Today’s migration to Europe is comparable to the relocation of populations that Doug Saunders describes in his famous book Arrival City. Here, the newcomers build housing themselves without government aid, qualifying themselves professionally and linguistically and developing an economic basis by the establishment of micro enterprises. Although the emerging informal settlements don’t work as an example for European cities, we can learn how the newcomers actively participate in the integration process.
Arrival City 4.0 translates this approach into a European context. Our concept provides a clear structure, which ensures that the buildings meet the local technical, urban and building requirements and the external impact of the buildings is attractive and sustainable. Arrival City 4.0 is an expandable concept. With a small initial investment, simple accommodation can be built in a short time. But unlike normal emergency accommodation (tents, containers), Arrival City 4.0 creates an opportunity for it to be quickly consolidated, becoming a valuable part of the city.
In our model the new arrivals are given the opportunity to participate in building their new home. The building system consists of a structural system (beams and columns), stairs (elevator can be retrofitted), a basic building skin made from polycarbonate and one bathroom and kitchen per level. This set can be combined with the interior, regular windows and more sanitary facilities, that are added later and might be built by a collaboration of the newcomers and volunteers. This will create bonds between the new citizens and the local communities. The walls and the interior can be produced in a Fab-Lab or open source production process. The project becomes part of the Wiki-House network, which provides and exchanges design patterns for buildings and furniture.
On the ground floor is a simple CNC-Milling machine which can be programmed and used by any laymen with a minimum of training. The Wiki-House system even has a design pattern for CNC milling machines, so after installing the first Fab-Lab house it can “reproduce” itself with even lower costs.
Project development, design and construction
2015 – 2016
Gross Floor Space
1600sqm
KG 300+400:
1.500.000 Euros
Awards and exhibitions
– exhibited in the Finnish Pavillon of the Venice Biennale 2016
– awarded by ideen werkstatt werkbund Munich 2016
– nomination Berlin Award 2016
