I Grew Up In the Blockhouse delves into the personal stories of Soviet blockhouse living experiences, creating a space for common ground and connection among inhabitants. It takes Latvia as its starting point and shines a spotlight on the ongoing issue of isolation and poor living conditions. Through the use of personal narratives as a foundation, the project aims to inspire a united society that is empowered to make proactive decisions and improve its living conditions.
Cross-border/international
Latvia
Other
Post-Soviet region
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Riga Neighborhood Initiative is a subdivision of Riga Municipality.
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
As an individual in partnership with other persons
First name: Ieva Last name: Jakusa Gender: Female Age: 26 Please attach a copy of your national ID/residence card:
By ticking this box, I certify that the information regarding my age is factually correct. : Yes Nationality: Latvia Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Ciekurkalna 4. skerslinija 12 k-2 Town: Riga Postal code: LV-1026 Country: Latvia Direct Tel:+371 26 668 233 E-mail:petersone.tina@gmail.com Website:https://www.artcuratorgrid.com/users/tina-petersone/posts
In the Soviet era, the population of Latvia saw a rapid influx of migrant workers from Russia, leading to a demographic shift in which one-fourth of the population now consists of native Russian speakers. However, decades-long social and political divides between Latvian and Russian speakers have only been exacerbated in recent years, particularly in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This dynamic is not unique to Latvia and can be observed in many post-Soviet countries.
But what if there was a common ground that could bring these conflicted groups together? Enter the Soviet-era blockhouse, or "Khrushchyovka," a prefabricated apartment building constructed in mass numbers to meet the housing demands following World War II. These buildings, which currently house 2/3 of Latvia's population, have become a defining feature of the country's built environment and a symbol of a shared history.
We are drawn to the nostalgia and communal experiences that these buildings evoke. The shared memories of living in a blockhouse - the sound of your neighbor's music, the smell of dinner and cologne in the stairwell, the potato seller at the door - are universal and can serve as a point of connection between the inhabitants of the blockhouses.
To this end, we propose a project that utilizes the blockhouse as a site for social experimentation and exploration. Our concept is a digital archive https://www.blockhouse.community/ that captures the collective memories of living in these buildings. Additionally, we plan to organize events encouraging community building and proactive engagement among diverse post-Soviet social groups. The ultimate goal is to improve the living conditions and perceptions of these housing complexes, which continue to be home to around 170 million people worldwide.
Reclaim
Community
Identity
Panelki
Resilience
Firstly, the project embodies sustainability by using already existing architecture.
Another objective is community engagement. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Latvia decided to give the right to the inhabitants of the flats to claim ownership of the property they lived in. That concluded in a more scattered society, where people got isolated in their private space without any motivation to enhance the public space or get involved in community decision-making. The building complexes require renovation; however, this often becomes impossible when no one owns the buildings, and the inhabitants of the individual flats do not engage in conversions to make common decisions. At this point, deciding the building color becomes one of the main issues to not proceeding with the renovation.
Community relationships can significantly impact the sustainability of the housing they inhabit in several ways. For example, a strong sense of community can lead to increased collective action and shared responsibility for maintaining and improving housing and the surrounding area. This can include organizing community clean-up efforts, implementing sustainable energy-efficient upgrades, or even promoting recycling.
On the other side, we also upcycle the ideology to serve contemporary communities. At the time, the buildings were positioned as a tool to cultivate communism according to Soviet beliefs. From the 1950s until the 1980s, blockhouses were constructed following very similar architectural guidelines, which affected the flat plan, the shared space around the buildings, and the infrastructure. Therefore, people all around the Soviet Union, no matter their nationality or their location, were exposed to the same living experiences that remain nowadays as well. At this point in history, it was used as a suppression mechanism; we are applying it for a good cause.
I Grew Up In the Blockhouse project delves into the complex relationship between architecture, community, and the individual experience. The central visual element of the archive is a concrete block with a hook, an innovation towards the growth of standardized construction in the Soviet times. This block serves not only as a functional tool for construction but also as a metaphor for the project's mission: to build common ground together.
