ARCHIS SEE-NETWORK

Case study: The Faculteta Romani neighbourhood, Sofia, Bulgaria
Meeting and workshop, June 3–5, 2010

ADAPTations 1 in collaboration with Archis Interventions and Frontal (Bucharest)

One of the major challenges in urban development today is to successfully integrate the informal urban settlements that developed on the outskirts of large cities following the collapse of state socialism. In Bulgaria, the residents of such settlements are almost exclusively Romani. This minority community consequently has to deal not only with the severe infrastructural problems typical of informal settlements but also with social isolation arising from de facto ethnic segregation.



To move beyond resentment, racial prejudice and social isolation, and turn these ethnic enclaves into a place for cultural exchange and positive social interaction is the main goal of the project. The project's primary focus is 'Fakulteta', one of Bulgaria's biggest Romani neighbourhoods, located on 180 hectares, on the western outskirts of Sofia. Most buildings there were built without a construction permit and lack basic amenities. It is estimated that 40,000 people live in 'Fakulteta'.

Developing mutual trust between the national and regional governments and Romani community organizations is crucial to realizing effective programmes, community participation and viable solutions. The top-down approach will therefore be supplemented by bottom-up strategies. Urban integration problems and prospects were discussed at meetings arranged with the support of non-governmental Romani organizations and/or residents of “Fakulteta”. Representatives of the municipality as well as local and international professionals from the fields of social and political science, architecture, urbanism and economics also attended several meetings and a workshop, where the current situation, past experience, and future steps and strategies were discussed.

Central House of Artists, May 26 – June 8, 2010

The second Moscow Architecture Biennale focused on the question of how to modernize the existing city. As curator Bart Goldhoorn stated, "In the first decade of the 21st century, Russia hoped to be able to create new cities that would offer new environments for new ways of living. Now, both credit and climate crisis make us realize that we should focus on creating this new city from within. In the coming years or even decades, the task of architects and urbanists is not to build new cities on pristine land, but to deal with existing cities: cities that are often badly designed to start with, that are slowly falling apart, and that are inadequate for contemporary life. These are wasteful cities – this is their major problem, but also the key to their revival. Modernization can be financed by making the city more efficient: by reducing energy consumption, by increasing density, by restructuring open space and by developing an economical and social infrastructure that will create jobs and improve the quality of life".



In 2009 the project, 'MAGIC BLOCKS', (an Archis Interventions, Zeppelin and Point 4 initiative, launched in cooperation with ATU, Space Syntax Romania, Hackenbroich Architekten and Platforma 9,81), developed scenarios for the future development and use of socialist-era housing estates in Bucharest. The project was presented both in the exhibition 'Modernization of Modernism', and on May 28 – in a lecture by Constantin Goagea of Zeppelin Association, Bucharest – as part of the panel discussion 'MODERNISM -/+'.

Workshop and Research in Cyprus, May 14-16, 2010

In collaboration with the Urban Research & Development Center (URDC) of Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa/Famagusta



The meeting - which included a site visit to Dip Karpaz/Rizokarpasso and a 2-day workshop in Gazimagusa/Famagusta at the Eastern Mediterranean University Cyprus - resulted in us setting up a local informal group that will subsequently take the form of an NGO affiliated to the Archis network. Our aim thereby is to encourage urban projects in Cyprus, which improve the living conditions and the environment for all citizens, create innovative and integrative conditions for the development of Cyprus, seek ways to move beyond the borders imposed by powerful elites, and to weaken the hold of entrenched psychological barriers.

The local informal group, and thus the future NGO, will develop with the support of Archis Interventions two research projects that will underpin future activities:

_ critical research into urban projects developed over the last 36 years, the focus of which was to establish collaborative participation between Cyprus' two communities. The majority of these projects dealt with the spatial implications of the division of the country. They had an urban perspective or were related in some way to the urban fabric ("buffer zone/green line"). Most of them failed or had only partial success. Analysis of their histories would contribute to both international and local political and urban discourse, and help to clarify the NGO's future strategies.

_ research into the situation in Dip Karpaz/Rizokarpasso, a village in North Cyprus inhabited by members of both communities, with the aim of developing future strategic actions and interventions.

