Beautiful city of Graz

Prije nekoliko godina put me odveo u austrijsku pokrajinu Štajersku, studentski grad Grac i iz tog putvanja rodio se sljedeći članak koji je objavljen u časopisu Prostor.

A couple of years ago a journey took me to Austrian province Styria, and student city of Graz. And this journey was transformed in the following article published in the magazine Prostor. 

Grac, ranije poznat kao Gradac, drugi je po veličini grad u Austriji i predstavlja upravno središte pokrajine Štajerske, udaljen tri sata vožnje vozom od Beča. 1585. godine u Gracu je osnovan univerzitet, a grad u XVI vijeku postaje kulturni i naučni centar. Ovaj podatak je zanimljiv iz razloga što se Grac danas smatra studentskim gradom. Ova titula je u potpunosti opravdana, obzirom da od oko 290.000 stanovnika, čak 40.000 njih su studenti. Internacionalni uticaji i saradnja se osjećaju i ostvaruju putem četiri postojeća univerziteta (Univerzitet Karl Franzes, Tehnički, Medicinski univerzitet i Univerzitet umjetnosti) i 2 visoke škole (Univerziteta primijenjenih umjetnosti).

1999. godine ovaj grad stavljen je na listu kulturne baštine UNESCO-a. 2003. godine bio je proglašen za kulturnu prijestonicu Evrope.

14. marta 2011. generalna direktorica UNESCO-a  u Parizu, Irina Bokova, zvanično je proglasila Grac gradom dizajna i objavila njegovo priključenje u međunarodnu mrežu kreativnih gradova.

GRAC U BROJEVIMA

Narodnosti: 160

Muzeji: 20

Galerije: 24

Dizajn prodavnice: 89

Festivali: 20

Univerziteti i fakulteti primijenjenih nauka: 6

Jakomini place in Graz

Opera house

"Lichtschwert" or Light sword sculpture in front of Opera house

Graz is the second largest city in Austria and represents the capital of the federal state of Styria, only three hours driving from Vienna. University was established in the city of Graz in 1585. and during 16. century Graz becomes cultural and scientific center. This information is interesting because nowadays Graz is considered to be student city. This title is fully justified considering the fact that 40.000 citizens, out of 290.000 in total, are students. International influences and cooperation are realized via four existing Universities (Karl Franzes University, University of Technology, Medical University and University of Music and Performing Arts) and two high schools (University of Applied Arts).

In 1999. this city was placed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. And in 2003. it was named the cultural capital of Europe.

On the March 14^th 2011. Director-General of UNESCO in Paris, Irina Bokova, has officially announced Graz the city of design and its joining to the international network of creative cities.   

GRAZ IN NUMBERS

Nationalities: 160

Museums: 20

Galleries: 24

Design shops: 89

Festivals: 20

Universities and faculties of applied sciences: 6

Katharinenkirche or Saint Catherine's church

Mausoleum of emperor Ferdinand II and Saint Catherine's church

Grazer Dom or Cathedral, example of Gothic architecture

 

Interior of the Dom

Handy Graz souvenirs for Styria strolls

Graz downtown

"Rathaus" - Town hall and the main square - "Hauptplatz"

Lively Hauptplatz

GRAD DIZAJNA

Dizajn je primijenjena umjetnost koja nastaje procesom donošenja serije odluka koje imaju za cilj konstruisanje, oblikovanje ili kreiranje nečega primjenjivog. Dizajn danas ne predstavlja specifičnu profesiju niti disciplinu, a neke od tih disciplina su: industrijski dizajn, dizajn enterijera, grafički, modni dizajn, tipografija, web dizajn, interaktivni i informaiconi dizajn.

“Bez obzira čime se bavite, uvijek će se pokazati da dobre i korisne stvari takođe krasi i ljepota.“, Baldassare Castiglione, Il Cortegiano, 1528.

2004. godine UNESCO je počeo sa kreiranjem mreže Gradova dizajna, i do danas su se na toj listi našli sljedeći gradovi: Berlin (Njemačka), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montreal (Kanada), Nagoya (Japan), Kobe (Japan), Shezhen (Kina), Seoul (Južna Koreja), Shanghai (Kina), St. Etienne (Francuska), Graz (Austrija).

