Displacement

Shutka_Tove Entin

2008-04-27T16:22:00.011+02:00

RAISE VOCALS OF THE LOCALS!

“...prejudice is the source of most problems of the Roma people and that their social status has not improved even during the ongoing Roma Decade.”
“... the marginalised position of the Roma in Shuto Orizari and in Europe is mainly the result of discrimination, segregation and exclusion.”
Mayor of the Municipality of Shuto Orizari Mr. Erduan Iseni.

AMBITION:
Promoting an assertive attitude of the citizens in Shutka
Changing attitudes of the population of Skopje towards Roma people

AIM:
Attracting the citizens of Skopje to Shutka
Improving public spaces

MEANS:
Urban Space program for Shutka focusing on Concertplace (public square) and Green strategy.

2008-04-24T11:11:00.005+02:00

Zemunske Rupe_Frida Öhlin

Shangri la-realising the imaginary

Introduction
The image I got from visiting the slum-like areas in Belgrade, Kraljevo, Smederevo and Skopje, inhabited by mostly Roma’s, are very alike the image I have from slums in India. The inhabitants are dealing with the same kind of living conditions. No healthcare, no work, no water and electricity, no education, no safety, no money.

The main theme of the UN-rapport The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements, 2003, is the vast spreading of slums in urban periphery. We can also call them informal settlement. This thorough inventory of data on world slums concludes that the global urban poverty is becoming a worldwide catastrophe.

Definition of slum: Since it first appeared in the 1820s, the word slum has been used to identify the poorest quality housing, and the most unsanitary conditions; a refuge for marginal activities including crime, ‘vice’ and drug abuse; a likely source for many epidemics that ravaged urban areas; a place apart from all that was decent and wholesome./…./ Today, slums have come to include the vast informal settlements that are quickly becoming the most visible manifestation of urban poverty in developing world cities. Such settlements are known by many different names and are characterized by a variety of tenure arrangements. In all cases, however, the buildings found there vary from the simplest shack to permanent and sometimes surprisingly well-maintained structures, but what most slums

share in common is a lack of clean water, electricity, sanitation and other basic services.[1]

The Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, most known for his work on the informal economy, is often mentioned in how slums or informal settlements can develop and leave poverty. His main thesis is that there is a need for ownership in informal economy. The main problem is not an unequal world-order in developing countries sooner a non-formal ownership. The informal capital of the poor should be defined as formal so that they can use their ownership for credit. De Soto claims would form the basis for entrepreneurship.

De Soto have been criticised by Mike Davis. In his book Planet of Slums Mike Davis argues that De Soto, who Davis calls 'the global guru of neo-liberal populism', is essentially promoting what the statist left in South America and India has always promoted - individual titling. Davis argues that titling is incorporation into the formal economy of cities which benefits more wealthy squatters but is disastrous for poorer squatters, and especially tenants who simply cannot afford incorporation into the fully commodified formal economy.[2]

Vision
It is easy to be political correct dealing with questions like: how can we help, what is the resource for human empowerment. I want to use design as the tool for making discussions around this issues. I believe that design is an architect’s strongest argument.

The main question for this project is: Is there a 21^stcentury paradise for Roma population in Serbia and Belgrade? The site in Zemun has been called a Roma Shangri la and my visionary picture of the site is Shangri la.

The imaginary picture of Shangri la should be used on different scales.

Method
As Mike Davis argues, micro-entrepreneurship is not the solution for everything in a slum, but it can be one part of the solution. What I will purpose is a very small-scale urban project, but I would like to test how a site can be programmed depending on whose intervening.

By analysing the sites strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats the area can be divided into different zones of intervention and actors. Hopefully the result will get a picture of the sites possibilities.

[1] http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernando_de_Soto_(economist)

Zemunske Rupe_Marie Grob

2008-04-21T18:32:00.007+02:00

Analysis of Zemun district and its green connection from the agricultural suburb to the east coast.

In a larger scale, the settlement can become a strategic point on the green pathway leading to the sea. Considering a future expansion of the district, which will be largely densified, Zemunske rupe will become one of the only large open space of Zemun. It is thus important to keep the valley as a public park which could strengthen a green connection in the district of Zemun.

This green area could serve different users, creating a new relation between the Roma settlement and society. A special attention will be kept on the connection of the different sportive centres (cf picture) and Roma settlements of Zemun.

Help yourself

2008-03-18T15:36:00.004+01:00

Spend and save

Is a one week programme that all people can join. All you do is collect or document everything all your garbage in one week. The aim is to get consious about how much and what type of material we put in the waste bin everyday.

Housing situation in Serbia

2008-03-06T15:36:00.005+01:00

Situation and improvement proposals, with some realized examples

Post- socialism in Serbia

2008-03-06T15:28:00.005+01:00

> History and general consequences of the post-socialism government.

> Situation of Roma population in Serbia

European politics

2008-03-04T10:50:00.007+01:00

Serbia is currently not recognised as a candidate country, but only as “potential candidate country”.

> Why are the European Union so involved in Serbia-Montenegro becoming a member of the EU?

> How big is the issue of 100 000 -150 000 returnees for the EU?