We All Need a Home

According to a flash report estimate, 15,000 people are homeless in Hungary. To raise awareness of this serious social problem and change this situation at the local level, as a member of the Research Group for Solidarity in Architecture, I established the WE ALL NEED A HOME project in 2016, on the third of February, the coldest day of the year. Continuing the tradition, this year the Group organized another WE ALL NEED A HOME event, a two-day workshop with university students. The task was to design a temporary installation of aluminum beverage cans in the public space that could address the issue of homelessness by confronting city dwellers with the issue. The public bench, a symbol of homelessness, appeared in the winning concept. The starting point was a bench built around a living tree in the city’s main square. Reminiscent of an unfinished house, the construction provided a seating area for dialogue between the homeless and the city dwellers, the fallen and those providing help. Students who participated in this year’s workshop provide a good example that solving serious social problems is only possible with open eyes, open hearts, and empathy for our fellow human beings. Although the third of February is the coldest day of the year, and thus one of the most difficult times for homeless people, programs like this offer hope that future generations will be more sensitive and receptive to social issues. The project was successfully presented in Chicago at CAB 2019.

Volume Editors

ISBN
978-1-944214-30-2