Mapping the Existenzminimum: Modern European Dwellings
(2019) ReHab - Housing Strategies — Location: Politecnico di Torino (6.December.2019)
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- Abstract
- The notion Existenzminimum is generally associated to the most rationalistic examples of dwellings layout where spatial and technical efficiency, improved comfort and affordability were elevated to the very high degree. Such assumption usually referes to cases like the outstanding accomplishments achieved in Frankfurt by Ernst May, which almost monopolized the catalogue of the exhibition held at the II CIAM. These housing experimentations partially overshadowed as much the other interventions illustrated in the exhibition as those did not, but featured new parts of the modern cities. During the interwar years many European cities equally responded in a convincing way to modern ideas of living. Independently from the morphological models employed, the attractiveness of all these residential complexes comprised by apartments of small size is also due to the existence of communal facilities and external (green) spaces for collective and private purposes. The present paper aims at widening the interpretation of Existenzminimum, that is mapping the wealth of typological solutions and to assess the differences and analogies concerning the spatial arrangements of the dwellings. This comparative analysis sheds light particularly onto a selection of instances built in Rotterdam, Vienna, Brussels, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Starting from those published in the exhibition catalogue of the II CIAM, this investigation explores also other housing estates, the understanding of some is still limited. Taxonomic comparisons among the dwelling types support the critical examination. For a such purpose, the authors produced novel re-drawings, adopting the same graphic code, in order to achieve the highest level of homogeneity and comparability. Quantitative parameters, like dwelling dimensions, total dwelling surface, rooms surface, number of bedrooms, ratio between window and room surfaces, provide further inputs for the study. Hundred years later, broadening the Existenzminimum perspective also entails to understand how certain architectural components elaborated at that time in these selected case studies still contribute to a valauble definition of the quality of the domestic space. Of particular interest is also to test the impact of experimentations around the Existenzminimum, mainly to which extent these are re-interpretated, on the contemporary design of affordable dwellings of minimum size.
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Citations
Chiara Monterumisi, Alessandro Porotto, Ledent, G., & et al. (2019). Mapping the Existenzminimum: Modern European Dwellings. ReHab - Housing Strategies, Politecnico di Torino. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/170531