Experiments on Urban Grounds

Urban transitions can only be addressed by imagining cities by their grounds. But how can we share such rooted knowledge across borders? To mark the premiere of the documentary film Experiments on Urban Grounds, filmed between Paris and Vilnius, urbanists from France and Lithuania are invited to share their experiments with, and experiences of, the terrestrial. Between metropoles and their hinterlands, how can we work with the natural resources of urban rivers, create bioregional public spaces, or repair the links between city and agricultural lands?

The documentary (Laurynas Skeisgiela, 20 min) follows three young Lithuanian architects and urbanists who participated in the Experiments' Platform, and their research developed through a Experiments’ Exchange residency between France and Lithuania. Their questions, brought up by the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, brings them to explore the margins of Grand Paris – from the Bièvre river to the Gonesse Triangle, passing by the commons of the city centre. Returning to Vilnius, they developed speculative design projects that propose alternatives for terrestrial urbanism. Responding to these propositions, Sigita Simona PapIauskaite (landscape architect), Johanna Musch (Umarell Collective / LINA Fellow 2023) and Théo Mouzard (Collectif Etc) will speak about their experience with the terrestrial, in a discussion chaired by Océane Ragoucy (architect-curator / LINA Fellow 2023). The discussion will be followed by informal discussions and a presentation of research posters in the bar, with Marta Dorotėja Lekavičiūtė, Simona Gaigalaitė and Edgar Vladimirenko, urbanists and participants in the residence.

Event organised by Theatrum Mundi (UK/FR) and Architektūros fondas (LT) in the context of the Season of Lithuania in France 2024 / LINA European Architecture Programme. Resulting from the residency Experiments Exchange organised by John Bingham-Hall and Daniel Mebarek (Theatrum Mundi), with Martynas Germanavičius and Vilius Vaitiekūnas (Architektūros fondas), financed by the Season of Lithuania in France and the LINA Platform.