CAFx - GIYNANNN by Kanan Gayibov

GIYNANNN

Kanan Gayibov

Azerbaijan

Ali Malikov, a well-known LGBTI+ activist, is the film's main character. In the background voice, they explain how cities are LGBTI+ exclusive and there is no safe space for queer people.

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The film addresses the struggles of queer artists due to the ongoing oppression and phobia against LGBTI+ youth. The situation in the country leaves many with mental health problems and generally adds up to the lack of motivation that has been there due to the lack of financial and moral resources. Increasing hate crimes against the community threaten many young people and shrinking public safe spaces leave LGBTI+s behind. The film is a self-protest against the ongoing situation and addresses the poor realities of the country regarding queers.

Parking is one of the significant city planning problems of Baku. The neighborhoods with high buildings usually lack parking lots and the cars pile up in the backyard of the residence buildings. Children in the neighborhood reclaim the streets! They want to play one more round of soccer, but the already existing limited and shrinking space for a playground is taken away by the cars coming in and out of the yard. Also, children playing in the “playground” of the residential buildings put parked vehicles in danger, and many incidents usually occur. You could see a grumpy person taking their head off of the window and shouting “go play your soccer somewhere else”. City design and the built environment around the residential neighborhoods should take everyone’s needs into account. Including kids who love to play games in the backyard of their apartments…

Digital Common(s): The Role of Digital Gamification and Immersive Technologies in Intergenerational Co-design of Public Spaces

An intergenerational design research project that brings virtual reality and video gaming technologies to local communities in public housing as design communication tools. During a series of interactive and engaging co-design activities, youth and older adults are taken as co-researchers to critically reflect on public spaces and give agency to everyday knowledge. Participants are empowered with techniques of digital tools that help them to generate shared expressions of spatial needs and develop a mutual understanding of community interests. The participatory tools and processes are evaluated and published as open-source educational materials, together with the analysed co-design outcome.