Divided into three distinct themes - HABITAT, SOCIETY, and CHILDHOOD, both in the digital archive and event cycle - the project explores the symbiotic relationship between inhabitants and architecture, the social impact of public spaces, and the personal experiences of those who call blockhouses home.
The digital archive feature 180 raw and intimate short stories, as well as specially commissioned essays that provide additional context and perspective. These elements are complemented by a video representation of the blockhouses, offering a holistic understanding of the subject matter. This archive reflects raw life experiences in blockhouses that work both as a common ground and as a societal mirror.
Both parts of the project are united by a visual identity that blends charcoal aesthetics with a Swiss graphic design influence.
"I Grew Up In the Blockhouse" main goal is inclusivity in society. The project's primary goal is to enhance the relationship model and reduce the isolation between divided social groups.
Another key objective is accessibility. As 2/3 of Latvian inhabitants live in these flat buildings, the project directly speaks to many people. There is a wide range of social classes represented in these buildings. Highly educated, working class, and unemployed people live together as there are only a few other housing options in Riga - the ones that are high-priced in the city center or private houses in the suburbs. The power of the project relies on the fact that everyone or someone close to them has inhabited these flats, creating a new social group beyond their status - of people who have lived in these blockhouses.
The project operates in collaboration with the Riga Neighborhood Initiatives organization, which has agreed to promote the project in their channels, encouraging participation and engagement from wast range of community members.
The project concept is based on an analysis of 115 quantitative interviews via survey and 7 qualitative video interviews about life in the blockhouse neighborhood. The analysis reviews the needs and the general ambiance of the people living in the apartment buildings. Other than that, we believe that the citizens benefit from the project through representation and a sense of belonging.
One of the project's vital actions is to give the people a voice and an opportunity to share their experience of living in the blockhouse with the community. By sharing their personal stories, citizens can provide a unique perspective and ensure that all community members' needs and concerns are considered. This can lead to a more representative and inclusive society. On the other hand, a lack of a voice can lead to marginalization.
Referring to identity in a particular place creates a sense of belonging. That can benefit not only on a personal level. Nevertheless, it can also lead to a greater sense of pride and stewardship in the housing and the surrounding area, resulting in reduced vandalism and more active engagement in the neighborhood.
Moreover, we are planning to define the upcoming event cycle location by asking digital archive users to submit their neighborhoods so that we can pick the area based on their request.
The "I Grew Up In the Blockhouse" project has received significant financial support from three prominent institutions: the Latvian Art Center Zuzeum, the Creative Industries Fund NL (Stimuleringsfonds), and Latvian State Culture Capital Fund.
The Latvian Art Center Zuzeum, which houses the world's most extensive collection of Latvian art, has supported the project by publishing the book "I Grew up In the Blockhouse." This publication offers a deeper understanding of the complexity of the project and the historical resources surrounding the blockhouse topic. The Art Center Zuzeum is well known for its support of emerging Latvian artists and designers and plays a vital role in developing contemporary art in the country.
The Creative Industries Fund NL has provided financial assistance for the digital archive organization aspect of the project. The Fund supported the gathering and analysis of interview material, hired external partners, and prepared a visual sketch for the archive. Their motivation to support the project stems from their interest in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of Eastern European daily life, enriching their comprehension of Eastern European culture and Europe as a whole.
The Latvian State Culture Capital Fund has supported the digital materialization of the archive. As the largest Latvian funding organization, it is deeply committed to cultural and social development and has significantly contributed to the "I Grew Up In the Blockhouse" project.
For the future event cycle, we plan to seek financial support from its collaborator partner, the Riga Neighborhood Initiative, through their Neighborhood Initiative open call. We recognize the importance of securing funding from various sources to ensure its continued success and growth.
To develop the project concept, Ieva worked with Ivars Austers, a Social Psychology Professor at the University of Latvia. Ivars' expertise in social identity, perspective-taking, and human decision-making was instrumental in shaping the idea of common ground as a uniting element for divided social groups within our collaboration.
The overall view of the project and the initial publication was shaped together with the guidance of Marietta de Vries, a Dutch concept developer, and production supervisor. She helped to place the context of architecture within the project and provided invaluable insights throughout the development process.
