A boost of recognizing the potential of neglected public spaces as capacities for re-creating new inclusive and socially vibrant places that strengthen community through social cohesion and re-identification. Improving the ecosystems and urban biodiversity by creating a sense of belonging and strengthening the local cultures and habitats, at the same time. A multidisciplinary approach makes it excellent for developing new learning tactics and discovering new sustainable values for all citizens.
Local
North Macedonia
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Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
As an individual in partnership with other persons
First name: Iva Last name: Petrunova Gender: Female Nationality: orth Macedonia Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: st. "Jane Sandanski", no.48-2/1 Town: Skopje Postal code: 1000 Country: North Macedonia Direct Tel:+389 70 367 537 E-mail:iva_petrunova@yahoo.com
The initiative is led by the idea of strengthening the link between teaching, research, architectural and urban design, knowledge transfer, and enhancing the high quality and excellence in the field of education and sustainability. The initiative started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a growing need for open public spaces. Phi architects noticed the lack of public spaces in Skopje and started mapping the neglected places. The first project received huge attention and positive reactions from the citizens, which showed the need for further initiative. Public neglected spaces were mapped. Inclusive, ecological and functionally active conceptual solutions were created. They were presented to the public and thus created social pressure for creating new places that encourage humane, social and ecological values. The projects developed in the period from 2020 to 2022 were used as a basis for the workshops organized for different groups of citizens and the civil sector. The aim of these workshops was to inform the public about the values of quality public space while encouraging them to take initiative and engagements in the process of creating active green spaces. By informing the citizens about the most appropriate solutions in designing a specific public space, the awareness and desire for involvement in the sustainable and aesthetic shaping of the city increased. At these workshops, different groups of citizens (all interested citizens, civil organizations, primary, secondary school and university students) were educated on how to encourage positive transformation in society through the public space. In addition to the workshops, in the period from 2020 to 2023, scientific papers and monographs were written, authors participated on scientific conferences, media appearances were made, articles were written in electronic and written media and educational videos were made together with civil society organizations.
sustainable
inclusive
public space
education
socializing
The "RE - boost of city values" initiative started in 2020 with the main goal of setting an example through the development of conceptual solutions for the revitalization of abandoned public spaces into multifunctional and inclusive places and educating about the potential of public spaces as green and active places that improve the quality of life.
At the same time, we worked on raising awareness, through workshops in which citizens, as well as representatives of municipalities and competent institutions, were directly involved in the processes of education and vision for the use of public space in a different and multi-purpose way, based on the developed conceptual solutions. The chosen way of working allowed us, instead of imposing a new concept, to change perceptions based on personal experiences and needs, which in the future leads to social transformation and guarantees the reliability of the application of the acquired knowledge. Raised knowledge and awareness directly lead to increased pressure in the future to actually implement the existing solutions and make a change, towards a sustainable future.
The example given by the Initiative, in addition to offering knowledge and active involvement, provides space for the democratization of urban processes, strengthening the community and creating social cohesion, without plunging citizens into bureaucratic procedures, but allows them a continuous development approach in which they are encouraged to recognize and use their right to quality public space and through it take care of their well-being. The initiative has a universal methodological approach and is easily replicated in different settings and can be adapted to cover different target groups of citizens.
Our main goal was to influence the citizens to rediscover the forgotten aesthetic values of the public space and to teach them by example how to accentuate those values.
The conceptual solutions are made in intense colors, against the gray of the city. Тhey were a purposely chosen incentive that immediately attracts the attention of the citizen and gives a different feeling for the space, where the public place is not neglected and polluted, but alive, playful, full of energy, encouraging multi-generational learning and socializing. Through this technique, we influenced the strengthening of the cultural identity of the citizen in the local culture.
The use of indigenous plants in conceptual solutions teaches citizens about the significance of these plants in the local context. They positively influence the preservation of local biodiversity and the fight against climate change.
The multifunctional urban equipment used in the conceptual projects encourages "thinking outside the box" and provides the possibility of different ways of using it. The very process of designing the urban equipment, deals with the fact that the creation of the urban equipment is always aesthetically and functionally suitable for the specific space.
The workshops were used to create pleasant feelings among the citizens by stimulating their visual senses, to develop a love for the place of residence and optimism. Through the educational part of the workshops, the citizens were able to create a different vision not only for the public space in front of their building but also for their city in general. In this way, a new aesthetic framework is created, which also has a practical role, in addition to positively affecting the visual hygiene of the citizen.
This way of working provides an example that can be applied to any local environment, using local cultural features and color, design adapted to local aesthetics and tradition, but also the specific characteristics of local biodiversity.
