Living in diversity. Inclusive housing for newcomers opens on 9 November. In this exhibition, the HEIM-collective look at plausible alternatives for refugee housing. Taking centre stage are innovative projects in which (new) citizens share spaces, thus promoting cooperation and integration.
Innovative housing typologies
With the support of the Universities of Antwerp and Ghent, as well as the Flemish Government Architect, the HEIM-collective explores new forms of living together in diversity, many of which are initiated from the bottom up. Current examples of inspired national and international projects shine a spotlight on schemes that unite, strengthen and enrich people.
Today, refugees are isolated from society and sent to open communal asylum centres to await the outcome of their claims. These facilities cover basic needs but discourage self-organisation, entrepreneurship and integration. After naturalisation, refugees face an uphill struggle to find suitable accommodation. As a result, many newcomers spend their days within the ‘tiny island’ of a segregated ‘arrival district’. The current situation, both during the asylum process and after naturalisation, fails to foster integration. But what are the alternatives?
From theory to practice
HEIM is part of the cradle of housing projects that puts ideas into practice. In addition, the collective cooperates with civil society organisations to formulate a structural approach to the housing needs of naturalised refugees. HEIM aims to create housing typologies that encourage people to live together in diversity.
About the exhibition series BWMSTR Label
In 2017-2018, the Flanders Architecture Institute exhibited the results of a selection of the BWMSTR Labels 2016 in the walkways of DeSingel. The HEIM-collective was awarded the BWMSTR Label for their research. The Flemish Government Architect embarks on an annual quest to identify strong spatial concepts and integrated research questions that make a positive social difference. The BWMSTR Label (Government Architect Label) is an important tool that enables the Flemish Government Architect to pick up on innovative and policy-relevant ideas and support (design) research.
Opening
Free vernissage on Thursday 9 November 2017 in the Red Foyer of deSingel at 8pm.
Programme:
REGISTER HERE
Praktisch
deSingel International Arts Campus (Antwerp - BE)
open from Wednesday to Sunday from 14.00 to 18.00 hours and at evening performances, closed Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays
free
Colophon
production Flanders Architecture Insttitute and deSingel International Arts Campus
curators Luce Beeckmans, Jonas De Maeyer, Els De Vos, Kimoura Hauquier and Maarten Van Den Driessche
in collaboration with HEIM-collective, Team Vlaams Bouwmeester, University of Antwerp en Ghent University
with the support of the Flemish Government
