CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tanks
Basic information
Project Title
CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tanks
Full project title
CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks: Reimagining Bomb Shelters in Ukraine as Alternative Community Spaces
Category
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
Project Description
Six of ELIA's UAx Platform Abakanowicz Fellows from Lviv, a CrAFt reference city, supported by the CrAFt project’s international Core Group of Students, launch an independent CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tank "Reimagining Bomb Shelters in Ukraine as Alternative Community Spaces”. The UAx students will use CrAFt's student-driven methodology, which is rooted in the NEB values. After an event in Lviv in June 2024, the next cohort of UAx students will be select to organise the event in December 2024.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
CrAFt reference cities, including Lviv, Ukraine and CrAFt Sandbox Cities, Ukraine
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
Yes
Which funds
Horizon2020 / Horizon Europe
Description of the project
Summary
Six UAx Platform's Abakanowicz Fellows, supported by the CrAFt Core Group, will launch the CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tank in Lviv, themed "Reimagining Bomb Shelters in Ukraine as Alternative Community Spaces." This initiative, aligned with CrAFt's NEB-inspired transformation, leverages ELIA's interdisciplinary CrAFt Core Group and UAx's network connecting Ukrainian art institutions with ELIA members across Europe. UAx, under ELIA's guidance and AACCF funding, aids war-affected art students and their institutions.
The UAx students, employing CrAFt's methodology, will organise two 2-day CrAFt-UAx Think-Do Tanks, engaging students from UAx's art academies nationwide. The thematic exploration focuses on transforming bomb shelters sustainably, applying NEB values and ensuring a participatory, student-led approach.
The two projects are led by two young professionals in the cultural field, Uliana Furiv and Irene Garofalo. They took the initiative to connect the two projects and root them on the ground in Ukraine.
Specific Objectives
-Train UAx Group in CrAFt methodology.
- Build UAx community's capacity for student-led initiatives.
- Organise two independent CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks.
- Connect students and local stakeholders.
- Inspire ideas for transformative sustainable spaces.
- Establish CrAFt-UAx collaborative learning and exchange.
Target Groups
- CrAFt Core Group Students.
- UAx Abakanowicz Fellows
- Ukrainian students from UAx's art academies and universities.
- Host universities' broader community.
- Local municipalities.
Outcomes
The project aligns with CrAFt's vision for sustainability and inclusivity, empowering UAx students in organizing CrAFt think/do tanks and facilitating their replication across Ukraine. The outcomes aim to contribute to community engagement and connect war-affected art students locally and globally, fostering skill development and replicable initiatives in line with CrAFt's and UAx's overarching goals.
The UAx students, employing CrAFt's methodology, will organise two 2-day CrAFt-UAx Think-Do Tanks, engaging students from UAx's art academies nationwide. The thematic exploration focuses on transforming bomb shelters sustainably, applying NEB values and ensuring a participatory, student-led approach.
The two projects are led by two young professionals in the cultural field, Uliana Furiv and Irene Garofalo. They took the initiative to connect the two projects and root them on the ground in Ukraine.
Specific Objectives
-Train UAx Group in CrAFt methodology.
- Build UAx community's capacity for student-led initiatives.
- Organise two independent CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks.
- Connect students and local stakeholders.
- Inspire ideas for transformative sustainable spaces.
- Establish CrAFt-UAx collaborative learning and exchange.
Target Groups
- CrAFt Core Group Students.
- UAx Abakanowicz Fellows
- Ukrainian students from UAx's art academies and universities.
- Host universities' broader community.
- Local municipalities.
Outcomes
The project aligns with CrAFt's vision for sustainability and inclusivity, empowering UAx students in organizing CrAFt think/do tanks and facilitating their replication across Ukraine. The outcomes aim to contribute to community engagement and connect war-affected art students locally and globally, fostering skill development and replicable initiatives in line with CrAFt's and UAx's overarching goals.
