14th Biennale
Public lecture at the WEEKEND SPECIAL Conference

Grand Designs Live, London — 2014
Lecture in the Grand Theatre
Invited by Grand Designs Live (British TV)

AIR Architecture Institute Rotterdam — 2013
Public keynote & experts’ workshop (2-day event)

DO IT YOURSELF CITY Symposium, Zeche Zollverein Essen — 2013
Keynote lecture & discussion moderation (2 days)

City Acupuncture Festival, Wroclaw — 2013
Keynote & expert discussions

---

Urban Planning, Policy & Public Debate

Berlin Senate · “Living in Berlin” Conferences — 2013
Keynote presentations (I & III):
Self-Made City: Qualities and Potentials for Future Urban Development

Graz, Austria — 2013
Keynote & World Café moderation
Public dialogue with policymakers and community stakeholders

Federal Foundation of Baukultur, Berlin — 2014–2015
Respondent at Baukultur Werkstatt events:
Planning Culture, Mixed Urban Quarters

ECKWERK Public Presentation, Berlin — 2015
Moderation of the public and political pre-design presentation
(Graft, Kleihues, Eckwerk e.G.)

Make City Festival, Berlin — 2018
Panel Moderations

---

Exhibitions & Research-Based Programs

University of Western Australia — Visiting Fellowship — 2016
6-week residency, Dean’s Annual Lecture (400+ audience)
Exhibition SELF MADE CITY at Cullity Gallery

DAZ German Architecture Center, Berlin — 2015
Curator & Designer of the URBAN LIVING Exhibition (10 weeks)
Multi-event program for the Make City Festival
Lectures, panel discussions, and workshops

CAOM Architecture Center, Madrid — 2015
URBAN LIVING Exhibition: Opening Statement, lecture, interviews

Full Chronological Archive of Public Lectures & Workshops

Click to expand full list

---

2024

• Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic – 09.2024
  Permaculture in Architectural Design: Symbiotic Relationships
  Evening Public Lecture

---

2023

• Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic – 11.2023
  Nature, Garden and Architecture: Relationships
  Evening Lecture in Architecture Theory

---

2022 / 2021 / 2020

• Online Lectures (various universities)
  TU Braunschweig, USF Florida, University of Michigan, Brno University of Technology
  Topics: Permaculture, ecological systems, urban design

• Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic – 09.2021
  Future Urban Housing Models
  3-day workshop & lecture with students

---

2019

• Warsaw, Poland – 04.2019
  Keynote Lecture at the Architects Association
  Topic: Future Urban Housing Models

---

2018

• Berlin, Germany – 07.2018
  Make City Festival – Panel Moderation

---

2017

• Sydney Architecture Festival, Australia – 02.10.2017
  Keynote: From Profit-driven to People-led Housing for Sydney
  3-day festival including workshops & excursions

• Warsaw, Poland – 29.06.–03.07.2017
  ETH Zurich Symposium: Wohnforum / Affordable Housing Forum
  Presentation of CoTA research “The SELF MADE CITY”

• Berlin, Germany – 29.06.2017
  Keynote: 10 Years Impact of the Baugruppe in Berlin
  NBBA Network Berliner Baugruppen Architects Conference

• FH Kärnten, Austria – 30.05.2017
  Keynote: SELF MADE CITY – Future Urban Living (livestream to TU Vienna)

• Berlin, Germany – 29.05.2017
  Keynote & walking tour with CIEE students (Marymount College, DC)

• Stuttgart, Germany – 02.02.2017
  IBA Stuttgart 2030 Pre-planning
  Keynote, Panel Moderation, Discussion Commentary (2-day event)

• Brussels, Belgium – 26.01.2017
  Keynote & debate at Atelier Bowmeister: Visionary Housing

---

2016

• Perth, Australia – 08.2016 (6 weeks)
  Visiting Fellowship, University of Western Australia
  Dean’s Annual Lecture (400+ audience)
  Exhibition: SELF MADE CITY

