In our two-year activity and research program Designing Cities for All (DCFA) we dive into (re)designing inclusive cities. Alongside numerous designers, scientists, experts, educational institutions, and other partners – we invite a total of six Fellows to curate parts of the programme. We are thrilled to introduce the next DCFA fellowship: (Re)Designing Connection with Shibaura House!
From April to June 2024, we will have our DCFA fellowship with Shibaura House, a unique building with a completely glass exterior located in Shibaura, Minato-ku, an area in Tokyo, Japan undergoing redevelopment. Shibaura House is a community space, but also the headquarters of a 70-year old company. Over the years, this company has adapted to changing times and social environments. Today, it not only operates its original creative business but also engages in new cultural projects deeply rooted in the local community.
During this fellowship, we will explore the multifaceted concept of connection on three different scales: between humans and non-humans, within communities, and within cities. Our modern urban existence often leads us to disconnect from ourselves, our communities, and the cities we inhabit. Through this programme, we aim to understand how we can reclaim and (re)design these connections through personal practices and grassroots initiatives.
This series will explore practical strategies and innovative approaches for reviving the lost essence of connection on both individual and collective levels, fostering a more inclusive city for and with all.
Residency Program Pakhuis de Zwijger X Shibaura House
Earlier this month, we have launched a residency programme which is a project aside from the DCFA Fellowship. The aim of this programme is to build an international network that approaches global social issues through the lens of creatives from various disciplines, such as artists, architects, designers, city planners, cultural entrepreneurs and many more.
From 2024 onward, Shibaura House and Pakhuis de Zwijger will offer artists and creatives workspace, (cheaper) accommodation and a connection with local artists and professionals as well as the possibility to organise small events or workshops. In doing so, each organisation will be a harbour for creatives in the Netherlands and Japan, opening up abundant opportunities for the future. This way, we hope to make international experiences more accessible.
Read more about the Residency Program here
Upcoming events
In the next months Shibaura House curates three programs on (Re)Designing Connection to explore practical strategies and innovative approaches for reviving the lost essence of connection on both individual and collective levels, fostering a more inclusive city for and with all. Join us and register via the pages below!
More about Designing Cities for All
Over the first two years of Designing Cities for All (DCFA), we’ve learned about exclusion by design and the (re)design of inclusive cities. Along the journey, a certain question kept popping up: what exactly does ‘for all’ entail? After focusing mostly on the ‘who’ over the past two years, DCFA is rebooting as Designing Cities for All: RE-generation . This way around, the series is also incorporating the ‘what’ by looking through the fresh lens of regenerative design. This emerging field might very well be a promising answer to the challenges of our time, as it focuses on the design of products, services, systems, and processes that lead to both social and ecological recovery and that keep the systems healthy.
