Only a hundred kilometres from the Lithuanian capital, Kaunas is considered to be the centre of Lithuania's economic life, notable for the spread of industry and rapid economic reform. The second largest city in Lithuania, with approximately 20,000 local businesses, provides services to more than 415,700 inhabitants.
Laisves Aleja (Freedom Avenue), located in the centre of Kaunas, is the city’s main business area, and has been declared a non-smoking zone.
After two days of brainstorming and research, the participants generated a number of interesting ideas on how to transform Laisves Aleja, the longest all-pedestrian avenue in the city centre, into a more attractive area that will appeal to both residents and tourists. The game was co-organised by the Embassy of Lithuania in London, the Career Centre at Kaunas University of Technology, the London-based Baltic Vision Group, Kaunas Municipality, and the UK-based Youth Union of Lithuania.
To find out more, check out the Kaunas Future City Game blog.
Viagra
The winning idea focuses on the revitalisation of the neglected part of the avenue and considers small creative businesses as a force for change. Since the game was played in one of the city’s neglected buildings, the winning team decided to turn the place into an art incubator. The influx of small creative businesses into this area would provide demand for other businesses, such as coffee shops and restaurants, attracting more and more creative professionals, thus creating a creative cluster.
Cable Car
The all-pedestrian Laisves Aleja is almost two kilometres long; however, some of the areas are rather neglected, or even deserted, with almost nothing to offer to residents or tourists. To shorten the distance and make the journey more comfortable, fun and fast, the idea is to have a cable car along the avenue.
The Mayor’s Hour in the Town Garden
We were lucky enough to have the Mayor of Kaunas participate in the game, and his team decided that such cooperation should be continued. They came up with the idea of regular meetings, ‘at the same time and place’, between the mayor and residents. The meetings would take place in the Town Garden (Miesto Sodas) Restaurant on Laisves Aleja. It was not a winning idea, but it was implemented by the Mayor a month after the Future City Game was played.
Leave It to Freedom
One of the teams suggested honouring the name of the avenue, i.e. Freedom, and leaving the avenue to creative people, as well as allowing unlimited creativity in the construction or rebuilding of the dwelling spaces. These would become venues for regular street events, attracting entertainment related businesses.
London Contribution
The Kaunas Future City Game was partly played in London, where 16 participants participated two days before the Kaunas event, and their ideas presented virtually at the Future City Game in Kaunas. The participants represented Lithuanian immigrants, who live, study or work in London. They were mainly concerned with security in Kaunas and suggested supporting and encouraging new small businesses to open on the avenue. A more important role in the revitalisation process should also be played by universities through the organisation of more events - whether entertainment or professionally related events - for students.
Check it out on YouTube.
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