Human Cities/SMOTIES Oberzeiring Public Intervention

As part of the SMOTIES project, my team and I developed an innovative intervention to engage Oberzeiring’s residents. Our approach involved selecting impactful quotes from interviews with residents and transforming them into large window decals using our school’s cutter plotter. In addition to the prominent decals, we created smaller ones featuring a call to action, inviting community members to share their thoughts and ideas for improving life in Oberzeiring through email. We strategically placed these decals in vacant houses near the town centre to highlight those places and maximise their visibility. One of these locations, situated next to the church, held special significance because it had previously been used for choir practice. There, we installed a hidden sound feature inside this house. A speaker played a curated soundtrack by my colleague, Theresa Schönegger, which simulated the vibrant atmosphere of a choir beginning their practice. This immersive experience aimed to evoke a sense of community and nostalgia, encouraging people to see the potential of the vacant place.