How can public space be lived through movement?

"String Figures - Transforming Together" is a long-term research project conducted by the Master of Eco-Social Design in the Don Bosco district in Bolzano. Through collaboration with local stakeholders in the city and the neighbourhood, students delve into the living conditions, needs, wishes, and ideas of the inhabitants of Don Bosco. After an extensive research phase, which involves on-site interventions, numerous community encounters, and discussions, the students, working in small groups, design transformative processes addressing issues such as the use of public space, the diminishing green areas, the significance of nature in the city, social cohesion, and the role of play in everyday life. Approaching the neighborhood and the city of Bolzano with an impartial viewpoint, international students generate inspiration and alternative perspectives on how public urban spaces can foster community engagement. During the winter semester of 2023/2024, ten projects were developed, each approaching these topics and research focuses from different perspectives.