The Weitlingkiez is a quarter in the
two Berlin districts of Rummelsburg and Friedrichsfelde in the
Lichtenberg district with a surface area of around 50 hectares, which
developed in the 19th and 20th centuries.
And it was precisely
this neighbourhood that we decided on when we were faced with the
question of where to carry out and locate our artistic work.
So we
started a small exploration tour within the neighborhood, walked the
streets and let the surroundings take effect on us. One of the first
things we noticed was the color of the houses. Almost every house had
a different, new colour. Many houses were painted in strong tones,
some in pastel shades and a few simply left white.
Here, we
decided, was where our work should begin. We declared it to be our
main goal to open the eyes of the inhabitants again for what we as
visitors had immediately noticed, namely the colorfulness of the
surroundings.
In order to realize this goal, we thought of a map
system that was not based on street names, but on the characteristic
color combinations of the residential buildings. We divided the work
into three parts. Part 1 was to develop a map on which the houses
were marked with their colour. Part 2 consisted of distributing this
map in the form of posters and postcards in the neighbourhood for all
residents to see. The postcards were displayed in cafes, restaurants
and shops, the posters were stuck to walls, electricity boxes, …
In
the 3rd part we stuck stickers on the street name signs, which were
an alternative street marking. They only showed the colour
combinations that occur in the respective street.
Our project
would be applicable in a wide variety of places. Even if it was
specifically the Weitlingkiez by carrying out our project, it
generally appeals to everyone to take a closer look at their own
living space. In this way, it helps to make districts more lively and
attractive, and ensures a closer connection between people and
space.
If the project were to be carried out a second time,
more and possibly larger posters could be printed to make it even
more present in the urban space. Apart from that, an interactive app
could also be developed as a continuation of the whole project. Apart
from the artistic level, the project is also helpful in making
districts more lively and attractive.
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