M3 Odblokuj! Platforma działań przestrzennych i artystycznych – M3 Unblock it! A Platform of spatial and artistic activities

www.odblokuj.org/M3

The aim of the project was the symbolic transfer of a model of a typical ‘70s flat to the public space. The structure of the flat became a framework for various events, exhibitions, and meetings related to culture, architecture, history, and nature.

The depiction of the M3 flat in the green area of the Valley was supposed to provoke a discussion on the improvement of life quality and the use of green areas.

The following activities were realised in the course of the project:

EXHIBITIONS

• SND 1970+ (27.08 – 11.09.2011)

From a settlement surrounded by orchards, through house factories, to the contemporary blocks of flats – an exhibition on the history of Służew nad Dolinką and the possible scenarios for the future of the estate. The exhibition was accompanied by two discussion meetings and a walk.

• M3_METAMORFOZY – M3_METAMORPHOSES (27.08 – 11.09.2011) exhibition pavilion

Is it possible to live in the miniature space of the standard two-bedroom apartment? Five young interior designers presented methods of its arrangement, adapting the space to the needs of various types of residents (e.g. singles, seniors, families with children, or students).

Two actions were organised along with the exhibition:

POGOTOWIE MIESZKANIOWE – HOUSING EMERGENCY SERVICE (01.09 and 03.09.2011)

The authors of the presented metamorphoses advised how to change your flat.

POGOTOWIE BALKONOWE – BALCONY EMERGENCY SERVICE

A landscape designer gave practical advice on how to create a real garden on a small balcony.

• SND_PERCEPCJA – SND_PERCEPTION (27.08 – 11.09.2011) exhibition pavilion and nearby blocks

A series of photographs showing the unknown face of the area.

• SND_MIESZKAŃCY – SND_RESIDENTS (03.09 – 11.09.2011) exhibition pavilion

Cities are not just buildings, cities are people. Let’s get to know each other! A series of portraits of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood were created and exhibited during the action.

 

LETNIE KINO – SUMMER CINEMA (2011: 31.08, 03.09, 07.09, 10.09)

Polish comedies featuring blocks of flats.

 

WORKSHOPS

For children and adults

• archiTEKTURKI – A series of architecture and space workshops for children aged from 5 to 8 years.

1.DOM Z NICZEGO (A HOUSE OUT OF NOTHING) 27.08.2011 – How to use natural materials for building?

2.OD WSI DO MIASTA (FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE TO THE CITY) 28.08.2011 – How did the inhabitants of this area live before the blocks were constructed?

3.MALUJEMY BLOKI (LET’S PAINT THE BLOCKS) 03.09.2011 – Can colour and imagination change the grey blocks?

4.MAKSYMALNE KONSTRUKCJE (MAXI CONSTRUCTIONS) 04.09.2011 – Who can build the highest construction?

5.FABRYKA DOMÓW (HOUSE FACTORY) 10.09.2011

6.OD BLOKOWISKA DO MIASTA (FROM THE BLOCKS TO THE CITY) 11.09.2011 – How to breathe life into the houses built in our factory?

• LETNIA KUCHNIA (SUMMER KITCHEN) – Cooking workshop 02.09 and 09.09.2011
• PSTRYKNIJ SND (LET’S TAKE A PHOTO OF SND) Pinhole photography workshop – an unusual method of taking photos
• JOGA NA TRAWIE (YOGA ON THE GRASS) 2011: 28.08, 30.08, 04.09, 11.09

 

ACTIONS

Together with its residents, we revive the area of Dolinka Służewiecka

• SĄSIEDZKA BIBLIOTEKA (NEIGHBOURS’ LIBRARY) Books brought by neighbours wait on the bookshelves to find new owners /27.08.2011
• UWALNIANIE PIWNICY (EMPTY YOUR CELLAR) Exchange of things we no longer use or need /10.09.2011
• SND_TO LUBIĘ (SND_I LIKE IT) Creating an emotional map of the area. What do we like and what do we dislike here? /28.08.2011
• PICNICS At the weekends of the opening and closing of the M3 pavilion, the residents were invited for picnics /28.08 and 10.09.2011
• DANCING POD LIPĄ (DANCING UNDER THE LINDEN TREE) The atmosphere of the old house parties was brought back by a DJ playing the hits from the times of the creation of the SND housing estate /27.08.2011
• TA OSTATNIA NIEDZIELA (THE LAST SUNDAY) Dancing to the familiar sounds of vinyl records – saying a musical goodbye to the summer /11.09.2011

MEETINGS

Around the SND 1970+ exhibition

• SND IDENTITY

What is the identity of the SND housing estate and its residents? What are their problems? What is its potential? What are the possible directions of its development? 31.08.2011

• SND – THE PAST AND THE FUTURE

The beginnings, urban planning premises, present condition, and the future of Służew were discussed with the estate designers, representatives of SND Housing Cooperative, and young architects. 07.09.2011

