Phase 3: Offshoots

In the third phase we facilitated concrete actions based on the new localised ideas and networks. In this case the idea was to make an incubator for local projects in the empty train station. One of our actions was to design and build a module for the old train station that had a number functions.

A bench

A table

A stage

Our idea was that the flexibility of this design makes it less finished and more open for new ideas and discussions.

We did some practical things that made the Station function better like building a common storage

Some local musicians passed by and noticed the bad acoustics in the biggest room in the station – it used to be the waiting area. We made a large acoustic curtain that improved the discussion “climate” in the building.

We tried out a number of ways to use the building with local people; a cinema evening

Eating together

DJ Dr Jazz pLayed some of his records. This was also a test of the new acoustic curtain to see if it improved the possibility to play music there. It did.

Finally we organised a number of public meetings that discussed the use of the building so far.

As a result of the meeting and the prototyping before that, the building is slowly coming alive with a formal association, a local theatre group setting up their plays and more music arrangements.See all the photos here

In the third phase we also worked with the langauge that is used to talk about the local community. In our case we discovered the word offshoots which was used to describe a number of actions in the community like:

The many additions to the self build houses or how you move into an existing old factory building.

A new curated walk was organised to discuss the offshoots in the community and formalising the use of that word. We also choose to use the word offshoots to describe the third phase in the CiTyBee process:

Concrete spatial actions: either building and taking space in a visual and functional way but also changing the way we talk about space. Offshoots are ongoing changes to what is already there. Always leaving little seeds of imperfection that makes it open to new stories, discussions and offshoots.

Phase 2: Dialogue

The second phase starts with a public meeting where the map shows often conflicting interests or different views on the same place. This is our way of making the dialogue more constructive – to make people know about other peoples views and disagreeing in a civilised way.

We work out the important issues of the community and start seeing some patterns of possibilities. The dialogue and further stories are also taken to the streets in curated walks. People are free to join in and it usually leads to new stories.

A second public meeting is set in a place central to the local community – here it is a garden that used to belong to a old factory. We opened the garden for experiments before the meeting – inviting people to come with their ideas. Being, building and discussing it in the actual space makes the discussion about space more concrete.

For the actual meeting people would discuss new ideas and form networks around these – Or just build something themselves – for themselves.

Out of this second public meeting evolves a number of new localised networks and ideas.

Materials

We collaborated with the builders in the Cooperative Maj. On their recommendation we found some simple combinations of materials that are very easy to work with without being a skilled Craftsperson.

We work with 2 by 2 timber and special type of screws that partly drill themselves through the wood to avoid it from splintering. The timber is rounded on all edges and very fast too cut.

If timber and screws make the “skeleton” of a construction then Tarpaulin makes the skin. We both use recycled stuff (like the Freitag bags) and leftover pieces. Tarpaulin is an amazingly strong material. These materials can be combined in a number of ways and incorporate local materials.

Behind the practical aspects lies the wish to free the possibilities in a community by collaborating and communicating – building together. Appropriating or “taking” a space by actually building something on the spot instead of – or as a part of – discussing what could happen there.

Screws