IAAU 

Savamala, Belgrade - 02.06-07.06.2014

 

Much like other cities ravaged by political and cultural changes spanning over centuries, Belgrade is a place where decay and progress go hand in hand. The two extremes blend and spread throughout the city, and can be seen at every corner, on every façade. Some say that it can even be felt, and that this force somehow moves, like jazz. Belgrade is a score of an eclectic mix of notes, creating a rhythm, a pace that may not seem like music to most; yet, to those who recognize the beauty of chaos, it is not just music, it is more.

 

Savamala is a district in central old Belgrade on the east bank of the river Sava, crippled by years of mismanagement and neglect; a playground for delinquents, and overshadowed by bridges and volumes of passing traffic, Savamala fails to excite and invite its passers-by to stay the day. Not many get to see its architectural gems, hidden underneath sheaths of time. Long ago, the district was the center of trade, culture and history, only to lose its appeal at the turn of the century when the ruling bodies redirected their attention towards expansion, leaving it to fend for itself. The historic Kalemegdan fortress looms over the area, but fails to lead its visitors to the old warehouses, run-down residences, and forgotten craft shops. 

 

A city of significance for two empires, a seat of socialist and post socialist regimes, Belgrade does not show signs of stopping as changes sway the place even today. Change is norm, not the aberration. It is a city of never-ending, pace-shifting rhythm. It is a modern-day Fitzgeraldian city of demise and rebirth. And it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but for jazz lovers- it is more.

 

The Game

 

The workshop will be based on gameplay/ interactivity principles that will simulate coalition building around urgent issues of Savamala, such as re-use of vacant and derelict spaces, infrastructural changes, economic and social (self) sustainability, improvement of environmental conditions, etc. Based on the “what if…” triggers and role-play formulas, the urban game will use collective intelligence (including all possible conflicts, competition and lobbies) to come up with co-created scenarios and define possible future programmatic content of the whole neighbourhood.

 

The game will compel participants to balance their collaborative and competitive behaviour against each other in order to make Savamala flourish. In a “safe” environment, the participants will be able to exercise and speculate about the best ways, strategies and instruments to develop Savamala. 

 

Please find the workshop programme here.

 

The deadline for applications has already passed for this workshop. Please keep checking our workshops page for details on upcoming workshops in Tirana and Skopje.