Sapcefsw: a Collective for and by Sexworkers

In the film Jeanne Dielman by Chantal Akerman, the protagonist navigates her life between child-rearing, sex work, and neighborly childcare. Despite her adeptness, her detachment leads to social isolation, highlighted throughout the film.

Similar life circumstances unfold in Zürich, presenting challenges that are hard to reconcile. Statistics reveal that only a minute fraction of sex workers in Switzerland operate from their own residences, shifting the complexity of their profession from domestic to urban scales. Moreover, external employment, coupled with the expense of renting a suitable workspace, affects financial stability and available time. These dynamics complicate child-rearing and community care, fostering a sense of social disconnection from the neighbourhood and beyond.

Our examination of reproduction, inspired by the film’s narrative, unfolds across multiple dimensions. Acknowledging sex work as legitimate labour, we confront the burdens imposed by societal stigmas and the unconventional hours during which it often occurs. The associated risks of social isolation further complicate the lives of sex workers. This realisation propels us towards initiatives aimed at reinstating care for those who dedicate their days to providing it, yet often receive little in return. A collective space, conceived and operated by sex workers themselves, emerges as a sanctuary for exchange, warmth, dialogue, mutual support, and education.

Approximately 40% of sex workers in Zürich are parents, highlighting the significant challenges of balancing parenthood with unconventional working hours. This design proposal aims to provide essential infrastructure, supplementing traditional schooling and daycare, especially during evening and nocturnal hours. Located near Langstrasse, the heart of Zürich’s sex work area, the proposed space offers a supportive environment where like-minded individuals can connect, share insights, and foster community. Through strategic design elements that prioritise visibility, intimacy, and functionality, the space becomes a beacon of care and solidarity in the bustling urban landscape.

Project by: Fabian Hug, Nora Hauser, Yannick Angehrn

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

Design Studio: Automn 2023