August 28, 2018 De-a Arhitectura

URBAN UP! BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS

In the fifth year of its activity, the De-a Arhitectura Association launches a new project, Urban Up! Built Environment for High-School Students, through which the organization diversifies its portfolio with another age group, that of high-school students. Under the umbrella of the Together with Lidl for a better future program, the project was selected following a competition in the field of educational projects.

WHY?

  • There is a lack of knowledge about the way the environment we live in is transformed.
  • There are too few occasions for high-school students to meet active and passionate professionals who can be a model and reference point for their professional development and at the same time positive examples of engagement in society.

WHAT?

  • We can bring knowledge and shape attitudes about the values ​​of the built environment, sustainable development and the role of young people in the processes of transformation that affect their cities.
  • We will help them acquire skills to learn how to learn, to communicate and work in a team, consequently becoming citizens aware of the built environment, as well as promoters of positive changes in their cities.

HOW?

  • Through interactive workshops and accessible teaching materials.
  • Through the cooperation between formal and informal education: the materials on the website will be able to inspire non-formal methods in school disciplines as well.
  • By increasing the capacity of young professionals to be facilitators of understanding the built environment – closer ties between the architects’ and city planners’ professional environment and the educational environment.

KNOW THE PROJECT – WORKSHOPS:

On Saturdays, in order to have a special time dedicated to working together, the De-a Arhitectura Association offers to high-school students meetings with built environment professionals (architects, city planners, engineers, anthropologists).

Through interactive exercises, the participants will better understand how our cities are transformed, why we should care about building quality, why we should care about heritage values, which are the relevant exciting places to spend time together with the other citizens who have similar interests, how to design, imagine and present those places, how accessible are certain areas of the city, etc.

The workshops are offering a wide array of opportunities to discuss with active and passionate professionals who can be role-models for high-school students in their professional orientation, but also examples of involvement in society.

WORKSHOP A
Monument, who are you? + Anti-boredom map

Each of us lives the city, uses it. But do we really know it? Do we love it? What are the places we consider important and why? If there were others who would see them as I see them, would they use them and love them just as I do?

Come to this workshop and you will be able to see what places in your city your colleagues like, you can recommend your own anti-boredom map, but you will also be able to better understand why some buildings are considered by professionals as having heritage values and what the inhabitants say about them.

Presentation download: Monument, who are you? + Anti-boredom map (PDF) // In Romanian

WORKSHOP B
A project for my city + City tour

The space of ​​the city is something concrete that influences you. But you also can influence the city, even if not as much as you can influence your home space. How do our cities transform? What do we know about how decisions are made on projects that change parts of the city? How would we introduce our city if it were a BRAND?

Come to this workshop and you can offer useful ideas playing the role of someone who decides how to spend public money, you can make an online tour for anyone who would like to know better the places you like for yourself and your colleagues.

WORKSHOP C
Not in the mood today + The claimed city

Do you know the links between the built environment and the physical and emotional state of those who use it? Have you ever explored the aspects that influence the quality of life in your city? Can you say if a city area has all the amenities necessary for its inhabitants? Can you figure out why you like one place and not another? Why are some places appreciated by others, but not by you?

Come to this workshop and you will be able to work with the space analysis criteria that the built environment professionals that guide you use.

WORKSHOP D
Wheeled access + Defendant city

Have you ever imagined how you could accuse the city as a prosecutor or defend the city as a lawyer? What about following an itinerary through an area in the city with a pushchair, a wheel-chair or a suitcase?

Come to this workshop and you will be able to search and present the pros and cons (of an aspect) of the city, you will better understand how the city influences our everyday life, you will experience an area in terms of accessibility and you will gain experience in analyzing the city. Thus, you may become more interested in influencing the decisions made for the harmonious and inclusive development of the city.

BONUS EXERCISE
Future city

In the future, as an inhabitant, you will be part of the local community that shapes its cities according to the values ​​on which that community is based. You will understand, through this exercise, how the development of a city is planned and thus, you will become more aware about what you can do in the future.

KNOW THE PROJECT – URBAN UP! JOURNAL:

  • November, 29th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Timişoara
  • December, 14th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Braşov
  • December, 15th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Iaşi
  • December, 15th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Sibiu
  • December, 16th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Bucharest
  • December, 18th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Cluj-Napoca
  • December, 20th, 2017: Urban Up! Journal in Constanţa