ENG
This brochure is a result of the work of one of four programs of the urban laboratory MetaLab.
the City of Ivano-Frankivsk, the Promprylad Plant and nearby district, May 31 — July 21, 2018
curators’ note
Anna Pashynska an initiator and curator of MetaLab space
Anna Dobrova a coordinator of Metalab – urban project of the platform “Teple Misto”
“We are building a new format for us, that is the urban laboratory. Its purpose is to combine several key tasks in a universal integrated process that we set out to ourselves at this stage of the development of our city. In order to fill the gaps in knowledge and information, to understand the context better, and to avoid the speculations in taking decisions on the urban level, the research process and the implementation of its results in the urban projects are important for us. An urgent need is the formation and development of the interdisciplinary professional communities in the city. A sensitive approach to designing, involvement of different stakeholders in the process, and practice of prototyping stage in the projects of different scales can lead to qualitative changes within the urban space.” “Before starting to build the institution for the development of urban space in MetaLab, we decided to focus on increasing the insight into the context of the Promprylad Plant, where Metalab is located. Why did we focus on it? Because there is an understanding of positive impact of the future project “Promprylad Renovation” on the city and district in whole. But we do not know how the project will influence the nearest district and its residents. We decided to look for the possible risks and test the hypothesis to avoid the further speculations as for the potential gentrification. We decided as well to think about the combination of the future of the Promprylad Plant and other communities around it and the process of communication. To be honest, we do not know how it should happen, that is why we decided to learn by doing and simultaneously share the experience with all interested parties: that is how the team has appeared, the result of work of which you will see in this brochure. The main thing that we understood in the process of work was the following: it is only the first steps, because this topic and object are inexhaustible for the further investigation.” 5
Table of content
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METALAB IS...
12 URBAN LABORATORY.
objectives AND FORMAT
14 TEAM
MetaLab supports a socially equal, spatially comfortable, culturally rich, environmentally responsible, economically balanced city. In order to reach these goals, MetaLab aims to create a supportive environment, a field for experiments, where the social and spatial potential of the city can be developed and tested in practice.
МetaLab
MetaLab has several directions:
METALAB IS...
A LABORATORY OF SPACES, WHERE WE LIVE
is a platform for the development of urban spaces, where we live. It is a community united by interest in the city living, desire to learn and improve the urban environment, and a physical platform for communication, urban research and events at the same time. MetaLab is the project within the urban direction of the platform “Teple Misto”. The targeted audience of MetaLab is both professional communities and those who have experience in the implementation of urban projects, seek for like-minded people, and implement their ideas in Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as those who want to learn more about the city living and environment, and are interested in the actual urban processes in the world.
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Public program
within the framework of which the educational and cognitive component (lectures, discussions, film shows) is implemented for the professional community (architects, urban specialists, designers, artists, etc.), and informal events aimed at a wide audience.
Residence
is a study of a specific urban issue / location in Ivano-Frankivsk with the participation of Ukrainian or foreign experts. Among the goals of the residence are the following: to conduct analysis of the outlined topic; to collect local context data; to involve local professional community and residents; to share an independent view of the investigated issues; to test new tools and approaches regarding the investigation of the city; and to implement the projects in accordance with the topic of residences.
Urban laboratory
is the research and development and designing format that allows the interdisciplinary team of participants, which are the residents of Ivano-Frankivsk, to study the important issues, space, etc. in collaboration with the curators. The laboratory is held every six months. It lasts for two months and consists of a series of steps, such as: research, analysis, search for possible solutions and design, experimentation, implementation of developed solutions/projects, and replication of effective approaches. The result can be specific products (architectural, design, etc.), as well as recommendations for urban research, based on the organizational and research experience of the laboratory.
Festival
“City ScanningSession�, which will take place in Ivano-Frankivsk once every two years. The event is preceded by a project work (analysis of the social and spatial environment of the city) which will take place to identify relevant topics, locations, working formats, with which the curators and teams work during the festival. 9
METALAB IS...
part OF THE PROJECT “PROMPRYLAD. RENOVATION”
Physical location
of МetaLab is in “Promprylad” (23Zh Sakharova Str., second-story). It is the part of the project “Promprylad. Renovation” and represents its urban function.