• Oslo, Norway – 08.06.–11.06.2016
  Keynote: From Self Made City to Strategies for Future Urban Living
  Workshop with housing & urban planning experts

• Amsterdam, Netherlands – 21.04.2016
  Keynote: The SELF MADE CITY – Urban Living and Alternative Development Models
  Discussion & festival events (3-day event)

---

2015

• Sydney, Australia – 07.12.2015
  Keynote (online) at the 6th Annual Housing Affordability Summit

• Stuttgart, Germany – 30.11.2015
  Lecture: From Self Made City to Strategies for Future Urban Living
  Haus der Architekten

• Delft, Netherlands – 15.10.2015
  Keynote & workshop at TU Delft Draw the Line Conference

• Berlin, Germany – 14.10.2015
  Moderation: ECKWERK pre-design presentation

• Berlin, Germany – 10.10.2015
  Moderation: ‘Players of Change’ International Conference

• Madrid, Spain – 01.10.–17.11.2015
  URBAN LIVING Exhibition, CAOM Architecture Center

• Sheffield, England – 12.09.2015
  Keynote: Architecture and Resilience—On a Human Scale
  Discussion with Tina Saaby, Cristina Cerulli, Irena Bauman

• Frankfurt, Germany – 10.09.2015
  Keynote: Building and Living in Communities
  Pre-opening at Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) & publication release

• Linz, Austria – 06.09.2015
  Keynote: POST CITY: Habitats for the 21st Century, Ars Electronica Festival
  Discussion with Geeta Mehta & Carlo Ratti

• Berlin, Germany – 05.2015–07.2015 (10 weeks)
  URBAN LIVING – Strategies and Housing Typologies for the Future
  Exhibition, multi-event program, Make City Festival
  Workshops, panels, discourse events

• Prague, Czech Republic – 01.02.2015
  Lecture: From Self Made City to Strategies for Future Urban Living
  Accompanying exhibition “Baugruppe is Super” (2-day event)

• Munich, Germany – 01.01.2015
  BAU International Building Fair – Keynote: From Self Made City to Strategies for Future Urban Living

• Prague, Czech Republic – 07.2015
  ReSite International Conference: Sharing City
  Lecture & moderation

• Helsinki, Finland – 04.2015
  Expert Workshop: Urban Planning & Baugruppen integration

• Katowice, Poland – 03.2015
  Lecture & Urban Planning Workshop, Urban Media Lab Conference

• Tampa, USA – 03.2015
  Lecture & student reviews, University of South Florida

• Berlin, Germany – 03.2015
  Publication Release: Urban Living with Jean-Philippe Vassal & Regula Lüscher
  CIEE – Lecture & external critic/student reviews

• Utrecht, Netherlands – 03.2015
  Expert Workshop, Avicenna Academy for Leadership (3-day event)

---

2014

• Venice Architecture Biennale – 25–26.10.2014
  Official contributor, WEEKEND SPECIAL Conference SELF MADE CITY (2-day event)

• Oslo, Norway – 10.09.2014
  Keynote, Common Grounds Conference, DogA Center (2-day event)

• Berlin, Germany – 05.09.2014
  Lecture, EXPERIMENT DAYS, DAZ German Center for Architecture

• Berlin, Germany – 01.06.2014
  Lecture for British Members of Parliament, British Embassy

• Berlin, Germany – 05.2014
  Respondent, Baukultur Werkstatt: Planning Culture, Academie of the Arts

• Berlin, Germany – 01.2014
  Respondent, Baukultur Werkstatt: Mixed Urban Quarters, Academie of the Arts

• London, England – 07–13.05.2014
  Lectures & workshops: Grand Designs Live, Royal College of Art, Self Made City Symposium, Hackney Wick Workshop, Studio Talk, Presentation to British Parliament

