Martina Geiger‑Gerlach

Raumwunder
(Eine einvernehmliche Hausbesetzung mit Hilfe der Kunst)
Room Wonder
(An Consensual squatting through the power of art)

Houses slated for demolition often stand empty for long periods between the departure of the last residents and the actual teardown due to building law delays. Under current tenancy laws, it's not able to rent during this interim phase. However, as an art project, they can be inhabited, as this allows for individual agreements. To showcase the potential of this artistic interim-use strategy, the first "RAUMWUNDER" apartment—conquered through art and furnished with donated interiors—is used simultaneously as a living space and an exhibition off-space.
Consequently, every handover of the keys also marks the opening of a curated solo exhibition by "4-Zimmer-Küche-Bad" (4-room-kitchen-bath), with the neighborhood invited to a public living room concert. On these evenings, a diverse range of people gather at RAUMWUNDER for many different reasons: to move in temporarily, to view contemporary art, to listen to live music, to tour the apartment, to meet neighbors, or simply to find out what RAUMWUNDER is all about. Along the way, visitors can also get to know the current residents who are urgently seeking permanent housing.
In this first "consensual squatting" project in Stuttgart, the residents are asylum seekers from the neighboring collective accommodation center. After the opening event, the "4-Zimmer-Küche-Bad" exhibition becomes a private residence and can only be visited by guests of the inhabitants. When the residents change, the exhibition changes too, and the next public RAUMWUNDER evening is announced.
Contact, consulting, and free licensing of the concept© for the realization of new RAUMWUNDER projects: martina@geiger-gerlach.de