Uploaded on 2019-08-29 by Erik van der Valk

This picture is taken in Nowa Huta, Krakow, Poland. It was part of my graduation thesis about revitalizing post-socialist neighborhoods. The neighborhood was planned and built as an industrial New Town. After entering the globalized market, the neighborhood got into decay. The socio-economic situation is rather poor; a high level of unemployment and an aging population. This negatively affects the livability of the place. This can also be seen in the public spaces, where people expres their feelings in their own way. The picture is just an example of hooligans in the area, creating a rather unpleasant or unsafe place. I propose a method where inhabitants are offered an app with GPS and a map where they can (anonymous) report signs of anti-social behaviour (like graffiti, trash, vandalism etc.). The same can be done with other public spaces, where passers-by can rate the feeling of safety what they experience. The role of the citizens is thus crucial in this.