Conference and Workshops in Rotterdam

Auditorium, Netherlands Architecture Institute (Nai), Rotterdam
3. + 4. May 2010

A cooperative project of Archis Interventions, the NAI, Partizan Publik and the University of Amsterdam



The project Architecture of Peace calls upon professionals from the fields of architecture, urbanism, development studies, sociology and conflict studies to engage in long-term research and action directed at rebuilding the post-conflict city.

The inaugural conference presented a variety of professionals with a background in resolving urban conflicts. On the first day, lectures were delivered by Sultan Barakat of the Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU), Department of Politics, University of York; Cees Hamelink of the Free University Amsterdam; Hilton Judin of the Witwatersand University, Johannesburg; Jolyon Leslie of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Afghanistan; Paul van Tongeren of Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC); Kai Vöckler of Archis Interventions. The second day included presentations on Kabul by Allard Wagemaker of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, International Security Studies Department, Netherlands Defense Academy, Breda; and on Nicosia by Gert Breugem of the Urban Development Department, Almere. Lecturers and guests further explored these themes and issues in workshops. A report on the outcomes will be presented soon online.

Workshop in Bucharest

Archis Interventions, Zeppelin and Point 4 in cooperation with Hackenbroich Architekten



The cityscape of Bucharest is dominated by huge, standardized public housing estates, built during the socialist era. The majority of such housing lies along major traffic axes and functions quasi, as 'concrete curtains', blocking the view of all that lies behind it. The traffic axes, full of heavy motorised and pedestrian traffic, function as urban boulevards. Space behind these buildings is generally little used and is rarely directly connected to their front side. If used at all, then without authorization as a parking lot and rubbish dump, or for small private gardens and a few children's playgrounds.

The workshop analysed the different uses made of such space along the Mosilor Boulevard, identified possible new uses, and developed an overall concept for how connections between the 'concrete curtain' structure and the urban fabric behind it might be improved. The urban strategy that ensued identified potential for new developments with regard both to the concrete structure itself and to the area behind it. An activation strategy for the latter is under planning. Further documentation will be published soon.

Discussion in Prishtina

Conference Hall, Municipality of Prishtina
Thursday, 25 February 2010, Prishtina



As part of the Debates on Tour series, the Municipality of Prishtina, the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) and Archis Interventions organised a debate on participatory planning in Prishtina, which was introduced by the Deputy Mayor, Avdullah Hoti The NAI - represented by its director, Ole Bouman - had invited two experts on citizen participation in planning processes to give presentations: Marcel Musch from BVR Adviseurs Ruimtelijke Ontwikkelin and Wilma Ruis from De Beuk organisatieadvies. The Dutch experts then debated the issue with the general public and a panel composed of representatives of the Municipality of Prishtina, Florina Jerliu, Adviser to the Mayor of Prishtina and Luljeta çeku-Sokoli, Director Dept. UCE, Valdet Osmani, President of the Association of Architects of Kosovo and Senat Haliti, Archiedu Students' Network. Kai Vöckler of Archis Interventions/SEE chaired the debate.

Co-plan - Albania
''Urban regulatory plan for Kukës''
Feb 14th 2010, Tirana, Albania:
The ongoing project ''Urban regulatory plan for Kukës'', which builds on Co-Plan's previous experience of designing urban regulatory plans, is based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between USAID and Kukës Municipality. The City Regulatory Plan will steer private investments in Kukës, and bring them in line with public investments. Kukës is situated in northeastern Albania, on the border with Kosovo. Until the early 1970s it was situated at a historical settlement. However, owing to construction of one of Albania's major hydropower plants, it was demolished and moved in 1976 a few km away from its original location to its present one. Construction of the Durrës-Kukës-Morinë highway has already improved links between Kukës and the central part of the country, and has laid the groundwork for a faster, better connection with Kosovo.
The main objectives of the Urban Regulatory Plan are:
1. To equip the city with the instruments necessary to steer urban development
2. To encourage sustainable development of the city by promoting participatory planning processes.

The Urban Regulatory Plan will include a zoning code and establish a GIS database. These will be submitted to the municipality as an aid to further territorial management.