Key objectives for sustainability
The key objectives of the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks in terms of sustainability are focused on supporting war-affected students in Ukraine through their engagement in locally relevant and globally important green transitions. The CrAFt methodology that will be used by the UAx Group of Students in the implementation of the Think/Do Tanks in Lviv and another Ukrainian city will align with the vision of NEB around tangible 'green' practices for the transition towards climate-neutral cities.
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank participants will be challenged to develop innovative solutions to transforming bomb shelters into spaces that can be used beyond the war context, making them inclusive, sustainable and beautiful. Through the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank, interdisciplinary group of students will research, analyse, co-create prototypes of bomb shelters as alternative community spaces across Ukraine, while exploring ecologically friendly practices in bomb-shelter renovation, emphasising energy efficiency and waste reduction and how these related to inclusivity and aesthetics in such spaces. By connecting students from diverse disciplines in arts, design, engineering, architecture and other, students will be encouraged to envision the transformation of bomb shelters from diverse perspectives. Furthermore, students will be prompted to consider their work and proposals in the context of climate adaptation, thereby contributing to a broader and innovative discourse around the concept of ‘sheltering’, relevant internationally beyond the ongoing conflict as cities and communities adapt to deal with the consequences of climate change.
The six UAx Group of Students will be the driving force for connecting student initiative with local stakeholders, including from their own academy, to pitch their prototypes of the transformation of bomb shelters into sustainable and inclusive spaces for community participation and intergenerational exchange.
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank participants will be challenged to develop innovative solutions to transforming bomb shelters into spaces that can be used beyond the war context, making them inclusive, sustainable and beautiful. Through the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank, interdisciplinary group of students will research, analyse, co-create prototypes of bomb shelters as alternative community spaces across Ukraine, while exploring ecologically friendly practices in bomb-shelter renovation, emphasising energy efficiency and waste reduction and how these related to inclusivity and aesthetics in such spaces. By connecting students from diverse disciplines in arts, design, engineering, architecture and other, students will be encouraged to envision the transformation of bomb shelters from diverse perspectives. Furthermore, students will be prompted to consider their work and proposals in the context of climate adaptation, thereby contributing to a broader and innovative discourse around the concept of ‘sheltering’, relevant internationally beyond the ongoing conflict as cities and communities adapt to deal with the consequences of climate change.
The six UAx Group of Students will be the driving force for connecting student initiative with local stakeholders, including from their own academy, to pitch their prototypes of the transformation of bomb shelters into sustainable and inclusive spaces for community participation and intergenerational exchange.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks will employ a pragmatic yet innovative approach to repurpose bomb shelters into versatile spaces, extending their utility beyond wartime and ensuring functionality for diverse community needs during the war and post-war period. The primary objective is to redefine bomb shelters in Ukraine as dynamic hubs for lectures, events, exhibitions, workshops, and various community activities, that could enable meaningful connections among community members of all ages and abilities.
In the two-day events, the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank participants will tackle the provocative task of envisioning and proposing prototypes that balance the quality of experience for people using bomb shelters with the multifunctionality of these spaces. This involves collaboration across disciplines, including arts, design, architecture, engineering, and education, to explore innovative solutions that make these spaces not only functional but also culturally and aesthetically rich. In addition, students will be challenged to find a way to preserve wartime history, pushing back against the notion that sustainability erases cultural heritage.
The think/do tanks format also relates to the concepts of aesthetics and quality of experience for participants throughout the ideation/organisation process and in the structure of the workshop itself. It aims to bring students from disciplines together through applying artistic and participatory methodologies and exercises, and curating the experience in such a way that it would be enriching as an opportunity to learn and connect to all participants (students and stakeholders), and open new avenues for collaboration and exchange. This is rooted in the CrAFt principles for student participation: learning by doing, experience over production/process over product, innovation through experimentation, experimentation over execution, participation over observation, practicing interdisciplinary collaboration.
