Doma Summer School 2023

Overview

Brief

The world is getting hotter, and the impacts of rising temperatures are most pronounced in cities. The cumulative impact of decisions in the built environment—such as how to build, what materials to use, and where to preserve open space—have made urban residents increasingly vulnerable to heat. But urban heat is not just a question of comfort. With increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, city dwellers are experiencing profound impacts on their health, their mobility, and their economic livelihoods.

What are the responsibilities of architects, urban designers, and planners in this crisis? And what agency do they have to act in the long-term and in the short-term? The built environment generates about 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. Reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and urban infrastructure represents one of the highest priorities. At the same time, creative strategies to adapt in everyday life to urban heat are more important than ever.

The immediate, pressing question of adaptation to urban heat in everyday life will serve as the design prompt for the DOMa 2023 Summer School. Over the course of two weeks, participants will engage with experts in a series of talks, walks, and workshops on the topic of urban heat in the public realm. The design focus of the program will be the development of short-term spatial interventions that cool urban space and enhance public life. The culmination of the summer school will be a collaborative design-build of a temporary public space that cools urban inhabitants and introduces a new, fun format for social interaction.

Outcome

After ten days of intensive work, the DOMa Summer School - led by Georgeen Theodore - ended with the Cool Down Pop Up installation, in Avdis Square in Kerameikos. The installation is a shading and cooling system based on a metal scaffolding. Shading is achieved with vertical and horizontal blinds and cooling with a misting system and blowers. The purpose of the installation was to act as a collective capacitor for all social groups in the area.