Kriterijumi koje svaki od Gradova dizajna treba da ispuni su sljedeći: postojanje uspješne industrije dizajna, značajni prihodi od ove industrije i arhitekture, karakterističan i prepoznatljiv izgled grada, postojanje modernih institucija koje podržavaju obuku iz oblasti dizajna, te kretivni ljudi i dizajneri koji djeluju kako na lokalnoj, tako i na međunarodnoj sceni.  

THE CITY OF DESIGN

Design is applied art that is created in the process of making series of decisions considering construction, shape or creating something usable. Design today is not a specific profession or discipline, and some of these disciplines are: industrial design, interior design, graphics, fashion design, typography, web design, interactive and information design.

“No matter what you do, it will always be proven that good and useful things are beautiful as well.”, Baldassare Castiglione, IL Cortegiano, 1528-

In 2004. UNESCO has started creating the network of cities of design, and to this day on this list the following cities have found their place: Berlin(Germany), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montreal (Canada), Nagoya (Japan), Kobe (Japan), Shezhen (China), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (China), St. Etienne (France), Graz (Austria).  

The criteria that each of cities of design must meet are following: the existence of successful industrial design, significant revenues from this industry and architecture, characteristic and distinctive look of the city, existence of modern institutions that support training in the field of design and creative people and designers who work on both local, and international scene.

"Landeszeughaus" - the Styrian Armoury 

Easter spirit in window shops

ARHITEKTURA GRACA

Arhitektonska kretanja u Gracu nisu bila “egocentrična“ i tradicionalistička, jer se nije insistiralo na štajerskom stilu ili tipu gradnje. Ovaj grad je dom odličnih primjera modernističke i internacionalne arhitekture, nasuprot savršeno očuvanim građevinama baroka i srednjeg vijeka.

Sedamdesetih godina prošlog vijeka pojavila se “Grazer Schule“, grupa arhitekata različitih starosnih struktura, među kojima su glavnu ulogu imali: Günther Domenig, Eilfried Huth, Michael Szyszkowitz, Karla Kowalski, Klaus Kada i drugi, koji su inspiraciju za svoja djela tražili u inostranstvu. Prilikom izgradnje školskih i univerzitetskih objekata, adaptiranja starih objekata i oblikovanja enterijera, istraživane su nove forme, a stanovnici su ušestvovali u stanogradnji zahvaljujući razumijevanju partnera u politici i gradskoj upravi. Glavna nastojanja su bila alternativno korištenje enegije, ekonomično građenje, iskorištavanje prednosti pejzaža, te adaptacija istorijske graditeljske supstance. Graditeljsko naslijeđe je uklapano u aktivan, pulsirajući život regenerisanog grada, vršene su prenamjene funkcije i smjele interpolacije u staro gradsko tkivo. 

ARCHITECTURE OF GRAZ

Architectural trends in Graz were not "self-centered" and traditional, because it did not insist on the Styrian style or type of building. This city is home to excellent examples of modernist and international architecture, as opposed to well -preserved buildings of baroque and medieval times.

During seventies years of the last century "Grazer Schule" appeared, a group of architects from different age structures, among which the main role was played by Günther Domenig, Eilfried Huth, Michael Szyszkowitz, Karla Kowalski, Klaus Kada and others, who sought the inspiration for their works abroad. During the construction of schools and university facilities, adaptation of old buildings and interior design, new forms were explored, and residents took their part in housing through understanding partners in politics and city government. The main efforts were towards alternative usage of energy, economical construction, taking advantage of the landscape and the adaptation of historic architectural substance. Architectural heritage was fit to an active, pulsating life of the regenerated city, while conversions of functions were carried out and daring interpolation in the old urban fabric.