In the two-day events, the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank participants will tackle the provocative task of envisioning and proposing prototypes that balance the quality of experience for people using bomb shelters with the multifunctionality of these spaces. This involves collaboration across disciplines, including arts, design, architecture, engineering, and education, to explore innovative solutions that make these spaces not only functional but also culturally and aesthetically rich. In addition, students will be challenged to find a way to preserve wartime history, pushing back against the notion that sustainability erases cultural heritage.
The think/do tanks format also relates to the concepts of aesthetics and quality of experience for participants throughout the ideation/organisation process and in the structure of the workshop itself. It aims to bring students from disciplines together through applying artistic and participatory methodologies and exercises, and curating the experience in such a way that it would be enriching as an opportunity to learn and connect to all participants (students and stakeholders), and open new avenues for collaboration and exchange. This is rooted in the CrAFt principles for student participation: learning by doing, experience over production/process over product, innovation through experimentation, experimentation over execution, participation over observation, practicing interdisciplinary collaboration.
Key objectives for inclusion
The CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tanks, with a focus on reimagining bomb shelters as alternative community spaces, will promote inclusivity through interdisciplinary exchanges among students from diverse cities across Ukraine as well as with various municipal and academic stakeholders. The involvement of students from different cities and disciplines is not only a means to ensure diversity but also a valuable contribution to raising awareness of inclusive principles in the next generation and the involved stakeholders. The strength of the think/do tanks is the fact that they will be student-led initiatives, supported by organisations able to provide them with a platform and opportunities to connect with city-stakeholders.
The event will extend its focus beyond sustainability and visual aesthetics. Students involved in the project will concentrate on developing sustainable solutions, ensuring the accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity of the transformed bomb shelters. As part of their inclusivity exploration, students will delve into various aspects of designing inclusive spaces. For instance, having accessible design - ensuring that bomb shelters are designed to accommodate individuals with varying physical abilities (example: incorporation of ramps and wide doorways, ensuring flexible furniture arrangements, etc.).
Additionally, the integration of local culture and historical narrative within the transformed bomb shelters will be explored by students, as a powerful demonstration of the project's dedication to preserving cultural heritage while establishing a sense of continuity within these spaces.
Furthermore, the connection with local communities (be it of students or other citizen groups) will be explored. In terms of methodology, the students will be encouraged to explore participatory formats.
This part is once again rooted in the CrAFt design principles for student participation: plurality of voices, reciprocity & interdisciplinary collaboration.
The event will extend its focus beyond sustainability and visual aesthetics. Students involved in the project will concentrate on developing sustainable solutions, ensuring the accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity of the transformed bomb shelters. As part of their inclusivity exploration, students will delve into various aspects of designing inclusive spaces. For instance, having accessible design - ensuring that bomb shelters are designed to accommodate individuals with varying physical abilities (example: incorporation of ramps and wide doorways, ensuring flexible furniture arrangements, etc.).
Additionally, the integration of local culture and historical narrative within the transformed bomb shelters will be explored by students, as a powerful demonstration of the project's dedication to preserving cultural heritage while establishing a sense of continuity within these spaces.
Furthermore, the connection with local communities (be it of students or other citizen groups) will be explored. In terms of methodology, the students will be encouraged to explore participatory formats.
This part is once again rooted in the CrAFt design principles for student participation: plurality of voices, reciprocity & interdisciplinary collaboration.
How Citizens benefit
Civil society, represented by students from various disciplines and cities across Ukraine, will actively engage in the two CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks. This participation of students from UAx Platform’s art academies and universities aims to ensure diversity but also a valuable contribution to raising awareness among students and educating them about the CrAFt objectives around the transition of cities to sustainability and inclusivity. Through their participation the students will learn about participatory and interdisciplinary methods, which they could replicate elsewhere.
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank has the potential to influence the engagement of the next generation in city initiatives. By facilitating a dialogue between students and diverse stakeholders, including municipal representatives, university officials, cultural leaders, and regional development representatives, the event serves as a platform to showcase innovative solutions and concepts to stakeholders while enabling students to make meaningful contributions to urban challenges and solutions.
