Plan A+ Klima & Kultur e.V.

Project

268732

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Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

Plan A+ Klima & Kultur e.V.

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Description

Plan A+, a non governmental organisation based in Berlin, creates a physical space and vivid experiences about how we could live and feel in the future. Together with independent thinkers, makers and shakers we celebrate future-proof ways of living, the will to create and a culture of local cooperations with ourselves and nature.

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

Where the connection between nature, humans and culture is in danger of being lost, the non-profit association Plan A+ wants to regenerate a harmonious balance together with our network of designers, architects, artists, artisans, manufacturers, scientists etc. for the wider public. We want a local, cultural and economic renewal: The economic globalisation has undermined local economies and community living, yet we know that local cooperation leads to social cohesion and resilience and is a powerful way to deal with crisis situations. Through Plan A+ we want to concretely address the problems of our network and tie in the needs and interests of different groups of people who want to be part of a positive change.  _ Our interdisciplinary key projects and measures on how we solve the problems between the unconnected triangles:  a. nature + humans + technology b. creative culture + production/ manufacturers/ artisans + consumers are:  > Monthly: 1 x panel talk between 4 Experts from different disciplines.  > Monthly: 1x workshop by a designer, architect, artist, artisan, eco food experts to educate and to inspire for the will to create and live eco-friendly.  > Annually (later Biannually, or seasonally depending on financial support):  Climate & Culture Weekend (CCW) - a Hybrid Weekend Event celebrating socio-ecological culture, the will to create and connect with ourselves and nature. People need an analogue experience to find access to themselves and a better way to live together. Invited are creatives to show and present future-proof products, services, inventions and also to interact with visitors by giving them inspiring To-Do’s to apply at home. 

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

Improvement of these triangular connections: Nature + humans + technology Creative culture + production/ manufacturers/ artisans + consumers Our Driving Force: Creative Culture (Aesthetics) We criticises the fact that non-sustainable design products are usually too expensive or too cheap, both mostly poorly designed due to planned obsolescence, and responding to market interests instead of human and ecological needs. Sustainable products/services must be more research-oriented and become democratic and affordable for all social classes. We know that creative professionals and small circular economies, working independently on sustainable solutions since many years, are now in a unique position to change the conversation about climate change and to collectively turn it into action.That's why we want to bring together a variety of independent creatives to share solutions for future-proof lifestyle through Plan A+ projects. We believe that especially independent creatives who work less profit-oriented, but future-oriented can bring important insights, inspirations and experiences closer to the local people. > Plan A+ wants to offer a physical (locals) and digital space (EU & Global) for them to unfold themselves 2. Our Toolbox: a. Ecological Businesses, Manufacturers & Artisans  ​ ​ a. Small-scale manufacturers, businesses, artisans and technology play a major role in ensuring eco-friendly, human-centered, local and ethical production. But democratising sustainable consumption, working less profit-oriented, but value-oriented is a challenge. Through Plan A+ we want to educate consumers, connect them with local sustainable solutions, products by creatives and manufacturers/artisans. b. Scientists  Anthropologists, sociologists, scientists etc. in theory support us to apply knowledge into practice.   3.Target Audience: Consumers, Locals + Eu Audience:  Read more below question: Please explain the way citizens..ees

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

Aesthetics created by the variety of creative culture is our key tool we’re working with at Plan A+. We believe that society changes when it sees another ideal of itself and design makes an important contribution in terms of describing possible alternatives and turning them into a sensual tangible experience. The vast variety of small independent designers, architects and artists working and experimenting in the field of future-proof and highly aesthetic ways of living and producing since many years, have no real local infrastructure or location in Berlin to actively connect, exchange about problems & solutions, collaborate on socio-ecological experiments and research, share knowledge and cooperatively present possible future-proof solutions, products and services to a local audience on a regular basis. All founders of Plan A+ are architects, designers, artists, design+art historians, cultural managers etc. and we know that talented designers, artists, architects are very picky about what aesthetic platform they are showcasing at and what partners they are cooperating with. We share this fine sensiblity and have found an authentic solution for it: Our non-profit organisation Plan A+ who seeks for authentic partners in order to solve human-and nature-centered problems, and actively step away from greenwashing sponsoring. We have the great opportunity to run our projects and events from the sustainable and futuristic Lobe Block Terrassenhaus in Berlin, designed by Brandlhuber+ Emde, Burlon / Muck Petzet Architekten (nominated for Mies van der Rohe Award 2019). We believe an aesthetic and futuristic space embodies and induces new feelings and possible visions of the future by its very existence and even more so when the right actors, community, speakers, panel hosts and actions also animate visitors through positive experiences. Architecture has a major impact on our consciousness and many visitors from all over Europe feel drawn to this place.  

