In Augsburg, Bavaria took place a ceremony dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the world's oldest social housing complex, Fuggerei.
A feature of this year's event was the opening of the NEXT500 pavilion in the middle of the City Hall Square, an architectural sculpture that created according to the MVRDV project. The sculpture was made from the wood of the Fugger forests, which financed the implementation of the social housing project for five centuries.
This is what the NEXT500 pavilion looks like. Photo: Eckhart Matthäus
The long, narrow gabled facade of the building is reminiscent of Fugger's own vision of social development. At the same time, the curved part of the pavilion, suspended in the air, hints at a rethinking of what modern housing should be for those who need it.
During five weeks, a number of events and discussions related to the construction of social houses in the context of modern global problems will be held here.
Building on the concept of Fugger, who sought to solve the problem of housing shortage, climate crisis, social inequality and isolation, MVRDV together with the foundation of a well-known philanthropist developed a complex formula for the construction of modern social housing.
It will be presented inside the pavilion as part of the "Fuggrei of the Future" exhibition.
This is what the interior of the MVRDV architectural composition looks like. Photo: Eckhart Matthäus
According to the developed formula, MVRDV offers an updated concept for the construction of Fuggerei social housing, which can be adapted to the different needs arising in the world. Based on this concept, MVRDV presented three proposals for European cities.
In particular, the first of them involves the construction of a new complex of social housing in Augsburg, which will differ from the existing one in that it is oriented towards educational infrastructure.
The concept of the future Fuggerei social housing complexes. Visualization: MVRDV
The second Fuggerei of the future is intended for one of the settlements in Lithuania, which focused its attention on solving the problem of poverty of the elderly and the crisis of social assistance due to the aging of the population.
The third complex of social housing was developed for the remote fishing village of Rotumba on the African continent in the Republic of Sierra Leone. Here, Fuggerei's strategy was built on empowering residents and creating a safe environment for women and children.
MVRDV emphasizes that the appearance of future Fuggereien will depend on their purpose and location, but the building principles will be the same as the 500-year-old original.
A social housing project in Augsburg with a focus on education. Visualization: MVRDV
It is worth noting that the Fuggerei social housing project was created in 1521. Currently, about 67 people live in 150 houses located in a row. Renting one apartment in these settlements costs 88 cents a year, and, according to tradition, three prayers a day.
According to Jacob Fugger's will, the complex of social buildings should exist forever, and expand whenever possible. Today, his successors continue the work of the philanthropist's life.
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