Lastly, the potential implementation of transformed bomb shelters in Ukraine is expected to directly benefit citizens by providing inclusive and accessible community spaces. These spaces can become hubs for various activities, fostering positive intergenerational experiences and promoting community dialogues. The emphasis on inclusivity, accessibility, and consideration for diverse backgrounds can create environments encouraging positive interactions among community members of all ages and abilities, strengthening social bonds and fostering a sense of belonging.
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank has the potential to influence the engagement of the next generation in city initiatives. By facilitating a dialogue between students and diverse stakeholders, including municipal representatives, university officials, cultural leaders, and regional development representatives, the event serves as a platform to showcase innovative solutions and concepts to stakeholders while enabling students to make meaningful contributions to urban challenges and solutions.
Lastly, the potential implementation of transformed bomb shelters in Ukraine is expected to directly benefit citizens by providing inclusive and accessible community spaces. These spaces can become hubs for various activities, fostering positive intergenerational experiences and promoting community dialogues. The emphasis on inclusivity, accessibility, and consideration for diverse backgrounds can create environments encouraging positive interactions among community members of all ages and abilities, strengthening social bonds and fostering a sense of belonging.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The CrAFt project stands out in its proactive engagement of the next generation, namely students around the topics that usually are tackled by municipalities without societal input. CrAFt recognises the transformative potential that arises from involving the younger generation in shaping the future of urban spaces.
Several key aspects underscore its innovative character:
- The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank aims to foster collaboration between art, design, sustainability, and social inclusion. This interdisciplinary synergy is a departure from traditional, more singularly focused/one discipline-focused activities.
- While many initiatives in Ukraine prescribe top-down solutions, the event flips the script by students from different cities in Ukraine in the design process of transforming bomb-shelters. The establishment of the CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tank integrates representatives from various stakeholder levels, democratising decision-making and ensuring diverse voices contribute to project direction.
- Our emphasis on intergenerational exchange within repurposed bunkers challenges the norm. It broadens the impact horizon, fostering connections across different age demographics and promoting a sense of continuity.
- The project explores innovative, eco-friendly practices in transforming bunkers, setting a precedent for holistic sustainability that goes beyond superficial 'greenwashing.' It also challenges the idea that sustainability is not something that countries in emergencies can implement.
- The project navigates seamlessly from local (municipal) to European dimensions, forging connections that transcend geographical boundaries. This global-local symbiosis distinguishes this project from more insular, regionally confined projects.
- By repurposing bunkers, we not only conserve historical narratives but also propel them into contemporary relevance.
Several key aspects underscore its innovative character:
- The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank aims to foster collaboration between art, design, sustainability, and social inclusion. This interdisciplinary synergy is a departure from traditional, more singularly focused/one discipline-focused activities.
- While many initiatives in Ukraine prescribe top-down solutions, the event flips the script by students from different cities in Ukraine in the design process of transforming bomb-shelters. The establishment of the CrAFt-UAx Student Think/Do Tank integrates representatives from various stakeholder levels, democratising decision-making and ensuring diverse voices contribute to project direction.
- Our emphasis on intergenerational exchange within repurposed bunkers challenges the norm. It broadens the impact horizon, fostering connections across different age demographics and promoting a sense of continuity.
- The project explores innovative, eco-friendly practices in transforming bunkers, setting a precedent for holistic sustainability that goes beyond superficial 'greenwashing.' It also challenges the idea that sustainability is not something that countries in emergencies can implement.
- The project navigates seamlessly from local (municipal) to European dimensions, forging connections that transcend geographical boundaries. This global-local symbiosis distinguishes this project from more insular, regionally confined projects.
- By repurposing bunkers, we not only conserve historical narratives but also propel them into contemporary relevance.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Interdisciplinarity is at the center of the CrAFt governance model, permeating all student activities. Emphasising collaborative processes and diverse perspectives, the approach fosters learning to collaborate, step outside comfort zones, and embrace discomfort for the pursuit of sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful futures. While inspired by STEAM, CrAFt extends the concept to encompass diverse disciplines, encouraging participation from law, biology, sociology, architecture, economics, planning, or psychology. This interdisciplinary approach spans all student groups in CrAFt activities, promoting collaboration not only among students but also with experts, citizens, industries, municipalities, cultural venues, and policymakers. This engagement in the real world ensures a comprehensive understanding of multifaceted issues and effective problem-solving.
