Progress through housing
Housing is a central human need. A lack of affordable housing, especially in metropolitan areas, is currently one of the most pressing issues of our time. The challenges of climate change, new balancing of different forms of mobility and infrastructures as well as social issues of social coexistence are added. Numerous new structural concepts are currently being developed, especially in housing construction, the strategies of which can be groundbreaking not only for the function of living, but also for the development of the city and region as well as the building industry itself.
What construction methods and forms of living do we need today? How do we have to build to promote inclusive and sustainable urban spaces? How should (city) spaces and their surroundings be designed for our society? What mixes of uses make sense? And which construction methods and materials can help to counteract climate change? In the examples shown in the exhibition, the necessary production of space in the area of housing construction is seen as an opportunity to react to current issues.
The philosopher Martin Heidegger derives the original meaning of living in his lecture "Building Living Thinking" from 1951 from the Old High German word "buam" and explains: "Building" here means "living". Heidegger's detailed derivation offers an astonishing interpretation of "dwelling" that is appropriate for the present time, which not only includes "building" and "being human", but also "caring for and looking after" the earth. He explains: "Living" in the original sense also includes "working" and "living when travelling" - and - it includes a responsibility of the "builder" towards the surroundings/environment in which the building is being built. From today's perspective, a remarkably up-to-date depiction of the relationship between the building people and the environment.
(The full lecture can be read here: https://docplayer.org/24892585-Martin-heidegger-bauen-wohnen-denken.html)
Residential buildings understood in this sense are not only essential building blocks for the development of the city, its public squares and green spaces, but also part of the responsibility towards nature. At the latest during the pandemic, it became clear how important it is to have a home that meets one's own ideas and needs. It enables, for example, work, home schooling and leisure activities with the family or group home to take place within your own four walls. Different lifestyles need adaptable, variable ways of using space. Residential buildings and facilities are needed that allow for more mixed use, that offer easy access to work, local amenities and leisure activities within a short distance on foot or by bike in order to relieve the growing flow of traffic.
But without experiments and innovative approaches - no new solutions. When costs demand optimization of space, it takes very clever planning to allocate the valuable space. If the climate-friendly conversion of our cities and regions is required, it requires other construction methods and the need to deal more flexibly with existing building fabric and to reuse existing materials. Densification of the cities does not rule out an increased focus on the expansion and maintenance of green and open spaces or the unsealing of areas.
The exhibition shows selected examples of contemporary architecture that demonstrate viable options for sustainable construction. It presents examples of new forms of living and construction methods, sensible mixed uses and adaptable space offers for the different life models and phases of life of its users. Bold concepts, innovative research projects and clever spatial ideas of the exhibition want to encourage imitation and make you want to go on a journey of discovery into a positive future of living and human coexistence.