Urbani izziv Volume 29, No. supplement, September 2018
: 95-108
(Articles)
doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2018-29-supplement-006
Author
Boštjan BUGARIČ
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture, Ljubljana, Slovenia
bostjan@architectuul.com
Title
Urban acupuncture treatment: Implementing communication tools with youth in Ljubljana suburbs
Abstract
Urban acupuncture actions are small-scale, bottom-up projects that foster community building. The approach provides an alternative to investor urbanism and motivates residents of neglected neighbourhoods to engage in place-making. The playground in Ljubljana’s suburb of Zalog is a perfect example of an intervention that converted a neglected site into a main meeting point of the neighbourhood. The needs of youngsters were inquired about and considered; they became active partners in the transformation of public space. Urban acupuncture is a valuable tool for place-making in locations where market forces overshadow the residents’ ability to make decisions about their own right to the city.
Key Words
urban acupuncture, place-making, investor urbanism, neighbourhoods, participation