In the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks, an active participation from students across UAx institutions is expected, spanning disciplines such as design, engineering, IT, architecture, graphic design, and performing arts, education and sociology. The primary goal is collaborative brainstorming to generate innovative solutions for repurposing bomb shelters into inclusive, sustainable, and visually appealing community spaces. This approach envisions the transformation from various disciplinary perspectives, ensuring a creative and inclusive process that considers diverse needs and insights.
This interdisciplinary interaction is expected to enhance the exploration of alternative uses for bomb shelters, bringing diverse insights to the table and contributing to a more holistic and innovative approach that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. The resulting prototypes and ideas will benefit from the collective intelligence and creativity of students representing various knowledge fields, shaping a robust and inclusive vision for repurposing bomb shelters in Ukraine.
In the CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks, an active participation from students across UAx institutions is expected, spanning disciplines such as design, engineering, IT, architecture, graphic design, and performing arts, education and sociology. The primary goal is collaborative brainstorming to generate innovative solutions for repurposing bomb shelters into inclusive, sustainable, and visually appealing community spaces. This approach envisions the transformation from various disciplinary perspectives, ensuring a creative and inclusive process that considers diverse needs and insights.
This interdisciplinary interaction is expected to enhance the exploration of alternative uses for bomb shelters, bringing diverse insights to the table and contributing to a more holistic and innovative approach that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. The resulting prototypes and ideas will benefit from the collective intelligence and creativity of students representing various knowledge fields, shaping a robust and inclusive vision for repurposing bomb shelters in Ukraine.
Methodology used
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank is a dynamic and innovative approach to promote student engagement in collaborative models for city transformation in accordance to the NEB values. The two think/do tanks will particularly address the transformation of bomb shelters into alternative community spaces in Ukraine. The methodology is rooted in the overarching principles for student engagement of CrAFt, an EU-funded initiative dedicated to advancing New European Bauhaus transformations for climate-neutral, beautiful, and inclusive cities. These principles are: including a plurality of voices, student-driven (towards self-organisation, where possible), practicing interdisciplinary collaboration, reciprocity, learning by doing, experience over production/process over product, participation over observation, documentation of processes/reflection, innovation through experimentation, and experimentation over execution. The think/do tank methodology is described in more detailed in the ‘Model of Governance for The Next Generation Think/Do Tank of Students’.
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks leverages the collaboration between the CrAFt Core Group of Students and UAx Platform's Student Groups from two Ukrainian cities. Lviv, home to one of UAx's affiliated institutions and the reference city for CrAFt, plays a pivotal role in this synergistic partnership.
The methodology empowers students to lead think/do tanks, aligning solutions with NEB principles. Interdisciplinary collaboration addresses contemporary challenges through diverse expertise. Think/do tanks engage local stakeholders, fostering dialogue and addressing societal issues collaboratively. CrAFt's initiative democratises Think/Do Tanks, encouraging broader participation. The flexible format adapts to various contexts, promoting experimentation and innovation. Inclusive knowledge-sharing involves diverse stakeholders, contributing to inclusive cities. Students can choose from various formats for the events.
The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tanks leverages the collaboration between the CrAFt Core Group of Students and UAx Platform's Student Groups from two Ukrainian cities. Lviv, home to one of UAx's affiliated institutions and the reference city for CrAFt, plays a pivotal role in this synergistic partnership.
The methodology empowers students to lead think/do tanks, aligning solutions with NEB principles. Interdisciplinary collaboration addresses contemporary challenges through diverse expertise. Think/do tanks engage local stakeholders, fostering dialogue and addressing societal issues collaboratively. CrAFt's initiative democratises Think/Do Tanks, encouraging broader participation. The flexible format adapts to various contexts, promoting experimentation and innovation. Inclusive knowledge-sharing involves diverse stakeholders, contributing to inclusive cities. Students can choose from various formats for the events.
