Background

The game was played on December 4-5, 2009. It brought together high school students, teachers, parents and graduates. Five teams debated revitalising school yard space for use as a public space both by schools and local residents.

The local residents are mostly middle class families, and there is also a rather high percentage of senior citizens using the yard as a small park. The urban texture is very soviet-like, but quite green, and there is rather poor use of space here. Proposals for regenerating the area were submitted to the head of the municipality, who took part in the game as an expert in the stage of final presentations.

The game was organised by ‘The School of Self-Determination’ and supported by the British Council and the municipality of Vostochnoe Izmailovo.

Objectives

The game addressed local challenges and sought community-led solutions. It aimed to let students and adults work together as equals, challenge them to become more active citizens in their community, and generate sustainable and innovative ideas for the area’s development.

The participants focused on reviving and reshaping the image and function of the area, making better use of it as a public space.

Winning idea

Local outdoor centre for cultural and social events

The team that came up with the winning idea observed that the community in the area lacks outdoor cultural and social activity: some festivals, events that would make living together more connected and positive. The district itself has a rather shady image, but on the other hand has a lot of potential as a fast-developing and very green space.

The idea is to restructure part of the area for the needs of a local outdoor cultural centre, creating wind-protected green space to include a vintage dance-floor, summer open-air cinema (there is already a huge white wall) and temporary exhibition banners. The project fits perfectly into the undergoing preparations to celebrate the 65-year victory anniversary. The team presented an action plan for the cultural centre, which would be used during festivals as an additional area and appeals to various target groups ranging from children to senior citizens.

Winning ideas from the other teams

Winter garden on the roof
The group suggested bringing a sense of summer to Moscow’s almost six-month winter season. Winter gardens have a long history in Russia, but almost disappeared in the soviet period. The design and construction of the school building makes it feasible to raise the height and arrange a multi-functional, lightweight greenhouse, where children might study science, schools could hold meetings and conferences, and children would be able to use as a public space to play in the frequent cases of bad weather.

Local astronomical observatory
Is there a way to get people to slow down their pace of life and spend more time with their loved ones? The idea is to bring some romance and wonder into daily life by placing a small telescope on top of the building and turning the unused space into a local outdoor planetarium. It might be a science laboratory for school and a weekend activities for local residents seeking a high-grade alternative to a Saturday popcorn movie. The team found an investor and some support from the municipality.

Exhibition fence and regeneration of the sports ground
The idea explores already existing but poorly-used spaces in the area, like back-yards, fences, gates, information boards, and asphalted pieces of land. The main focus is on making better use of the space as a public sports ground (e.g. Sunday roller-skating lanes) and an outdoor art gallery for displaying pictures and photography. The project is intended as a follow-up to the municipality social programme. The group conducted research on the needs of locals and school residents, produced a design drawing of unused spaces, and showed how it might be used for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Sunday social flea market
The team developed the idea of a Sunday flea market where locals and students could sell, buy and exchange crafts and bric-a-brac. The school produces large quantities of hand-made craft and “art objects” and this is an opportunity to display them to a wider audience, exchange, and to arrange small workshops where children can show their skills and teach others. The start-up event might be timed for a holiday like Christmas.