Miesto laboratorija (City Lab)
Published on 18 May 2020
Lithuania
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The idea of the ‘city lab’ came along with Antakalnis ‘Urban garden’ initiative in Sapieha Park (2016). For the several years of growing vegetables together in the community greenhouse, locals has realized that they share similar values and interests - community, love for nature, more sustainable and ideas for an environmentally friendly lifestyle. They started organizing various open and educational events locally community - Neighbors Day, Harvest Festival, Restaurant Day, Christmas Wreath Workshop, finally Christmas Fair at Sapieha Park.
Antakalnis community has dreamed about a community cafeteria together with the place for smart sustainable and environmentally friendly ideas. Under the lease agreement with Vilnius Tech Park the community has got the place in one of the building areas in 2016.
Today, it has formal status on non-profit public entity 'Miesto laboratorija' (City Lab). The place itself has became the sustainable and environmentally friendly educational community center that embraces community café, eco-innovation space, hydroponic garden, educational garden, gallery and even open DIY games playground for children.
Antakalnis community has dreamed about a community cafeteria together with the place for smart sustainable and environmentally friendly ideas. Under the lease agreement with Vilnius Tech Park the community has got the place in one of the building areas in 2016.
Today, it has formal status on non-profit public entity 'Miesto laboratorija' (City Lab). The place itself has became the sustainable and environmentally friendly educational community center that embraces community café, eco-innovation space, hydroponic garden, educational garden, gallery and even open DIY games playground for children.
Resources needed
Vilnius Tech Park the community has got the place of 500 sq. meter space in urban garden and residence premises of 150 sq. m. space.
Evidence of success
In 2018 only, the ‘City lab’ had organized more than 200 events with at least of 9000 visitors, arranged the urban garden, did a playground for kids, eco-innovations show-ups and finish learning course of the hydroponic gardening.
Potential for learning or transfer
The biggest asset and support of the ‘City Lab’ is the local people, the Antakalnis community, not just with their own hands that have helped to refurbish ‘City lab’ place, but are still actively involved in its development. The ‘City lab’ is now an open space for the all common initiatives: from open-mic concerts to lectures on co-city essentials, from literary evenings to gardening workshops.
In 2019, the ‘City Lab’ was hosting a series of lectures called “Another way to have vegetables all year round” about hydroponics. During the events, everyone interested has the opportunity to learn more about hydroponics, an innovative way to grow vegetables and other crops.
In 2019 Autumn, the artist depicted what mutant fish would look like from plastic pollution on the wall. The inscription on the wall reads: "New species". The figure, like an encyclopedia page, portrays fish-bottle species hybrids, an allegory of how irresponsible over-consumption is changing not only us, but nature.
In 2019, the ‘City Lab’ was hosting a series of lectures called “Another way to have vegetables all year round” about hydroponics. During the events, everyone interested has the opportunity to learn more about hydroponics, an innovative way to grow vegetables and other crops.
In 2019 Autumn, the artist depicted what mutant fish would look like from plastic pollution on the wall. The inscription on the wall reads: "New species". The figure, like an encyclopedia page, portrays fish-bottle species hybrids, an allegory of how irresponsible over-consumption is changing not only us, but nature.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Vilnius city manucipality
Lithuania
Contact
Innovation consultant