Repair and Maintenance Workshop August 2026

Join us for a five-day intensive summer course in Copenhagen: August 24 – 28, 2026

Program

Through group discussions, key readings, lectures from invited speakers, practical workshop exercises and on-site engagements, we will explore questions of repair and maintenance in the context of nonprofit housing in Denmark. Political, social, as well as technical aspects will be addressed, expanding the notion of architecture and architectural practice. It will provide an opportunity to share ideas, insights, and concerns as you prepare yourselves to enter the professional practice, hopefully carrying principles of care, repair and maintenance much closer to your design processes.

Output

Throughout the week, you will be taking notes and making drawings, curating these into ‘manuals’ in the format of small zines, which will be shared and discussed on the last day. Through the format of a manual, the participants are encouraged to critically ask questions such as:

• Who has the responsibility for the repair and maintenance work?
• How could uphold from a “grassroot level” be nourished?
• What could be the advantages and pitfalls of this? What can architects learn from residents, in terms of the care taking of their homes?

The manuals may be directed to, e.g. residents, politicians or architects and can span from a speculative and utopian approach to addressing more practical and everyday issues. The workshop is organised by two PhD Fellows, Aislinn McCarthy and Beata Hemer, and is a joint collaboration between Aarhus School of Architecture (AAA) and the Royal Danish Academy (RDA).

Criteria

The program is open to both bachelor and master students currently enrolled at either the Royal Danish Academy or Aarhus School of Architecture, although master students will be prioritised.

Practical information

Participation in this one-week workshop is free for accepted applicants (15 students in total). However, all expenses related to transportation, food, accommodation, and other personal costs for the week are the responsibility of each student. The selection process will be conducted in accordance with both institutions’ guidelines on diversity and inclusivity to ensure a balanced and representative group.

The workshop will be held in English and will take place at the Royal Danish Academy and in various social housing areas in Copenhagen.

Application

Please email a motivation letter (1 A4 page) to both Aislinn McCarthy (asmc@aarch.dk) and Beata Hemer (bhem@kglakademi.dk).

The application should include your full name, nationality, gender, place of study, and current semester and address the following questions:

• What motivates you to join this summer workshop, and why the theme of repair and maintenance in particular?
• How does this topic relate to your current and/or future design projects and methods?
• Briefly describe one gap of knowledge on the topic that you would like to explore further throughout this week.
• What specific findings/learnings do you hope to leave this workshop with?

The application deadline is May 15, 2026.