“Promprylad. is an innovation centre at the premises of Renovation” Ivano-Frankivsk Promprylad Plant, which is aimed to create new opportunities at the intersection of four functions: informal education, contemporary art, new economics, and urban studies. The project is implemented by the platform “Teple Misto”, public organization “Insha Osvita”, PACT, Lviv Business School (LvBS), as well as a number of investors involved. The project aims to open up the prospects for self-realization in the home city for the residents, unite the local creative cluster and strengthen the economy, promote the development of cultural, educational and social activities in Ivano-Frankivsk, and be the cooperation point for business, municipal administration and civil society. “Promprylad. Renovation” should become a prototype for the implementation of similar projects in other cities, so the experience of Ivano-Frankivsk can be replicated in other regions of Ukraine. The project “Promprylad. Renovation” is being implemented during 2015-2022. As of 2018, the second floor of the plant has been renovated and serves as a pilot for the project, consisting of mixed-use spaces and functions. 10
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To understand its role in the city and how we should respond to some relevant topics, or which processes we should predict, MetaLab should be the institution of “rapid response�. We are doing research to fill the gaps in knowledge and information in order to better understand the context and avoid speculations.
objective
MetaLab Laboratory Approach
URBAN LABORATORY. objectives AND FORMAT
First summer MetaLab laboratory
The Goal of the Actual Laboratory MetaLab was to learn how to investigate the space comprehensively and to understand the local context in order to make informed decisions on the design and implementation of urban projects. An important accompanying process of the laboratory is the building and development of a professional community of Ivano-Frankivsk. The participants of the urban laboratory work in a team and they together work out the full cycle of product development and find like-minded people for further cooperation.
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Investigation
As a result of investigation and complex processing of the chosen topic, a research and information base about the relevant aspect of life or investigated location in the city is formed. This base can be the basis for taking specific decisions.
Analysis
The collected and recorded data helps better understand the context, shape and inform the strategic directions of urban development policy.
Hypothesis testing
The effect of the laboratory is the tactical intervention in urban space or specific products. These are architectural, design, urban solutions, events, etc.
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TEAM
Principles of building and positioning
Why is the team?
The multidisciplinary approach of the laboratory allowed to involve not only the students and professionals in the field of architecture and design but also the representatives of different professions, like-minded people who want to implement and test their ideas in practice, learn more about the city living and environment, and are interested in actual urban processes. Why is the team? Because the first laboratory was a training and investigation process for everyone, from participants, curators to invited experts.
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participants
Mariana Zatolyuk, Roman Snihur, Anna Pashynska, Ruslan Burchak, Mariana Baran, Anna Dobrova, Ulia Rusylo, Khrystyna Konvaliuk, Andrii Zanyk, Oleksandr Khalabailiuk, Yurii Nalyvaiko, Solomiia Butkovska, Ivanka Mazur, Andrii Sydoruk, Mykhailo Muzychka
External experts
Sebastian ShlĂźter, an urbanist, social geographer (MitOst, Berlin) Andrii Shulyar, an urban planner, architect (Urban Curators, Kyiv) Taras Hrytsiuk, a historian (Insha Osvita, Kyiv) Taras Pastushchuk, an industrial designer (Lviv) Bohdan Volynskyi, an architectural critic, resident of an urban residence (Kharkiv) Vasyl and Mykhailo Rybak, engineers (Lviv) 15
2018, ivano-frankivsk
Broshure was created by the team of MetaLab – urban project of platform “teple misto”
text Photo graphic design
Iryna Shutka, Anna Dobrova, Anna Pashynska Anton Kuba, Andriy Sidoruk and participants of the laboratory participants of the laboratory Ulia Rusylo
English translation: translation buro «Profpereklad»
websites and social media
www.metalab.space www.warm.if.ua
www.metalab.space