“Hocu sutta cinnara” italian for “fire under the ashes”, is a Calabrian dialect expression shedding light onto what is not completely dead, what is dormant, silent but still alive.
This title of the summer school symbolically enshrines the concept behind the program of resilient adaptation of community life in the small village of Simeri. The dormant, socially, and economically marginalized community resists in a condition of apparent passivity. In rural Calabria, we need to rethink places of togetherness, and their cultural traditions in view of an uncertain future.
After the regeneration of the former school in summer 2024, the municipality decided to extend its efforts by transforming also other public, currently underused facilities of the village, into new spots for collective life. This initiative is part of a broader vision to revitalize the social fabric of the community through inclusive design processes. Building on the success of the previous year’s activities, the summer school will serve as a platform for engaging residents, as well as international participants, in collaborative workshops focused on the co-creation of the village’s public heritage.
The summer school will involve a series of hands-on design and workshops, where participants will explore social and ecological approaches to urban renewal, with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and community-driven development. These workshops will create spaces that encourage social interaction in the shrinking village. The activities will center around the question of urban commons by promoting a relational approach to placemaking, strengthening the relation between the people and their environment.
This years edition of the summer school will be completed by a music festival that we organize together with the group of Factory Area. Stay tuned for further information on this.
Language of the program: English (the team also speaks Italian and German)
Application deadline: July 13
Participation fee: €500–900 depending on student/professional status and accommodation choice (includes meals, materials, transfer from Lamezia Terme to Simeri, lectures/workshops, and accommodation if selected)