the good cause: architecture of peace canadian centre for architecture, montreal june 16th to september 4th, 2011

surroundings of new brighton, adjacent to the museum image courtesy of david southwood with permission from noero wolff architects

currently on show at the canadian centre for architecture is ‘the good cause: architecture of peace’, an exhibition that examines the evident issues of regeneration in post-war territories. at once poignant and moving, the exhibition explores the notions of materialized peace, stabilization and humanity in territories devastated by armed conflict.

conceived by NAi (rotterdam) and archis (amsterdam) in collaboration with the CCA, the exhibition looks at the production of space in wartime and peacetime, questioning the realities of reconstruction as an instrument of conflict resolution and highlighting the complexities alongside factors of success and failure. 

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture queen’s palace rehabilitated into an outdoor theatre image courtesy of aga khan trust for culture

through a series of case studies undertaken with architects and architecture students in regions scarred by long-term geopolitical tensions – including afghanistan, kosovo, south africa, rwanda, israel, and palestine – visitors become aware of both the importance and the implications of stabilization through architecture.

mirko zardini, CCA director and chief curator, says: ‘the good cause presents a selection of vital actions by architects and planners who have chosen to address the negative impacts of geopolitical struggle and armed conflict on living spaces and urban environments. these projects shed light on the importance of the mandates taken on by the architects.’

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture the facade of the pamir visitor’s centre is marked by the asymmetric window frames image courtesy of AFIR architects / anne feenstra

showcasing both completed works and works in progress, the exhibition includes projects from afghanistan, south africa, rwanda,

europe and the middle east, such as a kabul skate park built by architecture for humanity in 2007; the non-profit football for hope centre

in kigali, rwanda, by architects killian doherty and j smart; a master plan for ein hawd, a palestinian village in israel, by the foundation

for achieving seamless territory (FAST); and a work in progress launched in 2005 by the archis interventions prishtina foundation

which regulated formerly illegal construction in kosovo.

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture (left) construction of the centre required the participation of 104 unskilled labourers on site (right) a worker holding a design drawing images courtesy of AFIR architects / anne feenstra

presented as photographic documentation, videos, maps, brochures and publications, the exhibition – running through september 4, 2011 –

is part of a wider research project entitled ‘on the natural history of destruction’ which complements the concurrent show, ‘architecture in uniform: designing and building for the second world war‘.

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture ‘babur gardens’, kabul, afghanistan image courtesy of christian richters with permission of aga khan trust for culture

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture ‘skateistan’ by architecture for humanity, kabul, afghanistan image courtesy of skateistan

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture ‘skateistan’ by architecture for humanity, kabul, afghanistanimage courtesy of skateistan

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture view of kimisagara and the proposed football sports centre, kigali, rwanda concept by architecture for humanity / killiam dohertz

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture non-profit football for hope centre, kigali, rwanda image courtesy of architecture for humanity

the good cause: architecture of peace at the canadian centre for architecture ‘PELIP’ housing residents image courtesy of noero wolff architects