DOMINIKA BELANSKÁportfolio

architectureplacemaking

participatory planningarchitecture mediation

exhibition design

ultra.belanska@gmail.com+421 903 103 146

SUMMARYDominika Belanská is an architect, placemaker and urban innovator based in Bratislava. She specializes in participatory

and collaborative city making and community development. Since completing her master studies of architecture, design and arts with a thesis on participatory approach in architecture, she has initiated, facilitated or collaborated on a variety of projects and initiatives that enable local communities to transform their urban spaces into meaningful places.

Her experience include spatial planning, design, strategy, methodology of stakeholder involvement, facilitation, project management, event management and PR. Dominika also promotes the new strategies in urban planning and public spaces policies locally and internationally via workshops, lectures, publishing, editing and curating.

Dominika Belanská would like to connect, collaborate with and learn from institutions, enterprises, teams and individuals, who aspire after a more resilient and livable environments, developed collaboratively and according to the principles of equality.

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EDUCATION

2006 – 2012 Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava (SK)Department of Architecture:2012 - Master of Arts2010 - BachelorDepartment of Intermedia and Multimedia:semestral internship, 2010

2009 Politecnico di Milano, Milano (IT)Faculty of Design: interior design, exhibition designstudy programme Erasmus

2010 – 2013 Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislavaadditional study programme of pedagogy2013 – art educator certificate

LANGUAGES

English – full professional proficiency (C2)Italian – upper intermediate (B2)German – upper intermediate (B1.4)Czech – proficient (C2)Slovak – native

SOFTWARE

drawing: AutoCAD – advanced, ArchiCAD – basics3D modelling: 3Dstudio Max, Rhinoceros, Sketch Upgraphic: Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator

FURTHER EDUCATIONsince 2015 – ViabilityNet 2.0 – Nadace Via, Prague (CZ) and Europe-widecommunity development leadership programme

2014 – Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators, Salzburg Global Seminar, participation in seminar, Salzburg (AT)

2014 – Berlin Unlimited Workshop – Excavating Voids, Ruins and Flows. Alternative Guidebook to Berlin, symposium and workshop, Berlin (GE)

2013 – Building with wood – Workshop 1:1, Trnavá hora (SK)

2012 – How to lead public meetings – facilitation trainingPDCS o.z., Bratislava

2012 – The Lure of the Real (Karaoke Europe) – Žilina (SK)symposium and workshop on anthropology, performance and participation

2011 – Compact City – 4AM Forum for Architecture and Media, Brno (CZ)

2010 – Theatre and the City (TACE), workshop with Bergen Arkitekt Skole (Bergen, Norway) in Bratislava

2009 – industrial design workshop, with company Seves, Politecnico di Milano

2009 – Intensive Italian Language Course (EILC) Universitá per stranieri, Siena (IT)

1999 – 2006 – Art School L. Stančeka, Prievidza (SK)Fine Art Department, Dance Department

FURTHER SKILLSfacilitation and leading of meetings

public presentation experience

writing and text editing

event management & PR

fundraising

various depicting techniques and art techniques

photography – digital and analogue process and post-process

driving licence

CURRICULUM VITAEMgr. art. Dominika BelanskáBorn 3. 5. 1988, Martin, Slovakia

CURATING

2013curator of architecture exhibitionDiploma works of Department of Architecture 20136.8. – 31.8.2013Slovak Association of Architects, Bratislava

2013co-curator of photography exhibition in public spaceSummer With the Square / About Public SpaceKamenné námestie, Bratislava

COMPETITIONS and AWARDS

Kultúra 2013 (Culture 2013) award for innovative cultural eventco-laureate with team of Parkotvor, Prievidza

Europan 11 - AA235 Turku, Finland, 2012contribution to the 2nd prize winner project Orchard Avenues - Peter Stec and Mark Balzar

WORK EXPERIENCEsince 2015 – project manager for Obchodná ulica a okolie, o.z., Bratislava 2015-2016 – PR manager for Centre for philanthropy, Bratislava

