Published in Mai 2021, and edited by the NEWROPE Chair for Architecture and Urban Transformation, the book “Design in Dialogue”

emphasises the inherent and nurturing role of openness and dialogue in design processes. The issue is the second volume in the ‘Chapter’ series, which started with an issue on Skanderberg Square by 51N4E. Co-written by Freek Persyn, Seppe de Blust and Charlotte Schaeben, the book shares moments of inspiring conversations between people, projects and ideas evolving around the approach of Design in Dialogue – a fundamental pillar of the methodological approach at NEWROPE.

Design in dialogue acknowledges the fact that conflict and complexity are at the very heart of urban transformation. It is an attitude that creates new conditions and gives everybody the possibility to add, remove or change things. As an ongoing exploration that scans the boundaries of architectural practice, it challenges the self-image of architects and urban designers, which is often more concerned with autonomy and monologue than with openness and dialogue.

By exploring a representative sample of recent projects, this publication investigates the work of the Brussels based architectural office 51N4E, the Antwerp based office for socio-spatial innovation Endeavour and the Basel based office for urban transformation Denkstatt. Although they are radically different, each of them values design in dialogue. By analysing their work and probing for patterns, this publication offers a glimpse of the craft and organizational consequences that drive this design attitude.

In a second part the publication reveals the hidden presence of design in dialogue in a wide range of European architectural practices and projects. Reflecting on these projects allows us to identify and describe in which settings design in dialogue creates a productive momentum and means to activate the many potentials that are inherent and overseen in our daily reality. Design in dialogue is not presented as a new methodology to study — but as a liberating attitude to share, cherish and develop.

About the book

[Publication] 51N4E Chapter 2: Design in Dialogue

Freek Persyn, Seppe de Blust, Charlotte Schaeben

[In conversation with] Veronika Harder and Robert Haas (

), Momoyo Kaijima and Yoshiharu Tsukamoto (

),Roger Tudó and Pere Buil (Equip 10+1), Mattias Staelens from (

Books

Design in Dialogue

Reflections

The PhD Thesis “To open up a box and find a whole new world: action research on the relationship between production and place in Kuklen, Bulgaria” study explores the spatial dynamics of global manufacturing and the increasingly intricate relationship between production and place. It centers on the Trakia Economic Zone (TEZ) in southern Bulgaria, with a specific focus on the Kuklen Industrial Park. By examining this location, the study investigates how the flow of capital, labor, knowledge, and power transforms a place, and how local conditions, in turn, shape these global flows in unique ways.

TEZ serves as a prime example of global production spaces – characterized by diverse spatial forms that both arise from and sustain the global division of labor. Situated on the outskirts of cities, these zones are often enclosed by physical barriers and subject to restricted access. This thesis conceptualizes TEZ as a “black box“ – a “secret, hidden, unknown” entity, shrouded by the complexities of corporate ownership, confidentiality, and privacy within the world of networked manufacturing. The dissertation seeks to access and open this “black box,” grounding the abstract concept of global production networks in real, tangible stories and places.

To achieve this, the study adopts an engaged action research approach, providing access to global automotive factories and revealing their fluid, interconnected, yet deeply tangible realities.

The action research project worked closely with public and corporate actors within TEZ, fostering coalitions, designing interventions, and analyzing the resulting power dynamics, challenges, and opportunities for transformation. This process not only facilitated the collection of diverse data but also allowed for active engagement in reshaping global production spaces through the very act of change.

The findings from this action research are organized into three empirical chapters – focusing on materiality, people, and land – each examined through the lens of Henri Lefebvre‘s “spatial triad,” which encompasses perceived, conceived, and lived space. These chapters reveal how TEZ's design is deeply embedded in capitalist ventures and Taylorist management principles, structured by rigid organizational frameworks. Yet, the lived experience of the zone deviates significantly from this structured ideal, often characterized by spontaneity, disorder, and unexpected outcomes.

By shedding light on the otherwise concealed world of automated manufacturing, this dissertation demonstrates that the ‘black boxes’ of global production are not impenetrable. They can be accessed, explored, and ultimately transformed. Building on this insight, the research discusses the potential for an ethical and critical practice to emerge in networked infrastructure spaces and explores what such practices might entail.

[Title] To open up a box and find a whole new world: action research on the relationship between production and place in Kuklen, Bulgaria

[PhD accepted on recommendation of] Prof. Freek Persyn (Supervisor), Prof. Christian Schmid (Co-Supervisor), Prof. Elke Beyer, Prof. Nina Rappaport

Doctoral Research

To open up a box and find a whole new world

Engagements

The article “Who Builds the Steel Cities? On the relationship between finance, law and industrial zones in CEE,” published in 

Steel Cities: The Architecture of Logistics in Central and Eastern Europe 

examines the rise of special economic zones (SEZs) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) following the 2004 EU expansion, highlighting their role in shifting Europe’s industrial core eastward.

Unlike China’s centrally planned industrial cities, SEZs in CEE are often decentralized public-private partnerships, driven by government incentives, tax breaks, and foreign investment. While these zones boost regional economies, they function as isolated “black box urbanism,” lacking social infrastructure and integration with local communities. Funded by a mix of state resources, EU structural programs, and international banks, their success is measured primarily through economic metrics like job creation and investment rather than social or environmental impact.

With rising wages and demographic challenges in CEE, the sustainability of these zones is uncertain, as industries can easily relocate in search of cheaper labor. The article critiques this development model and calls for a reevaluation of industrial infrastructure planning, advocating for frameworks that incorporate social, urban, and environmental considerations to ensure long-term sustainability.

[Title] Who Builds the Steel Cities? On the relationship between finance, law and industrial zones in CEE

[Publication] Steel Cities: The Architecture of Logistics in Central and Eastern Europe

[Editors] Kateřina Frejlachová, Miroslav Pazdera, Tadeáš Říha, Martin Špičák

[Date/Publisher] London: Park Books, 2020

Who Builds the Steel Cities?

Resource

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