"Murinsel" - Mur island, one of the landmarks of Graz

Das Kunsthaus / The blue bubble / The friendly alien

Grazer Kunsthaus ili Kuća umjetnosti je muzej izgrađen u sklopu proslave Graca kao evropske prijestonice kulture i od tada je jedan od zaštitnih znakova ovog grada. Njegovi arhitekti Peter Cook i Colin Fournier (grupa Archigram) su mu na samom početku dali nadimak "friendly alien" ili prijateljski vanzemaljac. Ova gigantska građevina u maniru blob arhitekture je smještena na samoj obali rijeke Mure i uklopljena u staro jezgro grada. Sama građevina sastoji se iz tri dijela: tzv. Gvozdene kuće (Eisernes Haus), prve građevine od livenog gvožđa u Austriji iz 1852. godine; zatim njenog najvećeg dijela – plavog mjehura (odakle i naziv The blue bubble), koji svojom organskom formom sa aortama na površini podsjeća na srce; te "igle", trećeg pravolinijskog staklenog dijela. Sjajne krljušti od komada akrilnog stakla čine blistavu, plavu kožu ove građevine, koja zahvaljujući specijalnom BIX sistemu osvjetljenja fasade (izraz nastao ukrštanjem riječi big i pixel), noću treperi i blješti. Ovaj sistem se sastoji od ukupno 925 standardizovanih, kružnih, fluorescentnih cijevi ispod samog površinskog sloja fasade. Svako od ovih svjetala može biti kontrolisano pojedinačno u smislu njegovog paljenja i gašenja, te promjene intenziteta. Na ovaj način, cijela površina fasade može da posluži za projekciju jednostavnih poruka, animacija i klipova. 

Grazer Kunsthaus  or House of art is a museum built in celebration of Graz as a European Capital of Culture and has been one of the trademarks of the city. Its architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier (group Archigram) nicknamed it as a "friendly alien". This gigantic structure in the manner of blob architecture is situated on the bank of the river Mura and blended into the old town. The building itself consists of three parts: 1. the so-called „Iron House“ (Eisernes Haus), the first building of cast iron in Austria dating from 1852., 2. then its largest part - blue bubble, which, with its organic forms on the surface looks like aortas and a heart, and 3. the "pin"- third part of the straight-through glass. Shiny scales of a piece of acrylic glass are sparkling, blue skin of the building, which, thanks to special lighting system of BIX façade (a term created by crossing the words big and pixel), at night flashes and sparkles. This system consists of a total of 925 standardized, circular, fluorescent tubes below the surface layer of the facade. Each of these lights can be controlled individually in terms of its power on and off, and change of intensity. In this way, the entire surface of the facade can be used for the projection of simple messages, animations and video clips.

Opera

Druga po veličini opera u Austriji, neobarokna građevina iz 1899. godine koja je u potpunoj suprotnosti sa "svjetlosnim mačem", čeličnom skulpturom Hartmuta Skerbischa iz 1992. koji predstavlja simbol otvorenog uma i tolerancije.

Opera house

The second-largest opera house in Austria, a neo-Baroque building dating from 1899., which is in stark contrast to the "light sword", a steel sculpture by Hartmut

Skerbischa made in 1992. representing the symbol of an open mind and tolerance.

Murinsel, ostrvo na Muri

Arhitekta Vito Acconci 2003. godine projektovao je artificijelnu plutajuću platformu na rijeci. To je čelična građevina u obliku školjke, koja pomoću dva pješačka mosta povezuje obale Mure, a u svom središtu obrazuje amfiteatar. Ispod uvrnute kružne kupole smješteni su kafić i igralište koji mogu da prime do 350 posjetilaca. 

Murinsel, and island on the river Mura

Architect Vito Acconci in 2003 designed this artificial floating platform on the river. It is a steel structure in the form of a shell, with two pedestrian bridges connecting river banks, and forming an amphitheater in its center. Below twisted circular domes are located cafe and playground that can accommodate up to 350 visitors. 

Panorama of the city from the Grazer Schloßberg

KREATIVNOST I EKONOMIJA

Za kreativnu industriju se često kaže da je to novi biznis sa najbržim rastom u svijetu. Kreativna industrija počiva na novim načinima razmišljanja i delanja, a njena najjednostavnija definicija govori o ostvarivanju profita na osnovu eksploatacije znanja, ideja i informacija. Prema Johnu Howkinsu (britanskom autoru, tvorcu naslova "The Creative Economy"), kreativna industrija objedinjuje: oglašavanje, arhitekturu, umjetnost, zanatstvo, dizajn, modu, film, muziku, izvođačke umjetnosti, izdavanje, softver, igračke i video igre, istraživanje i razvoj, te televiziju i radio.

