In Prague, Czech republic., 13th June 2011 - Street For Art, one of very few festivals with major focus on public space, has recently drawn thousands of visitors to Prague’s suburban district Jizni Mesto.
The place of the festival has not been chosen randomly. Jizni Mesto is a typical posthumous child of the communist era, a neighborhood consisting only of prefabricated tower blocks, with plenty of unused and unfriendly public space. Jizni Mesto houses approx. eighty thousand inhabitants, thus making it the biggest common urban settlement in the Czech republic and a saddening reminder of communism.
A feeling of gray anonymity and estrangement is exemplary for communistic common dwellings, where public space lacks its primary social functions. Its inhabitants have no natural chances of social interaction, meeting with other people and communication. The festival was supposed to bring in some fresh air and to demonstrate a model of ideal public space to its visitors.
Central point of the festival was called „ZONA IDEAL“, a 30x30 meters large platform placed right in between prefab tower blocks and a live example of well-designed public space with all of its desired functions. Basic concept of ZONA IDEAL was designed by mjölk architects, who became internationally recognised through a public sauna project. “From the very beginning we worked with an idea of square-shaped stage, that would become the scene of the festival. In addition to this stage, which we designed of wooden pallets and spruce planks, we also had to design some sort of a background facility, that would provide shelter for a podium, a bar and a chillout zone. Due to strictly limited funds, we came up with an idea of scaffold hall, covered from the outside by unvowen textile fabric“ explains Jan Vondrak, one of the architects. “ZONA IDEAL should be a model of ideal public space, an enjoyable place that, even for limited time, serves people and their real social needs“ adds promoter of the festival, David Kaspar.
For ten days, the festival hosted many live concerts, theatrical performances, discussions and workshops. “We wanted to show people how simple it is to make their environment friendlier and more human-like. So one afternoon we held a workshop where festival visitors could design and make simple benches from low-cost materials, such as wooden pallets. Some of them then carried their handmade benches home, placed them in front of their prefab common house and now they have a natural opportunity to sit back outside and chat with a neighbour.“ says Vondrak and adds “We were very glad to be a part of this event, because we feel that cultivation of public space is a unique tool to form social interaction, which directly affects quality of life in any neighborhood.“
One part of the festival programme was designated for experts and scholars. A variety of discussions and workshops offered an opportunity to meet notable guests, architects, artists and sociologists, both local and international, including famous german Raumlabor.
