Themes and workshops
Five themes were chosen with case studies in each of them to serve as a framework to discuss “Co-living”. Each workshops proposed actions within the context of the city of Izmir:
1. Co-living with Nature
This workshop focused on the relations between humans and other living organisms and explored new ways of protecting the balance in the eco-system, in which humans give priority to nature in their economic, social, and cultural activities. Case studies explored:
2. Co-living within Society
This workshop focused on the relations between different communities/ identities in a society, and explored new ways of communication through shared experiences in daily lives. A special focus was made on migrations (internal-external) as Izmir has been a destination for Syrian refugees with over 90,000 refugees officially recorded. Case studies explored:
- Social-class equality,
- Gender equality
3. Co-living in the City
This workshop focused on the built environment and the service systems of the city that bring the citizens together. Equal accessibility to services and resources and facilitating random encounters of the citizens are amongst the challenges to address. Case studies explored:
- Izmir Gulf as a coastal living
- Izmir Culture Park as a public space
- Co-working spaces
- Co-housing
- Urban transportation
4. Co-living with Heritage
This workshop focused on the complex relationship between people and heritage (and in a larger sense ‘cultural memory’) and attempted to explore new ways of learning from, and engaging with the past. How can aspects of cultural heritage (both tangible and intangible) become more integrated into the daily life of the city? Case studies explored:
- Agora-Basmane-Kemeraltı region as the ancient and historic center
- Industrial heritage of Izmir (electrical plant, Sümerbank, Tekel plant)
- Population exchange in the history of Izmir
5. Co-living with Technology
This workshop focused on the relations between people and technology. The topic was addressed with a broad perspective, addressing how technology brings people together globally and within the media, how emerging technologies such as machine learning impose new relations between humans and machines, and how all other sub-themes of “Co-living” can be studied through the digital age.