Dok se neke od najuspješnijih zemalja svijeta bore na svjetskom tržištu tradicionalnim granama privrede poput proizvodnje, mnogi sada vide "kreativnu industriju" kao ključni sastojak u novostvorenoj " ekonomiji znanja", koja postaje pokretačka snaga urbane revitalizacije, služeći se sredstvima poput eksploatacije kulturnog naslijeđa, te vodi ka novom procvatu turizma. Sve češće se mogu čuti tvrdnje da će upravo nove ideje i kreativnost predstavljati najveći kapital ovih zemalja. U korist ovoj tezi ide i podatak da sve veći broj visokoškolskih ustanova nudi kretivna preduzetništva kao određenu oblast istraživanja i proučavanja.

CREATIVITY AND ECONOMY

For the creative industry often is said that it is a new business with the fastest growth in the world. The creative industries are based on new ways of thinking and acting, and its simplest definition speaks of profit from the exploitation of knowledge, ideas and information. According to John Howkins (British author , creator of the title "The Creative Economy"), the creative industry consolidates: advertising, architecture, art, crafts, design, fashion, film, music, performing arts, publishing, software, toys and video games, research and development, and television and radio.

While some of the most successful countries in the world fight in the global market with traditional industries such as manufacturing, more and more people now see the "creative industries" as a key ingredient in the newly created "economy of knowledge", which becomes the driving force of urban revitalization, using resources such as the exploitation of cultural heritage, and leads towards a new flourishing tourism. Often we can hear claims that exactly these new ideas and creativity represent the largest capital in these countries. In favor of this thesis is the fact that there is an increasing number of higher education institutions who offer the creative entrepreneurship as a specific area of ​​research and study.

Est(etika) ili moralni osvrt

Trebamo li se na kraju ove priče prisjetiti i sveprisutnog fenomena konzumerizma, jednog od glavnih pratećih pojava razvijenog kapitalizma, kao druge strane medalje ekonomskog razvoja i poboljšanja životnog standarda? Opstanak društva diktira naučni i tehnološki razvoj, a posljedice novog poretka nam pružaju način da se izrazimo ili sakrijemo vlastite nedostatke kroz "savršene proizvode" - vrstu garderobe, automobila, namještaja u kući, vina na stolu.

Guy Debord se u svom djelu "Društvo spektakla" bavi problemom fetišizma robe, te vladavinom "vidljivih i nevidljivih stvari" nad društvom. On u svom djelu govori da je početkom masovne proizvodnje za globalno tržište, koje je donijela industrijska revolucija, roba postala vidljiva sila koja kolonizuje čitav društveni život. Vladavinski princip robe favorizuje društveni imperativ potrošnje u svojevrsnoj "mitologiji nedostatka".

Uprkos svemu, možemo li se oduprijeti pretvaranju u bespomoćne neinformisane potrošače konformiste? Gledajući televiziju, listajući novine, posmatrajući reklamni plakat dok čekamo gradski prevoz, treba se sjetiti pozadine koja se krije iza reklama., oslanjanjem na vlastiti razum i svijest o svijetu oko sebe i ne uzimanjem bez rezerve svega što se na tržištu nudi.

Est (ethics) or moral review

At the end of the story should we recall pervasive phenomenon of consumerism, one of the main side effects of developed capitalism, as the other side of the coin of economic development and the improvement of living standards? Survival of the society is dictated by scientific and technological development, and the consequences of the new order provide us with a way to express ourselves or hide our own defects through a "perfect product" - the type of clothes, cars, furniture in the house, wine on the table.

Guy Debord in his book "Society of the Spectacle" tackles the problem of commodity fetishism, and the control of "visible and invisible things" over society. He says in his book that at the beginning of mass production for the global market, which has been brought by the industrial revolution, the goods become apparent power that colonized the entire social life. The ruling principle of goods is favoring social imperative of consumption in a kind of "mythology of deficiency."

Nevertheless, can we resist turning into a helpless uninformed consuming conformists? Watching TV, flipping through newspapers, watching billboards while waiting for public transportation, one should remember the background behind the ad, by relying on their own common sense and awareness of the world around them and not taking without doubt everything that the market offers.