One of the main goals of the conceptual solutions, which are the basis of the initiative, is to call for open and freely accessible public spaces that are available to all citizens regardless of age, social status, religious, national, sexual or any other determination, and the essence of the initiative itself is to encourage citizens to advocate for inclusive public spaces intended for all, which would encourage democracy and would be safe. The initiative aims to educate and inform the public about the importance of a humane and solidary public space and presents tools to achieve the same, in order to prevent discrimination on the following grounds.
The educational workshops from this initiative were free and open to all citizens regardless of their political, status and national affiliation or social profile. Particular attention was paid to the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups of citizens who rarely have the opportunity to be educated to recognize the right to a city and a healthy environment, as well as public spaces that would be of special importance for citizens in times of pandemics, risk of poverty and energy poverty in extremely hot summers. The educational methodology has a special emphasis on an inclusive approach to people with fewer opportunities and people with disabilities, and care is taken when choosing the places for workshops that are easily accessible and accessible to everyone.
The example of the inclusion of "experts by experience" who experience the problems of public spaces on a daily basis and direct cooperation with citizens who raise the alarm about a problem that needs to be addressed and solved gives a special feature to this initiative and sets a criterion for how to develop solutions that are striving to make public spaces inclusive.
The initiative unites many different topics among civil society organizations. Civic activism has a special need for quality and sustainable space. By connecting the public space with various topics such as: ecology, climate change, poverty, urban agriculture, rights of marginalized groups, peace… - we get a beautiful and successful public space that encourages positive values.
Civil associations from all areas were welcomed at our workshops and made a huge contribution and enriched the program of this initiative. We have excellent cooperation with several civic organizations such as: HTO, Association GRADOT UBAV Skopje, Macedonian Platform Against Poverty, etc. The civil sector is not only invited to be part of our initiative as a guest, but this initiative has so far produced several informative and educational videos in cooperation with civil society organizations intended for the general public. The impact of all this is an increased engagement of civic organizations from all areas on issues related to space and public space in the city and the creation of additional initiatives and projects. The increased awareness of the civil sector about the problems and the use of public space is clearly seen through the active involvement of citizens in expressing their thoughts and needs in the process of revitalization of a specific public space.
To create a safe atmosphere that encourages participation, we used already established connections in communities through organizations that are present on the ground and have the trust of the local population. One such example is the cooperation with the Macedonian platform against poverty, a civic organization, with which we worked together on peripheral parts of the city with poor infrastructure and a large percentage of the poor population, and together emphasized the need for available shade in the public space in hot summers and access to water for drinking, as one of the roles of the city in providing quality life.
The initiative "RE - boost of city values" has been addressed in several municipalities and institutions for the implementation of the designed conceptual projects, which have been recognized as successful, but unfortunately still haven’t been carried out. The "Vivid Street" project is in cooperation with the GRADOT UBAV association and is a project of National Interest in the field of visual arts and architecture under the Ministry of Culture and has been handed over to the Municipality of Centar. The KenzO project was presented to the City of Skopje and the Municipality Aerodrom. Afterward, a publication was produced in form of a Monography and was supported by the Ministry of Culture. The project "Lynx" is a conceptual project in cooperation with the association GRADOT UBAV and the City of Skopje, as an environmental project and a project that mitigates the effects of climate change.
Additionally, Mayors and municipal employees attended some of the educational workshops and they responded positively to the entire initiative.
In the next few months, this initiative has prepared material for a book (around 150 pages of texts, renders, posters, diagrams, tables, etc) and has sent a request for financial support for its printing to the Ministry of Culture, for which the results of the competition are awaited. Also, in cooperation with the Municipality of Gazi Baba, following a citizen's initiative, the realization of a new active public space like the ones presented in this initiative is expected to be realized: build.
The various disciplines united by the Initiative derive from the rich portfolio of the initiative's authors themselves. The informal team of architects consists of three members: Radmila Tomovska, Iva Petrunova and Hekuran Musli. Radmila Tomovska is a professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Construction at Mother Teresa University in Skopje, an architect and expert in sustainable and bioclimatic architecture. Iva Petrunova is an architect and urban sociologist. He graduated and master's degree at the Faculty of Architecture in Skopje, and then earned a doctorate at the Faculty of Philosophy at the Department of Sociology. Hekuran Musli is an architect with a special interest in technology and 3D visualization. The team of authors of the initiative, in addition to being architects, are also experts in various fields: bioclimatic and sustainable architecture, sociology and new technology. In their work experience, the three have a different focus: Radmila Tomovska is a university professor and collaborates with the academic community and students, while Iva Petrunova is a consultant and expert who collaborates with civic organizations on the various problems that connect architecture and the city. As a result, we get a serious and deep approach that aims to advance the common good for the community, strengthen it and unite different social entities.
