Public space belongs to everyone. That’s why we decided to ask: Which places in Zlín do residents love? Where do they feel safe? And which ones do they see as problematic, neglected, or underused? The two-day participatory event, launched on April 1 in collaboration with the City Architect’s Office of Zlín (KAM), showed that when people are given the chance to express their views, strong ideas for change emerge.
As part of the challenge, we brought 80 bright green cones to the streets of Zlín, each marked with the words “Good Design” and “Bad Design.” The cones served as our tool—they highlighted areas that deserved attention while naturally sparking conversation. During the morning, we approached passersby and asked them about their experiences with public spaces. What works? What doesn’t? Where do they feel safe? Which places would they change?
We collected 30 specific tips on places that the public felt needed attention. In the afternoon, we processed these suggestions and handed them over to the KAM team. The next day, they analyzed the feedback and identified four key locations that were mentioned most frequently, showed potential for change, and deserved further discussion.
The selected locations were:
• Underpass and surrounding area – Náměstí Práce
• Small stage – Department store and Social House Díly
• Inner block Vodní – Dlouhá
• Zarámí Street
On Wednesday, April 2, we revisited these places with the architects from KAM. From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, we held direct dialogues with residents, asked questions, listened, and took notes. KAM prepared a set of targeted questions to help dive deeper into the discussions—not only about aesthetics but also emotions, feelings of safety, accessibility, and functionality of the spaces.
“It’s like a transitional zone. People just pass through here; they don’t want to stop much,” commented a passerby about the underpass area at Náměstí Práce. “It all feels cold; there’s no atmosphere. And in the evening, it’s not very pleasant. The nicest it gets is when there are art or photo exhibitions, and it feels like a public gallery,” added another resident.
The insights gathered will definitely not be left in a drawer. The City Architect’s Office will continue to work with them, and we, as a festival, will keep monitoring the process. The entire two-day challenge was also documented on our social media, where you can find photos, reactions, and observations directly from the field.
“An open dialogue always helps create functional and sustainable solutions that address the real needs of various groups of residents. It also strengthens trust in local government and prevents conflicts between different public space users,” commented Kamila Kasanová, an architect at KAM.
And that’s not all. The challenge is just the beginning. The topic of dialogue about public space and the role of design in our daily lives will also be addressed during the Zlín Design Week itself, which will take place from May 7 to 13.
Follow us and be part of it. For now, check out the full program.
