We opted for an artistic process in terms of form and content so that all participants could contribute on an equal footing. The first part of the workshop was a staged editorial meeting in which the participants first developed program points for the workshop and then discussed their placement in the program in a large group. It was not important whether they would implement the offers themselves in the future or whether they had anything to do with their organization, but rather which program would actually be desirable and which target groups it would be aimed at. Once the content of the program had been finalized and the uses for the future premises had been clarified, the next day was all about the spatial requirements. This involved researching and describing a structural and atmospheric spatial constellation. There were various attributes, such as loud, quiet, light, dark, energetic, concentrated, balanced or sociable, to which we assigned a color or pattern and printed on transparent film. These transparencies then had to be used to create a collage for each room and presented to the group on overhead projectors. We wouldn’t have thought it ourselves, but rarely have you seen so many adults in one room having so much fun with zigzag scissors and saying such magical sentences as “Can I have a look at the light?” or “Is there still a bit of quiet up ahead?”. The results were artistic yet insightful graphics that didn’t require any acting talent.

Following the workshop, we edited the results into an actual program booklet that could be sent to the architectural firms participating in the competition as a basic spatial program.