Who’s Next?

Homelessness—the state of having no home—is a growing global problem that requires local discussions and solutions. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, it has noticeably become a collective concern. However, in recent years, the official political discourse in many countries around the world implies that poverty is a personal fault, and that if people experience homelessness, it is because they have not tried hard enough to secure shelter and livelihood. This view has certainly changed due to the pandemic-related bankruptcies and rising unemployment. Today, many around the world could be the next to lose their homes.

Although architecture alone cannot solve the problem of homelessness, the question arises: What and which roles can it play? Or, to be more precise, how can architecture collaborate with other disciplines in developing ways to permanently house those who do not have a home? Who’s Next? Homelessness, Architecture, and Cities seeks to explore and understand a reality that involves the expertise of national, regional, and city agencies, nongovernmental organizations, religious institutions, health-care fields, and academic disciplines.

Through research on the historical and current situation in Los Angeles, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, São Paulo, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Tokyo, the historical and current situation in Munich and other German cities, analyses of architectural case studies, originally commissioned and existing documentary films, and a library, this exhibition unfolds different entry points toward understanding homelessness and some of the many related problems. The exhibition is an attempt to break down this topic so that the specificities and complexities of one of the most urgent crises of our time rise to the fore.

More information about the exhibition on the A.M. website.

An exhibition by the Architekturmuseum der TUM.

Museum director: Andres Lepik

Curator: Daniel Talesnik
Assistants: Ella Neumaier, Kerem Ilyas Yilmaz, Ann-Kathrin Gügel, Theresa Thanner, Anna-Maria Mayerhofer
Graphic designer: Kathryn Gillmore
Exhibition architecture: Carmen Wolf
Sponsors: PIN. Freunde der Pinakothek der Moderne e. V., Förderverein Architekturmuseum TU München e.V., BPR Dr. Schäpertöns Consult, Stiftung Obdachlosenhilfe Bayern, Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales, BÜSCHL Unternehmensgruppe, Architektur Kultur Stiftung

Events:
Family exhibition tour: November 6, 11am–12pm

Exhibition information: November 7 and December 5, 3–5pm

One Hour with...curator Daniel Talesnik: November 18, November 25, December 2, December 9, 6:30–7:30pm
Guided tour in English through the exhibition
 

Catalogue of Who’s Next? Homelessness, Architecture, and Cities, edited by Daniel Talesnik and Andres Lepik, published by ArchiTangle is available in German and English.

Catalogue with essays by: David Madden, Stephen Przybylinski, Don Mitchell, Luisa Schneider, Juliane Bischoff, Jocelyn Froimovich, Samia Henni, Alejandra Celedón, Nicolás Stutzin, and Fraya Frehse. City research by Aya Maceda and James Carse (New York), Valentina Rozas-Krause and Trude Renwick (San Francisco), María Esnaola Cano (Los Angeles), Clara Chahin Werneck and João Bittar Fiammenghi (São Paulo), Tatiana Efrussi (Moscow), Aditya Sawant (Mumbai), Zairong Xiang and Elena Vogman (Shanghai), and Helena Capková and Erez Golani Solomon (Tokyo). Interviews by Lluís Alexandre Casanovas Blanco with Robert M. Hayes, Binyamin Appelbaum with Veronica Lewis, and Giovanna Borasi with Michael Maltzan and Alexander Hagner. Architectural projects by: Michael Maltzan Architecture,  eap Architekten.Stadtplaner, Holland Harvey Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Baubüro in situ AG, Mépp, Ménard Partner Projekte AG, gaupenraub+/- (Alexander Hagner and Ulrike Schartner), Paulett Taggart Architects and Leddy Maytum Stacy, Brooks + Scarpa, Sorg Architects, pool Architektur, Michel Müller, Heiner Blum, Jan Lotter, and HKS Architekten, Alexander Gorlin Architects, Melanie Karbasch, gaupenraub+/- (Alexander Hagner and Ulrike Schartner), Peter Barber Architects, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA), RKW Architektur +, KTGY Architecture + Planning, Grand Huit (Clara Simay, Julia Turpin), Architecture / Bruner Cott Architects, LMN Architects, and Grass+Batz+Arquitectos – Arquitectura UC.