Over the past twenty years, our work has developed through a process driven approach to architecture that works across and beyond buildings and objects, including performative interventions, meanwhile use, and participatory processes.
This work is shared through publications, talks, exhibitions, and public programmes that document projects as they unfold, making visible the processes, collaborations, and negotiations through which they take shape. The publications include project documentation, essays, and collaborative outputs that reflect different stages of the work.
Informed by queer and feminist perspectives, these publications reflect on how space is used and contested, addressing displacement, uneven access, and collective use over time.
Talks and public programmes:
2026
Werkvortrag (lecture by Ulrike Steven), Queer Design Practices at Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien, organised by Prof Elke Krasny and Prof Elke Gaugele
Queer design practices, public conversation and reading with Young Trustees (Architecture Foundation) and Ulrike Steven at Corner Café in London
Regeneration and Spatial Strategies on Old Kent Road (lecture by Ulrike Steven),Bartlett School of Planning, UCL
Perfect Flower, Workshop with LGBTQ+ youth at South East Dance, Brighton, Ulrike Steven in collaboration with choreographer Heidi Rustgaard
2025
Democratic Spaces, talk (by Ulrike Steve) and panel discussion, Aedes, Berlin
Frauen in der Architektur, Podiumsdiskussion, GTAS, TU Braunschweig, Germany (with Ulrike Steven)
Queer Scenarios programme of talks and events at Central Saint Martins (co-founder and organiser Ulrike Steven)
Participatory design processes OKR, talk (by Ulrike Steven), Southbank University, London
Participatory design processes OKR, talk (by Ulrike Steven), Bartlett School of Architecture, London
Queer Ecology workshop (by Ulrike Steven), Hochschule für bildende Künste, Hamburg
2024
Collective drawing workshop (by Ulrike Steven), Hochschule für bildende Künste, Hamburg
2023
Radical Spatial Practices, talk (by Ulrike Steven), Feminist Library, London
2019
A window into the life on Old Kent Road, daily talks (by Ulrike Steven), Make City Berlin
Meanwhile projects: public lecture (by Ulrike Steven), Central Saint Martins
Why a good city needs industry, talk (by Ulrike Steven), Architekturzentrum Wien
Contributions to books and edited volumes:
2025
Building labs: epistemic modelling, temporariness and land value, Building & Cities
peer reviewed article, authored with Jane Clossick, Torange Khonsari
2022
Another breach in the wall. The city as a common good, BETA Architecture Biennale, ISBN 9786069505595 p16-17 Vacant Lot, action and garden project
2019
Make City, A compendium of Urban Alternatives Jovis ISBN 978-3-86859-567-3, p198-199 Livesey Exchange (open workshops, rendering local expertise visible)
2017
Stads Natuur Maken / Making Urban Nature nai010 ISBN 978-94-6208-332-5 p296-297 management and policy, Vacant Lot
2015
Transforming Cities, Urban Interventions in Public Space, Jovis ISBN 978-3-86859-337-2 p29, 178-179 Vacant Lot, Charterhouse Road Club community centre
2012
Cause and effect, Visualising sustainability, Gestalten ISBN 978-3-89955-443-4 p210 Travelling Shed, p211 Vacant Lot installation, p222 ON OFF
2011
Vector>, Critical research in context , ISSN 1842-8657, p27 SIT IN
Carrot City, Creating places for urban agriculture, Monacelli Press, NYC , ISBN 978-1-58093-311-7 , p 59, 215, 220 Vacant Lot allotment program
