Nachbarschaft in Urban Spaces

According to the German dictionary (Duden), Nachbarschaft includes all neighbours, their relations, as well as the immediate physical closeness to someone or something. Exceptional Nachbarschaften like the container village, the Labitzke site in Zurich-Altstetten, or the holdout (“nail house”) in the Turbinenstrasse in Zurich West are only three examples of urban spaces that can be perceived as products of urban processes such as gentrification, inclusion/exclusion, and interim use.

 

– What forces shaped these urban arrangements?

– Why are they in conflict?

– How can we rethink Nachbarschaft in the context of these examples?

 

With these questions, we wish to address the topic of globalized and constantly growing cities. Furthermore, we wish to call into question the colloquial definition of the German word Nachbarschaft. These social, spatial, and cultural arrangements are marked by the permanent negotiation of differences and similarities between people. Out of this situation arise specific forms of living together in urban neighbourhoods. We intend to start our research by examining the three locations mentioned above. Eventually, we aim to gain a better understanding of how the “right to the city“ can be appropriated.

 

 

Laura, Daniel, Tobias, Diana