• Heidelberg, Germany – 04.2014
  Respondent: Heidelberger Castel Discussions

• Berlin, Germany – 30/31.01.2014
  Moderator: Ephemere City Planning, New Alternative Planning Processes, TU Berlin

---

2013

• Miami, USA – 21/23/25.11.2013
  Public lecture at AIA Center for Architecture & University of Miami workshops
  Florida Atlantic University evening lecture

• Braunschweig, Germany – 13.11.2013
  Keynote: ISU Talks: The Housing Question, Technical University of Braunschweig

• Wroclaw, Poland – 23–24.10.2013
  Keynote, City Acupuncture Festival

• Lausanne, Switzerland – 21.10.2013
  Lecture & workshop, University of Lausanne & City Planning Department

• Rotterdam, Netherlands – 16–17.10.2013
  Keynote & workshop, AIR Architecture Institute (2-day event)

• Berlin, Germany – 27.09.2013
  Keynote, AIA Committee of Design delegation (USA)

• Burgau, Germany – 26.09.2013
  Keynote & discussion, Burgauer Architecture Festival

• Graz, Austria – 17.09.2013
  Keynote & World Café moderation, community & policy engagement

• Essen, Germany – 12–13.09.2013
  Keynote & moderation, DO IT YOURSELF CITY Symposium (2-day event)

• Berlin, Germany – 06.09.2013
  TEDxBerlin: City 2.0, ICC Berlin

• Cologne, Germany – 18.08.2013
  Lecture & discussion: Learning from Berlin, SELF MADE CITY / Zürich

• Berlin, Germany – 21.05.2013
  Keynote: SELF MADE CITY, Living in Berlin III Conference

• Berlin, Germany – 04.03.2013
  Keynote: Living in Berlin I Conference

• Berlin, Germany – 15.03.2013
  IBA Workshop, Tempelhof: Presentation & discussion

• Berlin, Germany – 15.02.2013
  Symposium & Book Release: SELFMADE CITY Berlin

• Budapest, Hungary – 02.2013
  Lecture: Bottom-up Berlin, Hungarian Architecture Center (KÉK)

---

2012

• Helsinki, Finland – 09.2012
  Lecture: Selfmade City Berlin, multi-professional conference on post-war neighborhoods

• Wolfsburg, Germany – 08.2012
  Moderator, Alvar Aalto Symposium (3-day international event)

• Berlin, Germany – 05.2012
  Lecture: Selfmade City, political conference on housing policy, Friedrich Ebert Foundation

• Helsinki, Finland – 04.2012
  Lecture: Co-housing: Qualities & Potentials for Sustainable City Planning

---

2011

• Berlin, Germany – 05.2011
  Moderation & discussion with Lord Richard Rogers, Culture Forum Berlin
  Invited by Alfred Herrhausen Stiftung

---

2007

• Berlin, Germany – 05.2007
  Lecture: Co-housing alternative: 10 case studies from Berlin, DAZ German Center for Architecture

• New York, USA – 05.2007
  Lecture: Co-housing alternative: 10 case studies from Berlin
  Lecture: On Berlin – Activating Urban Voids
  Week-long program with workshops, AIA Center for Architecture

---

</details>

Kristien Ring was a UWA Institute of Advanced Studies Visiting Fellow and delivered the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts Annual Dean’s Lecture. (2016)

The exhibition ‚Self Made City‘ was shown at the Cullity Gallery, the UWA Nedlands Campus in Perth.
EVENTS and LINK

Many public and expert workshops were held on the topic of co-housing.

Urban Living seeks to discuss future forms of urban residential construction, while considering their design qualities and social influences.

How can residential building strengthen urban structures and provide new opportunities through densification? How can mono-structures be broken up and open spaces upgraded? How can architecture meet the requirements of new cohabitation forms, addressing a broader social mix or the combination of living and working? 

The exhibition and publication present exemplary designs that were generated in the Urban Living Workshop, with thirty international architecture offices, over a period of a year.