My Green City, Back to nature with attitude and style, Gestalten, ISBN 978-3-89955-334-5 p14 Vacant Lot
2010
HOME/AWAY, art in social spaces, Idensitat, Barcelona, ISBN: 978846136933, p126, 127 SIT IN: Noel Street, Liverpool
Bracket (architecture, environment, digital culture), on farming, almanac 1 ISBN 978-84-92861-21-7 p223 Vacant Lot allotment programme
2009
Architecture of Change 2, Sustainability and Humanity in the Built Environment, Gestalten ISBN 978-3-89955-263-8 , p158-159 Vacant Lot allotment and Greening Romford Ring Road
Spacecraft 2, More Fleeting Architecture and Hideouts Gestalten ISBN 978-3-89955-233-1 p93 Vacant Lot, Travelling Shed
2008
Actions: What you can do with the the city Canadian Centre for Architecture ISBN 978-90-8506-724-5 Action 74: Cow – the udder way, Actin 84: Plastic bags feed neighbourhood
Surviving the Suburb, Versuche der Semi-Autarkie in Suburbia, Rotterdam ISBN 978-90-5973-090-8 Travelling Shed
2006
Shrinking Cities: Complete Works 2, Interventionen, foldout brochure with enclosed data media, Arch+ , ISBN 3-931435-03-2 Creating Images, Cow-the udder way (7 min film)
2005
Shrinking Cities, Volume 2: Interventions, Hatje Cantz, ISBN 978-3-7757-1711-3, p169-173 Cow – the udder way
Essays:
06/2025
Design for planetary care exhibition photo essays, years 2021-2024,
by Ulrike Steven and Alexandros Xenophontos
Same place another time, ISBN 9781300195788
Soft, ISBN 9781300162971
Removing the threshold, ISBN 9781300162902
03/2025
Critical Entries, exchange of letters between Prof Elke Krasny and Ulrike Steven on queer feminist practices of care.
06/2024
this&that, “cultivating a climate of attention” by Ulrike Steven as contribution to conference reader, pedagogies of disarmament, published by Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur und Stadt (GTAS), TU Braunschweig
Link: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:084-2025041609399
Reviews and architecture press:
25/09/2025
AJ, 2025 Student prize, Daniel McCarthy (tutor Ulrike Steven)
22/05/2025
The Architects’ Journal, Out in Architecture: LGBTQ+ champions and leaders, Interview with Ulrike Steven
Winter/2023
Journal: The Developer, Topic: Climate ISBN 978-1-9160459-6-5, Article: p23, 118-125 Livesey Exchange, How can grassroots organisations thrive and grow in a fast-changing neighbourhood?
12/09/2023
RIBA Journal, What if: projects’ concrete cliffs and burrows bring country life into the city
22/09/2022
AJ, 2022 student prize, Alexandros Xenophontos, Central Saint Martins, UAL (tutor Ulrike Steven)
10/2018
AD Architectural Design, New Modes: Redefining Practice, AD, vol 88 ISBN 978-1119328148 p13, Livesey Exchange; 107 Outside in, what if: projects
03/2018
FX magazine, Brief encounters, by Veronica Simpson Article on Mini Holland, p083-084
12/2016
The RIBA Journal Mac Ewen Award 2016 Mini Holland, Life’s better without traffic and vehicles
10/2016
FX magazine, Home-grown regeneration, by Veronica Simpson p075-078 Case Study, Livesey Exchange
02/2016
The RIBA Journal Mac Ewen Award 2016 Defining the common good ISSN 1463-9505 p.42 Doing something special with nothing, Charterhouse Road Club
2011
Dear… on courtesy, issue 1 ISSN 2244-9094 Greening the Romford Ring Road By: what if: projects
06/2009
Paisea, Landscape Architecture Review, no. 009: Public Square, ISSN 1887-2557 p99-104 cult landscape, what if…
05/2005
archplus 173, Shrinking Cities, reinventing urbansim, ISSN 0587-3452, Article: p35-39 Cow – the udder way
Press:
15/09/2023
