Czech and Slovak (Republic)

The depopulation of historic city centres and the flight of inhabitants to peripheral zones are among the negative expressions of burgeoning tourism. Two towns undergoing this fate are Český Krumlov, in the Czech Republic, and Venice, Italy. In Český Krumlov, several buildings and flats facilitates the return of a group of ‘normal inhabitants’ to its historic centre, where they engage in activities that are common in other places, for three months. UNES-CO is a company that provides not only free accommodations, but a wage for living NORMAL LIVES in the town centre. The Czech and Slovak pavilion in Venice becomes the site of UNES-CO’s headquarters. At the company’s reception desk, visitors are able to page through a catalogue containing a list of normal activities and within the pavilion, they are able to watch a live feed from Český Krumlov, where an attempt to breathe life into the town’s streets is underway. The aim of the project is not only to bring attention to the issue, but to propose a concrete way afflicted areas might handle it.