Tutors || Ioulia Medzidaki & Alkmini Damianakou

Our idea highlights strongly the core value of optimism above all else, to meet the needs of Gyumri and its people. The earthquake of 1988 wrecked not only the buildings but also the spirit of the city. Using a grid as a baseline, we will try to “stitch up” the wounds with installations, by gathering inspiration from fragments & traditional patterns of the Armenian culture and craftsmanship.

Tutors || Marisa Borabo & Hadir Al Koshta

Our objective is to build a strong relationship with the children in the neighborhood, collaborate with them and our participants, and create an enjoyable play space. By integrating elements of participation, design and refurbishment, we aspire to revive the playground in this Gyumri quarter. Our goal is to create a dynamic and interactive play environment.

Tutors || Blanka Przedpełska & Katarzyna Skórniewska

Can looking at a data visualization make you feel part of a story of someone’s life? Our main idea is to represent a clash of perceptions between locals and tourists. Throughout the collaborative research, we want to collect interesting data about Gyumri: architectural, social, cultural, or whatever gets our attention. Collected data will be presented visually according to the chosen theme.

Tutors || Marita Etel & Krystyne Anathasia Kontos

The concept of the project is to create a series of experimental books that document Gyumri’s rich culture and moments. These books aim to re-think and re-imagine storytelling through printed media, making the experience more tangible and immersive to each reader. The end result will be a Pop Up Library in the city displaying all the outcast book designs, stories and collected data.

Tutors || Tinne Beirinckx & Kris Drieghe & Pieter Daenen

We want to applaud the connection between the city and countryside together with a team of designers and with artisans from Shirak and its surroundings in a new monument to the passerby. The purpose of our design is to bring the participants in contact with the proximity of the agricultural landscape, with traditional crafts and familiar, country-based building techniques.

Tutors || Karine Hovhannisyan & Mesrop Hayrapetyan

The project aims to give the pavilion a complete look by providing it with a “roof” and giving it a new purpose by extending its usefulness after daytime via the self-illuminated feature. Special consideration has also been given to the lake for keeping it alive during the nighttime with glowing boats.
Light and lighting are the tools being used to achieve the goals of the project.

Tutors || Mohamed Abdelbary & Mykyta Lytvynenko

Our project consists of two parts – Stage Pavilion and Up-cycled Music Instruments. The first part is the construction phase, where the shell structure is created by building and connecting hyperbolic paraboloids. The final design of the stage is not fixed and is to be developed through the workshop. The second part is improvisational, by creating DIY acoustic musical instruments. 

Tutors || Andrew Byrne & Georgia Zachari

MEDS Blackbox is an experimental, multidisciplinary, continuous project, that will start in Armenia and continue every year as a momento, wherever the workshop is held. It consists of a simple design pavilion, made to be built in a few days. Once the outside structure is done, the team will work together on deciding what the inside will be. An exhibition? A chilling area? A radio station?

Tutors || Mariam Loretsyan & Lena Gevorgyan

This photo project seeks to capture the spirit of modern Gyumri – a city filled with inspiring people working to make it a better place.
The idea of the photo project is to show Gyumri from a positive angle. Together with the participants, we will find people that will show us their vision of modern Gyumri, the city that can inspire with its own vibe.

Tutors || Alberto Collet

It is a landmark covered with a reflective surface that amplifies the surrounding place in a chameleon-like manner but which at the same time acts as a mirador to frame new territories and parts of the city. The element represents a unique and exciting visual experience, capable of capturing the attention and arousing the curiosity of anyone who observes it.

Tutors || Kieran Donnellan

This project re-establishes a positive relationship between the locals of Gyumri and the earth. It counters the trauma of the earthquake with a meditative space focused on horticulture by encapsulating the processes involved in planting and harvesting vegetables.