Ljubljana – a World City…?

Ljubljana – a World City The first FCG played in Slovenia. Connected to the Royal Visit as a part of its programme.

Background: Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The parliamentary elections showed the voting split between Ljubljana and the rest of the coutry. So, how is Ljubljana related to Slovenia? What is its role? Should this be its primary concern or should the city rather look at raising its profile in a wider context? Can Ljubljana, therefore, cope with the future and keep up the pace with other cities? Can it become…

…a world city??

Purpose The Future City Game focused on Ljubljana a whole. Teams were challenged to come up with ideas that would in ten years time make Ljubljana a better place to live and work in and help it to become a world city. Partners The game was co-organised with the Department for Urban Planning at Ljubljana Municipality and Institute for Spatial Planning Policies.Department for Urban Planning

Success Indicators: - enabling city administration to gain an interesting insight into the residents views, wishes, and ideas about improving the quality of life in the city; - changing mindset of involved Ljubljana community members in ways of promoting public participation in decision making - learning to have to come to a winning idea in a team

Location: Ljubljana – initially Ljubljana Castle with a top view of the city, later moved to the centrally positioned venue, for convenience of the RC.

Players: 22 players –urban planners, players from CI sector – architects, designers, artists, advertisers, new media editors…, awa university departments staff, sociologists, NGOs, cultural institutions… businessmen and young politicians.

Winning idea: Do - Undo Cities evolve; buildings stay the same and mark the cities for a long time. What can the residents do, if the decision to build something was not a good one? Even though the teams idea of a democratically implemented destruction of buildings seems to be a bit anarchistic, it poses questions of responsibility, citys evolvement, etc. The idea is that all the above mentioned involved parties decide which buildings no longer serve their purpose and can be demolished; they are then put to a vote. The one that receives the most votes goes down in a spectacular way, making space for something better.. -A case for a greater inclusion of city residents into decision-making by establishing an online collaboration space, bringing together residents, city reps, architects, planners, investors, city visitors, etc. The idea encourages civic actions by engaging the residents in urban interventions.

Challenges The future of co-operation with LJ City Municipality depended on success of the FCG. Balancing FCG goals with the hype around RV. Additional organisational pressure and compromises due to RV. Opportunities Utilise the media interest (local and the UK) for promotion of FCG and Creative Cities project. Attracted high profile players, jury members and other participants. Put FCG on a map with a bang.

Quote of Janez Koželj, Ljubljana Vice-Mayor "The Future City game is a welcome tool that comes in time. I see its special strength in two things. One is changing mindset of us, as well as Ljubljana community members in ways of promoting public participation in decision making. The second is that we Slovenes are strong individuals and the way we 'do' ideas is that everyone comes to the table with their own already developed idea, saying 'This is it!' and then doesn't move an inch from it. So learning to have to come to a winning idea in a team, through a well managed method and a process, surely felt a surprise, or even a shock to some people. But it is good for them."

Thank you!