Toolshed is a list of tools, acts or actions I came across to start thinking about your practice and spatial agency with a critical feminist stance.
It’s not a complete or fail-proof list, it’s just an introduction to acts your can do by yourself or in a group setting to start questioning your surroundings, how you interact with them, what kind of social relations are they facilitating.
Toolshed is a borrowed term from the collecting otherwise group of the Nieuwe Instituut. They are a subsection of the museum that "explores the possibilities for an alternative architectural, heritage and archival practice, one that reflects a society that is constantly changing."
Toolshed is a list of tools, acts or actions I came across to start thinking about your practice and spatial agency with a critical feminist stance.
It’s not a complete or fail-proof list, it’s just an introduction to acts your can do by yourself or in a group setting to start questioning your surroundings, how you interact with them, what kind of social relations are they facilitating.
Toolshed is a borrowed term from the collecting otherwise group of the Nieuwe Instituut. They are a subsection of the museum that "explores the possibilities for an alternative architectural, heritage and archival practice, one that reflects a society that is constantly changing."
A Republic of Letters
A Republic of Letters
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
To write letters by hand to those with whom you have had important encounters, and also to those whom you wish to address.
Reply to any letters you receive.
During a feminist meeting or group project, set up a daily delivery service organized by the group, for the group, to facilitate a meta-discourse on the event, and to create a space within which one-on-one conversations can flourish.
To write letters by hand to those with whom you have had important encounters, and also to those whom you wish to address.
Reply to any letters you receive.
During a feminist meeting or group project, set up a daily delivery service organized by the group, for the group, to facilitate a meta-discourse on the event, and to create a space within which one-on-one conversations can flourish.
A Room of Female References
A Room of Female References
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Organize a meeting, and ask each member of your group to bring an object she associates with a woman she admires. This can be anything, from a photograph, or a book, to a piece of clothing.
Ask each member of the group to think of a short anecdote that gives a picture of what she admires about the woman she has chosen. The anecdote doesn't need to be associated with the object directly.
Sit in a circle and go around the circle anti-clockwise, each member contributing an anecdote in turn. As each story is told, pass the corresponding object around the circle, so that each person holds it and can look at it closely. Since the stories are short, there may be more than one object in circulation, in which case, send some anti-clockwise around the circle, and some clockwise.
When each member has contributed an anecdote, choose a place to display these objects so that they remain in view.
Organize a meeting, and ask each member of your group to bring an object she associates with a woman she admires. This can be anything, from a photograph, or a book, to a piece of clothing.
Ask each member of the group to think of a short anecdote that gives a picture of what she admires about the woman she has chosen. The anecdote doesn't need to be associated with the object directly.
Sit in a circle and go around the circle anti-clockwise, each member contributing an anecdote in turn. As each story is told, pass the corresponding object around the circle, so that each person holds it and can look at it closely. Since the stories are short, there may be more than one object in circulation, in which case, send some anti-clockwise around the circle, and some clockwise.
When each member has contributed an anecdote, choose a place to display these objects so that they remain in view.
Architectures for Encounters
Architectures for Encounters
Group prompt
Group prompt
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Bring a chair from home to use at the group meetings, introducing a place of comfort and safety to the group setting and also something physical that reminds the group of each member's difference.
Build structures that can have more than one way of being used, so that the group can continuously adapt the setting according to their needs and desires.
Design spaces that both accommodate and exceed a given function, opening up to the future, towards other possible uses, encounters, and co-habitations.
Bring a chair from home to use at the group meetings, introducing a place of comfort and safety to the group setting and also something physical that reminds the group of each member's difference.
Build structures that can have more than one way of being used, so that the group can continuously adapt the setting according to their needs and desires.
Design spaces that both accommodate and exceed a given function, opening up to the future, towards other possible uses, encounters, and co-habitations.
Archiving Relations
Archiving Relations
Group prompt
Group prompt
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Created by Alex Martins Roe To Become Two
Install archive boxes in prominent places in the spaces where you gather and work
Get into the habit of putting things in them: recordings of conversations, informal notes made during meetings, objects that were used in a project. testimonials from members of the group about their experience, et cetera.
Allocate a regular time to sort through and order this material. Try to identify important topics and formats through the process of assessing the material - i.e., really responding to the material rather than preconceived ideas. Establish working groups on specific topics to create special collections.
Consider the format of how these materials are archived, displayed, or eventually published and try to make it appropriate to the collections.
Install archive boxes in prominent places in the spaces where you gather and work
Get into the habit of putting things in them: recordings of conversations, informal notes made during meetings, objects that were used in a project. testimonials from members of the group about their experience, et cetera.
Allocate a regular time to sort through and order this material. Try to identify important topics and formats through the process of assessing the material - i.e., really responding to the material rather than preconceived ideas. Establish working groups on specific topics to create special collections.
Consider the format of how these materials are archived, displayed, or eventually published and try to make it appropriate to the collections.
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (1)
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (1)
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Imagine yourself at home, alone, with time on your hands: you have no obligations waiting: you are free to explore your space.
Visualizethe outline of your home – is it robust, fragile, flowing, fragmented? and trace it with one single gesture on a large sheet of paper.
Inside this line, indicate your favourite place at home with a colour you like; and the place you dislike most with a disliked colour.
Finally, indicate the location of the dining table, and your habitual place at it.
If you were to explain this drawing to another person, how would you articulate what motivates your likes and dislikes about your dwelling? Would you relate this to the size of your household, the phase in your life cycle, the type of (paid) work you do, the influence you had on the design of your apartment/interior, and so on?
Imagine yourself at home, alone, with time on your hands: you have no obligations waiting: you are free to explore your space.
