- Residency period: Spring–Summer 2025
- Neringa Wood Works
Within the framework of the Neringa Forest Architecture exhibition ‘Neringa Wood Works’ – Dshamila Annina Wörnhard, Seraina Rohner, Maria Flora Selma Bühlmann, Katharina Riedl, Giulia Spek, Ladina Laura Honegger, Janine Umiker, Maria Bazzicalupo, Jeanne-Marie Léchot, Namila Altorfer, Anna Grolimund and Astrid Bühlmann – members of the collective gemeinsam bauen wir neu (together we build anew) are in residence at VAA NAC May–August 2025 offering public workshops focused on working with wood from the Curonian Spit.
gemeinsam bauen wir neu is a feminist collective of women, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender craftspeople and technicians working across the fields of art, architecture, design, scenography, urban planning, construction and craft in Switzerland. By integrating long-term oriented construction, experimentation, collaborative building processes and political reflection, gemeinsam bauen wir neu critically examines power relations in technical and construction fields, working towards alternative and more equitable building practices.
Through open processes, the collective creates space for failure, learning and ongoing development, recognising all as integral to the craft and design process. Through collaborative building, gemeinsam bauen wir advocates for self-empowerment, inclusion, and non-discriminatory forms of collaboration in the gendered fields of technical building and construction.
The collective recently published a digital directory of women, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender craftspeople and technicians in Switzerland to increase visibility and access to equitable building networks. It also serves as a platform for solidarity and advocates for labour rights and changes in the social structures prevailing in the field.
gemeinsam bauen wir neu brings together wide-ranging expertise – from woodworking, clay building, lime plaster, natural pigments, terrazzo to scenography and the reuse of building materials. The collective actively shares its knowledge through workshops, with several members also teaching in vocational and higher education.
Neringa Wood Works is funded by Lithuanian Council for Culture, Neringa Municipality and Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council.