The 'Saklya' for Derbent Urban Festival
2017
Freedom Square stands as the principal and sole significant urban square in Derbent. As such, it carries a dual role – that of a civic stage for events and celebrations, as well as a highly symbolic space that represents the collective everyday life of various communities and serves as a daily habitat for the city's residents.
Presently, the square's everyday functions and qualities remain largely unfulfilled. The absence of significant greenery and comfortable seating areas render the space primarily a transit zone during the daytime. However, through the efforts of a local entrepreneur who rents a portion of Freedom Square, the space transforms in the evening. Toy cars, bicycles, scooters, and even a cinema projector appear. Evening leisure activities attract a wide range of residents, including the elderly, adults, and children.
The transformation of a large urban space like Freedom Square necessitates careful planning and a phased implementation strategy.
Within the framework of the 'Saklya' project, the first stage of square improvement offers a modular construction consisting of painted wooden cubes. This allows for the adaptation of the square space according to various everyday scenarios, be it neighbourhood gatherings with board games, tea gatherings, or contemplation of the local landscape.
From an ideological standpoint, our work with Derbent's main square draws upon universal iconic and conceptual systems, which are subsequently transformed into familiar forms of Dagestani everyday life.
Notably, we employ the term 'Saklya' (from Georgian 'სახლი' meaning 'house') and disintegrate the concept of habitation into basic archetypes, enabling coexistence and solitary presence, contemplation and participation.
An important characteristic in working with the square space is the freedom of choice.
Authors: Leonid Batalov, Gazi Zingerov, Jamila Ismailova, Lisa Lartseva, Nadya Mirkovich, Zhenya Hashimova, Vlad Khrmov
Volunteers: Diana Ambartsumyan, Ivan Zaporozhets, Saibat Kaflanova, Veoletta Mardakhaeva, Khalil Yusupov
Tutor: Mikheil Mikadze