This year, the 5-day event will focus on analysing and decoding the existing residential cityscape in order to develop new visions of future utopias. The Summer School’s topic – Optimistic Between Past and Future – confronts our age of uncertainty. In 2007, more people were living in cities than in rural areas. However, the pandemic has seen a reversal of this trend with a number of people seeking the space and isolation of the countryside.
Taking the Soviet-era residential micro-district of Eiguliai as a site of investigation, this year’s Kaunas Summer School for Architects will introduce the participants to the site through films, interviews, lectures and other media. Participants will critically reflect on the changes in society, culture, community and environment that have eroded this former utopian vision and will propose new interventions that respond to our uncertain future.
“Having a group, which is really international, coming from different backgrounds is ideal, and it is fascinating getting to know the city”, said Sabine Storp, Director for Short Courses at Bartlett School of Architecture, commenting on the last year’s event.
The participants of the International Summer School stress the opportunity to learn new methods, and also getting familiar with different perspectives of colleagues from all over the world.