2015 – program manager for Foundation Orange, Center for Philantropy, Bratislava

2014-2015 – co-founder, placemaker, coordinator of POD PYRAMÍDOU, urban rooftop garden, Bratislava

2014-2015 – art and architecture educator and methodist, Kunsthalle Bratislava

since 2012 – art and architecture educator, Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava

2013-2014 – editor of architecture magazine Fórum architektúrySlovak Association of Architects, Bratislava

2014 – consultant for sustainable managementpublic markethall Tržnica Trnavské mýto, Bratislava – Nové Mesto

since 2012 – placemaker, coordinator, producerinitiative Námestie pre ľudí (Square for people), Bratislava initiative Parkotvor, Prievidza

2012-2014 – editor of magazine Tvor, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava

2012 – subject, screenplay and expertise in documentary filmNepochopené miesta (Misunderstood places)

2012 – assistant in architecture studio Architekti Šebo Lichý, Bratislava

2011 – assistant of architect in Public Office for Architecture, Gallery Hit, Bratislava

BUILT WORKPOD PYRAMÍDOU – urban rooftop garden (co-founder)Slovak Radio Building, Bratislava, 2014

Community Bench – public space intervention (co-author)Kamenné námestie, Bratislava, 2014

T(h)ree platforms – multigeneration playground (co-author)Trnavá hora (SK), 2013

Campus PARTYcipate! – temporary experimental structureAFAD, Drotárska cesta 44, Bratislava, 2012

Fashion Graduates 2012 – exhibition installation designGallery Satelit, Slovak Centre of Design, Bratislava

Compact City – architectural exhibition installation (co-author)4AM Forum for architecture and Media, Brno (CZ), 2011

EXHIBITIONSVýstava kvetov – Gallery Gagarinka, Bratislava, 2015 collective exhibitions of artists and urban gardening initiatives Network – designfactory, Bratislava, 2013exposition of activities of the incitiative Námestie pre ľudí

Public Office for Architecture – Gallery Hit, Bratislava, 2011contribution to architecture exhibition

Iannis Xenakis Transformations – 2011, AFAD Bratislava interdisciplinary workshop and exhibition with Department of Painting and Other media

Pedestrian Bridge over Danube – Slovak Art Union, Bratislava, 2008, group exhibition of student projects

PUBLICATIONSParticipation. Architecture as Shared Public Experience. (Participácia. Architektúra ako zdieľaná verejná skúsenosť.)diploma thesis, consultants: Marián Zervan, Peter Stec, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava, 2012

Intermediating Architecture. Principles, Examples, Perspectives. (Sprostredkovanie architektúry. Princípy, príklady, perspektívy.)final thesis in additional pedagogic study programme, consultant: Ladislav Čarný, AFAD, Bratislava, 2013

Parkotvor. Opening the Park in People’s Minds.in: City for Citizens, Citizens for City.published by Slovak Governance Institute, Bratislava, 2014

Re-Act. Tools for Urban Re-Activation. contribution to publication by New Generations, Berlin, 2015

Confront, Discuss, Collaborate? Bratislava’s Urban Actors Try It All In: Bottom-Up City / Café Bábel, Budapest, 2016

MEMBERSHIPSSalzburg Global Seminarfellow of global network

DO.CO.MO.MO Slovakiaprofessional association

Jedlé mestocivic association, Bratislava

Námestie pre ľudí professional initiative, Bratislava

Abandoned (Re)creationinitiative, Trenčianske Teplice

Parkotvorcivic initiative, Prievidza

Platforma Staré mestoneighbourhood initiative, Bratislava

TEACHING & PRESENTATIONSCriticise, Discuss, Collaborate? presentation at international conference Město pod pokličkou, Nadace Partnerství, Brno, 2015

Urban Gardens Bring Peace to Communitiespresentation at international conference Public Spaces Bratislava, 2014

Participatory Planning of Public Spaceslecture at workshop Perfect Space, Faculty of Architecture STU Bratislava, 2014

Parkotvor. Opening the Park in People’s Minds.presentation at international conference City for Citizens, Citizens for City Slovak Governance Institute, Bratislava, 2014

