This Danish designers duo works with everyday
situations, always in uniform, and views social systems through a
deliberately naive and utopian optic that actually produces some of the
miniature utopias that are pursued. It is hard to miss the humour in
these curious projects. They are process oriented social experiments
that can reveal something interesting about everyday city life. The
three projects mentioned here are initiated by RACA.
Direktoriatet,
an organisation made up of RACA, provided the service of putting small
pillows on the public benches of central Copenhagen. RACA says: “Design
green pillows for better urban comfort!” Direktoriatet undertook the
task of maintaining this "urban inventory", all the while talking to
people on the benches. Taking a starting point in existing conflicts
between city planners and citizens of certain areas, the service took
the form of investigation and discussion of the problems.
Berlins
Alexander Platz was used as the setting of a different public service.
The huge square in the middle of Berlin was filled with 100 deckchairs
for public use. The duo then maintained the chairs wearing blue
uniforms. The chairs where used in different ways and constantly
rearranged by the public, while RACA played the role of the observer.
In
Liverpool, UK, they performed the role of cleaning staff around the
city, in uniform of course. They went to the dirtiest, most unattended
places with a broom and bucket and wove into the everyday scenery,
observing and mingling. "Make cleaning a pleasure!" says RACA with the
usual ironic tone.





























