AJ,Architect‘s Journal (online) First look: What if: projects completes community venue on Old Kent Road By: Fran Williams
17/07/2015
AJ,Architect‘s Journal p.23, 26 Rainham Station Forecourt/Viking Passage by Ellis Woodman and what if: projects
15/08/2013
AJ Architect‘s Journal, Specifications, Octavia‘s orchard Temporary orchard installed at Southbank Festival of Neighbourhood, By Laura Mark
2013
AJ Buildings Library Stepney City Farm
27/09/2012
AJ, Architect‘s Journal, Footprint What if: projects turns north London green (Vacant Lot, Charterhouse Road Club), By Hattie Hartman
2012
AJ Buildings Library Vacant Lot
16/06/2011
AJ, Architect‘s Journal, Forgotten Spaces 2011 The Curve ,By what if: projects
2008
D2, Dagens Naeringliv, Norway (Vacant Lot)
23.06.2008
Metro, “Bagging a bumper crop” (Vacant Lot)
28.06.2008
Times, “Painting the town green” (Vacant Lot)
03.04.2006
Independent, “Gardens” (Travelling Shed)
01.2006
Green Futures, “Move over Tracey” (cow the udder way)
25.11.2005
Leipziger Tageszeitung, “Küheinder Leerstelle” (cow the udder way)
09/10/2005
Independent, The Sunday Review “Daisy’s Big Adventure” (cow the udder way)
01/2005
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (cow the udder way)
28/06/2005
Liverpool Echo, “Amazing Graze” (cow the udder way)
24/06/2005
Farmers Guardian, “Jerseys take a city break” (cow the udder way)
02/07/2005
Farmers Weekly, “Merseyside visit for DevonJerseys” (cow the udder way)
TV, Radio:
08/09/2012
BBC London news, (Limehouse Curve, interview with G. Morris)
2008
BBC Country Files, (documentation of Vacant Lot)
2008
BBC Gardeners World, (documentation of Vacant Lot)
27/06/2005
BBC NW evening news, “Jersey by the Mersey” (documentation ‘cow the udder way’ and interview with Ulrike Steven)
30/06/2005
BBC radio Merseyside breakfast show, (cow the udder way), on site
Work in exhibitions:
06/2024
Fest en Fest Curated by: h2dance Location: APT Gallery, 6 Creekside, London SE8 4SA Projects: Perfect flower (photography), Choreography of survival (collective drawing)
14/06-01/07/2018
Make City, Berlin, a festival for architecture and urban alternatives A window into the life on Old Kent Road in London Loction: Mini Hub H36, Heinrich-Heine-Straße 36, 10179 Berlin
2010-2014
Carrot City, internally touring exhibition Curated by: Carrot City Research Group Project included: Vacant Lot (Exhibition archive)
5.02.-30.04.2009 Design Exchange, Toronto, ON, Canada
04.11.-13.11.2009 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair,Toronto, ON, Canada
17.03.-21.03.2010 Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
01.10.-15.12.2010 Parsons the New School for Design, New York
25.02.-11.03.2011 AIA/RI gallery, Providence, RI, USA
31.03.-28.04.2011 Parc de la Ligue Arabe, Casablanca, Marocco
07.04.-8.04.2011 Seixal, Portugal
22.08.-22.09.2011 Palais des Congres, Montréal, Canada
30.09.-27.10.2011 Architekturmuseum, TU Berlin, Germany
06.10.-25.11.2011 Charter Oak Culture Centre, Hartford, CT, USA
14.11.-30.11.2011 Hall du Pavillion Président Kennedy, Université du Quebec, Montréal, Canada
08.11.-17.11.2011 Technische Universität München, Germany
18.01.-28.02.2012 Transition Town Hal, Hannover, Germany
06.04.-20.04.2012 Millenium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham, B4 7XG, UK
23.04.-06.05.2012 Edible Eastside, 122 Fazeley Street, Birmingham, B5 5RS, UK
08.05.-31.05.2012 MADE, 7 Newhall Square, Birmingham, B3 1RU, UK
21.06.-04.11.2012 Chai du Parc de Bercy, Paris
28.09.-10.11.2012 Médiathèque André Malraux, Strasbourg
03.12.-31.01.2013 Lyon, France
