Urban Strategies

Super Hill, Ljubljana

Gradual renovation of public space in the heart of the neighbourhood.

 

The goal of this series of three interventions from 2014 to 2016 was the renovation of the public space in Savsko naselje. Due to unclear ownership and lack of a municipal renovation strategy, no direct funds were available to renovate the neighbourhood’s central public space. We had to make wise use of opportunities for smaller interventions, and by the end of 2016, they coalesced into a single renovated public space.

The Savski Hill, Super Hill project was initiated and supported by the mother of the late basketball player Filip Štemberger from Savsko naselje. Together with local musician Rok Terkaj and the children of the seventh grade of the Savsko naselje primary school, we conducted a series of workshops where we developed ideas and designed a plan for the renovation of the basketball court and the Savski Hill. We set up grandstands, hammocks, a memorial ground mural, arranged a running track and paved unofficial paths. The ground mural is the work of Klan 1107. The proposals were also presented to the City of Ljubljana, who participated in regular maintenance work. The children, their parents and other residents participated in the selection and implementation of the final idea.

We continued our work a year later with the Superhouse project. Superhouse is a playground equipment planned by Smetumet and Prostorož together with the pupils of the Savsko naselje Primary School, children from the Mladi rod kindergarten and the children from the Soča Rehabilitation Institute. We wanted the playground equipment to be suitable for all children, including those with special needs. We met with all the children in workshops where we researched their needs, desires, and capabilities. We encouraged them to design and draw the equipment they would like to have on the playground.

The most important part of all the workshops with the three generations of children was learning about their differences. The students visited their peers from the Soča Rehabilitation Institute, listened to their stories and planned the equipment with them and for them. We have combined all their plans into one, the Superhouse, where different generations of children can meet. We covered the costs of building the playground equipment with the help of local companies. Following the example of popular carrot mob campaigns abroad, we have prepared a fundraising program. We presented three options to local enterprises on how they can contribute to the realization of children's plans. We raised so half of the funds to build and set up the cottage. The other half was contributed by two bigger sponsors.

In autumn 2016, we added an urban orchard, with which the playground and the hill between Linhartova, Savska and Mislejeva streets were enriched with old Slovenian apple and pear varieties. For the shade on the children's playground, we planted walnuts and quince, and Mislejeva ulica received an avenue of ornamental apple trees. Besides providing shade and greening the public area, the orchard also gives the opportunity to talk about the value of trees and greenery in the city. Simultaneously with the planting, all the playground equipment was renovated and now meets the new safety requirements and builds a unique story of the playground with colors.

Through the renovation of the space, the local community has also strengthened, and since then the space has been used and taken care of more regularly. The Savski Hill, Super Hill project is part of the Integrated Urban Renewal in Savsko naselje.

Basketball Court; Superhouse; Urban Orchard • Clients: Milesa Štembergar, City Municipality of Ljubljana • Supporters: City Municipality of Ljubljana, Tisa d.o.o., Carpentry Blaž Bevc, Creative Europe, Norway Grants • Participants: children of the 7th grade of the Savsko naselje Primary School, residents, Rok Terkaj, Miran Pešič, Olga Michalik, Jošt Kandus, Maksim in Miha - Klan 1107, children of the 8th and 3rd grade of the Savsko naselje Primary School, children from URI Soča, children from the Mladi Rod kindergarten, unit Mavrica, residents, Rok Terkaj, Smetumet, Olga Michalik, Špela Frlic, Matic Praznik • Sponsors: Vzajemna, Medex, Gas station, local bakery, Silvaprodukt, Travna ruša Gregorc, Sorgo, PGM Hotič, Puppet Theatre Ljubljana, Smetumet • Photo: Matjaz Tancic, Rok Hočevar • 2014-2016