Student participiants:
Bartosz Głowacki, Dagmar Dvořáková, Eva Linhardova, Iga Nowacka, Igor Jansen, Jakub Kender, Krisztina Németh, Mária Tomková, Weronika Kozak
Location: Amikus- Association for the Disabled and their Families
ACTIVITIES
The Active Therapy Workshop is open 5 days a week from Monday to Friday between 07.30-14.30 and is dedicated to the disabled who hold the certificate of a degree of disability. The rehabilitation is conducted in therapy groups created on the basis of the type of disability, interests, and the individual rehabilitation programme tailored to each individual in accordance with their abilities and predispositions. The workshops include classes in the household work, social competences, computer skills, arts, tailoring as well as life hygiene and healthy lifestyle. The activities carried out aim at developing independence and resourcefulness in the members, as well as adaptation to everyday life, taking up professional internships and independent work in the future.
NEEDS
When it comes to needs, mainly those related to leisure, relaxation, play, culture and safety were articulated. It was discussed how to manage the space so that all groups could use it, adhering also to the principles of universal designing. The presence of both children and seniors and the general attachment to the area and the consequent sense of ownership were deemed the main social values. The physiotherapists pointed to the ability of creating a rest place with tables made of materials with varying finishes (sensory therapy – different textures), which would additionally have openings of different shapes. The set would include elements fitting the openings and different textures on the surface of the tables. The tables could be used in therapy, team competition, as well as a play thing for children. Other version of tables could include elements emitting sounds or spinning around. The rest place could be completed with elements providing shade, amongst which siting places would be located, as well as spots for hanging hammocks. All elements which rock, spin or move are particularly attractive for the disabled and children.
FINAL RESULTS
Grup wanted to design a space which would integrate the disabled people and the locals. They first ideas incorporated three keywords: therapy, movement and inviting. They wanted to give them something that would be challenging for them and which would bring attention to their problems and increase awareness in people living there. The group arrived at a solution – to create a multifunctional space that would consist of three elements, based on one module so that everyone could find their own bit in it. The first part is a relaxation zone – a bench with an adjustable backseat, connected by a platform with a ramp to lie down on, located near the tree. The idea was to highlight the movement – from sitting down through lying down to getting up again – a movement that for many of the disabled was difficult to achieve, and also the movement of leaves and nature. The bench and any sitting down area are also good for integration, conversation, the ideas very important for us as well. The second part is addressed directly to the disabled people – a sensory path, which could be used as a part of therapy, with differently shaped surfaces to touch, walk on and feel. The third part is dedicated to the promotion of the association, to perhaps inspire people to help them as well.
Tutor: WOVEN Anna Cséfalvay+Marianna Maczová
Architects from Slovakia
WO|V|EN is a shared platform for spatial ideas of four women architects based in Bratislava, Slovakia since 2010. Their joyful and enthusiastic work on diverse architecture and art related tasks offers some unique answers to questions about space, materiality, light, function and at times other surprising aspects. By collaborating with festivals, galleries, artists or private clients as well as organizing educational activities for students they enrich the architectural discourse in Slovakia and around.