Press to Exit - Macedonia
Feb 1st 2010, Skopje, Macedonia
Press to Exit has just rounded off a series of collaborative exchange and research-based workshops with a final exhibition in Rome, ''If you don't have God, you'd better have a multiverse'', designed by 1:1projects (Rome) in partnership with the Kadist Art Foundation (Paris) and ''Press to Exit" project space (Skopje). The exhibition presents three itinerant workshops that took place in Rome (25-27 September), Skopje (30 October-1 November) and Paris (27-29 November), during which invited groups took part in open discussions on the issues of time and space and how the latter are perceived. Envisaged as a moment of encounter, each workshop included presentations by the participants; a guest lecture or intervention by an invited artist, scholar or scientist; and an event open to the general public. The exhibition in Rome in late January, 2010 was the last chapter of the project, at least for the moment.


IPOP, Institute for Spatial Policies - Slovenia
''Celoveška, what will be''
February 2nd Ljubljana, Slovenia.
A panel discussion named ''Celoveška, what will be'' was organized by IPOP (Institute for Spatial Policies), the local community, the city council of Staro Šiško, and a group of landscape architects named PAZ!PARK. The purpose of the panel was to highlight problems associated with the crossroads at Drenikovo Road/ Ruska Street, and ultimately to enhance public space there. The panel organizers presented some brief spatial analyses of Celoveške Road. In that respect, they offered interesting insights into the spatial regulation of pedestrian zones and their contribution to the new governmental spatial plan.


Muzil - Croatia
''Full Support''
February 2nd 2010, Pula, Croatia
Activists involved in the ''I love Pula-Initiative for Muzil'' gave their full and total support to activists from Zagreb, who blocked the street and organized the rally in protest against plans to turn a section of the pedestrian zone into a ramp for an underground garage, as part of the Cvjetni shopping centre and luxury flats development planned for the historic city centre of Zagreb. On the ''Muzil'' website activists stated, "It must be made clear to the political elite that - in spite of broad legislative and bureaucratic support for the general trend to privatization throughout the whole country - we will not allow the city and public space to be privatized. The city belongs only to the citizens - and only the citizens may legitimately decide about the future of the city.''
The rally protest is still going on.


Right to the City - Croatia
''Activists Arrested''
February 11th 2010, Zagreb, Croatia.
At 03.30 in the morning around 100 riot police arrested 23 activists from ''Green Action'' and the Right to the City initiative in Zagreb, Croatia. The raid took place just hours after 4000 people turned out in snowy conditions to protest against plans to turn a section of the pedestrian zone into a ramp for an underground garage, as part of the Cvjetni shopping centre and luxury flats development planned for the historic city centre of Zagreb. The operation aimed to remove the accommodation container, which the groups had put on Varsavska Street, a pedestrian zone, as a 24-hour info-point, in order to prevent work beginning on the ramp, which is still under legal dispute. Activists inside of the container and on the roof resisted removal peacefully by locking themselves together using arm tubes, and were arrested after the fire brigade cut the tubes. Around 50 more activists blocked roads to prevent the lorry carrying the container from leaving the site, but riot police removed them also. The activists have announced that protests will continue.


Urban - Rural Recycling Design, Vladicin Han
Exhibition ''Once and Never''
February 16th 2009, Vladicin Han, Serbia
Urban activist from Vladicin Han, Ms. Suzana Stankovi?-Aleksi? has announced several activities that will hopefully re-shape the image of modern-day Vladicin Han. One of the current projects (2009-2010) is the reconstruction of the pedestrian zone in Zagubica, a small village situated in East Serbia. This will give Žagubica a chance to enhance tourism and promote its local sightseeing attractions. Suzana has also announced that the exhibition "Once and Never" will be entered in ''Arhienale V'', a competition organized by the Engineering Chambers of Serbia. In that respect, Ms. Stankovic-Aleksic has stated: "Without analysis of current values and situations in V.Han... in the field of XXI century urban-design planning, we can do little to address the preservation of cultural heritage. Politicians, planners, and architects from Serbia or from V.Han itself have disturbed cultural heritage... important cultural monuments of Serbia. Unfortunately, even in the XXI century, southern Serbia and V.Han display abundant stupidity and social conflicts regarding professionalism, which creates new barriers. How shall we be able to justify our actions in the eyes of the generations to come?''


