A city in which we want to live in should be created by all of us. From politicians, clerks, cultural community, to the ordinary people who just want to live their lives here, we should all have our say. We cannot achieve this without mutual cooperation and therefore, we constantly try to improve and find new, effective, and creative solutions. This event during which we were meant to host 4 interesting workshops, a world-known expert and an authentic city tour of places you haven’t seen before has been postponed due to coronavirus pandemic.
Learn something new from a data expert
When and where: September 24, 2020; 5:00 pm, ONLINE
Data visualization is a graphical representation of data. In the past, it was used in their work mainly by data analysts, but in recent years we have encountered data visualizations in everyday life. Urban activists have also sought to grasp the opportunity, trusting that well-informed residents will likely turn into better citizens. Yet, research shows that visualization designers do not necessarily satisfy these expectations.
You will find out the answer to where we failed in a lecture Exploration vs Explanation. Engaging citizens through data visualizations by Karol Piekarsky. He will tell you what it takes to design engaging visualizations and how to avoid the most common mistakes when developing tools for data sharing and presentation.
Karol Piekarski is the program director of Medialab Katowice – an experimental project that combines creative, research, and educational activities. He leads interdisciplinary projects focused on data processing and visualization. Join us for his online lecture on our Facebook or via Youtube.
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Urban space mapping and common planning
When and where: September 25, 2020; 9:00 – 12:00 am, Kino Úsmev, Kasárenské námestie 2
Lecturer: Zuzana Tabačková
Processes based on sharing have a positive impact not only on the development of the city but also on its cultural environment. Sharing information and tools improves interpersonal relationships and strengthens societal values. It is important to realize which parts of public space encourage collectivity, team spirit, and how we can jointly create these spaces. At the workshop, you will explore and reflect on these questions by mapping existing or potential spaces in the city center of Košice.
Zuzana Tabačková is a researcher and lecturer in urban design at the Technical University of Berlin, but above all, she is a member of the Spolka – a team of architects, urban planners, and sociologists involved in creating space and engaging the public in creating cities. Focusing mainly on Central and Eastern Europe, their aim is to develop the public realm through educational and artistic events. At the same time, they support the dialogue between the public and institutions.
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Critical thinking and design for a better society
When and where: September 25, 2020; 9:00 – 12:00 am, ONLINE
Lecturer: Hana Skljarszka
We all have our own perspective which affects the way we perceive the world around us. Each of us carries his/her own share – job, field, age. This affects the way we perceive and evaluate ourselves, the people around us, or which problems we consider important.
However, our view is usually very limited and imperfect. Therefore, the best way to expand your horizons is to exchange opinions with others. You should be able to have discussions with others, listen, and exchange cultural views with them. In this divided society, these qualities are priceless. During the workshop, Hana, based on her successful and (especially) unsuccessful collaboration attempts, will give you some tips and tricks on how to remain curious, communicate well, react in a way that avoids unnecessary conflicts and confusion, and conduct group discussions differently than we are used to. The workshop will be friendly, relaxed, and playful, just like Hana.
Hana Skljarzska is a sociologist and coach at the Academy of Critical Thinking. She also leads and facilitates group discussions. For several years, she worked for a non-profit organization LEAF, where she built a network of partners, created and led experiential educational programs, and as a project manager, she assisted in the design of a new high school campus. In Košice, she helped with the preparation of the new cultural strategy for Košice and regularly volunteers with the Jewish religious community which wants to bring Jewish culture closer to the wider public.
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Urban mythology to build better cities
Where and when: September 25, 2020; 9:00 – 12:00 am, KVP Neigbourhood
Lecturer: Mišo Hudák
Do you dream of a better and more pleasant public space? You have a burning desire to change it, but you have no idea how to do it? Come to Mišo’s workshop and find great visible, but also invisible, places and create their identity. Mišo will teach you how to plan strategically and realistically while collaborating with local representatives.
You will visit the KVP neighborhood, which is one of the last completed collective housing projects in the country and has a high population density. All communities require plenty of services for a happy life, but it is not easy to satisfy everyone. Thanks to Mišo and his experience, you will get an overview of the whole process from the identification of the problem, the common planning, budgeting, to the final implementation, and handing over to the public. And all that without the slightest dose of romanticism.
Mišo Hudák is a proud proud citizen of his city – Košice. He has been cycling up and down its steep streets since he was nine years old. He is the founder and Minister of Mythology at Východné pobrežie, which translates to the East Coast. He is also the author of KSC and KSC Code books, informal guides through the city of Košice.
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Design and technology for urban solutions
When: September 25, 2020; 9:00 – 12:00 am, Kasárne/Kulturpark, Kukučínova 2
Lecturer: Boris Vaitovič
Wondering what an energy-producing prototype of a mug or desk looks like? Do you know that you produce so much excess energy that you could charge your phone with it? Boris is trying to draw our attention to the overproduction and luxury in which we live. He materializes known scientific findings in a visually attractive way and actively seeks out ways of using residual energy.
His most recent project is a mug that converts excess temperature which is created when a hot beverage is poured until it’s ready to be consumed. After adding several components, it is possible to generate electricity for a few minutes. The mug ties up with his previous work, such as a table with a closed ecological cycle or a solar table. In the future, Boris plans to create a table that will light up when a warm object is placed on it. Boris’ dream is to create spaces in Košice which will use solar, wind, and, above all, excess heat energy.
Boris Vaitovič works in a new media studio at FUTU in Košice. In recent years, he has focused on multimedia art installations with an ecological context. He actively cooperates with the Slovak Academy of Sciences and a team of enthusiasts with whom he creates his own hardware and software solutions. He is interested in the social impact of media art and the unique experiences it creates. Through optical illusions, miniaturization of the great, or the materialization of the invisible, he seeks to reveal hidden stories so that it directly addresses people and prompts them to reassess their surroundings.
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A workshop that activates public space
When: September 25, 2020, 16:00, Magistrate of Košice, Trieda SNP 48/A
Resident: Juraj Horňák
In his work, Juraj Horňák focuses on product design and the activation of public space. At work, he likes to focus on the process rather than the result itself. He is fascinated by imperfection, city dynamics, streets, change, and temporality. He then transforms all these inspirations into playful and gently provocative interventions in the city. He studied architecture in Brno at the Brno University of Technology and at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava. During his studies, he went on several study exchanges abroad and did internships in Germany and Denmark. After his studies, Juraj completed a three-month art residency in Žilina in the New Synagogue, where he continued to develop his diploma thesis.
He spent 3 months in Košice on an art residence at CIKE. During it, he continued working on his diploma thesis called MestoCity. In this project, he has been working on the activation of public space, especially neglected urban areas, through temporary interventions in the city. In our city, he started a new phase of the project, in which he discovers the potential of public space through a shopping cart. The cart is the perfect tool for playing with the city. With the help of various modifications, he added additional functions to it, which can then be used in the city and involve the local inhabitants. More about the event here.
Photos: archives of lectors, Spolka, Invisible Mag, MestoCity