How stakeholders are engaged
The CrAFt Core Group, comprised of dedicated international students, functions as a self-managed entity, proposing participatory models and mechanisms for student engagement across 70 CrAFt reference cities in Europe. Through interdisciplinary think/do tanks, the Core Group connects with local and regional stakeholders, including higher education institutions, municipalities, and non-governmental organisations, with a focus on generating innovative "green" solutions. They operate within the framework of the Horizon Europe funded CrAFt – Creating Actionable Futures project. The learnings from the think/do tanks in Ukraine would be feed back into the project results as independent pilots applying the CrAFt methodologies.
The UAx Platform, born in response to the war in Ukraine, supports war-affected art students and connects Ukrainian higher arts education institutions with ELIA member institutions across Europe. The UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship program, an integral part of the UAx Platform, each year directly supports 30 Ukrainian art students from five art schools across Ukraine, through bursaries, reciprocal mentoring by art professionals, and student community engagement.
The collaboration between CrAFt and UAx leverages the success of their engagement strategies with diverse stakeholders. The CrAFt Core Group partners with UAx Platform's Abakanowicz Fellows to organise a CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank in Lviv, a CrAFt reference city. This event unites students from UAx-affiliated art academies and universities, fostering innovative solutions to transform bomb shelters into dynamic community spaces. The engagement extends to pitching prototypes to local and regional stakeholders, establishing connections between university administrations, municipality representatives and cultural activists. The end-goal is the pilot and learn from participatory models that include students into city transformation processes.
The UAx Platform, born in response to the war in Ukraine, supports war-affected art students and connects Ukrainian higher arts education institutions with ELIA member institutions across Europe. The UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship program, an integral part of the UAx Platform, each year directly supports 30 Ukrainian art students from five art schools across Ukraine, through bursaries, reciprocal mentoring by art professionals, and student community engagement.
The collaboration between CrAFt and UAx leverages the success of their engagement strategies with diverse stakeholders. The CrAFt Core Group partners with UAx Platform's Abakanowicz Fellows to organise a CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank in Lviv, a CrAFt reference city. This event unites students from UAx-affiliated art academies and universities, fostering innovative solutions to transform bomb shelters into dynamic community spaces. The engagement extends to pitching prototypes to local and regional stakeholders, establishing connections between university administrations, municipality representatives and cultural activists. The end-goal is the pilot and learn from participatory models that include students into city transformation processes.
Global challenges
This collaboration between CrAFt and UAx addresses several global challenges by providing localized solutions, especially in the context of Ukraine. Here's a breakdown of the key global challenges tackled by the project:
- The project promotes sustainable practices by envisioning the transformation of bomb shelters into inclusive, sustainable, and visually appealing community spaces. This aligns with the New European Bauhaus vision for climate-neutral and inclusive cities, and, additionally, links to efforts around climate change adaptation.
- The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among students from various disciplines, including design, engineering, IT, architecture, arts, and sociology.
- The project actively engages the local community, including students, faculty, administration, and stakeholders like city officials and cultural leaders. This involvement ensures that solutions are rooted in the specific needs and aspirations of the community, addressing the global challenge of sustainable development with local ownership.
- The focus on inclusivity in transforming bomb shelters into community spaces contributes to addressing global challenges related to social equity. By designing spaces that cater to diverse needs, the project fosters inclusivity and accessibility for all community members.
- The project empowers the next generation by involving UAx students in the CrAFt methodology. It provides them with the skills to organise Think/Do Tanks, fostering leadership and innovation to address complex global challenges.
- Integrating the NEB principles into the local context of Ukraine helps balance heritage preservation with forward-thinking transformation. The focus on repurposing bomb shelters showcases a dual commitment to preserving heritage while adapting to contemporary needs.
- The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank serves as a model that can be replicated in other cities across Ukraine.
