CAFx - Team Skanderbeg Square by Gülbeden Kulbay

Team Skanderbeg Square

Gülbeden Kulbay

Albania

The Skanderbeg Square is a beautiful place and space for inclusion in daily life in Tirana. The site welcomes you the way you are, the way you move, the way you sound and the way you appear. When I first came to the square I was overwhelmed by its diversity and complexity. I got inspired to use the inclusive concept of football to get in contact with locals in Tirana and create the Dreamteam of Skanderbeg Square.

Latest films

Play is older than culture. Play theorist Johan Huizinga in his book Homo Ludens (1955) defined play as "a free activity standing quite consciously outside ‘ordinary’ life as being ‘not serious,’ but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly. It is an activity connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained from it. It proceeds within its proper boundaries of time and space according to fixed rules and in an orderly manner." While exploring Tirana in Albania I searched for signs and acts of playfulness in the built environment. A lot of play spots can be found in the city centre in parks, where people play chess and domino, especially the elderly. They bring their own games, organise and spend time with friends outdoors. Play is in the city incorporated as a design (chairs as domino blocks), and use of public space (covered areas) in parks. As a result of my research, I choose to make a short film in which the play is addressed as a sign of inclusiveness which gives the feeling of belonging and identity.

Due to public shaming, lack of awareness and education, and exclusive spaces, disabled communities struggle the most and turn into home prisoners at some point. The integration of disabled people into society is very limited in Azerbaijan and the film highlights a deaf person’s perspective on daily life. Due to little to no existing inclusive infrastructure in Baku, most disabled people find it hard to go out of their houses without being dependent on a helper. Also, those who feel comfortable going out are always subjected as someone “in need” and get many offers from the public for help which the person did not even ask for in the first place. Many also assume that people with disabilities are in need of money and often offer them some financial help as well, which leaves many in an uncomfortable situation. The public authorities who are responsible for the city design and institutions working with people with disabilities are usually very irresponsive and the needs of the community have been unfortunately neglected for years with many empty promises to provide necessary design and tools around the neighborhoods to make life easier for them.

One Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure

A short film about the add-on shelf on Copenhagen's public trash bins, for people to collect cans. This film highlights the inclusivity of the design and its impact on the users.