Project Ilica

Project Ilica is a collaborative, local craft production initiative that deals with processes that led to changes in Zagreb urban tissue since the early ’90s and investigates the impacts of bottom-up strategies on the economy of one of its most central streets. The project proposes a model for self-sustainable development of the local community by means of social design, through collaboration, knowledge sharing and co-creation of craftspeople, designers and citizens. The model is based on belief in the ability of social relations and reflects the ideas of hyperlocalism, criticality and orientation towards the local community.

The project was conceived within the nanotourism initiative during BIO 50 in Ljubljana in 2014. and was later on manifested through a series of public actions, exhibitions and events. The research part of the project ended in 2017. by publishing a Registry of Knowledge Holders book, which is an anthropological design study of the production life of Ilica street, focusing on small shops and craftspeople. The project eventually evolved into a more complex international platform MADE IN.

Project was presented on numerous occasions through lectures and exhibitions, among which Oslo Architecture Triennale in 2022.

Self-initiated

2013

authors
concept, research, editing, texts, design, illustration:
Nina Bačun, Ivana Borovnjak, Roberta Bratović, Tina Ivezić, Maja Kolar, Maša Poljanec

contributors
photos: Bojan Mrđenović, Neven Petrović, Borko Vukosav, Marina Paulenka
texts (in the book): Maja Arčabić, Boris Bakal, Jan Boelen, Aljoša Dekleva & Tina Gregorič, Marko Golub, Bojan Mucko, Oaza
craftspeople: Igor Dvoršćak, Domagoj Živčić, Zlatko Budiselić, Goran Žugić, Zvonimir Balcer, Đuro Bashota, Niko Kuharić, Stella Gašparac, Mateja & Thomislav Cerovečki, Damir Marković, Stjepan Pavlović, Renato Bočak, Zvonimir Strašek, Nino Radulović, Dubravko Lacković, Sven Rakitničan, Vinko Zvošec, Nikola Andrijević, Džan Bashota, Marica Ivičević−Barišić, Stipan Josić, Gjon Gjoni, Enver i Ali Gadaf, David Lušičić, Alenka Antolić−Soban, Damir Mehkek, Ivan Prgomet

Ilica, one of the longest streets in Zagreb, has undergone a transformation over the past 30 years due to local political and global production changes. As a result, many of the old craftspeople workshops and specialised stores are closing down and changing the face of the street.

Mapping the street potentials: remaining craftspeople, their hidden knowledge and intellectual capital, material resources, production networks and distribution channels. Mapping the street potentials: remaining craftspeople, their hidden knowledge and intellectual capital, material resources, production networks and distribution channels.

→ result: Registry of Knowledge Holders – a catalogue of skills, qualifications, and products gathered during interviews with local craftspeople and owners of specialised stores.

Conducting various actions in formats of open days, workshops, lectures, events and exhibitions.

→ result: New Old School Ilica educational model, through which all parties sharing geolocation (craftspeople, designers, local residents) can benefit using their own knowledge as a currency of exchange.

Forming of collective identity through co-creational processes.

→ results: Products fully realised within Ilica street represent a direct result of co-creational processes started by Old School Ilica programmes.