The Flat Space / Apartamentul Deschis project is a functional replica of a socialist apartment designed by Stefan RUSU commissioned to represent the identity of KIOSK project.
The point of departure for the design of the FLAT SPACE/APARTAMENT DESCHIS project was to publicly display the private space of a flat limited by the standards of the socialist society, which still is a strong visual element within the contemporary urban and social landscape of East European countries.
Moreover, the project was aimed at democratizing the cultural act through providing public access to events that were to occur in this space, somehow as a continuation of the “unofficial” or underground practice during the era of the totalitarian regime, when underground art was being denied access to “official” exhibition spaces and, more generally speaking, it wasn’t publicly accepted; the phenomenon of exhibitions in private flats proliferated during the stagnation years (1970s – 1980s), when underground art could only be seen in intimate settings by a small audience.
The transparency and the openness of the flat give the exposure to an architectural model extracted from the flat building that is composed from few basic elements characteristic to societies in transitions: the main façade with a balcony covered with plastic windows, dining room, kitchen and bathroom. The balcony is a key element, which will function as a cultural info point and will distribute information with cultural content. The rest of the space that is exposed to the public will bear a multifunctional character and will serve as an open platform for public presentations and cultural events.