The Absurd Nature of Vacancy in Time of the Housing Crisis

Architecture of Appropriation Photo by Johannes Schwartz

The Absurd Nature of Vacancy in Time of the Housing Crisis

Block seminar: 3times x 4hours
C-2.1-40, C-2.1-52, D-2.1-40, C-1.0-40, C-2.0-40, C-2.1-65, A-2.0 40ALLGWISSASL
3ECTS / 2 SWS
Dates: 30&31 October/4&5 December/ 15&16 January
WM Iva Marčetić

In this seminar we will address the absurdity of housing vacancy in times of housing crises, as well as work with ideas for alternatives to the status quo of vacant property. The work in the seminar will consist of reading about the drivers of housing vacancy; typologies of vacancy most suitable for housing; ownership of vacancy and our own relation to it. We will read texts on housing vacancy, speculation and alternative governance as well engage in other forms of learning through film, data mapping, examples of architecture of appropriation, discussions and experience. Students will have a chance to approach the issue of vacancy through theory, economy, materiality, typology, and their own relation to the phenomenon. They will work on ideas about transforming vacancy into socially useful property by using different graphic, textual and group work approaches to this issue. Seminar will include joint discussions on how can we approach vacancy from the stand point of housing rights vs private property rights through creative forms of organizing and deliberation.

Materials of the seminar will include texts and visual art on the topic of housing vacancy, squatting, housing and property rights. 

Final result: Rundgang presentation and group work booklet on the seminar topic

Language: mostly English