PRESS RELEASE


August 2008

For generations, people all over the world have had to relocate from their homes for a number of social and environmental issues. The effects of these displacements have often hugely impacted the development of these same societies over time. Even today, groups and entire communities are still being relocated due to the alarming effects of climate change, natural disasters, water regulations and political unrest.

In the northern part of Sweden the mining industry continues to expand and, in certain areas, the ground is crumbling under entire cities. This poses enormous challenges to the survival of such cities and may force their populations to relocate. However, is it possible to relocate whilst safeguarding and transferring parts of, or entire societies? How can this be done effectively? This is the challenge set for the Interdesign Workshop – City Move Interdesign – scheduled to take place 22 March - 3 April 2009.

In a partnership with Icsid, the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation (SVID) and the community of Gellivare, City Move Interdesign will be the main activity in a project about relocating people and societies. The project will look at socially responsible design methods to create new spaces for people.

Amongst others, City Move Interdesign will address the following questions:

How can the needs of people be addressed and explored when moving from one place to another and how can the people be involved in the development of solutions?

How can both old and new physical conditions be used in the best way to influence the planning of a new society?

How can sustainable factors contribute to a new and better environment for the inhabitants than the one they are leaving?

Identify and develop processes and competences that renew a society in the best way to make people want to work, visit and live there.

Can the process or reason to create a new society become an attraction in itself and create tourism and positive goodwill for the society and companies established there?

How can commercial activities in the new areas be created?

What are some of the best ways to spread the knowledge and experience learnt from this project to other people and organisations around the world?

The results and documentation from the workshop will become a part of a knowledge bank showing how the process could be used in Sweden but also how it can be adapted and implemented in similar areas around the world.

Participation

The City Move Interdesign presents a unique working environment and inspiring opportunity for participants to develop creative solutions for a serious problem. Through innovative research and collaborative work, participants can expect to share professional experience in an attempt to present proposals that will be adapted to the physical and cultural needs of the inhabitants. For the participating designer, the City Move project is a multi-disciplinary event to transfer, as well as expand professional expertise.

Participation in City Move Interdesign will be based on a formal application process. Because of the scope of the project, 30 to 40 people with different design competences and other relevant professions will participate in the workshop. In addition to this, there will be a number of expert advisors and support personnel on-site to facilitate the workshop.

Primary participants for the workshop include:

Architects

Industrial designers

Landscape architects

Social scientists
City planners

Engineers

Environmental specialists

Artists

Psychologists

Students

Others

The application period will open on April 15 and will close on July 31.

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