ADAPTations1 - Bulgaria
''Looking for a funding''
February 17 th 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria
ADAPTATIONS1 from Sofia is currently fundraising for their next project. The project will provide recommendations on improving the physical conditions of Roma communities in Bulgaria. At present the Roma people are suffering from long-term disinvestment in their communities' physical capacity to deliver basic health, welfare and economic growth opportunities. In the past, national and regional governments approached these communities with culturally inappropriate infrastructural and technical solutions. This led to the communities' ongoing marginalization and also fostered their mistrust of the motivations for and efficacy of interventions in public improvements. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) alleges that large numbers of Roma in Bulgaria are segregated from non-Roma populations. Roma live in separate settlements, often walled off by physical barriers such as metal or concrete fences and almost completely removed from the mainstream of Bulgarian social and economic life. As the Government itself recognizes (for e.g. in "1999 Framework Programme for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society") Romani neighborhoods are usually found on the outskirts of cities, town and villages, are not included in urban planning schemes, and therefore lack adequate infrastructure.


Expeditio - Montenegro
''A presentation about Expeditio within the project ''Supernatural Eco Pavilion'', Belgrade''
February 16th Belgrade, Serbia
The Belgrade-based organization "Supernatural Environmental Movement" (Supernatural ekološki pokret) invited a representative of Expeditio to present the work of the organization within the framework of a competition for the "supernatural eco pavilion". The presentation took place in the Cultural Centre "Grad", on 2nd February 2010, at 6.00 p.m. For more information about the organization "Supernatural", please see www.supernaturalfest.com


Novi Put - Bosnia & Herzegovina
''A new website and a upcoming project''
Mon February 22nd 2010, Biha?, Bosina&Herzegovina
The Biha?-based NGO ''Novi Put'' (New Way), an organisation working in the fields of Human Rights and Cultural Management in Una-Sana canton, Bosnia&Herzegovina, has announced that their new website is now online. All activities and news can now be found at www.novi-put.org.
Novi Put is also organising for the third time the event ''Days of German and Austrian Culture in Biha?'', which will take place at schools in Biha?'s municipality. This project is endorsed and supported by the Goethe Institut BiH, Bauern helfen Bauern and the German Embassy in Bosnia&Herzegovina. The aim of this project is to reinforce cultural and educational connections between Bosnia on one side and Germany and Austria on the other. As the NGO ''Novi Put'' says, the main focus of the project is the integration of young people and children, who are the future (adult) citizens of the European Union.

BALKANOLOGY
New Architecture and Urban Phenomena in South Eastern Europe

Architekturzentrum Wien, Vienna (22.10. 2009 - 18.01.2010) in cooperation with SAM - the Swiss Architecture Museum

Curated by Kai Vöckler



Presented in 2008 by the Swiss Architecture Museum in Basel, the exhibition has now opened at Vienna's 'Architekturzentrum', and will run until mid-January. Initially comprised of projects and research from member initiatives of the Archis SEE network, the exhibition now includes new contributions from New-Belgrade, Sofia, Bucharest and Pula. A supplementary event from 20-22 November - the 17th Wiener Architektur Kongress - will also focus on urban development in South Eastern Europe.

www.azw.at

MAGIC BLOCKS
Scenarios for socialist collective housing estates in Bucharest

Exhibition: Muzeul ??ranului Român (09. - 26.11.2009)

An Archis Interventions, Zeppelin and Point 4 initiative, launched in cooperation with ATU, Space Syntax Romania, StudioBASAR, Hackenbroich Architekten and Platforma 9,81



Presented previously in Berlin at AedesLand, the exhibition can now be seen in Bucharest, along with a documentary film about local interventions undertaken in cooperation with StudioBASAR. At a conference on 16 November, presentations by Kai Vöckler (Archis Interventions, Berlin), Michael Obrist (Feld 72, Vienna), Ivan Kucina (University of Architecture, Belgrade) and Justin Baroncea (Point 4, Bucharest) will put the spotlight on architects and planners' strategic interventions, and discuss them with the public. Moderator: Marko Sancanin (Platforma 9,81, Zagreb).

e-zeppelin.ro/magic-blocks

The project is financed by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Programme. Supported by ERSTE Stiftung. Union of Architects Romania, Austrian Cultural Forum Bucharest, and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bucharest. We thank: Velux, Roca, Rockwool, Gealan, Resido, Fakro, Dulux. Media partner: Arhitectura, Arhitext, Igloo media, Bicau, Radio România Actualit??i, Radio Romania Cultural, Radio Bucure?ti, Money Express, 24Fun, RATB, Cotidianul.

