DIGITAL EUROPA: Trees Of Knowledge
Trees Of Knowledge Park
The initial concept of the idea of a theme park in Athens, Greece evolved from the direction that Europe’s future rests on education of its inhabitans. The initiators of the idea concluded that the best approach in order to make the Digital Europa park come to life is if it was divided into t(h)ree components that are at the „root of education“ in all European countries. The focus of the park will be around interactive education on interesting facts about 1. History, 2. Geography and 3. Economy from each individual country of the European Union. The idea for the name TREES OF KNOWLEDGE comes from a combination of symbolism that a tree has in EU tradition (deep roots, family tree, ect.) and number 3 (three) in english language (the number of values on which Trees Of Knowledge park is based – history, geography and economy).
The park concept is designed to be full of symbolism. In tradition tree symbolizes solidity, connectedness, wisdom – and that are the core values on which the future of the European Union rests.
Planting of young trees most often mark the beginning of a beautiful future. The main concept of the park is to „plant“ knowledge about all EU countries to young people, so that the idea of a bright future of Europe rests on solidity, connectedness and wisdom.
The tree alone cannot survive storms and disasters. But a dense forest of deeply connected trees always comes out of the storm unharmed.The concept behind the idea is that park visitors must walk to all 27 digital trees (every tree represents each country in EU) in order to get the complete story of what the park represents.
Every tree in the park will be interactive and will have a digital screen so the visitors can participate in „building of knowledge of the park“ and when they leave the park, they will leave with a lot of information that they gained in a fun and interactive way.
The first problem this project solves is how to present to „children of Europe“ the achievements of the European Union in a fun but educational way.This project enables everyone to acquire traditional, economic, historical and geographical knowledge from each individual EU Member State in an interactive and fun way, suitable for younger generation of Europeans.
The development of the project would result in an educational interactive digital park around the Ano Liossia Hall in Athens Greece. In the park, children and their families would learn about the traditions, history and geography of all EU countries individually in a fun way according to their age.
The project focuses primarily on education for school children, but it is not exclusive and can be attended by whole families.
Another problem this project is solving is the landscaping around the Ano Liossia Hall. The project would rearrange more than 10,000 square meters of empty space around the Hall for the needs of the most modern digital park in Europe. In the cradle of Western civilization. In a place where Plato gave lectures to his disciples more than 2,400 years ago. Beneath an olive tree that is still standing upright today…
Welcome to the most modern digital park in Europe. Welcome to DIGITAL EUROPA: Trees Of Knowledge
DIGITAL EUROPA park will be divided into 27 tree oases. Each oasis will represent one Member State of the European Union. Inside the oasis there will be a sitting and rest area.
Each smart desk (wifi hotspot, phone charger…) inside the oasis will be equipped with digital screens where students will be able to get geographic, historical and economic information about the country they „are currently in.“
Each oasis will also have a signpost showing directions to where other country oases are located inside the park. Signposts will be painted in the colors of the flag of the state of each oasis so it can be seen from far away. On the floor of each oasis will be a large stylized map of the oasis country.
In the center of each oasis is a large digital screen. Using the screen, visitors will be able to get all the necessary information about the country in an interactive way with a lot of text, pictures and videos.
By clicking on the „PLAY AR“ button on the large digital screen the augmented reality show begins. By using the AR technology students will be able to see a digital travel guide explaining to them in a fun sketch how the inhabitants of each EU country live and what they do.
Behind the digital screen there is an empty podium, but on the digital screen there is a digital guide standing and talking on that podium. The guide is inserted into the real environment (with elements of specific details characteristic for each country). The guide will teach children about traditional methods (baking bread, picking fruit or olives, farming, ect…) but will also invite them to interact with them on the podium. For example, a child will wave their hands on the empty podium, but on the digital screen, it will look like the child and digital guide are picking apples in Italy.