Breathing life into the heart of the neighborhood
TEATER 9
The SILK team in collaboration with faculty and students of the
Urban Planning and Design program
at the American University of Central Asia
Performer and urbanist Aym Aylchieva
Urban Planning and Design program
at the American University of Central Asia
Performer and urbanist Aym Aylchieva
The project is being implemented by the Kyrgyz Social Innovation Lab (SILK) team, in collaboration with faculty and students from the Urban Planning and Design program and the Maker Space training center at the American University of Central Asia and a graduate of the same program, the well-known Kyrgyz performer Aym Aylchieva.
We want to transform the abandoned theater in the park of Microdistrict 9 into a real public space—lively, cozy, and open to everyone. Our cities are not just physical spaces made of concrete; they are places for meeting, communicating, and sharing experiences. Therefore, Theater 9 is an attempt not just to renovate the stage, but to restore a sense of belonging and community to the 9th microdistrict. Through such targeted interventions, we want to unite the district not only at the stage of using the finished space, but also at the construction stage.
Small steps, big results
The project involves several steps. We have already installed a roof over the stage so that we can install lighting and sound equipment for courtyard events and theatrical performances, and we will cover the metal benches with wooden slats to make the space comfortable and suitable for use in any season. We will also renovate the playground, taking into account the wishes of the children in the neighborhood.
Our students have already proposed several design options, and we have chosen the project developed by Anna Kuznetsova. It is based on the use of modern technologies and parametric forms.
The venue will also be actively used in the evenings for meetings, movie screenings, performances, karaoke, and many other activities that bring residents together.
Budget
We have made a preliminary calculation of the materials needed to implement the project:
Wooden paneling for benches with moisture-resistant plywood inserts with patterns cut out on a laser machine - 42,000 som
Canopy over the stage - 41,500 som
Children's playground - 110,000 som
Total - 193,500 som.
We have made a preliminary calculation of the materials needed to implement the project:
Wooden paneling for benches with moisture-resistant plywood inserts with patterns cut out on a laser machine - 42,000 som
Canopy over the stage - 41,500 som
Children's playground - 110,000 som
Total - 193,500 som.
Work progress
In the photos and videos below, you can see how the construction is progressing.
The first stage of project was completed: we covered the benches and created a canopy over the stage. We also refreshed the mural.
On the 1st of June - the Day of Children, the AUCA student theater group Mirrors organized musical performance for local children. This wa a great celebration for the entire neighborhood!
We will resume work on the project in the fall. We invite you to contribute to this project in any way you can. Any amount is important to us. You can make a transfer to Aym Aylchieva using the following details.
This is just the beginning. We invite everyone—children, adults, neighbors—to join us and together imagine what this theater could be: a venue for performances, workshops, games, and ideas. Together, we can bring this place back to life and make it a true center of the neighborhood.
