About Project

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Duration

2023–2025

Countries

Poland, Latvia, Romania

Cities

Krakow, Warsaw, Riga, Bucharest

Keywords

Architecture of Power / Locus of Control / Redesign / Machine Learning Algorithms / Participatory creative research

Goal

Designing inclusive, liveable and green neighbourhoods.

Grant

Building transformation capacity through arts and design: unlocking the full potential for urban transitions
A Joint Call within the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme ERA-NET Cofund Urban Transformation Capacities (ENUTC) under Grant Agreement No. 101003758

Research

The project examines how power relations are reflected in the Socialist-period architecture of the former Eastern Bloc countries. Using new technologies, we aim to reshape perceptions of this dissonant architectural heritage.

Drawing from historical and social inspirations, AI, art, design and computer programming, we develop alternative visions of urban space. The project situates itself within the broader context of architectural history and urban planning, and examines how social control and conflict manifest in public spaces.

Our objective is to spark dialogue between urban spaces and their residents, providing tools to better understand resident needs and fostering sustainable urban planning practices.

www.unloc.art www.unloc.art
www.unloc.art
www.unloc.art
www.unloc.art
Project highlights

Project highlights

1 Theoretical Analysis
Review the impact of architecture of power on urban spaces; explore redesign possibilities.
2 Social Feedback
Gather residents’ perspectives and assess decentralization effects.
3 AI-based Research
Create AI tools for innovative spatial design.
4 Prototype Development
Test neural network tool for ecological and inclusive cities.
5 Participatory Action Research
Promote bottom-up initiatives and unified local activities.
6 Democratic Approach
Identify sustainable, inclusive urban design functions.
7 Grey to Green Strategy
Link self-sufficiency to resident control in green cities.
8 Evaluation
Assess human-machine collaboration in design.
www.unloc.art www.unloc.art
www.unloc.art
www.unloc.art
www.unloc.art

Outputs

Mandache, L. A., & Ivan, L. (2024). Critical, connected and caring: older adults’ agency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Global Ageing, 1(1), 94-114.

Ivan, L. (2025, in print). From digital skills to digital repertoires: Towards a more inclusive conceptualisation of technology use in an aging society (pp. 20-35). In Riitta Hänninen, Sakari Taipale and Laura Haapio-Kirk (Eds.) Embedded and Everyday Technology: Digital repertoires in an ageing society. London: UCL Press (open access)

Fernández-Ardèvol, M., & Ivan, L. (2024). Life transitions and media transitions. The European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) Conference. 23-27 September. Ljubljana, Slovenia.
https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/213366297/ECREA-2024-Conference-Booklet-Electronic-version_1_.pdf (p. 180)

Loos, E., Ivan, L. & Sourbati, M. (2024). Asking ChatGPT How to Fight Visual Ageism on Websites: Pitfall or Opportunity? The 26 HCI International Conference. Washington, DC, USA, June 29–July 4, 2024

Rosenberg, D., Marciano, A., Suárez-Gonzalo, S., Ivan, L., Fernández-Ardèvol, M. (2024). Predictors of the perceived influence of government digital surveillance in older adulthood. The 2024 Annual Meeting of the Socio-Gerontechnology Network. 19- 20 September, Technical University of Vienna, Austria https://www.socio-gerontechnology.net/

Project leader

Project leader

Funding

Funding Funding Funding Funding

Consortium partners

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