Archis Interventions in Prishtina

Knowledge and education: key factors for the future development of Prishtina

Workshop: 5-8 October 2009

In cooperation with the Municipality of Prishtina with the support of Hackenbroich Architekten
Archis Interventions/Prishtina, together with Archis Interventions/Berlin organized a workshop in Prishtina, with the aim of developing a strategic concept that would enable educational and training institutions to play a more active role in the city's future urban development. Prishtina's future prospects and how planning might best support them were discussed with representatives of the Urban Planning Department, the Municipality of Prishtina, and local and international experts, as part of the upcoming process of legalizing structures built without planning permission.



It is necessary to offer future prospects to citizens by developing a realistic strategy that takes the current situation into account but also establishes the principles of viable future development. This is strategic planning based both on a vision and on reliable information, and can therefore offer a solid foundation for consensus and negotiations. The workshop developed a key concept by analyzing Prishtina's potential as the capital of Kosovo, and identified knowledge and education as the key factors for future development. The workshop focused on the latter's spatial implications and formulated the major principles of future urban development. The final result will be presented to the public at the end of the year.


Supported by ERSTE Foundation, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Municipality of Prishtina, Kosovo Foundation for Open Society

Exhibition and Publication, Scenarios for socialist collective housing estates in Bucharest

An Archis Interventions, Zeppelin and Point 4 initiative, launched in cooperation with ATU, Space Syntax Romania, Hackenbroich Architekten and Platforma 9,81.

Exhibition: AedesLand, Savignyplatz, Else-Ury-Bogen 600-601, 10623 Berlin
Duration: 8th Sept.–29th Oct. 2009

A Romanian/English publication will accompany the exhibition:
Stefan Ghenciulescu, Constantin Goagea, Kai Vöckler (eds.), Magic Blocks. Scenarios for socialist collective housing estates in Bucharest. Bucharest: Zeppelin Association 2009. ISBN: 978-973-0-06942-6

Photos by Dragoş Lumpan.

The cityscape of Bucharest is dominated by huge, standardized public housing estates built during the socialist era, mainly in the 1970 and 1980s – in which circa 70 per cent of the city's population still live. These 'concrete curtains' flank established major traffic axes, blocking the view of the parts of Bucharest that lie behind them. Alongside them stand more recently built estates, with a total of as many as 400,000 inhabitants. Following the collapse of state socialism and the introduction of a market economy, most public housing was privatized. Sitting tenants were able to acquire their apartment for a minimal sum. Market factors have since come into play: an apartment's value falls or rises according to its location, amenities and local infrastructure; some apartments are of interest to investors; others are suffering from neglect. Neither officials in the City Housing Department nor individual owners (most of whom are owner-occupiers), are equipped to cope with the new situation – and it is here that the »MAGIC BLOCKS« initiative seeks to make an impact. Launched by Archis Interventions in cooperation with local and international architecture offices and projects, »MAGIC BLOCKS« will present scenarios for the future development and use of housing estates and thereby stimulate public discussion of housing and other social issues in Bucharest. The exhibition illustrates this concept in the light of supplementary information on overall urban development in Bucharest.



»Magic Blocks« opens up a new area of debate in architecture: it addresses the, until now, largely unexplored drawbacks of the privatization of public housing in former eastern bloc countries and asks, what alternatives are available.


more info: e-zeppelin.ro


Zeppelin – Stefan Ghenciulescu, Constantin Goagea, Cosmina Goagea
Point 4 – Justin Baroncea, Carmen Popescu, Jean Craiu
Archis Interventions – Kai Vöckler
with
Space Syntax Romania – Esenghiul Abdul, Christian Beros
ATU – Vera Marin
Platforma 9,81 – Marko Sancanin
Hackenbroich Architekten – Wilfried Hackenbroich


The project is financed by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Programme. The project »Archis Interventions« is supported by ERSTE Stiftung.
We thank: Union of Architects Romania, Austrian Cultural Forum Bucharest, and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bucharest

Archis Interventions in cooperation with Pixels Production

Start of production August 2009

A public campaign designed by Archis Interventions/Prishtina will accompany the process of legalization of informal building in November 2009. Public presentations and a media campaign will broach the issues regarding the most important principles (security, infrastructural connections, social aspects) by raising public awareness.



