1. Experiment zur Leerstandsbildung – 1st Experiment of forming Vacancy
The 1st experiment has been taken place on Sunday, 7th February 2010, at a passage way in a residential area of Zurich.
Procedure: The passage way has been cleaned before hand. After that both sides should be closed with masking tape.
Vorschlag zur Leerstandsbildung – 1. Experiment
Trailer 2 min. 10 sec. / Video Documentation approx. 30 min. / 2010
Leerstandsbildung: Experimente vor Ort – Experiments on-site
While looking for possible places for Vacancy, also several attempts to form temporary vacancy in Zurich will be performed on-site.
For research purposes, these experiments will be video documented and conclude an analysis of the undertaken attempts.
Bus stop Pfingstweidstrasse Zurich, January 2010
Vorschlag zur Leerstandsbildung in Zürich – Proposition of forming Vacancy in Zurich
Zurich doesn’t know the fact of “Leerstand”. As part of research purposes, circumstances and handling of Vacancy will be proposed to the city.
Medienmitteilung Wohnungsleerstand Zürich 2009 (press communique in German)
First of all, possible sites for temporary vacancies will be documented. Therefore, the focus will be on public places – the vacancies should be visible and accessible spaces, to underline the need of this project. Furthermore, the main focus will be set on transition places as underpasses, backyards, passages, Bus-/Tram stations. These locations offer ideal conditions to create an enclosed space, by supplementing building components (walls, etc.) – an important premise to construct vacancies.
While the representative offers the closures of these places for a certain time, they will be declared to vacancies.
Passage in Zurich, 2010
Action with Abandonments on Hoy
The premises – a Public, a Private and a Service Building – will be taken over. The squatter is interested in the original function of these houses. She operates as an entrepreneur, as an observer, as an archaeologist and utilizes objects, she find on site – opens herewith a new chapter in the history of transformations.
Battery Observation Post – Service Building
The observation post of a military base will be mended since all windows are fitted with cross-frames.
Refurbishment - Skerry Coast Battery, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Community Center – Public Building
The Community Center will be opened by a formal act. Once the stage cleared and the play was written, the performance of the play follows. Towards the end the applause comes frenetically.
Opening - Community Center in Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Stage Play - Community Center in Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Dwelling – Private Building
In a family home everyday objects are investigated. Carefully selected objects will be examined and cleaned. Thereafter, the findings are wrapped in duct tape and put back into place.
Excavation - Dwelling in Lyness, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Preservation - Dwelling in Lyness, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
“Typologie des Leerstands – Typology of vacancy”
3-channel Video / 11’51” / Colour / HD 1080i50 / Stereo / 2009
Abandonments – Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland
In the last century, Hoy, a small island of the Orkney Islands Group in northern Scotland, witnessed a rapid population increase in relation to the military base stationed on Hoy. As a result, many buildings were manufactured. With the closing of the military base at the end of the 50s the buildings have lost their requirement – left behind abandoned and unused in the landscape.
Skerry Coast Battery, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Community Center in Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Dwelling in Lyness, Hoy, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 2009
Leerstand 