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Architecture as a Tool for Power
September 3 | 14:00
Join Machine Agencies for a conversation featuring Dr. Jacek Złoczowski and Dr. Małgorzata Łuczyna from the Institute of Art and Design at the University of the National Education Commission, Krakow.
They will present unLoc, an international research project redefining the dissonant heritage of post-socialist architecture of power in former Eastern Bloc countries, and discuss how relations of power are manifested in urban and architectural design.
They will share reflections on the project’s interdisciplinary research process, including the use of art, design, image generation, and LLM models in research methodology, combined with fieldwork and social context.
About unLoc:
The project examines how power relations are reflected in the Socialist-period architecture of the former Eastern Bloc countries. Using new technologies, we aim to reshape perceptions of this dissonant architectural heritage.
Drawing from historical and social inspirations, AI, art, design and computer programming, we develop alternative visions of urban space. The project situates itself within the broader context of architectural history and urban planning, and examines how social control and conflict manifest in public spaces.
Our objective is to spark dialogue between urban spaces and their residents, providing tools to better understand resident needs and fostering sustainable urban planning practices.
About Machine Agencies:
Machine Agencies is an experiment between human and machine intelligences. Our research group encourages cooperation and play, resisting the antagonism of more instrumental approaches of AI. We engage with posthumanism, experience design, and public policy to find new formats, methods, and commons to sustain just, fair, and better worlds.
https://machineagencies.milieux.ca
📅 September 3, 2026
⏱️ 2 PM
📍Milieux Resource Room EV 11.705