AN ARCHITECTURE OF HOMELESSNESS: CITIES AS HOME FOR ALL
YEOW BOK GUAN
YEOW BOK GUAN
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Abstract
Home is commonly understood to be superior to homelessness. This dissertation examines homelessness as an ontological inquiry into home. Within a broad spectrum of existing definitions, architecture's discourse is split between realising policies or addressing social justice. The desire for just and ethical cities arise in wake of growing inequalities within global neo-liberal economies. Singapore’s housing is politically manipulated in cushioning global pressures that risk visible homelessness. A framework is construed in an attempt to reframe homelessness into an architecturally digestible concept. Referring to Deleuze and Guattari's (1988) anti-capitalist philosophy, homelessness and home are commensurated within a non-hierarchical frame. The concept of nomadism and sedentariness is demonstrated to be compatible with homelessness and the state. Understood as handmaiden to the capitalist state, architecture taps upon the nomad and homeless in inspiring creative innovation. Pilot-testing the framework in Singapore's central city district, a photo-journal reveals an architecture of homelessness within the urban fabric. In accomodating homelessness, the city is hence argued to be better and more livable. Finally, an architecture of homelessness presents ethical and practical implications. Leaving the architect more aware of his creative agency and the need for itinerancy in regenerating creative discourse.
Keywords
Architecture, Design Track, DT, Master (Architecture), Jeffrey Chan Kok Hui, 2015/2016 Aki DT, Deleuze and Guattari, Homelessness, Nomad, Spatial justice, Territorialisation
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2015-12-22
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Dissertation