NEWS Students at Umeå School of Architecture have, in connection with the start of the term, collaborated within the framework of a workshop entitled "Common Space: Improving Living Conditions". The aim has been to research, discuss, map, and then to formulate concrete ideas on how the situation for vulnerable EU migrants in Umeå could be improved.
The role of the architect in the society is in a constant development. Today, not the least in relation to increased global mobility, intimately intertwined with the knowledge of finite natural resources as well as the presence of economic crises and armed conflicts. Even relations between the state and the market - traditional actors within the architectural field - are changing. As a consequence, we can see the emergence of a new kind of civil society that seeks to uphold human rights and basic needs.
This development demands for the architectural education to constantly renew the questions of research and to open up the students' minds for what kinds of solutions that can meet the conditions architects are facing today. A task that we at Umeå School of Architecture attach great importance to, and are working with on a long term within the framework of different themes.
The aim of the vertical workshop "Common Space: Improving Living Conditions" has been to, with this as a starting point, create a broad discussion among the students about the role of the architect and the purpose of architecture.
In intimate and a humble collaboration with the target group - EU migrants living in Umeå - and committed NGO's, the form has been to discuss the cause of the situation and then to develop both short and long term solutions to improve the conditions.
"We are witnessing something that can only be seen as a humanitarian crisis in our own proximity. A situation that also clearly represents the issues that we as a School of Architecture today need to address together with the students that we educate. When we are concerned with an issue like this it is also important for us to not to talk about, but rather with those who are directly affected. The discussion begins in their dreams, aspirations and problem formulations. It's about seeing the opportunities, but also that we as architects and fellow humans must take a humanitarian responsibility by ensuring that human rights are respected and strengthened." says Ana Betancour, rector and head of department at Umeå School of Architecture.
During the workshop, students have listened to lectures by both volunteer organisations and the EU migrants themselves. They have been invited to visit settlements in caravans, cars and tents as well as meetings with representatives from the municipality and other authorities.
In groups the students have then been asked to think about both short-term, acute and long-term solutions that could improve the situation. The intended recipient of the results has either been the migrant themselves, the authorities or committed NGO's within the civil society.
"It's been great to see the compassion, engagement and creativity that the students have demonstrated", says Tobias Westerlund, project assistant at Umeå School of Architecture who have been involved in planning of the workshop.
From the discussions a broad range of ideas have gradually emerged. Mappings of local resources and differences between how different municipalities have dealt with the situation. Concrete ideas on how to improve heating and insulation. But also thoughts about forms of integration, raising awareness and more general architectural models that could be implemented by the municipality, volunteer organisations or private property owners.
"I really appreciate this chance to get acquainted with this issue. It has given me a different view of the situation which made it easier to relate to it," says Hanna Ivansson, student in the fourth year at the School of Architecture.
The overall results will be compiled into a handbook in the coming weeks, with the aim of providing the migrants themselves, aid organisations, authorities and the public access to knowledge about the situation and its potential opportunities.
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Tobias WesterlundProject Assistant, Umeå School of Architecture
Email: tobias.westerlund@umu.se
Phone: +46 (0)90-786 66 33