Next Gen Park

The structure from the Kogaa studio symbolizes one ton of carbon dioxide. It reminds residents of the consumption and demands that cities place on the environment.

Architects from KOGAA, who have been focusing on urbanism and its connection to climate change for a long time, introduced the Next Gen Park project. The studio is actively engaged in working with public spaces, which in Brno at Pohořelec gained the function of an educational, interactive, and conscious catalyst through their designed installation.

The monumental inflatable object symbolizes approximately one ton of carbon dioxide, with annual emissions in the Czech Republic amounting to 9.8 tons per person. Consumption in cities continues to rise. Next Gen Park loosely follows the previous project, City Cell Prototype, which was a fully self-sufficient installation addressing heat waves and water scarcity in the city.

The goal of this installation was to support public discussion and raise awareness of the environment. The "space inflatable vessel" served as a discussion center during the day. Topics such as the use of public spaces, the implementation of natural elements into urban areas, the revitalization of brownfields, preventing waste, and the efficient management of water and energy resources were discussed. At night, the installation transformed into a screen, on which an interactive animation displaying the main indicators of carbon dioxide production was projected. The animation included recommendations for reducing the carbon footprint through specific small adjustments in lifestyle and daily habits.

Next Gen Park was strategically placed in a hidden alley in the center of Brno. A new urban space was created that immediately attracted passersby. The intervention in the public space brought a new sense of belonging to the place, supporting improvements in its safety and cleanliness.

The very structure of Next Gen Park is environmentally sustainable. It sophisticatedly combines materials that can be rented or reused. These materials are simple, economical, stable, and versatile. The base consists of simple scaffolding from the company Peri. The inflatable part was custom-made by the Brno company Reklama Kubíček. Thanks to special openings for projectors, it also functioned as a great 360-degree screen for outdoor events, which can be easily washed and reused. "For our company, it was the very first time that our equipment was used as a canvas for 360-degree projection. The challenge we worked on together with the architects was the size of the installation and its anchoring from above on the scaffolding" (Reklama Kubíček). The Next Gen Park installation is complemented by a new collection of outdoor furniture STACK from the designer urban furniture manufacturer mm cité.

The installation at Pohořelec was temporary, but the authors hope for its further use throughout the Czech Republic and are actively looking for new locations for it.

The project was created in collaboration with the statutory city of Brno, with main partners including Peri, Reklama Kubíček, mm cité, and Agro Tuřany, which took care of the natural elements. The theme itself and its scientific background were provided by the Next Institute.