In addition to public presentations and reports in different media, a TV show is planned, which will be produced in collaboration with Pixels Productions, Prishtina. Different TV channels such as Kohavision/KTV expressed their will to broadcast the show. The TV show will be produced by Visar Geci, co-founder of Archis Interventions/Prishtina and a renowned TV star in Kosovo, in cooperation with Florina Jerliu and Kai Vöckler. Eight broadcasts on different subjects have been planned, recorded on selected sites in Prishtina. They will include the responses of citizens and officials to the situation in dialogue with Visar Geci:

1. Safety: Escape Routes > safety aspects
2. Statics: Building extensions and ground floor cut-offs > safety aspects
3. Minimal Distance: blocked neighbors > social conflicts
4. Overburdened infrastructure: sewage, water supply > life quality
5. Public space: abandoned public sites > life quality
6. Periphery: unconnected city extensions > life quality
7. Natural resources: protection and improvement > life quality
8. Responsibility: common responsibilities > future perspective



The recording of the first 2 broadcasts started at the end of August. The production will be completed in October this year.

Supported by ERSTE Foundation.

Workshop in Kotor, Montenegro/ July 17-18, 2009

Participating: Analog, Archis Interventions, Co-PLAN, EXPEDITIO, Platforma 9,81, Pula Group

The initial meeting of several architectural initiatives and organizations who are dealing with the spatial transformation of the Adriatic coastline in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania focused on an exchange of information by presenting individual research findings and projects. In addition, the driving forces behind the spatial transformation were discussed and a future collaborative project outlined.

In general the Adriatic coastline is facing extensive urbanization triggered mostly by tourism and this has a problematic impact on natural resources and also on domestic economies. There are a number of very different protagonists in this process: the national governments and local municipalities, foreign investors (mostly in Croatia and Montenegro), and private entities, both local and from other regions of the country.



Main issues

-no alternative to tourism economy is being focused on either by the national or the local politicians and persons responsible. Alternative economies are to be addressed by spatial strategies
-the new spatial metropolitan-rural interaction requires new forms of planning and architecture
-public space is suffering as a result of this development process: how can tourism be made public? How can public access still be guaranteed?
-other forms of »tourism« should be addressed by specific programs, for example »cultural tourism«
-protection of natural resources and cultural heritage



Perspective

A new image of the region is required, a vision that not only takes the spatial transformation into account, but also develops a perspective beyond the usual strategy of focusing only on tourism. This vision should include the different aspects of a new landscape, the role of culture and the necessity of public participation.

Supported by ERSTE Foundation

Workshop: AStrategy for Collective Housing, A Legacy of the Socialist Era
Bucharest / April 3-5, 2009

Organised by Archis Interventions together with the Zeppelin Association and Point4, in cooperation with ATU, Space Syntax and Platforma 9,81

All over former Eastern Europe, collective dwellings built in the Socialist era are now in a critical state, in terms both of their structure and their social function. Privatization of this housing fund in the early 90s led to a paradoxical situation. On the one hand, complete social disintegration has left to a chaotic individual development of the units (apartments) and derelict communal spaces. Complete rehabilitation of this housing no longer appears even remotely possible. On the other hand, despite its physical similarities with housing estates in Western countries, this housing was created not to serve disadvantaged social groups (i.e. as "social housing") but as a political means to level class differences (i.e.: as "housing for everybody"). Few alternatives were available and these neighbourhoods consequently still enjoy a degree of social mix and urbanity - although its decline has certainly set in.

Bucharest, one of the largest cities in South-Eastern Europe, is characterized by this type of prefab housing, which accounts for 70 per cent of the city's total housing stock. Bucharest's development was quite specific however: large estates developments were here planned as extensions of the city, not as new towns; a huge number of them are situated in the inner city core, the result of totalitarian planning in the 1980s; and the radical socio-political upheaval of 1989 caused abrupt, extensive change. This makes it a perfect place to study the relationship between totalitarian planning and ultra-liberal growth, between the collective and the individual, and the private and the public spheres.




