Forensic Architecture: Witnesses

The first visual overview of the acclaimed collective working at the intersection of architecture, science and politics Founded by Eyal Weizman at Goldsmiths College in London in 2010, the research agency Forensic Architecture has investigated dozens of incidents of state violence—military intervention, environmental destruction, border violence and police murder. Working at the intersection of architecture, law, journalism, human rights and ecology, Forensic Architecture researches conflicts and crimes around the world, using architectural tools and methods to conduct spatial and architectural analyses of particular incidents. They do not design new buildings, but like other architects, they examine and model spaces, with the aim of shedding light on events. This catalog focuses on the witnesses at the core of Forensic Architecture’s work. As Weizman explains: “very often, because ‘forensic’ is part of our name, there is a certain amount of misunderstanding, as if the evidentiary work that we are doing … constitutes an alternative to, and sometimes even a substitute for, the human voice of the witness. I believe rather that our work keeps the relationship between evidence and testimony in a state of productive tension." Featuring texts by Weizman, Christina Varvia and a roundtable discussion between members of the current team, this richly illustrated book opens a window into Forensic Architecture’s working methods and projects.