Copyright: © Veronika Zaripova and Ayham Dalal

With the increase of refugee movements since 2014, the debate of how to plan appropriate shelters and emergency accommodation has gained a new momentum. This talk traces the “innovations” that promise better, and more humane emergency shelters using examples from Germany and Jordan. It shows that while the planners attempted to address the ambivalent reality of protracted refugee camps and to include “lessons learned” from previous camps; they bear the risk of camouflaging control under what seems to be well-intended and sensitive planning. But do refugees’ appropriations offer an alternative?

Copyright: © NZI Architectes

My presentation explores the place of low-income housing in the city, both geographically, as well as in terms of its contribution to the city, framed through the theoretical concept of reciprocity. Drawing on empirical research on innovative, social housing programs in Paris and Melbourne, I examine how reciprocity shapes program design, location and management, and some implications for urban residents and neighbourhoods. I consider how, amid rising housing costs, these approaches not only enable poorer residents to access the city, but welcome and facilitate their contribution to it.​

Copyright: © Vilim Brezina

The provision of housing to third parties for a fee – so called Homesharing – is suspected of exacerbating the current housing shortage and contributing to land and rent increases. In an empirical full survey and analysis of Airbnb listings, the short-term rental market in Germany turns out extremely heterogeneous, which requires a differentiated regulatory approach. Therefore, eleven bans on misappropriation of residential space (Zweckentfremdungsverbot) are subject to evaluation, in particular as suitable governance approaches for the crowd phenomena Homesharing.