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

With Plan A+ e. V., we bundle the different perspectives, ideas, practices and approaches with the aim of making this knowledge about a conscious lifestyle tangible, experienceable, and applicable for everyone. We invite all cultural practitioners and the general public to learn from and with each other. As an NGO, we offer our programme to everyone: multi-cultural, multi-age, multi-gender and non-binary gender. Future-proof solutions must be brought closer to everyone, and the plan A+ platform is there for everyone to network, experiment, exchange and to learn with and from each other on the real application of sustainable solutions. We think holistically and want to build bridges between: architecture, design, art, craftsmanship, food, science, technology etc. and in this regard, our programme is aimed at: - Creative scene (designers, architects, artists, musicians, independent circular, small-scale labels etc.) - Sustainable players: zero-waste/ regional gastronomy, regional farmers - Berlin's visitors: architecture lovers, foodies, future enthusiasts, families, cultural workers - Neighbourhood: families/children/young people from the problem district Berlin-Wedding/Gesundbrunnen, but also other districts from Berlin; elderly people looking for retreat places; creative neighbourhood Further we offer an Open Call where anyone can apply to participate in our programme and shape it together with us. Plan A+ wants to inspire and encourage every one to actively participate in cultural change through various projects. Our inclusive programme aims to break down complex content in a playful way in order to serve younger and older people in their everyday lives and shape it together with us. Plan A+ needs more indoor space in order to meet the demand and realise our goals, and we were given the unique opportunity to take over the biggest space in this house. Thus, we’re ambitiously working on being able to afford it e.g. by receiving support from the EU

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

In the long term, we want to create a place of encounter where future ways of living are experimented with, explored, thought about and shaped at the intersection of culture (design/ architecture/ art etc.), social inclusion, science, business and technology.   Whenever we organised a project at Lobe Block so far, so many designers, architects, foodies etc. asked us how they can participate, who to contact and even intrinsically approached us to host workshops or become a speaker or exhibitor at CCW. We noticed that there is a real need of people for more analogue experiences and for refinding access to themselves and to a better way to live together with nature and not against it.  Also visitors keep asking us how they can find out about our socio-ecological programmes at lobe block and tell us about their friends who would also like to participate - so there is definitely a demand for sharing, re-networking and for more regular programmes.  After organising several projects here at Lobe Block, we finally decided to found the NGO plan A+ Klima & Kultur e. V. - in order to help at the intersection of all these various target groups who want to connect and learn with each other. Plan A + in this case stands for added value for everyone and a PLUS +  improvement of the faulty plan A we’re struggling with since more than fifty years.   

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

As a non-profit organisation, we are intrinsically motivated to do good and act authentically. During the pandemic we obviously had to pause our projects, but the more determined we want to return and above all be there for those who have come into distress as a result of the pandemic.  These are, on the one hand, creative cultural and, on the other hand, young, old people and families who feel the need for social encounters and a positive exchange about our future. Every feedback we received in the past was overwhelmingly positive, so the demand is there and we had so much fun planning these events, so we would like to professionalise ourselves through Plan A+ and want to network more visibly through our organisation, with a website and a more regular programme. Our Target Audience: General Public – Consumers, Locals + EU Audience Consuming fair, locally and ecologically is not yet advanced, widespread and inclusive enough. For the majority it's a luxury and this has to change. In a planetary ecological emergency, we need a profound educational shift as well as shifts of expenditure e. g. from military towards environmental security. More education, different advertisement and a strong regional infrastructure is crucial, so that everyone can become part of this positive transformation.  Plan A+ wants to inspire and encourage every one to actively participate in cultural change through creative activists and scholars. Our inclusive programme aims to break down complex content in a playful way in order to serve younger and older people in their everyday lives. 

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

The interdisciplinary Plan A+ programme and network has a model character, since to our knowledge such a linkage of different creative scenes, sciences, vast variety of target groups as well as a flexible and made-to-measure programme for different target groups does not really exist in Berlin on such a high aesthetic level. Thus, the format we research and curate also represents a pioneering model for other cities in Germany or the EU. The aesthetic and direct exchange between local experts from culture, environment, science and business with citizens in different regions can also be organised independently of a fixed location for other cities, small towns or villages. In this way we would be delighted to grow and see Plan A+ popping up in other places all over Germany and the EU. > The Plan A+ platform is an attempt to close the circle between socio-ecological thinkers, local makers and consumers first on a very local level. The plan A+ model can be applied in other cities and regions EU-wide.         

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

The main reason why there are new directions in the creative scene in particular is that creative work has expanded beyond its product and service fixation to a more process-oriented practice and an awareness of the impact that creatives have on this world. In these processes, designers are often led beyond the confines of growth-oriented economic progress towards social progress. They are constantly reminded that they cannot operate outside of a social context and that their work has an impact (however small) on the dynamic balance of the earth. More and more designers, architects and artists are becoming aware of the dilemma of their profession and their co-responsibility of the environmental destruction / growth constraints of capitalism.    Innovation can’t only be technology-oriented - and creatives perfectly demonstrate how to think, produce, create and coexist holistically:  a. either away from excessive consumption & production of new hollow non-sustainable trends  b. or if consumption, then only circular, regional, holistic, socially and environmentally sustainable.   We find this sustainable commitment worthy of support, and we believe politicians and economists can learn from these new perspectives and visions.     Plan A+ is an experiment, a kind of nerve cell that learns to unfold itself. 

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.