Excl.
In 2008, for the first time worldwide, more people lived in cities than in rural areas. At the same time, a new architecture of discipline and social exclusion has developed, which is essentially shaped by private costs and thus escapes democratic influence. The renowned architect Patrik Schumacher presented his eight-point manifesto for the first time at the World Architecture Festival 2006 in Berlin. In this manifesto he calls for the abolition of all state regulations with regard to subsidised housing construction, land use and rent regulation. He concludes his manifesto with the demand: "Privatization of all streets, squares, public spaces and parks, if possible entire districts".
In the exhibition "Excl." such architectural places of this "beautiful new living and working" in the "administered world" are interpreted photographically. The works were created in the city centres of London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Hamburg and Leipzig and depict them in their uniformity. We see anonymous, isolated homes and workplaces that are supposed to represent a modern, sterile and safe environment. In order to keep this promise, permanent surveillance is established and all disturbances are kept away as far as possible. No lamppost, no plant is designed for its own sake, the architecture and the associated urban space are predominantly designed according to security and exclusionary aspects. In the "competition of cities", clean, supposedly safe consumer environments are to be created, which only differ in their design and due to local conditions, i.e. in their "appearance" but not in their "essence". Overall, it can be observed that marginalised and socially excluded groups, which have little economic and cultural capital, are most affected by the measures of exclusion. While the developments in public space - described by critics as "unpleasant design" or "hostile architecture" - will disadvantage all citizens in the long term.– Julius Schreiner / 2019
