Funded by the European Culture programme 2007/2013
The project focused its observations, analyses, production, communication and mediation on various initiatives resulting from a bottom-up process (started by non-institutionalised actors: citizens, artists, and associations) that reshape the forms and ownership of public space. These creative “human-centred” initiatives, which result in various forms of investment in the city, reconcile two aspects of the very concept of public space: the political aspect as a place for exchange and participation, and the material aspect as a place accessible to all.
The outcomes were the following:
– a Toolbox including a selection of existing European bottom-up initiatives
– an Observation Mission tool that allows analysis and evaluation of public space initiatives
– a Web-documentary that gives voice to a number of citizens, associations and artists
– an Open call “Upcycling – Urban readymades” which gathered projects that rethink, re-use and reinvent public space
– Human Cities Festival “Reclaiming Public Space”, held in Brussels in March 2012.
– Human Cities Symposium “Civil Society Reclaims Public Spaces. Cross Perspectives Based on Research” as a part of the Human Cities Festival: link pdf
This work enhanced the people’s active engagement and participation through human-centered and participatory design approach, in order to explore and experiment the will to reappropriate public space.
Partners:
ULB-Faculté d’Architecture La Cambre-Horta (BE), Pro Materia (BE), Cité du Design (FR), Politecnico di Milano (IT), Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (SI), Strategic Design Scenarios (BE), Time Circus (BE), Clear Village (UK)
2020-2024
Human Cities / SMOTIES – Creative works with small and remote places
2014-2018
Human Cities / Challenging the city scale