Stockholm, Sweden – 18 October 2025
Crafting Equity: A Norm-Critical Woodworking Workshop Inspired by Enzo Mari as part of the GENS Public Programme at the Biennale Architettura 2025
Hosted by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, this hands-on workshop, part of GENS Public Programme of the Biennale Architettura 2025, explored norm-critical and inclusive design through practical woodwork and aesthetic reflection, fostering new approaches to equity in public spaces.
The workshop draws inspiration from the pioneering Swedish artist Finn Ahlgren’s concept of “raw carpentry,” itself rooted in Enzo Mari’s influential manual Autoprogettazione. Participants engaged in co-creating simple wooden constructions using reclaimed scrap materials such as pieces of wood, popsicle sticks and wire. This haptic approach encourages aesthetic reflection on emotions and thoughts related to equity and inclusion, while collaboratively building a miniature collective artwork.
The event began with an introductory panel discussing the philosophy and methods behind “raw carpentry” and how these practices integrate design and artistic research. Speakers also highlighted examples from ongoing projects, including the Horizon Europe-funded Interaction Seeds initiative (https://www.interactionseeds.eu/), which merges interdisciplinary research with creative design and art.
“This workshop offered a unique opportunity to bridge theory and practice by working with materials in a way that sparks critical conversations about norms and inclusion in public spaces,” explains Alina Ostling, RISE researcher and co-facilitator. Elsa Vaara, also from RISE, adds, “Our goal is to empower participants to rethink design processes through aesthetic engagement, inclusive and participatory methods.
Event Details:
Title: Crafting Equity: A Norm-Critical Woodworking Workshop Inspired by Enzo Mari
Date: 7 October 2025
Location: Speakers’ Corner, Corderie dell’Arsenale, Venice, Italy
Speakers: Alina Ostling and Elsa Vaara, RISE Research Institutes of SwedenFor more information about the workshop visit: https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2025/gens-public-programme
