A project on cultural identity, public space, and problem solving

1. Connecting school subjects
with the real life and the local community

2. Aggeliki Nikolaou
Architect - Educator
Students from 1st
Junior High School of Rhodes
and their proposals for public space

3. Students (13-14) of the 1st Junior High School of Rhodes, were assigned to
suggest their best ideas for the development and shaping of the public space of
their town.
The place of intervention was the under construction recreational zone of Rhodes
tourist port.
Students were asked to submit proposals of shaping the space

4. Students visited the site and they examined the uses of public space for
purposes of play, welcoming place, street work, consumerism, and for art-related
activities.

5. Students gathered
information about the rich
local history and the port

6. •After they investigated the character of the place, they
brainstormed to find a lot of ideas for the development
of the tourist port.
•The class chose the criteria for the proposals.
• Due to the historical dimensions of urban spaces,
students focused on the local identity as the main
criterion for the intervention in the public space.

7. Students decided to select the:
•Colossus
•Medieval symbols
•Landmarks
as
sources of
inspiration

8. Students:
•Focused on
local identity
•Created
artworks
•Designed
solutions for
the
development
of the public
space
•Planned
•Built models

9. Art was the vehicle of creativity

10. Art was the motivational factor
for engagement

11. Team working on models was the challenge

12. They took pictures of their artworks

13. Pictures were processed with free editing tools

14. Students placed them in the tourist port
and got a plethora of solutions

15. They created the models of the “Colossus fun park” with
slides, hammocks, and trampolines for the youngsters.

16. They placed them in the public space

17. A group of students
worked on landmarks.
Windmills and deers
were used as
inspirational source

18. Team working
with windmills

19. Kiosks at the tourist port

20. Kiosks and art exhibition for the local architecture

21. The medieval architecture as well as the medieval castle
sparked students interest

22. Tourists welcome-corners

23. Information corners for tourists
near the archeological site of the port.

24. One group of students decided to propose 3D projections
mapping on the buildings

25. The students proposals were presented to the local
authorities, during an event, organized by the school
community.