The Footfall Almanac 2019 collects observations, objects and other traces to instigate a discussion on surveillance techniques currently deployed in shopping malls, and during public major events in Brussels.

Wireless tracking of mobile phones has become a common method to monitor crowds without requiring explicit permission or active cooperation. Private companies, as well as civil agencies, use it to keep a close eye on the movements of city dwellers through public spaces, the former to forecast sales and the latter for crowd management purposes.

The Footfall Almanac 2019 observes this encounter of actors and predictions in their shared technologies and terminologies.

With contributions by: Femke Snelting and Dennis Pohl.

This project was initiated on invitation from Constant VZW who has been invited by 431 Architects to participate in The New Local, part of the Precarious Pavillions in the context of Kaai Theater’s Festival: CITY:LAND.