During the conduct of individual workshops, depending on the choice of location where actions are taken to raise public awareness and the ecological quality of the public space, experts from other fields are also invited to participate in order to take into account more aspects in the multidisciplinary creative approach: ecologists, biologists, artists, electrical engineers, etc...
The innovation of the Initiative consists of the approach. The usual learning processes are through already existing examples or projects realized through the workshop process. Here the approach is reversed, the group of architects through their own example and volunteer work aimed to present the city with several conceptual projects, with the aim of improving its environment, reducing the effect of climate change and pollution, improving security, strengthening social cohesion... This very act, by showing the love for one's own city and the desire to improve it, showing concrete ways of reviving neglected public spaces, caused enormous attention in the media and among citizens. Through this - the architects want to convey the message "let's all improve the world, not through words but through deeds" i.e. by working in the area in which we can contribute to encouraging positive social transformation. From these projects, cooperation with non-governmental organizations, citizens, representatives of local communities and the City of Skopje emerged. Mapping and drawing up conceptual projects were the starting point for developing our educational methodology through workshops and educational videos. Such an approach offered citizens to be able to better locate problems, find solutions and visualize the changes that are real for a given public space.
The "Green Active Public Space as a School" initiative can be replicated anywhere on the planet, as it develops a universal working methodology and tools that are easily and unambiguously connected to the local context and local culture. The universal values fostered by this initiative: inclusiveness, creation of socially vibrant spaces, active, healthy and sustainable environments, multifunctional urban corners intended for all age structures of citizens, etc. enable them to be applicable in every urban area.
The Initiative has several steps. First, neglected public spaces in the city (in this case Skopje) were mapped. Then through the analysis of the local context, climate, biodiversity and local culture, as well as the needs of the environment, in an interdisciplinary way, the creation of an idea project is approached. The knowledge, methodology and tools acquired during this process are turned into educational workshops for primary and secondary school students, students, citizens, representatives of non-governmental organizations and municipalities. We also share this knowledge in educational videos in cooperation with civic organizations. We establish communication with citizens through media and social networks. We communicate with the academic community through scientific papers and participation in scientific conferences.
This initiative believes in "think globally, act locally". By raising awareness about the creation of sustainable public spaces, we believe that in the future public space could be used as a tool in the fight against climate change and in reducing its effects. Creating local urban forests and increasing greenery in cities enhances biodiversity and local flora and fauna as part of the overall biodiversity of the planet. Greenery has a positive effect on the psycho-physical condition of a person, which means it could help fight some diseases such as depression and anxiety. Public space increases democracy in cities, and through the creation of strong and sustainable democratic communities, we gain positive social transformation.
The initiative has already received great visibility and positive reactions from civil and non-governmental organizations, the media, as well as certain municipalities in the city of Skopje. The projects have been shown several times on national television in a period when there is a large viewership, especially among older people. Civil organizations already recognize the Initiative and its authors and call for cooperation. They also advocate for the ideas in the Initiative. In this way, the Initiative has media attention and serves as an example.
By participating in scientific conferences and writing scientific papers – this Initiative penetrates deeper and more seriously into the learning methodology and shares its vision with the academic public.
If the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of North Macedonia finances the publication of the second publication, which contains all previous projects such as the theoretical and methodological framework of action of this informal architectural group, it will certainly enable an even greater impact on the civil sector as well as the possible realization of some from the projects.
This informal group is already in negotiations for the implementation of the last project located in the municipality of Gazi Baba, which is also implemented through the aforementioned methodology.
The "RE - boost of city values" initiative is multidisciplinary and works simultaneously on several areas. Through the discovery and redesign of neglected public city facilities, it strives to raise the community to a higher level. But this is only the beginning of this initiative – since the main further focus is learning from the experiences gained from the process and transferring them to citizens, authorities and the general public. In this way, this initiative has a greater social impact, and through specific features of a sustainable, inclusive and beautiful space, it includes and strengthens the community in an educational way. The initiative is social, humane, friendly to the living environment and economical. It also contributes to the realization of all points of the Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on goal 11 – sustainable and resilient cities. Creating new public spaces and/or learning to create new public spaces encourages citizens themselves to socialize, learn and explore, encourages the community to strengthen itself by creating new initiatives and developing new ways, and raises awareness for the local culture and develops it.
This Initiative increases competencies for the environment and social values. Through this Initiative, we teach citizens to accept cultural differences and create a humane, open and inclusive space that is both ecological and economical. We encourage knowledge and values that protect the environment and teach citizens how to apply them.
