Circo Aéreo

Project

268238

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

Circo Aéreo

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Description

Circo aéreo is an itinerary installation that explores the underused potential of empty urban spaces and their often inadequate and barren substitute functions. The object re-actives those underused locations by providing a stage for events, and a place to hang out, or rest.  Additionally, the new intervention generates a sense of care and belonging to the space, hopefully leading to daily cleaning and improved security on the location.

Where was your project implemented in the EU?

When was your project implemented?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Which programme(s) or fund(s)? Provide the name of the programme(s)/fund(s), the strand/action line as relevant and the year.

Please provide a summary of your project

Circo Aéreo is an installation that works as a mobile public space. The piece reactivates underused urban spaces by bringing them purpose. Tackling the issues related to climate change such that of overheat in our cities, Circo Aéreo provides shading to otherwise over-exposed green-less spaces. It's integrated seating, evening illumination, and circular shape makes it the ideal stage for events and public functions. Even in the most densely packed cities, your bound to find unused or underutilized urban space that are often converted into barren parking lots or junkyards. Addressing this problem Circo Aéreo was created an inflatable amphitheatre that can be used for events or simply a place for a rest and leisure.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met

At our studio we are dedicated to projects with a positive impact on the users, the environment, and the surrounding communities. It is our responsibility, as architects, to be considerate of all aspects of the built environment. By researching urban problems related to climate change, we actively challenge the functions of public spaces, transforming them into educational, interactive, and conscious catalysts. The Circo Aéreo object re-adapts and re-actives underused locations. The 4mt high inflatable is a canvas for projections and a light source for the evening, and a shading provider for hot days. The ring-shaped object is also a visual reminder of the issue of CO2 production in our cities, by representing the amount of 1 ton in the size of the air balloon, therefore raising the environmental awareness in the public realm, giving citizens the opportunity to reflect on their current way of living. The inflatable material is recycled from a previous use in the city of Brno, and we are glad to be able to reuse the material with an altered and improved function. We believe it is imperative nowadays to try and consume less and try and retro-fit first.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met

Our goal was to create an installation that would appeal to the public from a distance. The inflatable ring is an intervention that arouses initial curiosity, while the wooden open structure encourages exploration and entry. The greatest emphasis is placed on the experience and feelings of the visitors who respond to these attractions and enter. Harmony of circular space; wooden arcades optically separating the space inside and outside; a monumental opening to the sky, these are all actually elements of sacral architecture that evokes feelings of wonder and grandeur in each of us. The design of the white inflatable ring is created to allow you to experience the outdoor space, thanks to its open view of the sky. In addition, however, it creates a frame for this celestial view, which breaks down the disturbing elements and aims the viewer's gaze directly into the sky vault above it. The wooden load-bearing structure also has its aesthetic significance: the wooden colonnade creates an arcade, evoking ancient antique buildings or a Renaissance square.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion and how these have been met

We have created a transportable piece of urban space which is possible to put to any empty, unused or abandoned but public place to make it alive, change the place to something which can be beneficial for the community and for the people who live in the city. Big cities are struggling with drought and heat climate change. The problem is, for example, concrete and asphalt surfaces, which during the summer the heat radiates heat, thus worsening the surrounding microclimate. We are all struggling with this problem without exception, especially the inhabitants and visitors of large cities where such areas occur. Circo Aéreo offers up to 15 people at once a sitting area and shelter from the sun. The aim of the prototyp was to see how the public would accept this project, so for us as the architects it was essential to try out the application of natural principles and technologies in urban space and to monitor the impact on the public.  The prototype is actually a stand-alone and universal urban furniture. Its location in the city is not conditional. It can function as its own public meeting space - shelter, tram stop, square, art gallery, retail space.

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

Circo Aéreo itinerary installation that explores the underused potential of any empty urban spaces and their often inadequate and barren substitute functions, such as parking facilities. The object re-actives those underused locations by providing a stage for events, and a place to hang out, or rest. The 4mt high inflatable is a canvas for projections and a light source for the evening, and a shading provider for hot days. An all-inculsive public space that can be customed, shipped, mounted in a very short time, without the need of heavy installations, we are able to put whole installation to one box. The piece reactivates underused urban spaces by bringing them purpose. Different from public furniture it provides with more items into one: seating, shading, illumination, attractor, etc. Additionally, the new intervention generates a sense of care and belonging to the space, hopefully leading to daily cleaning and improved security on the location.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project

We tried to change this place to something which can be beneficial for the community and for the people who live in the city, we basically tried to use the space differently. During festival Concentrico in Logrono we brought to local people new public space which replaced the parking lot for a few days. The space was used as a place of rest and meeting, but also served for the festival program as a stage for lectures. Municipal and local festivals, neighborhood meetings and the use of public space by city dwellers are becoming increasingly popular. We also see it in the Czech Republic. By placing a similar element in an empty space, we support the holding of these events, giving residents more opportunities for initiative and creativity. After the publication of the installation in Logrono, we got a great deal of feedback, we were also approached by the organizers of the festival in the USA and the installation became the main stage of one month of dance and theatre performances of The Race & Climate Change Festival in Seattle. Also other municipality are interested about the intervence for various purposes.  It's amazing how many options a single installation opens up for different-minded people.

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

An all-inculsive public space that can be customed, shipped, mounted in a very short time, without the need of heavy installations, we are able to put whole installation to one box. The piece reactivates underused urban spaces by bringing them purpose. Different from public furniture it provides with more items into one: seating, shading, illumination, attractor, etc. Object that can change a place to something which can be beneficial for the community and makes better living standards in cities.

Please explain how the project led to results or learnings which could be transferred to other interested parties

The design of a prototype, which is created the way that it can be easily folded or unfolded, transported to another location and also easily repaired, can be a simple solution for usable furniture in public space.  We would like to help cities how a vacant property can become an interesting alive location, playing an active role in the urban and economic transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and life of the city. This all with the mobile installation which can be easily bring to the place all around the world even without our supervision.

Is an evaluation report or any relevant independent evaluation source available?

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the Awards more than once under the same category and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.