Architectures of Encounter
Kateřina Šedá
© Alexandra Ivanciu
Three spaces that are already in use but have not been adequately designed are to be redesigned as places for exchange, interaction, and shared activities in public spaces in Lößnig for people from all walks of life.
Three spaces that are already in use but have not been adequately designed are to be redesigned as places for exchange, interaction, and shared activities in public spaces in Lößnig for people from all walks of life.
In Lößnig, new community spaces are emerging in public areas that are not only functional but also encourage interaction and promote openness, participation, and collaborative design.
The project was initiated in 2024 through a participatory process as part of the Stadtkuratorin Leipzig program, involving residents and local initiatives, and is being implemented by the UmRäumen e.V. association and the Lößnig Community Group, inspired by the The New Patrons of Lößnig.
Moving forward, three site-specific architectural structures will be created in public spaces in collaboration with the Czech artist Kateřina Šedá, serving as interconnected spaces for encounters and communal activities for various groups in the neighborhood. For the redesign, three existing but previously underutilized sites were selected; these are intended to be recognizable as a cohesive project and to serve as a visible symbol of community in the neighborhood.
The ideas for the new spaces are emerging through various participatory formats, joint meetings, and neighborhood walks. The goal is to take the needs of local residents seriously and to create spaces that can be used long-term and filled with life.
Considerations on art and public space
Art in public space encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions found in urban environments and publicly accessible buildings. This includes not only sculptures, monuments, installations, and architectural art, but also temporary performances and actions, interventions, street art, as well as sound and media art.
From Talk to Action – Complicity in Art in Public Space
Forms of collective action are constantly being re-examined. Gesa Ziemer proposes the term “complicity” to describe the spark that ignites talk into action. Complicity means developing and implementing ideas together – temporarily, affectively, individually, and deliberately.
