The homeless conquer the ideal world: a coffee table book that brings the shameful side of the city to the table.
Credit Cover: ArchiTangle
From housing policy to social aspects and architectural policy
Who’s Next? is a sophisticated book. When you first look at it, it inevitably reminds you of the so-called coffee table books. These are large-format books with beautiful covers, the contents of which usually deal superficially with design, food, travel or (interior) architecture. They have become a popular decorative element in their own right, lying on coffee tables or other surfaces in people’s homes to demonstrate that they have books (“How well-read!”) and taste (“So aesthetic!”). In short, a coffee table book is a feel-good thing that encourages people to leaf through it. It can be found in the home as well as in chic cafés.
But what is Who’s Next? It is a massive, large-format book whose subtitle corresponds to what readers will find inside: Thematically, it examines homelessness in urban space and its concrete intersections with the built environment. The editors Daniel Talesnik and Andres Lepik – lecturers and curator and director of the Architekturmuseum der TUM in Munich, where the exhibition for which the publication was published was first shown in 2021/22 – span the arc from housing policy and a critique of the housing market to the social aspects of homelessness and architectural policy.
23 projects presented
Individual texts then go into specific examples in which cities and their specific cultural approach to homelessness are outlined. It is linked to concepts such as gentrification, denial, systematic racism and inequality. In case the individual concepts are not entirely clear to one or the other, the book includes a glossary designed by students at the Technical University of Munich that explains and contextualizes the central terms. Last but not least, 23 realized projects are presented in which housing for the homeless is treated as a central design task.
Photo © Christopher Michel
What sets the authors apart:
The contributors to this book are one thing above all: interdisciplinary. Many architects have their say, as do sociologists, urban researchers and planners, economists and experts in human rights and similarly socially relevant policies.
That is an important statement:
“It is important that these are buildings that give the people concerned their dignity back […].” This statement is important because it has far-reaching consequences: human dignity is a universal human right and influences our politics, but also our very personal view of society as it is and should be. Housing is not only associated with an address, but a permanent residence is also the ticket to being accepted and recognized as a participant in society.
That is a thought-provoking statement:
“Developing countries are home to around 85 percent of the world’s refugee population.” (from the glossary on the term refugee)
The blurb is fulfilled because ...
… the topic of homelessness and architecture is explained and discussed in all its complexity. The focus is not only on architectural projects, but also on the social, economic and cultural framework conditions of homelessness and what is needed to solve the problem holistically.
You can show off with this knowledge from the book:
The term “skid row” originally comes from the woodworking industry, where greased skids were used for the road transportation of logs. The area around Skid Row served as a place of residence for poorer woodworkers. It actually refers to the poor neighborhood of Central City East in Los Angeles, but today it is also used as a synonym for homeless neighborhoods.
More trend than classic, because ...
… the contemporary approach to homelessness is dealt with. These framework conditions are subject to constant change, above all because society’s view of homelessness is changing. Whereas in the past, becoming homeless was seen more as one’s own fault, today the complex causes and political framework conditions for homelessness are being discussed more publicly.
Short sentence about
- Feel: Cover made of thick cardboard, which holds the large-format pages together stably. The high-quality thread stitching makes it pleasant to open.
- Design: The dominant color is a strong pink as a design accent. Large and clear lettering throughout makes reading easier.
- Reading flow: The different writing styles of the contributors only have a minimal impact on the reading flow. The language is easy to understand throughout and any notes and footnotes are at the end of the text.
- Visual language: In addition to architectural images of the sample projects, the book also provides many visual insights into the lives and everyday lives of homeless people around the world. The focus is on an objective, observational view rather than a voyeuristic one.
What else is important:
Who’s Next? addresses not only architects, but also all those involved in the design and decision-making processes that affect society and precarious marginalized groups. The publication contributes to a more conscious approach to homelessness and packs the difficult topic into a book that is also visually presentable – for example on the coffee table.
Information:
Who’s Next? Homelessness, architecture and the city
Edited by Daniel Talesnik and Andres Lepik
Archi Tangle, 2021
272 pages, 155 illustrations
ISBN: 978-3-96680-018-1