Exhibition “Re-activate the City”

July 8-29th - Exhibition “Re-activate the City”

JUL 2021

The Cities Connection Project, Wallonie-Bruxelles Architectures and Architektūros fondas invite you to visit the exhibition “Re-activate the City” on July 8-29. The exhibition is presented in three public spaces in Paupys district. (Vilnius, Wallonie-Bruxelles, Barcelona)

“Re-activate the City” is an exhibition featuring 20 architectural objects from the city of Barcelona, the Walloon-Brussels region and 14 objects from Vilnius. The projects on display are focused on repurposing the existing spaces, reconstructing, and reactivating the city, considering the specificity of each location and its cultural and architectural context.

The exhibition is organized in partnership with the Cities Connection Project and Wallonie-Bruxelles Architectures. First held in Brussels and Barcelona, the cities from which it originated, the exhibition travels through other countries and cities, complemented by examples of local architecture. Vilnius is its sixth stop.

The discourse of reconstruction and reactivation of urban spaces and buildings reflects the challenges of our times and requires a corresponding approach from architects and society. The renovation and reactivation processes of various objects aim to reuse existing structures and materials, to add vitality and new functions to the existing structures, and to ensure that they meet the needs of communities. Re-using derelict, forgotten buildings is one of the most direct ways of moving towards sustainable development. Moreover, the quality of life in a city depends heavily on the vitality of its buildings and spaces: neglect has a profoundly negative impact on the urban dynamic, preventing the emergence of new ideas and the formation of communities.

“Re-activate the City” exhibition draws our attention to the increasingly rapid rewiring of the old fabric of the city: materials for creativity, including architectural creativity, often come from what already exists. Even the installations in this exhibition have been reused for the second time: the structures that Lewben Art Foundation had in place for the “Homo Absentia” exhibition were suitable for this show as well. Instead of storing the existing materials and wasting new resources, the structures were put to work – additionally, this allowed to forge valuable strands of collaboration between different institutions.

The Cities Connection Project is a connector between cities and their architecture, created by architects Nicola Regusci and Xavier Bustos, with the aim of generating synergies between architects, cultural agents, governments and universities among European cities.

Wallonie-Bruxelles Architectures is a service designed to promote the international development and recognition of architects and related professions (planners, landscape designers, photographers, etc.) working in Brussels and in Wallonia.

Architektūros fondas is a non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 2004, operating in the fields of architecture, culture and education. Through its activities, ‘Architektūros fondas’ brings together a network of people, initiatives and ideas, seeks to develop the interactions between society and architecture, and creates and nurtures architectural culture.

BARCELONA TEAM:

Curators: Nicola Regusci, Xavier Bustos

Graphic design: Nicola Regusci, Pamela Könsgen, Xavier Bustos

Editorial advisor: César Reyes Nájera

Updated catalog edition: 2021 dpr-barcelona ISBN: 978-84-122529-4-1, www.dpr-barcelona.com

CCP Web I CCP Twitter I CCP Facebook I CCP Instagram

WALLONIE-BRUXELLES TEAM:

Project manager: Nathalie Brison

WBA Web I WBA Facebook

VILNIUS TEAM:

Director: Martynas Germanavičius

Project manager: Vita Soltonaitė-Puslienė