City is (not a machine) for livingpresentation at public discussion Is Modern Still Modern?, Flatgallery, Bratislava, 2014as a part of Unfinished by Architectuul

The City Needs More River public participatory planning bikeride and workshop, Nitra (SK), 2014 Renaissance of Public Spaces public presentation at festival Abandoned (Re)creation, Trenčianske Teplice (SK), 2013

A Day for the Square. Participatory Planning of Kamenné námestie. (Deň pre námestie. Participatívne plánovanie Kamenného námestia.)

in: Projekt. Revue of Slovak Architecture. 3-4/2012

Public Spaces Belong to People (Verejné priestory patria ľuďom)with Zuzana Žúžiová, in: .týždeň 32/2013

The City Needs More River (Mesto potrebuje viac rieky)with Barbora Mlejová, in: Fórum architektúry 3/2014

First Conference WhatCity? or “Learning from Berlin” (Prvá konferencia WhatCity? alebo “Learning from Berlin”)

in: ARCH 7/2014

Walking with eyes wide open (Chodiť s otvorenými očami)interview with mayor Vladimír Ledecký

in: Smart Cities 4/2014

PORTFOLIO

POD PYRAMÍDOUurban rooftop garden

Slovak Radio, Mýtna 1, Bratislava (SK), since 2014with civic association Jedlé mesto and initiative NA STRECHE, in collaboration with RTVS

Food self-sufficiency, resilient city dwelling and reinforcement of in-between-use in an attempt for better living in cities is at the core of activities of association Jedlé mesto. In september 2014, we established the first

rooftop urban garden in Slovakia, which transforms a space vacant for decades into a place for the neighbourhoods, communities and diverse minorities to meet. We invite them to use this monumental modernist space under the famous

“inversed pyramid” to co-create a shared environment and this way rethink and reshape together the way we live in the city.

For more information please visit: www.facebook.com/podpyramidou

temporary stage / resting element facilities for resting induced socialization

urban gardening community project “Adopt a pot!”

workshops and guided tours maintenance of infrastructure and greenery

urban gardening community project “Adopt a pot!”

concerts, theatre performances and other events SQUARE FOR PEOPLEinterventions and management of public space

Kamenné námestie, Bratislava (SK), since 2012

Námestie pre ľudí (Square for people) is a professional and civic initiative of architects, urban planners, students and volunteers, who concentrate on improvement of planning and management of public spaces. Following the

principles of participatory planning, community engagement and placemaking, we develop strategies for revitalisation and development of public spaces and realise actual steps towards their implementation, such as creating interventions,

organising events and providing platforms for enhancing the function of community.Project “Leto s námestím” (Summer with the square, 2013) refleced the outcomes of participatory planning

of Kamenné námestie, a key public square in the centre of Bratislava, and attempts to transform this problematic and underestimated space into a more livable, functional and welcoming destination.

For more data please visit: www.facebook.com/namestiepreludi or www.namestiepreludi.sk

visualisations of possible transformations of the park served as a catalyst in the discussions and interactive walks with local inhabitants

PARKOTVORparticipatory planning of a park and community engagement

Park Skotňa, Prievidza (SK), since 2013

The first step towards future revitalisation of a park in a small city in the centre of Slovakia was a public planning event. We invited local people to share their knowledge and ideas about the park. The event combined participatory planning

(workshops with local children and youth, questionnaires, public discussion, interactive walk, mental mapping...) and entertainment (concerts, sports, collective cooking...). The results of the planning are implemented into a strategic future

plan of the park available to municipality and into actual interventions, which are being realised in cooperation with citizens and volunteers.

