Call for participants

Following last year's p_public success, the Architects’ Association of Chania organize this year a four-day festival concerning public space. Its basic core consists of a two-day talks and presentations at the Center for Mediterranean Architecture in Chania, from creative teams and young architects from Greece and abroad. Similarly, a series of events and visual installations in the city of Chania aspire to change temporarily or permanently, the urban, natural and designed landscape of the city.

The problems and debates around public space have intensified in recent years, approaching different scientific communities and perspectives. It is generally believed that public space is a key part of the city. However, most people seem to ignore that goes beyond the boundaries of their property and the current leading authority is unable to reverse this dynamic. Is it therefore the designation 'public' real, or does it merely provide what is left from private space?

Lectures

This year at the Center for Mediterranean Architecture in Chania we discuss what makes a truly public space. Why do people occupy a public place-or reject it, they claim it-or ignore it, they use it-or exploit it?

We are searching for strategies and applications that will provide us a truly public character of the space through 4 approaching perspectives.

· The relationship between private and public space. The management of the boundary (fence it or not.

· Participatory processes in the design / implementation of public space

· Design principles of public space with particular reference to the micro-climate and the needs of the region

· The timelessness of public space as expressed through managing monuments and monumental sets.

Events and Facilities

The debate is transformed into a living experience outside the field of the Center for Mediterranean Architecture. It transforms into action in a public place and includes various events and interventions in the urban area of Chania, focusing on the relation of the public space of the city with its resident and visitor.

Additionally, this year an urban experiment is attempted to the immediate restoration of the relationship between public area of the city with a resident.

We are looking for an urban space in a neighborhood which, with the participation of residents or not, through voluntary work, will be transformed into a different public, occupied at last by most of those who contributed to its construction.

We invite you to join us in this experience and participate actively in discussions and actions that will take place in Chania the four-day June 3-6 2011.

To register as lecturers in the lectures or organise/ present a happening, please fill outthe form and attach a summary of your work (up 300 words and 4 images).

infop-public.gr (for general info)

lecturesp-public.gr (to apply for lectures)

eventsp-public.gr (to organise an event)