Project intro text: HangOut Vitanje is a project, which was developed at AA Visiting School Slovenia, Vitanje in 2014. The workshop took place at the new, highly specific building KSEVT, Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies, a bold landmark in the tiny Slovenian village of Vitanje of 600 residents that has welcomed over 25,000 visitors in its first year of activity. KSEVT has a public significance and generates social, cultural, and scientific activities, with fixed and temporary exhibitions, conferences and club/- study activities. There is an open need and an exposed potential of Vitanje to become a case study of developing an extreme set of bottom up strategies or prototypes to challenge the conventional notion of tourism. The natural condition of Slovenia as a fragile but diverse landscape and the local phenomenon of obsessive individualism provide principal conditions for nanotourism- a locally generated, bottom up experience tourism.
Project text: Although KSEVT has changed the status quo of Vitanje, its visitors often leave the place right after they see the exhibition. HangOut Vitanje responded to this issue by researching and devising alternative accom- modation strategies and activities, giving KSEVT visitors or local residents a reason to explore the area for a longer period of time – from some hours to several days. HangOut Vitanje proposes an intrinsic experience of renting out a bag kit with a site-specific, XL lace hammock and a map with a set of site suggestions to explore. New discoveries can be noted and uploaded to the project website, where personal spots of interest can be shared. Custom lace hammocks were produced by a reworked traditional bobbing technique to fit specific sites and conditions. They offer a possibility of accommodation and space for activities, while all infrastructures, including the renting service, are available at KSEVT. They represent an alternative to the conventional vision of a hotel or camp- site.
