Maik Ronz

Concept Ideas

A first visit by Maik Ronz in Plovdiv took place in 2016 as part of a workshop at Kino Kosmos. Various international and bulgarian artists took part. The workshop also included a first visit to Stolipinovo. The experience gained there was used by Maik Ronz and Martin Kaltwasser as the basis for the first concept ideas.

These were increasingly taking shape: work was to be carried out on the Youth Hill and in Stolipinovo, a material warehouse and further workshop space were to be created in SKLAD, close to the center. There, wood, recycled materials from construction sites and industry, as well as donations from households and companies in Plovdiv were to be collected and made accessible in a hardware store-like setting.

On the Youth Hill, children should be given the opportunity to become active themselves, to help shape their children's city and actively participate in the construction. Without creating a simple copy of the adult world, urban planners, architects and builders can learn about democratic choices, participation and sustainability.

One concern that should be pursued with the projects was to achieve visibility in the city.

Further visits followed and a network was formed, for example, contact with Anna and Magdalina, of the Children's Architectural Workshop, was made - which today manage the Children`s City project.

In addition, the contact with the Turkish and Roma community in Stolipinovo began. To meet at eye level and to talk to the local people and involve them in first actions was particularly important to Maik Ronz. The idea was to establish an open workshop area for internal and external workshops in Stolipinovo, which could be professionalized in the long term.

In order to introduce curious children and passers-by to craftsmanship and its versatility, workshops should be conducted with a low entry threshold. For example, the idea came up to produce roof constructions and floating elements from plastic bottles. These are cheap and available in large quantities on site. In addition, the production is quick and easy to carry out, quickly attracting attention and even beginners can get involved.

The projects are process-oriented, so many of the initial ideas were adapted to local conditions and needs. Atelie-3 is now picking up momentum on 'Building Together' and the concept is changing, the results remain open.