CMMM
CMMM
CMMM

International Gathering

Belgrade  |  22-24 May 2022

 

Initially, the project planned for an international gathering as a medium-sized workshop (30–35 persons) that would bring together our team with peers and partners to collect feedback on our work. However, after carrying out the project under COVID-19 distancing regulations and in view of the fact that some of our team members had still not met in person, when it became possible to convene, we decided to scale back and organize an inwardly focused gathering for the team and the advisory committee. The two-day gathering combined guided walks to learn about the spatial and housing realities of Belgrade with working sessions at the unique Magacin Cultural Center, as well as a public podium discussion. The days were filled with delicious meals at various locations, and the Ministry of Space team spoiled us with their hospitality.

 

Note: Pictures were taken by K LAB. Exceptions are credited.

Back to Workshops

 

Day 0 // Upon arrival, we went on a walk and listened to anecdotes about the socio-spatial transformation of several areas in Belgrade’s Stari Grad district, guided by Vladimir Dulović.

 

Day 1 // We kicked off our workshop with a visit to the Belgrade Waterfront development project...

 

... and learned about this classic example of speculation crimes on public land and in collaboration with the men in power.

 

That evening, the Ministry of Space organized a public podium discussion about struggles for housing justice in Belgrade, Berlin, Barcelona, and the Netherlands.

 

Day 2 // This day was spent at Magacin Cultural Center discussing the path of our project thus far and our next steps before passing the finish line.

 

The structures and social contracts operating the places where we congregated were inspiring examples of co-creating de-commercialized space, representing a ray of hope!

 

As we finished the last session, we remembered to take a group picture, sadly missing a few of us who had already left.

 

Belgrade // ... is full of visual messages. This says “gradonačelnica,” Serbo-Croatian for “the mayor” but feminized, and depicts other professions to flag the gender division of labor and the need for sensitive language (currently hot political topics). Picture by Ilana Boltvinik

 

And this mural combines the greed of real-estate investors, matchbox-like housing developments, and environmental degradation in the city center.

 

The banal and iconic examples of socialist architecture all around the city are fascinating, in spite of the fact that it is drapped in neoliberlism. They remind of times when housing was in social policy spheres.