Results of the workshop - Analysis of the current state of collective housing and development of maintenance strategies

The workshop analysed the current state of collective dwellings built in the socialist era in Bucharest and developed urban, architectural, technical and legislative strategies for these neighbourhoods. The results will be presented locally in June 2009 - in an exhibition supplemented by a programme of public discussions and interventions - and then later be integrated into the "Balkanology" exhibition at the Architekturzentrum Wien/Vienna in October 2009. The project's long-term aim is to support existing programs and also to develop new strategies and model projects.

Supported by ERSTE Foundation, The Austrian Cultural Center and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest

Workshop on the qualification of the urban development in Prishtina
Kosova / March 13-15, 2009

In cooperation with the Municipality of Prishtina and Co-PLAN

Archis Interventions/Prishtina, together with Archis Interventions/Berlin organized a workshop on illegal construction in Prishtina, with the aim of developing a strategic concept ("Manual"), which would enable institutional reaction on an ongoing process of illegal buildings' treatment.

In addition, the workshop has to reflect its strategy concept how it can be generalized and being also helpful in different circumstances with regard to international discourse on urban issues, as represented by the Archis network.



Results of the workshop - The concept for a "Manual" and recommendations on the legalisation process

The first step in developing an implementation strategy was a workshop, in which experts were brought together to develop a "Manual" that explains the principles (relating to security, infrastructural networks and social aspects, etc.), necessary to improve the present situation. The "Manual" was conceived in cooperation with international and local experts, including representatives of the Municipality, the Institute for Spatial Planning of Kosova, and other official organizations.

The workshop participants developed joint recommendations and strategies on how to act in the near future, and jointly formulated provisions for the "Manual". They consider this to have made an important step towards bringing major policymakers into closer contact and cooperation with regard to the legalization issue. It is planned to implement the strategies in summer 2009, in cooperation with the Municipality.

Supported by Friedrich Ebert Foundation and ERSTE Foundation

The exhibition “Balkanology – New Architecture and Urban Phenomena in South Eastern Europe” will be presented at Architekturzentrum Wien/Vienna in October 21, 2009 – January 18, 2010. A conference will accompagny the exhibition from November 6 – 8, 2009. It is planned to extend the “Turbo Urbanism” section of the exhibition with other researches and projects done by member initiatives of the Archis SEE network.

A first meeting of several members of the Archis SEE network took place as part of the conference »Operation: City 2008« in Zagreb, Croatia, in December 2008. Member initiatives’ public presentations illustrated different approaches to intervention in the urban development of their respective cities and were discussed with the audience.

www.operacijagrad.org

_Exhibited at the Swiss Architecture Museum SAM, Basle, Switzerland

Exhibition:
»BALKANOLOGY«
New Architecture and Urban Phenomena in South Eastern Europe

SAM – The Swiss Architecture Museum, Basle (04.10. – 28.12.2008)
in cooperation with the Architekturzentrum Wien/Vienna

Supported by ERSTE Foundation

Curated by Kai Vöckler



In the “Turbo Urbanism” section of the exhibition, four members of the Archis SEE network – Co-PLAN, Tirana; Platforma 9,81, Zagreb; EXPEDITIO, Montenegro and Archis Interventions, Prishtina – were invited to present their work, alongside research projects conducted by Srdjan Jovanović Weiss and Dubravka Sekulić & Ivan Kucina.

»Balkanology« brings together leading architects and urban planners from South Eastern Europe and shows their approaches to fundamental urban transformations. The exhibition illustrates the cultural, social and political dimensions of urban phenomena in the region. The key questions here are, to what extent unregulated, informal urbanism develops new typologies and urban forms, and whether these forms could also emerge under the banner of neo-liberal de-urbanisation in the rest of Europe.

The exhibition presents research projects and concrete interventions, architectural analyses and planning strategies. »Balkanology« deliberately avoids trying to achieve a picture of urban development that would be valid for the whole region. Instead, it uses selected examples from different locations to highlight specific local influences on architecture and urban construction, and thus critically examines the potential for reassessing the scope of urban planning. The Archis SEE network is presented in the exhibition as an ongoing project to assemble different initiatives from the region, for the exchange of knowledge and development of further cooperation. This section of the exhibition shows how initiatives undertaken by architects, planners and urbanists reacted to changes in their respective cities, and how their various concepts and strategies intervened in urban development.

www.sam-basel.org