- The project promotes sustainable practices by envisioning the transformation of bomb shelters into inclusive, sustainable, and visually appealing community spaces. This aligns with the New European Bauhaus vision for climate-neutral and inclusive cities, and, additionally, links to efforts around climate change adaptation.
- The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among students from various disciplines, including design, engineering, IT, architecture, arts, and sociology.
- The project actively engages the local community, including students, faculty, administration, and stakeholders like city officials and cultural leaders. This involvement ensures that solutions are rooted in the specific needs and aspirations of the community, addressing the global challenge of sustainable development with local ownership.
- The focus on inclusivity in transforming bomb shelters into community spaces contributes to addressing global challenges related to social equity. By designing spaces that cater to diverse needs, the project fosters inclusivity and accessibility for all community members.
- The project empowers the next generation by involving UAx students in the CrAFt methodology. It provides them with the skills to organise Think/Do Tanks, fostering leadership and innovation to address complex global challenges.
- Integrating the NEB principles into the local context of Ukraine helps balance heritage preservation with forward-thinking transformation. The focus on repurposing bomb shelters showcases a dual commitment to preserving heritage while adapting to contemporary needs.
- The CrAFt-UAx Think/Do Tank serves as a model that can be replicated in other cities across Ukraine.
Learning transferred to other parties
The CrAFt project with its student-driven Think/Do Tank model, interdisciplinary collaboration, and focus on transforming urban spaces, presents a replicable framework that holds particular relevance for diverse regions, including in the emergency contexts like Ukraine.
Encouraging universities and art academies across various cities in Ukraine to adopt the student-driven Think/Do Tank model. This could involve hosting events like "CrAFt -UAx Think/Do Tank" in different Ukrainian cities affiliated with the UAx Platform. The UAx platform’s presence across different Ukrainian cities, will help promote the model.
Facilitating this interdisciplinary approach can be applied to address region-specific challenges and foster a cross-disciplinary problem-solving culture in Ukrainian cities.
Extending the opportunity for Ukrainian higher education institutions to host their own student Think/Do Tanks. This democratisation would allow universities and art academies across Ukraine to connect with and contribute to the CrAFt network.
Aligning projects with the New European Bauhaus principles while considering Ukraine's unique cultural, historical, and environmental contexts. This integration could contribute to a shared vision of sustainable and transformative urban development across various Ukrainian regions.
By emphasizing the adaptability and replicability of our project in the context of Ukraine, we envision the expansion of the CrAFt initiative to different cities and regions, contributing to the local and national discourse on sustainable and inclusive community development in Ukraine.
As a pilot, it will also help the CrAFt project finetune their materials aimed at replicability, thereby making the experiences further valuable and transferable across Europe and 70 CrAFt reference cities.
Encouraging universities and art academies across various cities in Ukraine to adopt the student-driven Think/Do Tank model. This could involve hosting events like "CrAFt -UAx Think/Do Tank" in different Ukrainian cities affiliated with the UAx Platform. The UAx platform’s presence across different Ukrainian cities, will help promote the model.
Facilitating this interdisciplinary approach can be applied to address region-specific challenges and foster a cross-disciplinary problem-solving culture in Ukrainian cities.
Extending the opportunity for Ukrainian higher education institutions to host their own student Think/Do Tanks. This democratisation would allow universities and art academies across Ukraine to connect with and contribute to the CrAFt network.
Aligning projects with the New European Bauhaus principles while considering Ukraine's unique cultural, historical, and environmental contexts. This integration could contribute to a shared vision of sustainable and transformative urban development across various Ukrainian regions.
By emphasizing the adaptability and replicability of our project in the context of Ukraine, we envision the expansion of the CrAFt initiative to different cities and regions, contributing to the local and national discourse on sustainable and inclusive community development in Ukraine.
As a pilot, it will also help the CrAFt project finetune their materials aimed at replicability, thereby making the experiences further valuable and transferable across Europe and 70 CrAFt reference cities.
Keywords
Transformation
Student-led
Eco-responsible
Community participation
Stakeholder engagement
