DOWN is TOWN
In contrast to top down planning principles DOWN is TOWN aims to unleash the creative potential of the masses. It advocates a kind of community planning in which people learn to regain confidence with their desires and that they are capable of deciding for themselves what has traditionally been imposed upon them by others. The ‘social change’ traditionally is induced by capital and politics, a system in which professional planners are caught and remain incapable of providing sustainable human existence. However, gentrification phenomena testify that the germs of any substantial urban and social change do not depend on capital in the first place. Change is initiated by people’s genuine desires, spontaneity, appropriation, occupation, DIY, etc. usually advocated by a specific breed of subcultures.
DOWN is TOWN is a bottom up urban planning tool for districts facing substantial change. Within a defined area of a chosen neighborhood ground-based sound spots are being installed. At nightfall they start to emit specifically selected sequences from urban and nature conditions. Thus, alongside to the real city the fictional soundscape evokes the experience of an ‘assumed city’ assembled through associative images: the fictional competes with the status quo. While decoding the nature of the sounds, the audience will be creating images and contexts in their mind, an imaginary construct composed of visual fragments. The ideas are being shared on an open social media platform and represent the principal archive for professionals and municipality who are commited to further the process into real projects.
DOWN is TOWN is not conceived as a sound performance in the first place but as a generator of possibilities articulated through images. The process suggests an alternative planning methodology activating the laymen and the common people including professionals and politics in a way that architecture and urban planning can become legitimate tools for change. The methodology builds on
- the unsharp relationship of sound and image
- the evocative potential of sound
- unexpected involvement
- spontaneity
- share & gain
DOWN is TOWN I has been realized in the city of Bolzano, Italy in October 2011 in cooperation with the local authorities. 30 sound spots were distributed in the urban drainage system of the old town. 20 of which were audible in the real public space, while 10 sounds were internet based. The challenge: take part, identify, decode, imagine… and share your ideas on a social media platform.
Art Direction: Armin Blasbichler
Sound design: Ulrich Troyer
Graphic Design: Daniele Zanoni
On behalf of the Architecture Foundation Alto Adige
DOWN is TOWN is a bottom up urban planning tool for districts facing substantial change. Within a defined area of a chosen neighborhood ground-based sound spots are being installed. At nightfall they start to emit specifically selected sequences from urban and nature conditions. Thus, alongside to the real city the fictional soundscape evokes the experience of an ‘assumed city’ assembled through associative images: the fictional competes with the status quo. While decoding the nature of the sounds, the audience will be creating images and contexts in their mind, an imaginary construct composed of visual fragments. The ideas are being shared on an open social media platform and represent the principal archive for professionals and municipality who are commited to further the process into real projects.
DOWN is TOWN is not conceived as a sound performance in the first place but as a generator of possibilities articulated through images. The process suggests an alternative planning methodology activating the laymen and the common people including professionals and politics in a way that architecture and urban planning can become legitimate tools for change. The methodology builds on
- the unsharp relationship of sound and image
- the evocative potential of sound
- unexpected involvement
- spontaneity
- share & gain
DOWN is TOWN I has been realized in the city of Bolzano, Italy in October 2011 in cooperation with the local authorities. 30 sound spots were distributed in the urban drainage system of the old town. 20 of which were audible in the real public space, while 10 sounds were internet based. The challenge: take part, identify, decode, imagine… and share your ideas on a social media platform.
Art Direction: Armin Blasbichler
Sound design: Ulrich Troyer
Graphic Design: Daniele Zanoni
On behalf of the Architecture Foundation Alto Adige
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