• SŁUŻEW ARCHITECTURE – A WALK

From St Catherine’s church to large panel buildings – a walk around SND. 28.08.2011

INSTALLATIONS

A creative look at the area

• MUZYCZNA MASZYNA (MUSICAL MACHINE) /Nicholas Trond Perry and Agata Sander. The machine plays out the melody of the stream.
• PLATFORMA WIDOKOWA (VIEWING PLATFORM) /Marek Happach and Iwo Kęsy. A balcony in a new role.
• WIDOK Z OKNA (WINDOW VIEW) /Krzysztof Herman. A city made of plant puzzles.
• MOBILNA KUCHNIA (MOBILE KITCHEN) /Marlena Happach and Monika Komorowska. The M3 pavilion’s kitchen.
• S.Ł.O.M.Y. /Anna Zawadzka and Michał Piasecki. Urban furniture made of straw.
• MURAL /Wojciech Tylbor-Kubrakiewicz

· 0.01 m³ /Tomasz Gancarczyk. Microinterventions in the crowns of trees

 

Key actors

Odblokuj (Unblock) – the Association for the Improvement of the Living Environment:

• Marlena Happach: curator, co-author of the Mobile Kitchen installation in cooperation with Monika Komorowska, workshops organiser
• Monika Komorowska: producer, co-author of the Mobile Kitchen installation in cooperation with Marlena Happach, workshops organiser
• Magdalena Wrzesień: co-author of the history exhibition SND 1970+, photo coverage
• Marek Happach: main designer of the architectural structure of the M3 pavilion, co-author of the Viewing Platform installation in cooperation with Iwo Kęsy
• Paweł Kłudkiewicz: co-author of the architectural conception of the M3 pavilion, author of the visual identity design
• Dorota Kudła-Kubrakiewicz: author of one of the projects of M3_Metamorphoses, member of the Housing Emergency Service
• Dominika Tomaszewska: author of one of the projects of M3_Metamorphoses, member of the Housing Emergency Service
• Wojciech Tylbor-Kubrakiewicz: author of the Mural
• Agata Sander: co-author of the Musical Machine installation in cooperation with Nicholas Perry
• Anna Zawadzka: co-author of the S.Ł.O.M.Y. installation in cooperation with Michał Piasecki
• Trond Nicholas Perry: co-author of the Musical Machine installation in cooperation with Agata Sander
• Michał Piasecki: co-author of the S.Ł.O.M.Y. installation in cooperation with Anna Zawadzka
• Tomasz Gancarczyk: author of the 0.01m³ installation
• Iwo Kęsy: co-author of the Viewing Platform installation in cooperation with Marek Happach
• Krzysztof Herman: author of the Window View installation
• Paulina Jeziorek: co-author of the SND_wideosonda installation in cooperation with Tomasz Adamowicz
• Tomasz Adamowicz: co-author of the SND_wideosonda installation in cooperation with Paulina Jeziorek
• Michael Cooke: author of one of the projects of M3_Metamorphoses
• Magdalena Korzec: author of one of the projects of M3_Metamorphoses, member of the Housing Emergency Service, curator of the Neighbours’ Library
• Małgorzata Szendzielarz: assistant of the project’s producer
• Tomasz Kaczor: author of the SND_Perception photo exhibition, photography workshops organiser
• Konrad Ćwik: author of the SND_Residents action and photo exhibition
• Iga Kołodziej: member of the Balcony Emergency Service, taking care of the visitors
• Katarzyna Juchniewicz: organiser of the walk around Służew
• Aleksandra Wiktorko: member of the Balcony Emergency Service, author of the arrangement of the balcony of the pavilion
• Magdalena Cąkała: help in the construction of the pavilion
• Barbara Nawrocka author of the blog and informative texts, help in the workshops, taking care of the visitors
• Ludwika Ignatowicz: help in the realisation of the SND_I like it action, taking care of the visitors
• Rosela Ciko: running the yoga workshops
• Magdalena Wróblewska: running the yoga workshops

Residents of the Służew district, families, children, parents, seniors. Persons of all age groups, residents of the nearby Służew housing estate. Local NGOs and local authorities.

 

Role of design

The influence of design thinking is clearly visible in the project. The M3 pavilion was created by architects and designers. The project’s visual identity was consistent and well designed and the general concept of the project was well planned. It was based on the idea that architecture and design have the power to catalyse social processes related to the living space and that temporary constructions and interventions on a small scale can have a lasting influence on a place as well as activate the social capital of its residents.

 

CONTACT (of the editor)

Anna Pilch – Organization : Stowarzyszenie na rzecz poprawy środowiska mieszkalnego „Odblokuj” Odblokuj (Unblock) – the Association for the Improvement of the Living Environment – Email: stowarzyszenie@odblokuj.org