For more data please visit: www.parkotvor.prievidza.net or www.facebook.com/parkotvor

auditorium

conver-sations

cardboard kitchen

balcony

observation deck

hammock

projection plane

dancefloor

VJ

scre

en

debates

sofastudying bench

bar

open fire

DJ pult

terrace courtyard

balcony

staircase towerfirst floor

upcyclying and improvisation flexible use of space events initiated by the community

versatile scaffolding structure supported spontaneous use and shifting of functions

example:day 7

example:day 13

concentrationof participants

low

high

interventions

bar

sitting on wooden palletes

sitting on carpet,matresses and palletes

material, spatial and procesual interventions

shared space for creativity

cooperation on realisation of ideas

PARTYcipate!temporary structure of experimental student campus

Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Drotárska cesta 44, Bratislava (SK), realised 2012diploma thesis led by Peter Stec

Temporary structure built from scaffolding and various recycled materials, constructed next to the building of the academy and occupied, developed and maintained by its students for a period of one month. The aim of the intervention was to test

the potential of approriating the space and its creative use by students of the accademy. The open and versatile structure hosted various events and actions (discussions, concerts, workshops, parties, presentations, flea market, barbecue...) and

provided rich experience in the modes of participation, collaboration and communication among students and visitors.

Full report here: www.issuu.com/ultra.belanska/docs/partycipatePreliminary research here: issuu.com/ultra.belanska/docs/campus_research

wooden frame was partially filled with upcycled concrete slabs to provide a counterweight for the cantilever

T(h)REE PLATFORMSmultigeneration playground

Workshop 1:1, Trnavá hora (SK), realised 2013with Veronika Trnovská, Marianna Maczová, Danica Pišteková, Maroš Greš, Peter Trnka,

Nora Žalúdeková, Lucia Šúpolová, Anne Panjwani, Laura Maasryled by Ransu Helenius and Martin Varga

The three cantilevered wooden platforms on a beautiful spot next to a lake are a result of a 10-day concentrated team work. Their abstract forms and spatial corelation invite for interpretation and apropriation by users of all ages.

For more data please visit: www.facebook.com/jednakjednej

pohľad_ M 1:30

pohľad_ M 1:30

pôdorys 1 NP_M 1:30

rez B - B’_ M 1:30

12m2

small cottage with wood constructionproposal 2010

studio led by Sabah Shawkat

The design of the cottage was limited by required parameters of wood constructon on an area of 3m x 4 m. The resulting proposal uses this minimal room to develop an inner space for basic functions on two levels. The unusual layered wood construction system allowed cantivevering of the beams and the development

of a double sided functional wall, in which storage and sitting facilities of the cottage are “built-in”.

PAVILLIONpublic park facility proposal

Park Andreja Hlinku, Bratislava - Ružinov, 2010Academy of Fine Arts and Design

studio led by prof. Ján Bahna

The pavillion works as a medium between pavement and (nowadays underused) lawn, inviting visitors inside its loop, on the other end

of which they find themselves on the grass, among trees. The structure is proposed to be build from wood

with steel joints and bracing.

(no)FURNITURE HOUSEsystem of configurable module house and user interface proposal

Academy of Fine Arts and Design, 2011with Tomáš Letenay and Barbora Perichtová, studio led by Peter Stec

Ownership, storage and collecting were our starting points for setting the parameters of a module system, which would be configurable according to the owner’s posessions. Our attempt was to create a system allowing close relation between the objects and the evolution of the space they occupy, as well as the “negative” void, the living space. The user chooses from

a database of objects, which are sorted into referring prefab modules and create the actual bearing structure of the indi-vidualized house. The process was investigated in many variations of models.

Variation 1

Section

Variation 2

section

THE LOTproposal of a building in a vacant lot

Obchodná ulica (Shopping Street), Bratislava, 2010Academy of Fine Arts and Design

studio led by prof. Ján Bahna

The design is inspired by the image of the locality - a vital street in the centre of the city, full of shops and cafés. The concept derives from an idea of fulfillment of the blank, vacant lot to the maximum. The volumes of the building are an ironical

allusion to the full shopping bags of the passers-by. Suggested is a groungfloor with a café, inviting and well-connected with the street level, on the other floors open spaces for retail, business and creatives and apartments/studios on the top floor.

green roof covering the garages

pierwith resting elements

ŠTRKOVECurban design of lake shores and surroundings (excerpt)

lake Štrkovec, Bratislava, 2010Academy of Fine Arts and Design

studio led by prof. Ján Bahna

Transformation of the area around an artificial lake, located in the 70’s prefab neighbourhood. The research of the locali-ty was based on identification of the basic characteristic spatial elements and materials. The concept of the urban design

was to sensitively dilute these features (as if the lake’s water would do) into new hybrid elements (hotel, apartment house, sportplaces, molos, green roof...) which would compliment the unique environment and make it more “user-friendly”.