The "Hey Human" Residency program in Spain was also a key collaborator, helping to develop the design and interactive aspects of the archive with experts in information design and data collection.
For the project context, we have been in touch with Riga Neighborhood Initiative, a subdivision in Riga Cityhall that actualizes and promotes the civic participation of the inhabitants of Riga and a sense of belonging to their neighborhood, city, and state. They have agreed to promote the project, give relevant feedback based on the local social design scene, and organize the locations for the physical events.
In addition, Ieva will collaborate with the Narva Residency program, where she will exchange relevant information about blockhouse neighborhood cultural centers and sketch out the "I Grew Up In the Blockhouse" project appliance in the context of Narva, Estonia.
The digital archive also includes essays from experts in architecture, transformative learning, and cultural journalism, providing a wealth of additional perspective and insight for readers.
Overall, this project is a multidisciplinary effort that brings together experts from various fields to create a meaningful and impactful exploration of the blockhouse living experience.
"The "I Grew Up In the Blockhouse" project offers a refreshing departure from traditional approaches to improving living conditions in Soviet prefabricated apartment buildings. Rather than solely focusing on physical renovations or urban planning solutions, the project explores the personal narratives of those who have lived in these blockhouses, providing a deeper understanding of the inhabitants' experiences and leading to more community-driven physical outcomes.
An innovative aspect of the project is the use of a web-based archive, which allows a broader audience to engage with and connect to the collected stories.
While there have been many historical and architectural studies of these buildings, there needs to be more focus on the personal experiences and memories of the people who lived in them. "I Grew Up In the Blockhouse" would fill this gap by providing a space for people to come together to create a rich representation of life in the blockhouses.
The project also addresses the social and political divides that have emerged in post-Soviet countries. However, rather than focusing on political or policy-based solutions, the project takes a grassroots approach by encouraging conversation and understanding at the community level.
The project is based on research gathered from a broad spectrum of opinions. The research analysis can be helpful for any post-soviet housing complex, especially in the Baltic region (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). The study sustains an understanding of the ambiance of these buildings that can benefit the framework of new initiatives in the blockhouse neighborhoods. One of the stages for the future development of the project is to go on a field trip to Narva - a Russian-speaker-populated city in Estonia, where Ieva will give a presentation on this project and make scenarios of people gatherings in their blockhouse neighborhoods in collaboration with their resident artist.
During this project phase, we got extensive feedback from our partners. One of the most encouraging responses came from the Spanish data experience design company "Domestic Data Streamers," who organized the residency program where the design of the digital archive was developed. As an outsider, they found this project interesting for them as it discusses similar living conditions and how it can create new communities. The project directly talks about post-soviet countries; however, they found the idea behind it relatable for their context. Furthermore, they had no prejudices towards this topic, so they quickly conceded the project's concept and used it as a framework to reflect on their social group inequalities. Therefore, this project would not only showcase eastern Europe's contemporary society to western Europe but could also enrich how social group dynamics are experienced there.
The communication dynamics within a housing complex, particularly one that comprises a diverse national group of residents, pose a complex and nuanced challenge in today's globalized world. The cultural and linguistic barriers within these communities can lead to misunderstandings, mistrust, and a lack of a sense of belonging among residents. In this context, the notion of a "global challenge" refers not only to the practical difficulties that arise from these barriers but also to the more significant social and political implications of a lack of cohesion within a community. That is combined with another global challenge associated with the design of the buildings, which often feature long corridors and minimal common spaces, which can discourage social interaction and make it even more difficult for residents to form connections with their neighbors.
However, it is through local solutions that these challenges can be managed. On the one hand, the digital archive cultivates a sense of belonging to a community of the people who come from the blockhouses. On the other hand, within the event cycle, we want to create communication between different national groups within the neighborhood. Furthermore, by facilitating understanding of the dialogue between the Latvian and Russian- speaking groups, we can help to build mutual respect.
We believe these challenges can be addressed through effective communication strategies and transformed into opportunities for social experimentation, understanding, and community-building.
