Journal

Old School Ilica is a collaborative, local craft production initiative that deals with processes that led to changes in Zagreb urban tissue since the early ’90s and investigates the impacts of bottom-up strategies on the economy of one of its most central streets. The project proposes a model for self-sustainable development of the local community by means of social design, through collaboration, knowledge sharing and co-creation of craftspeople, designers and citizens. The model is based on belief in the ability of social relations and reflects the ideas of hyperlocalism, criticality and orientation towards the local community.

Made in Ilica / Old School Ilica started within the nanotourism initiative during 24th Biennial of Design (BIO 50) by Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Slovenia and later manifested through public actions, exhibitions & events. The research part of the project ended in 2017 with Registry of Knowledge Holders - an anthropological design study of the production life of Ilica street, focusing on small shops and craftspeople. 

Project Ilica is now an internationally recognised and multi-award winning initiative. E.g. it was selected at last year’s Oslo Architecture Triennial for its “co-creation model where knowledge and skills are exchanged between craftspeople, designers and local residents”, showing “that we can collectively act to challenge the standard model of chain shops and support local craftsmanship, contributing to the diversity and authenticity of urban life.”

The project, including its rich intersections around the topics of mapping and archiving the local crafts and the position and relationship between design and crafts in contemporary society, led towards partnership between six organisations belonging to the similar geographical, historical, cultural and social context (AT, HR, SI, RS) and towards the formation of MADE IN platform in 2019.