summaery2021: Projects

Project information

submitted by
Mazen Alazazmeh

Co-Authors
Galyna Sukhomud, Florian Hesse, Freke Charlotte Schrikkema, Mariam Kunchuliya

Mentors
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Daniela Zupan, Arch. Mazen Alazazmeh

Faculty:
Architecture and Urbanism

Degree programme:
European Urban Studies (english) (Master of Science (M.Sc.))

Type of project presentation
Research project

Semester
Summer semester 2021

Project description

Crises and catastrophes have tremendous effects on different dimensions of housing. They are therefore intriguing lenses to engage with urban transformation. However, the aftermath of crises and catastrophes presents a dichotomy: on the one hand, they can trigger creative coping mechanisms and social innovations, thereby leading to favourable transformations in housing. On the other hand, they create opportunities for exploitation and oppression which in turn challenge housing provision and socio-spatial equality. The seminar’s objective is to tackle this conflicting nature of crises and catastrophes and to investigate the geographies of innovation and exploitation which they entail.

Bibi in Bearlin: A Housing-Quest in a Financial Jungle is a story for children about the struggle to find a place to live in the fictional city of Bearlin, which is ruled by financial giant Coalstone. In an easy language and simple narrative, the book attempts to disentangle the complex processes of housing financialization that are only speeding up in Europe after the global financial crisis and show their influences on everyday life.

Referring to the tradition of alternative children’s books, Bibi in Bearlin not only tries to make critical knowledge more accessible for everyone but also emphasizes the importance of hope and dream and the need to fight upon the beliefs. The naivety is the key to the fictional children's world but also the optimism we need to upgrade our cities.

Files and presentations

• Bibi_in_Bearlin.pdf