Wdka is a univeristy for artists, why not include students to help design the university?

Examples of students adding to the design of their institutes

Research into Performance Evaluation of Buildings in Educational Institutions: A Case of Universities
in South-East Nigeria

In this research they list three basic perspectives that must be considered.

- Users, and how well their needs/requirements are met;
- Environmental performance in terms of energy use and water efficiency; and
- Whether the building adds value or makes economic sense.

For me the first point stood out to me.

While discussing with the group about how space is allocated in the university they could identify where people from their departments spent most of their time working. Anna noted that audio visual students spend most of their time at the computer lab in Wijhaven. Ivet noted that students from graphic design are currently spending most of their time at the publication station and that the students in this major moves as a group, taking over different spaces depending on what the current major project requires. Additionally, the fashion students often reside in the fabric station, spatial design students have space above de Willem and animation students are usually in the editing rooms with animation equipment. As a student in Fine Arts I couldn't say that we have one space that is allocated to us. The space at wdka is does not mee the user requirements of fine arts students. As a department we have repeatedly fought for studio spaces at the university and repeatedly been turned down because "there isn't enough space" and we the students would make the theoretical studio space too dirty. Are art space not supposed to facilitate free expression?

What spaces facilitate and encourage art creation?

Galbraith and Grauer (2004)

Exploring the disparity of value placed on higher art educators vs higher educators in other fields.

Spaces such as the wdka haven encourage communal learning and collective making which I think are core elements of a fruitful artist practice.

HIERARCHY IN LEARNING SPACES

The auditorium is such an interesting place to have classes. It does not have the same feeling of being inside a classroom but the formality of it is almost comedic. When I attended my 2nd year Fine Arts theory classes in the room the seats were not even half full. The tutors also expressed that they felt more nervous and distanced from students when teaching in this room. Although I liked the spaciousness of the auditorium I felt a detachment from my education. The space almost turned off my creativity and made me instantly bored when I sat down. This room pushed the hierarchical relationship between student and teacher. It made it more difficult to talk to the teacher one on one and put a literal physical distance between us.

Established - 1773 Hierdoor tot Hooger |
1998 Willem de Kooning Academie