Krabbenwanderung

“I want to escape the neighbourhood”,says the protagonist in Beschreibung einer Krabbenwanderung by Karosh Taha (2018). The twenty-two-year-old protagonist lives in a high-rise building occupied by Kurdish immigrants. Constant surveillance by her own community is part of her everyday life. The protagonist has little to no claim to any of the spaces in and around the high-rise.

Schwamendingen’s northeast is dominated by high-rises, mainly from the sixties, creating densely packed living conditions with minimal privacy. Public spaces in Hirzenbach and Luchwiesen lack quality, are primarily utilised by men, exemplified at the Luchswiesen high-rise, where women’s presence is minimal, reinforcing gendered public spheres.

Reducing surveillance is crucial in creating safe public spaces for young women. Landscaping and adding trees enhances intimacy and privacy, transforming the commercial ground floor into a community space tailored for young women. This initiative fosters recognition and autonomy, cultivating a sense of belonging and providing a venue for community events and gatherings.

Acknowledging privacy as a scarce commodity, private rooms open 24/7 offer young women the opportunity for self-determined seclusion. Placing these rooms atop the high-rise shifts the power dynamic, turning the scrutinised community into observers. These private spaces, visible yet shielded, facilitate personal exploration and expression, enabling young women to reclaim their identities safe from intrusive gazes.

Project by: Carla Rindlisbacher, Julia Rezzonico, Lorenz Wittmer

Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Jo Baan, Lisa Maillard, Luis Úrculo, Pol Esteve Castelló, He Shen

Design Studio: Autumn 2023