30.05.-14.07.2013 Toulouse, France
31.05.-11.06.2013 Bonn, Germany Links: https://www.torontomu.ca/carrotcity/
2008-2014
Actions: what you can do with the city Curated by: Canadian Centre for Architecture Projects inlcuded: Action 74 Cows Push Residents to Plan, Action 85 Plastic bags feed neighbourhood
Locations: 26/11/08-19/04/2009 Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, Canada
16/10/09-13/03/2010 Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Chicago, USA
23/10 – 01/12/2013 Biennale Sao Paolo Links: action 74: https://www.cca.qc.ca/actions/actions/cows-push-residents-plan action 85: https://www.cca.qc.ca/actions/actions/plastic-bag-feeds-neighbourhood
10/2011-01/2010
RIBA Forgotten spaces exhibition Location: Somerset House, London Projects: Limehouse Curve and Pilgrim Ferry Exhibtion catalogue: RIBA and AJ
20/06 – 30/08/2009
Gartenstadt, Kunst und urbane Gärten, Location: Kunstverein, Hildesheim, Germany Project: Vacant Lot
19- 26/05/2009
Vacant Lot at Luis Vuitton Collaboration with Jeremy Deller Location: Westfield Shopping Centre in Shephards Bush, London
2005-2008
Shrinking Cities reinventing urbanism, internationally touring exhition Curated by: Oswalt Phillips, Shrinking Cities team Projects included:
cow-the udder way film (7min) abd photography, SIT IN and OUT POST
Locations:
2005, Deutsches Architekturzentrum in Berlin, competition entry (Cow)
19/11/2005-02/02/2006 Gallerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst-Leipzig (Cow)
08/12/2006-17/02/2007, Pratt Manhatten Gallery, New York (Cow)
03/02 – 02/04/2007, Cranbrook Art Museum, Detroit (Cow)
20/04 – 08/06/2007, Cleveland, Ohio (Cow)
17/11/2007-26/01/2008 Site Gallery, Liverpool (Cow the udder way, SIT IN ,OUT POST)
17/02 – 11/05/2008, Lehmbruck-Museum, Duisburg (Cow)
Links: http://www.shrinkingcities.com/ausstellungen.0.html%3F&L=1.html
22/05 – /04/06/2006
Garden Journeys exhibition, Curated by: Lulu Quinn Location: Polsden Lacey, Surrey Project: The travelling shed, blooming Surrey
Policy and planning documents informed by what if: projects:
Mini Holland, Waltham Forest:
07/02 – 2020
Case study: mini Holland Building Dutch-style cycle infrastructure in outer London. Image: Orford Road (designed by what if: projects)
21/04/2017
Central Government / Cycling and walking investment strategy p.15 Case study: Waltham Forest’s Mini Holland (Orford Road designed by what if: projects)
July 2018
Mayor of London, TfL, Vision Zero action plan, Taking forward the Mayor’s Transport Strategy p28, 42-43 Orford Road (designed by what if: projects)
03/2016
Mayor of London, Human Streets, The Mayor’s Vision for Cycling, three years on p19 Orford Road (Orford Road designed by what if: projects)
2016
Department for Transport, Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy ,p26 Case study, Waltham Forest, Mini Holland
Livesey Exchange:
2024
Old Kent Road Area Action Plan. Southwark Council. Livesey Exchange embedded in planning documents as a permanent building on OKR.
11/2023
GLA case study Livesey Exchange
11/2022
Meanwhile use London A research report for the Greater London Authority ,By Arup Projects: Vacant Lot and Livesey Exchange
2020
Old Kent Road area action plan, 2020, draft Connecting communities, Livesey Exchange p140-141
2017
Mayor of London, Community Projects Handbook, crowdfund London p24-25 Finding a space
2017
Mayor of London, Crowdfund London film Livesey Exchange features 0:09-0:17
2016
Mayor of London, website Documentation of Livesey Exchange crowdfunding campaign