Kristien Ring, AA PROJECTS, was commissioned by the Berlin Senate for Urban Development to document the results of the workshops in the form of a publication. Additionally, an exhibition that included built projects from SELF MADE CITY, as well as accompanying discussions.

The exhibition was also shown in Madrid.  

Kristien Ring AA PROJECTS (ed.) in cooperation with the Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment, Berlin ENGLISH/GERMAN 256 Pages, 2015, Jovis, ISBN 978-3-86859-331-0.

Cities such as Berlin are faced with new architectural and urban planning challenges, not only on account of their constant growth, but also because of changing ways of life. Urban Living seeks to discuss future forms of urban living and to consider their design and social influences. How can residential building strengthen urban structures and provide new opportunities through densification? How can monostructures be broken up and open spaces be upgraded? And how can architecture meet the requirements of new forms of cohabitation, either owing to a broader social mix or to the combination of living and working? This book presents convincing concepts which show that affordable residential space can also have a high structural quality. Exemplary designs and solutions from the international Urban Living Workshop, which more than thirty international architecture offices took part in, provide excellent examples of the potential qualities of future residential construction.

Berlin is thought of as the city of Urban Pioniers, a place where everything is possible and where space can be taken over and transformed in self-initiative. Voids and unused spaces are occupied, old buildings engaged with new program. The self-determined design of space, building, living and working, be it in the form of builder collectives or co-housing, co-op’s, co-working spaces, or other project forms, has produced an architectural diversity and quality in Berlin between 2000 – 2013 that is exemplary. SELFMADE CITY presents the evolving condition in Berlin, including a survey of over 120 projects, an analysis of the qualities and potentials of these projects as well as 50 best-practice case studies. Which contributions are being made in private initiative for the development of the city and what can be achieved in the future? Which methods and strategies are generating added value? Kristien Ring, AA PROJECTS und Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt, Berlin (eds.) Softcover with flaps, 21 x 27 cm, 224 pages with num. col. JovisVerlag ISBN 978-3-86859-167-5 2013

SELFMADE CITY_download

Background:

SELFMADE CITY is an initiative of the curator Kristien Ring (AA Projects). SMC is based on the exhibition and publication project „auf.einander.bauen –BAUGRUPPEN IN DER STADT“ (Builder Collectives in the City) that Kristien Ring presented at the German Center for Architecture DAZ in 2007.

The focus of SELFMADE CITY is not only builder collectives and self-initiated living projects, but includs projects that have helped to define the spirit of the city by transforming the berliner city-scape. For Example: the Prinzessinengärtenin in Kreuzberg or the ExRotaprint-Area in Wedding.

The goal of SELFMADE CITY is to present the qualities of these projects, with particular attention given to the design. Preserving the specific potential of Berlin is at stake. The project see for the presentation of an exhibition in Berlin that is accompanied by discourse events, excursions and a prblication that will reach a wide public and, at the same time, further discussion and political decision making. Which qualities have really been materialised through the self-initiative of architects, owners, and other space pioneers? What is the subsistence of future potential concerning Berlin’s urban planning? What are future-oriented fields of work and strategies, or even requirements and conditions that are need for self-initiated spatial design with an aspiration for high quality to continue? Project partner: Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Berlin.

Article for „Future West“ and Interview with Geoffrey London, following Fellowship at the University of Western Australia.

FUTURE-WEST-DENSE-CITY-Ring

 

Ring, K. 2016. SELF MADE CITY. English, pp. 20-29, published in Future West, Australian Urbanism. Volume 2:

Desire for Density. University of Western Australia. Print and online at http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/community/futurewest

http://www.lulu.com/shop/timothy-moore/future-west-02-desire-for-density/paperback/product-

22924825.html

Online Publishing of Above article and commentary: on “The Conversation”

https://theconversation.com/reinventing-density-how-baugruppen-are-pioneering-the-self-made-city-66488