AA PROJECTS was founded by Kristien Ring in 2011. Kristien Ring is an architect working on participative creative projects in the form of architecture, permaculture (gardens), public spaces, exhibitions and discourse events. Kristien is known for her research publications and work as the founding director of the German Center for Architecture DAZ.

AA PROJECTS develops design concepts for future oriented projects in urban permaculture, neighborhood development, architecture, interiors, and installations. Our goal in each project is to promote interdisciplinary communication, community building and networking.

AA PROJECTS is engaged in the production of space in contemporary society and develops communication strategies as an integral part of our project work.

AA TEAM AA PROJECTS works, depending on the concept and size of the project, together with an individually-picked team of experts. *Team Members are listed under the “credits” of each project.

KRISTIEN RING 
(1969*) grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and has been living in Berlin since 1991. A German citizen, Ring studied both in the USA and Berlin (Dipl.Ing. Architektin, B.E.D.Arch U.S.A.) and is a registered architect and member of Architects’ Association Berlin, Germany since 1998. In addition to current design projects, Kristien currently holds an Extraordinary Professorship position at the Faculty of Architecture, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic.
Former teaching: (2015 – 2020) Professor at the University of South Florida, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design. (2016) Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of Western Australia. (2014) Visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield, England, SSoA School of Architecture. (2011 – 2012 / 2014 – 2015) Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Architecture Department, Institute for Design and Architectural Strategies, IDAS.

Author (selection):

URBAN LIVING _Strategies for the Future / Strategien für das Zukünftige Wohnen, by Kristien Ring, in collaboration with the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Planning, 264 pages, German/English, ©Jovis 2015, ISBN: 978-3-86859-331-0, and
SELFMADE CITY_ Berlin: Self-Initiated Urban Living and Architectural Interventions, by Kristien Ring, in collaboration with the Berlin Senate Department for City Planning and Environment, 224 Pages, German/English, ©Jovis 2013, ISBN 978-3-86859-167-5 (2 editions, 5000+ copies, out of print)

Kristien has presented her published work extensively at international conferences worldwide, including a TEDx talk, as well as the Venice Architecture Biennale.

(2004 -2011) founding Director of the DAZ German Center for Architecture in Berlin.

(1990’s +) Kristien worked in several international architectural offices as an architect.

Kristien Ring presented SELFMADE CITY at the TEDx Berlin conference, City 2.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNdFrd3eVSQ

urban design and living spaces created in self-initiative

Berlin is thought of as the city of Urban Pioneers, a place where everything is possible and where space can be taken over and transformed. -Voids and unused spaces waiting to be 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 (Baugruppen), co-op’s (Genossenschaften), co-working spaces or other project forms, has produced an architectural diversity and quality in Berlin over the last fifteen years that is exemplary. In the lecture „SELFMADE CITY BERLIN“ Kristien Ring will talk about the condition in Berlin, present best-practice case studies and talk about which qualities and potentials these projects have for city planning.

14th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia – contributor

SELF MADE CITY 2014 (Arsenale, Venice)

3 Workshop Sessions focus on the architectural und urban qualities of the Self-Made City, based on the best-practice examples from Berlin, Germany of the last ten years. –Which qualities, how these are essential for sustainable urban development, as well as how they can be transferred as principles to new projects in the conditions of other cities. An installation, presentations and discussions:

Saturday, 25.10.2014
Session 1: 11:00 – 13:30 “SELF MADE CITY_Berlin: PIONEERS”

PIONEERS –Typological and architectural manifestations: new solutions for the mixed and lively urban core. Flexibility, Construction, Typology, Shared Green and Open Spaces, Common Spaces, Private-Public Spaces, Cost Effectiveness, Land-Use and Financial Models, Ecological Building Solutions, Mixed-Use, Urban Interaction
SELF MADE CITY_Berlin Intorduction: (10 min.)
Kristien Ring, AAPROJECTS Studio, author of SELF MADE CITY

Best-Practice Examples From Berlin: (10 Min. each)
Julia Dahlaus, dmsw Partnership of Architects
Laura Fogarasi-Ludloff and Jens Ludloff, Ludloff+Ludloff Architects
Almut Gruentuch-Ernst, Gruentuch-Ernst Architects
Verena von Beckerath, HEIDE & VON BECKERATH Architects
Sven Froehlich and Ulrike Dix, AFF Architects
Gunnar Ring, ZOOMARCHITEKTEN
Florian Koehl, fatkoehl architects

Followed by an open discussion with questions from the audience, moderated by Kristien Ring.

Saturday, 25.10.2014
Session 2: 16:30 – 18:00 “SELF MADE CITY_International Forum”

PROGRAMS – New development models, negotiation of spaces and inclusion, affordability and the resulting impulses for the city.
International Forum_ How can our cities grow in a way that what we add brings benefits for everyone? How are alternative models working?

Impulse Talks: (10 min each)
Kristien Ring, AA PROJECTS, ‘SELF MADE CITY_International’ Introduction
Association Poveglia for All, „Post-crisis community: scandal of Poveglia“
Poveglia video (5 Min.) „L’Isola: Visual note by Francesca Balbo and Ignazio Lambertini“
Riccardo Bermani, Association About-Venice, „Creating a Community Garden in Venice“
Armina Pilav, Association for Culture and Art CRVENA – Sarajevo, „Sarajevo and Self-Made Solutions in the Context of War Emergency“
Igor Kovacevic, CCEA, Prag
Philipp Misselwitz, Urban Catalyst Studio and Chair of International Urbanism and Design Institute, TU-Berlin

Followed by an open discussion with questions from the audience, with expert: Christian Burkhard, Editor Architectuul Unfinished/ moderated by Kristien Ring and Florian Koehl.

Sunday, 26.10.2014
Session 3: 13:00 – 14:30 “SELF MADE CITY_of the FUTURE”

PROCESSES –On new processes, the expanded role of the architect and the resulting impulses for the city. What are the different organizational models and how do these affect the project and resulting architecture.
Impulse Talks: (10 min each)
Florian Koehl, Introduction
Matthew Griffin and Britta Juergens, Deadline Architects
Verena von Beckerath, HEIDE & VON BECKERATH Architects
Jan Edler, REALITIES:UNITED Studio for Art and Architecture
Martin Froehlich, AFF Architects
Nikolai von Rosen, Artist, Berlin/Zurich
Marco Clausen, Prinzessinnengarten, Berlin
Mario Husten, Juval Dieziger, Uta Mühleis, HOLZMARKT, Berlin
Followed by an open discussion with questions from the audience, moderated by Kristien Ring and Florian Koehl.