Ole Bouman about Workshop

RESULTS OF WORKSHOP «REVITALIZATION OF TELYCHKA» Revitalization of industrial site Telychka was widely discussed at this year’s CANactions festival not just within the main Workshop programme, but also during the lecture delivered by Ole Bouman, is an influential figure in the world of Architecture. His lecture was based on his own experience of revitalizing the abandoned glass factory in Shenzhen.

Basing on a small field trip around the area and main findings e eas ncr

special qualities of Telychka

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of the Workshops conducted, Ole Bouman managed to build clear parallels between Telychka and the area in Shenzhen and passed some valuable recommendations on how to implement his successful experience in the local settings.

We did an attempt to outline all the key messages of Ole’s lecture below, comparing the ideas he voiced with what has been discussed at the Workshop.

«Increase plan» scenario seems to be the most suitable for area like Telychka.

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«...If you want to capitalize all the special qualities of this place, it takes more years before the money comes back, but when they come - it’s a fantastic contribution for the city». stable plan

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One can be sure that these principles were in use during the Workshop as well, since the majority of the solutions presented were aimed to make the most out of existing resources of the area. Unleashing its potential to the fullest with minimum intervention was a cornerstone for successful re-introducing of the area to the city and creating additional

value of the site.

Ole mentioned that the biggest issue is to convinced stakeholders, landowners and authorities to choose this scenario. That may be difficult because of their tendency to have an immediate 200 % profit.

«Before you start the repertoire you need to have the bigger idea of how to present the whole area of Telychka, a story which you want to present for this area, for the city. This idea might bring the landowners to your side, as well as to attract organisations and businesses who could rent offices here” Jord den Hollander’s team was the first one to come up with the idea of a «story board», a dream vision for the ArtFactory area in the near future. In this dream vision lack of funding is not crucial thanks to visions and ideas that help to look at the area from a completely different angle. Kyiv belongs to «booming regions», staying hungry for fresh ideas. This underpins the value of a place where these ideas could be generated through free opinion exchange and cross-cultural encounters. All this makes a basic vision for

presentation_Jord den Hollander team

the Art-Factory presented by the team. What would be the Art-Factory’s role in the overall Telychka story mentioned

by Ole?

«Before you start working with the programme, you need to shift from negative image of the territory to a positive image» The negative image of industrial remains could be overcome by provocation, the workshop’s participants believe. Construction of a special wall around Art-Factory, introduction of new unique functions and creation of alternative urban environment would make the key elements for this unique space.

According to Ole, Kyiv citizens should already congratulate each other on the creation of a new cultural centre. Telychka area is already being transformed and re-launched thanks to events like GogolFest and CANactions hosted there.

Attracting new visitors and introducing them to the site should become the key task now.

«You need to do something unique, something which can be possible only here, it must be very vibrant to that city» Telychka’s location right in between the National Botanical Garden and Dnipro embankment could become this unique feature of the area. Jimmy Njoo and his team were inspired by the idea of a green belt stretching from Dnipro river to the botanical garden. This green connection would become a key to further development of the area.

«Europe» concept was another fresh idea coming from Jord den Hollander’s team. With bright mixture of cultural traditions from all over Ukraine and Europe put together and

presentation_Jimmy Njoo team

presentation_Orizzontale’s team

exhibited inside, the area would facilitate cultural exchange between people. A lot of things could be done here free of charge e.g. equipping the space with used materials and furniture. For instance, the very first free bike rental station in Europe could find its place here.

In his lecture Ole mentioned that the true value of this area is yet to be revealed, and the workshop’s presentations prepared just a basis for that.

«The turning point should be addressing to the river. This is good that participants thought about it. The key is what is the urban concept in this. Usually, the river is coming back to the city via promenade, boulevard or esplanade, so there is a walking zone with shops etc., but there is the whole area behind the boulevard which also needs to be developed, so it is not enough. That’s why the site needs to be entirely turned to the river. We need the right design for that. Here connection to the river serves as the key factor, and the way how to connect to the river - is unique.»

Orizzontale’s installation featuring old “Progress” boat serves as an excellent metaphor for lack of connection to the river. The boat makes a symbol of our great desire to get an access to the river, thus combining the heterotrophic dream of the first team and urbanistic approach of the second. Now the ultimate goal is to make this dream true, thus proving that a small change can become an engine of a process influencing the image of the whole city.

Currently, we find ourselves in possession of clear guidelines to follow and specific suggestions unleashing

the area’s potential. Implementation of these suggestions becomes an issue now, bringing the need to link the ideas brainstormed to the existing situation.