CLOUDS

Useful information

Team members: Michail Tavladorakis Orestis Athanasopoulos Retsinas Eleni Mastrogeorgopoulou Emmanouil Levedianos
Country: Greece
Keywords: Modularity Urbanism Open design Commoning Participatory development

Short Description

Collective development and open-source urbanism by promoting solidarity and open design.

Detailed Description

The initiative started in 2019, as a pilot project of the capacity building program START – Create Cultural Change. CLOUDS consists of modules designed upon a grid pattern. The modules can be assembled and re-arranged in simple ways, leading to fully functional forms that can be used as kiosks, libraries, seating solutions, etc. Users and Creators are given the possibility to choose locally sourced materials of their choice and even develop their own tools in order to accommodate custom solutions and expand CLOUDS functionality. CLOUDS connects all motivated groups and individuals into a co-operative social network that intensifies partnerships, sharing, and disseminating good practices. By developing a network of actors that is planning and documenting social and cultural actions, the project will bridge the gap between initiatives, communities, and citizens, making Commoning Culture accessible to all.

Project Details

Does your design take social and cultural challenges and human wellbeing into consideration?: The aim of the project is to strengthen citizens' capacity for self-organization and their sense of belonging to the city. By developing a network of actors that is planning and documenting social and cultural actions, the project will bridge the gap between initiatives, communities, and citizens, making Commoning Culture accessible to all.

Does your design support sustainable production, embodying circular or regenerative design practices?: Considering its embedded modularity, CLOUDS consists of modules designed upon a grid pattern. ?These modules can be assembled and re-arranged in simple ways by individually attaching pieces together. The combination of modules can lead to fully functional forms that can cover the specialized needs of the users, while better emerging in the surrounding hosting environment. ?s an Open Design System CLOUDS is fully customizable. Users and Creators are given the possibility to choose locally sourced materials of their choice and even develop their own tools in order to accommodate custom solutions and expand CLOUDS functionality.

Does your design use principles of distribution and open source?: CLOUDS is an open design system. Starter files and instructions for reproducing and adapting the system are distributed under an Attribution-NonCommercial - ShareAlike 4.0 International Creative Commons License. Designed in simple DIY logic, it is possible to fabricate the system with simple handtools, locally sourced components, and materials.

Does your design promote awareness of responsible design and consumption?: Through the participatory methodology used we are exploring ways that open design can influence the creative activity, while better addressing local community needs and priorities. CLOUDS connects all motivated groups and individuals into a co-operative social network that intensifies partnerships, sharing, and disseminating good practices.