EASA
European Architecture Student Assembly was founded in 1981 by architecture students and is closely related to the Winterschool concept, which organises similar events for UK students of architecture. EASA takes place each summer in a different country, with the event usually lasting two weeks. It is organised by students of architecture for students of architecture and the concept is operated on a cooperative basis. At each event the participants decide on the location of the following event. Typically 400 to 500 students take part in the event and engage in workshops, exhibitions, lectures and social events loosely based around a specific theme. These events are run by a combination of academics and students and encompass a wide variety of activities with a greater or lesser relationship to architecture. The event is funded through a combination of attendance fees (which vary for each country based upon ability to pay), grants and sponsorship, all arranged by the organising committee for each event.
EASA has little or no formal structure in that each event is organised as a unique occurrence – though a system of National Contacts, (NCs) that ensures, that the event each year is well supported. NCs also typically meet once a year at the INCM to discuss the previous EASA and prepare for the next EASA Summer Event. Students come from over 40 European countries to the event each year. Recent Assemblies have seen students participating from the USA and Central American countries.
Identity
EASA is an international young architects network which, in collaboration with professional architects and artists, investigates today’s architecture, city and technology. It is a communication platform for the exchange of ideas, experiences and reflections, the starting point for interactions in the city field.
History
EASA was founded in 1981, when architecture students from Liverpool invited their fellow students from the rest of Europe to come and discuss, proposing solutions for the problems of their city. Approximately 300 young architects gathered, starting up with EASA’s collective institution: “starting up the easa experience”, was the first theme of the congress. Since then, every year, European architects-students, meet in a different city with the intention of exchanging ideas and views on architecture, as well as acting within the city itself.
Assembly
600 young architects meet for two weeks every summer participating in lectures, conversations, workshops, exhibitions, related to the theme proposed by the specific city. The theme is related to reflections posed by the place of conduction itself and the actions-interventions are in both the theoretical and practical levels.
The EASA network
Apart from the annual meeting, EASA supports the international communication and exchange network through its’ representatives in every country [National Contact/NC]. The representatives [usually two for each country] communicate with each other during the whole year and meet every November, for one week [National Contact Meeting] in a different country. During these meetings the results from the latest summer meeting are being discussed, and the proposal for the next meeting is being chosen.
Legal framework
EASA is an organization that takes legal substance every time, at the level of the country that undertakes the organization of the annual congress. Each country defines the selection procedure of its representatives and participants in the EASA activities. The NC meeting [National Contact meeting] is the EASA decision-making instrument. These are meetings with participants of the representatives from every European country that take place [a] during the annual summer congress and [b] every November at the special INCM [Intermediate National Contact Meeting].
Other activities
SESAM [small EASA meeting]. These are smaller meetings that take place during the year in different countries with the participation of 100 members and consist of workshops, lectures etc.