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Idea by

Joanna Zabielska in collaboration with Bilal Alame, Maria Kuczyńska and Jacek Walawender

https://www.facebook.com/CmonRoom

Warsaw, Vienna, Beirut, Poland
Joanna and Bilal since 2017 have been reinterpreting the traditional elements of design and architecture from the Slavic and Arabic regions in dialogue with pop-cultural trends. The spectrum of their projects ranges from the renovation of prefabricated apartments in Warsaw to inflatable installations for the Biennale of Contemporary Art in Beirut. Together Joanna and Bilal speak 7 languages, have lived in 5 cities, built countless pieces of furniture and cooked what felt like 100.000 pierogis.

Call for ideas 2021

C’mon Room


From Gldani to Służewiec

C’mon Room


From Gldani to Służewiec
C’mon room; an artistic interruption in the public space and everyday life of „Blokowisko”.
File under
Type of project
  • Site-specific cases

What is the essence behind "Blokowisko”? The English language lacks a proper translation of this term and Plattenbau (from German)- prefabricated concrete slabs or a block of flats, does not reflect the characteristics and complexity of this urban typology. Blokowisko is much more than a built-up environment, it is a social construct based on a modernist utopia: where architecture was supposed to shape the greater development of society.
The social degradation of Blokowisko and its citizens struggling in a capitalistic and post- pandemic world has proven the naivety of this ideology.
C’mon room investigates how to bring a positive-twist and a sustainable change to prepare Blokowisko in facing the challenges of the 21st century. Can a temporary art installation, which creates an interruption rather than an intervention, prove useful in that process? Can micro-scale personal interactions based on hospitality and trust be extended onto the macro level of a neighbourhood identity?

Photo taken by Lea Fröhlicher, located in Gldani, Tbilisi (Georgia). C’mon Room Part 1; an initial permanent steel-wireframe installation based on average flat size of Gldani blocks, developed in framework of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial.

Photo taken by Lea Fröhlicher, located in Gldani, Tbilisi (Georgia). C’mon Room Part 1; most precious social interactions. I have met Dato and Lela in the Gldani neighbourhood, they took care of me since first day of installation construction. They brought me warm tea, then invited for dinner and eventual to stay at their flat through the duration of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial. Even now, two years later, we still keep in touch.

Photo taken by Mariusz Grabarski, located in Służewiec, Warsaw (Poland). Based on the great experience of the first edition of C’mon room in 2018, the project extended with the second edition at the block of settlement in Warsaw in 2020. Realised in the framework of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial and with support of Dekabristen.

Photo taken by Mariusz Grabarski, located in Służewiec, Warsaw (Poland). C’mon Room Part 2; movable, temporary wireframe installation based on average flat size of Służewiec. The transformative module represented in a symbolic way: bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room across various public spaces across the neighbourhood.

Photo taken by Mariusz Grabarski, located in Służewiec, Warsaw (Poland). C’mon Room Part 2; was constructed during times of pandemic (while Warsaw was in lockdown). What do we have in common ? A question we find more and more relevant in the times of virtual calls and home office. In the search for an answer, we take private kitchen talks, living room discussions and bedroom dreams to public space of Służewiec.

C’mon Room


From Gldani to Służewiec

C’mon Room


From Gldani to Służewiec
C’mon room; an artistic interruption in the public space and everyday life of „Blokowisko”.
File under
Type of project
  • Site-specific cases

What is the essence behind "Blokowisko”? The English language lacks a proper translation of this term and Plattenbau (from German)- prefabricated concrete slabs or a block of flats, does not reflect the characteristics and complexity of this urban typology. Blokowisko is much more than a built-up environment, it is a social construct based on a modernist utopia: where architecture was supposed to shape the greater development of society.
The social degradation of Blokowisko and its citizens struggling in a capitalistic and post- pandemic world has proven the naivety of this ideology.
C’mon room investigates how to bring a positive-twist and a sustainable change to prepare Blokowisko in facing the challenges of the 21st century. Can a temporary art installation, which creates an interruption rather than an intervention, prove useful in that process? Can micro-scale personal interactions based on hospitality and trust be extended onto the macro level of a neighbourhood identity?

Photo taken by Lea Fröhlicher, located in Gldani, Tbilisi (Georgia). C’mon Room Part 1; an initial permanent steel-wireframe installation based on average flat size of Gldani blocks, developed in framework of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial.

Photo taken by Lea Fröhlicher, located in Gldani, Tbilisi (Georgia). C’mon Room Part 1; most precious social interactions. I have met Dato and Lela in the Gldani neighbourhood, they took care of me since first day of installation construction. They brought me warm tea, then invited for dinner and eventual to stay at their flat through the duration of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial. Even now, two years later, we still keep in touch.

Photo taken by Mariusz Grabarski, located in Służewiec, Warsaw (Poland). Based on the great experience of the first edition of C’mon room in 2018, the project extended with the second edition at the block of settlement in Warsaw in 2020. Realised in the framework of Tbilisi Architecture Biennial and with support of Dekabristen.

Photo taken by Mariusz Grabarski, located in Służewiec, Warsaw (Poland). C’mon Room Part 2; movable, temporary wireframe installation based on average flat size of Służewiec. The transformative module represented in a symbolic way: bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room across various public spaces across the neighbourhood.

Photo taken by Mariusz Grabarski, located in Służewiec, Warsaw (Poland). C’mon Room Part 2; was constructed during times of pandemic (while Warsaw was in lockdown). What do we have in common ? A question we find more and more relevant in the times of virtual calls and home office. In the search for an answer, we take private kitchen talks, living room discussions and bedroom dreams to public space of Służewiec.

Idea by

Joanna Zabielska in collaboration with Bilal Alame, Maria Kuczyńska and Jacek Walawender
Warsaw, Vienna, Beirut
Poland
Joanna and Bilal since 2017 have been reinterpreting the traditional elements of design and architecture from the Slavic and Arabic regions in dialogue with pop-cultural trends. The spectrum of their projects ranges from the renovation of prefabricated apartments in Warsaw to inflatable installations for the Biennale of Contemporary Art in Beirut. Together Joanna and Bilal speak 7 languages, have lived in 5 cities, built countless pieces of furniture and cooked what felt like 100.000 pierogis.
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