When: August 18–22, 2025
Where: Trenčín, KKC Hviezda, Palackého Street
For whom: Young people aged 15–19
Capacity: Limited number of spots – 20 participants
Become a creator of public space too!
Are you interested in architecture, design, street art, urbanism, community or activism?
Are you a creative, skater, urbexer, activist, environmental enthusiast or just a curious person thinking about how public space could be improved?
Join a 5-day workshop where you’ll learn about the principles of placemaking, participation, and environmentally responsible design. Over the course of several days, you’ll go through the whole process – from an idea to the realization of a tangible intervention on Palackého Street.
Why participate?
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You’ll meet new people who enjoy thinking about public space
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You’ll be part of a team transforming a piece of Trenčín
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You’ll test your creativity and workshop skills
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You’ll learn how to use basic tools and take part in a collective realization
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You’ll present your work to the public during the Palackého naživo event
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You’ll receive a certificate of participation to enrich your portfolio (e.g. for university applications)
What to expect?
Lectures, site visits, discussions, and collaborative creation with architects from the PRAKS collective. You’ll put the knowledge into practice by designing and realizing a placemaking intervention.
Lecturers and organizers
The workshop is led by architects from the PRAKS collective, and the educational activities are organized by the Trenčín 2026 team and the Institute of Participation Trenčín.
Inspiration
What can a space created by a community look like? Check out photos of similar projects – the parklet or neighborhood table in Trenčín and other interventions by the PRAKS collective.
PLACE CAMP – The Summer School of Placemaking is free of charge.
The deadline for registration is July 31, 2025. – The application deadline has been extended until August 5 at 00:00.
Place Camp Program
Monday 18.8.2025 (09:00–18:00)
Opening of Place Camp at the Bunky near Hviezda
Site visit to Palackého Street – introduction to the assignment and on-site mapping
Walk through the children’s town in Zlatovce
Bonfire at Aluvium
Tuesday 19.8.2025 (09:00–16:00)
Participation session with IPT / Bunky Hviezda
Lectures on placemaking and public space by the Trenčín2026 team and Omar Mirza / Bunky Hviezda
Picnic and community meeting at the neighborhood table / Dlhé Hony
Wednesday 20.8.2025 (09:00–16:00)
Introduction of PRAKS mentors / Bunky Hviezda
Design proposal development and consultations with mentors / Bunky Hviezda
Health & Safety training and tour of the FabLab Hviezda workshops
Thursday 21.8.2025 (09:00–20:00)
Production of the physical intervention with mentors at FabLab Hviezda
Friday 22.8.2025 (09:00–15:00)
Production of the physical intervention with mentors at FabLab Hviezda
Installation of the physical intervention at the parking spot in front of GMAB on Palackého Street
Lunch and afternoon snack will be provided each day, dinner also on Thursday.
The detailed program will be sent to participants after registration.
PRAKS – Architectural Workshop
PRAKS is a series of workshops that explore architecture through hands-on experience – building, craftsmanship, and working with materials. It focuses on the practical aspects of creation, deepening the relationship with architecture through personal realization and promoting environmentally responsible thinking.
The workshops combine manual work with themed lectures. PRAKS uses local, recycled, and sustainable materials on a small scale, following the principle of “less is more” – reducing new production, reusing, and recycling as a foundation.
Selected realizations:
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Native sauna in a barn
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Courtyard acupuncture
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Hermitage for art
More about PRAKS and its realizations: praks.sk
About the Authors
- Viktória Žigmundová – Architect, designer, artist, and student at UMPRUM in Prague. Her research focuses on craftsmanship, materials, and sustainability.
- Ing. Robert Provazník, PhD. – Architect, artist, educator, and graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at STU. He specializes in interior design, working with local materials, and scientific-pedagogical activities.
- Ing. Matthias Arnould, PhD. – Architect, artist, activist, educator, and graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at STU. He focuses on environmentally responsible architecture, scouting, and professional education.
PRAKS was created out of a need to complement architectural studies with real-world field experience. Its ambition is to develop students’ skills in areas often lacking in traditional education. The initiative is supported by Tepore and close community members.
Contact
Zuzana Kopiláková
Project Coordinator
