KONTEXT is a podcast that invites a different guest per episode to speak about a place - city, village, neighbourhood, street, landscape - that they are locale to, researching or simply deeply interested in. The show is hosted by Khensani de Klerk, who comes from an architectural and city planning background. KONTEXT covers many scales - the city, the street, the room - and explores all kinds of themes specific to that place and person.
Jingle by Michael Dawson and Dustin van Wyk.
Graphic design by Michael Tymbios.
Ep10: Cape Town with Khensani de Klerk and Maxwell Mutanda
In this special episode, pluri-disciplinary artist and architect Maxwell Mutanda and I get into conversation about Cape Town, and my current research focus around notions of Safe Space? Usually I speak to people about their contexts of interest, whereas in episode 10, the microphone flips with Maxwell spearheading the conversation and asking the questions. As African spatial practitioners concerned with Africa, we discuss the double conscious state of being in institutions outside of the continent and what the implications of our efforts in these Global Northern spaces might be. Maxwell, who is currently pursuing an MSc in Sustainable Urban Development at The University of Oxford shines light on mutual themes of social sustainability also present in my current Mphil in Architecture and Urban Design project at The University of Cambridge. We explore a plethora of themes including safety, representation and visual translation constantly cautioning against extractive contemporary research processes. We draw inspiration from each others’ work, highlighting other places and people we constantly learn from, with special shoutouts to Dr Tomà Berlanda and Dr Nick Simcik Arese. A longer and detailed episode which we invite you to join!
For more on the project, visit www.publicagender.cargo.site and instagram @khen_dek
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
Graphic design by: Michael Tymbios
Jingle by: Dustin van Wyk + Mike Dawson
12 Oct 2020
Ep9: Gurgaon with Joseph Marchbank
As we begin to slowly approach the end of the season, I am in conversation with Joseph Marchbank who is currently a post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge exploring IKEA’s expansion into Indian Cities on an urban and domestic scale. We explore urban and residential forms, along with the socio-economic implications of IKEA’s retail presence in India. A very interested conversation, with many mutli-geographic conceptions of home, leisure and labour across different value systems. Join in on our conversation!
For more on Gurgaon and Joseph Marchbank check Instagram handle: @joemarchbank_cdrs
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
5 Oct 2020
Ep8: Old Oak Common with James Smith
What an interesting episode this was with James Smith, who is currently a post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge interested in housing, capital, equality and transport. James takes us through the development dilemmas and opportunities in Old Oak Common, west of London. We explore themes capital and stakeholder relationships at an urban scale, and zoom into the social implications these forces have on mixed income housing residents at an architectural scale. Join in on the conversation!
For more on Old Oak Common and James Smith check Instagram handle: @valuesofland
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
28 Sept 2020
Ep7: New Chum Beach with Charlotte Airey
This episode I am in conversation with post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge, Charlotte Airey. Researching and discussing a place familiar to her, Charlotte takes us through New Chum Beach in New Zealand. Through her lens of “People and Land” we explore themes of well-being, preservation, capitalism and its manifestations in the ecological landscape of New Chum Beach. Join our conversation and journey briefly to New Zealand.
For more on New Chum Beach and Charlotte Airey check Instagram handle: @airey_design_research
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
21 Sept 2020
Ep6: Singapore with Chelsea Sia
In episode 6 of KONTEXT, I am in conversation with Chelsea Sia. We speak across Cambridge and Singapore about Chelsea’s lens of ‘Quotidian life and its Value’ in a place with a strikingly decreasing deathscape. Chelsea is also an Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge, and takes us through her specific site of research in Bhukit Brown, the last existing graveyard in Singapore. A detailed episode exploring themes of landscape, death space, zoning and urban development in the trajectory of newness, emblematic of Singapore.
For more on Singapore and Chelsea Sia check the instagram handle: @ploopypoopy
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
14 Sept 2020
Ep5: Shenzhen with Elliot Zhou
We’re half way through the season! In episode five of KONTEXT, I am in conversation with Elliot Zhou, who is a post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge. We look at Urban Villages in Shenzen and through Elliot’s lens, dig into ‘Cultural Production at Precarious Space’. A short yet rich episode exploring themes of zoning, urban development and some critique of how art and architecture Biennales approach exhibition.
For more on Shenzen and Elliot Zhou check the instagram handle: @zheng_design_research
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
7 Sept 2020
Ep4: Croydon with Irene Carlucci
This episode I am in conversation with post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge, Irene Carlucci. Living in and researching Croydon, with a layered and underlying Italian-influenced approach to urban design and architecture, Irene speaks through her lens of “Psychology and the City” as we explore themes of capitalism, community and public life. Join our conversation for a peak into the south of London-located town of Croydon (which is also home to Stormzy and Kate Moss btw); a place layered with narratives of consumption and development.
For more on Croydon and Irene Carlucci check the instagram handle: @cdrs_shoshanne
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
31 Aug 2020
Ep3: Hong Kong with Jefferson Chan
In episode three of KONTEXT, I am in conversation with Jefferson Chan, who is a post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge. Through Jefferson’s lens, we look at Hong Kong New Towns in the ‘Post-Colonial’ Era. Exploring themes of communities in scale shifting infrastructures and conditions, we learn about the making of spaces and various stakeholders involved.
For more on Hong Kong New Towns and Jefferson Chan check the instagram handle: @jeffersonchan_cdrs
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
24 Aug 2020
Ep 2: Winchester with Stephen Smith
This episode I am in conversation with post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge, Stephen Smith. We look at Winchester in the UK, through Stephen’s lens of “Heritage in the Cityscape and the Heart”. Exploring themes of nostalgia, sentiment, heritage, memory and tourism - join our conversation on Winchester.
For more on Winchester and Stephen Smith, check the instagram handle: @sgsmith_architecture
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, visit: https://khensanideklerk.com/KONTEXT
17 Aug 2020
Ep 1: Limehouse with Shirley Lo
To kick off KONTEXT, I will be in conversation with Shirley Lo, a post-graduate researcher in Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Cambridge. Shirley, like the other guests in season one, are all currently researching different places in the Cambridge Design Research Studio. This episode we discuss Limehouse in London through Shirley’s lens “Real vs Fictional Space”.
For more on Limehouse and Shirley Lo, an instagram handle: @strangenessinlimehouse
If you have any comments or are interested in getting involved in KONTEXT, contact khensanideklerk-work@gmail.com
11 Aug 2020
Ep 0: Season one trailer! Welcome to KONTEXT
In season one I will be in conversation with 10 guests currently researching different location in the Cambridge Design Research Studio at The University of Cambridge. These episodes were all recorded during the initial first wave lockdowns of the corona virus pandemic. I say this both as an audio quality disclaimer, and also to mention that this season came in response to wanting to equally learn about other places, from a position of geographic constraint.
This podcast project is independent of the university itself.
Welcome to KONTEXT. Lets explore together.
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