Visualizethe outline of your home – is it robust, fragile, flowing, fragmented? and trace it with one single gesture on a large sheet of paper.
Inside this line, indicate your favourite place at home with a colour you like; and the place you dislike most with a disliked colour.
Finally, indicate the location of the dining table, and your habitual place at it.
If you were to explain this drawing to another person, how would you articulate what motivates your likes and dislikes about your dwelling? Would you relate this to the size of your household, the phase in your life cycle, the type of (paid) work you do, the influence you had on the design of your apartment/interior, and so on?
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (2)
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (2)
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Imagine being at home, alone and free from obligations. You then go for an imaginary walk, soon leaving familiar streets and parks.
Suddenly, there is a thunderstorm and you experience a situation of disorientation.
When the sky clears, you find yourself on unfamiliar territory. Visualize this image, explore its characteristics: dimensions, light, textures, open/closedness and so on.
Finally express the main elements in a model or collage made of scrap materials.
Imagine being at home, alone and free from obligations. You then go for an imaginary walk, soon leaving familiar streets and parks.
Suddenly, there is a thunderstorm and you experience a situation of disorientation.
When the sky clears, you find yourself on unfamiliar territory. Visualize this image, explore its characteristics: dimensions, light, textures, open/closedness and so on.
Finally express the main elements in a model or collage made of scrap materials.
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (3)
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (3)
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Take a piece of paper (A4), fold it into columns and label them:
time/place/transport/observations.On it, map your ‘typical day’ in terms of time-location-transport and motive: why did you go there at that time; why did you prefer one means of transport over another?
If available, transpose these routes onto a map of the area and reflect on your choice of routes and means of transport, identifying critical spots (where there are problems with traffic or social safety), evaluating the quality of preferred routes and the frequency and combinations of journeys.
Take a piece of paper (A4), fold it into columns and label them:
time/place/transport/observations.On it, map your ‘typical day’ in terms of time-location-transport and motive: why did you go there at that time; why did you prefer one means of transport over another?
If available, transpose these routes onto a map of the area and reflect on your choice of routes and means of transport, identifying critical spots (where there are problems with traffic or social safety), evaluating the quality of preferred routes and the frequency and combinations of journeys.
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (4)
Journey Into Unfamiliar Spaces (4)
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Lidewij Tummers
Created by Lidewij Tummers
In quick rounds with short turns, participants are asked to name in one or two words an environmental issue relevant to the local area.
These are written down on a sheet or the black/whiteboard. If a topic is repeated or takes too long, the person drops out of the ‘competition’ until there is one ‘winner’.
Everyone then receives three stickers to paste on issues they consider to be the most important.
The two or three ‘most-popular’ clusters of stickers are adopted as the network’s first priority for action, and less-marked issues are discussed further to ensure that no urgent matters are forgotten.
In quick rounds with short turns, participants are asked to name in one or two words an environmental issue relevant to the local area.
These are written down on a sheet or the black/whiteboard. If a topic is repeated or takes too long, the person drops out of the ‘competition’ until there is one ‘winner’.
Everyone then receives three stickers to paste on issues they consider to be the most important.
The two or three ‘most-popular’ clusters of stickers are adopted as the network’s first priority for action, and less-marked issues are discussed further to ensure that no urgent matters are forgotten.
Women’s Environmental Fantasy (1)
Women’s Environmental Fantasy (1)
Individual prompt
Individual prompt
Created by Phyllis Birkby
Created by Phyllis Birkby
Prepare a large sheet of paper and pens and pencils.
Imagine your ideal home, the shape it takes, the size, the disposition of the rooms, their purpose. Is it bound by walls? Limited in purpose? Boundless in size?
Prepare a large sheet of paper and pens and pencils.
Imagine your ideal home, the shape it takes, the size, the disposition of the rooms, their purpose. Is it bound by walls? Limited in purpose? Boundless in size?
Women’s Environmental Fantasy (2)
Women’s Environmental Fantasy (2)
Group prompt
Group prompt
Created by Phyllis Birkby
Created by Phyllis Birkby
Suggested materials: large sheets of paper and pencil or pen. Optional: found materials such as boxes, bottles, plastic, paper, etc., tape, glue.
In a group, think of places where you feel uncomfortable or spaces you feel have not been designed for you. Make a list of all the ways those places are uncomfortable.
On a big sheet of paper, draw a redesign of one of these spaces with yourselves in mind. What would make the space better suited to you, your community, and the world? Feel free to make notes on your drawing to indicate how some areas might function and how spaces can be used. Do not be limited by what you know is possible—let your imagination run free.
Optional: You can also add 3D elements to your drawing as needed or build your space in 3D with found materials, if you feel that this will better convey your design.
Suggested materials: large sheets of paper and pencil or pen. Optional: found materials such as boxes, bottles, plastic, paper, etc., tape, glue.
In a group, think of places where you feel uncomfortable or spaces you feel have not been designed for you. Make a list of all the ways those places are uncomfortable.
On a big sheet of paper, draw a redesign of one of these spaces with yourselves in mind. What would make the space better suited to you, your community, and the world? Feel free to make notes on your drawing to indicate how some areas might function and how spaces can be used. Do not be limited by what you know is possible—let your imagination run free.
Optional: You can also add 3D elements to your drawing as needed or build your space in 3D with found materials, if you feel that this will better convey your design.
This website was created with the interface Framer.
The two fonts used are Yatra One and Amiamie Regular and were found on Libre Fonts by Womxn and Typothèque Bye Bye Binary.
This website was created with the interface Framer.
The two fonts used are Yatra One and Amiamie Regular and were found on