FASHION GRADUATESexhibition installation

Fashion Graduates 2012, Gallery Satelit, Slovak Centre of Design, Bratislava (SK), realised 2012

Installation of a business fashion collection by young Slovak fashion designer Miroslava Ferklová. The given minimal budget and limited gallery facilities were used with maximum effect and wit. The unifying element is the use of rectangular planes,

which either support the manequins, or, leant on the wall, serve as a notice board of designer’s work, showing sketches, drawings and samples of materials, tight to the board with slim elastic bands. Print promotion materials are exhibited on

top of a transparent table as well as between its two glass layers. The framed logo of the company underlines the impression of the fashion start-up’s corporate identity.

COMPACT CITYexhibition installation

4am Forum for Architecture and Media, Brno (CZ), realised 2011with Anna Cséfalvay, Marianna Maczová, Veronika Trnovská and others, workshop led by Peter Stec

During the workshop Compact City we researched the rules and limits which shape the city. Our installation was the starting point of a series of installations and events on the topic. We created a new layer in the gallery space, an envelope or negative

cityscape realised in backlit translucent geotextile stretched on wooden frame. These were the new boundaries and limits for the succesive installations, leaving the next curators the opportunity to accept them or to challenge them.

Full report on Compact City: www.forum4am.cz/?p=516&lang=enVideo of the installation (watch from 40:51 min): www.vimeo.com/album/1566362/video/21523262

INTERMEDIATING ARCHITECTURESince 2012, Dominika Belanská collaborates on methodics and realisation of gallery animation programs focused on intermediation

of architecture, to allow children and young people to discover the qualities, possibilities and functions of architectural space, the consequences of decisions hidden in architectural and urban plans and models and their own ways of getting creatively involved in the reflexion and creation of their environment. Workshops, exhibition commentaries, guided tours and other creative educational

programs are suited to the needs and capabilities of each group or individual. The participants get theoretical background to develop their own concepts through drawing, model making, installations and other media via individual or team work.

The workshops were held in Slovak National Gallery, in collaboration with Vladimír Malast, Barbora Jurinová and Magdaléna Kuch-tová, the other events in collaboration with PARKOTVOR (Prievidza), Námestie pre ľudí (Bratislava)

and Abandoned (Re)creation (Trenčianske Teplice).

City Continuityworkshop on urbanism

Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava, 2013with Vladimír Malast

In the first part of the workshop , the participants were given a theoretical background about the basic purposes of city development and urban qualities, based on observation of the neighbouring urban structures. The second part was a team-work with a scale model of a city fragment. The task was to imagine the next step - how does the city change, if we project

our needs and wishes upon its structure? Images show the initial and the final phase of the model.

ABANDONED (Re)CREATIONlectures and workshops about architecture

Abandoned (Re)creation Festival, Trenčianske Teplice, 2013with Martin Zaiček, Andrea Kalinová, Rea Dilhoffová and others

Workshops for the pupils of primary school in Trenčianske Teplice mediated the principles and importance of functionalist architecture and by means of lectures and interactive walk presented the most important buildings of this

movement in the city (some of them vacant). We hope to ignite more interest towards these culturally and historically valuable buildings in the youngest generation. To achieve these goals we used the combination of educatianoal methods

of introductory lecture, interactive commentary and interpretation, creative worksheets, maps, drawing and real-time experience with exploraton of the buildings.

Build Your City!workshop on urbanism for the youngest

Kamenné námestie, Bratislava, 2013with Námestie pre ľudí, civic initiative

Thank you for reading.I’m looking forward to your feedback.

Dominika Belanskáultra.belanska@gmail.com

+421 903 103 146