Back on and link to the replay of the conference “The social production of habitat across the world,” which was held in Geneva on October 1, 2024.
could not Be better to open, and to celebrate the beginning of the “October Urban” with a major conference on the social production of habitat around the world. The social production of habitat, it is rethinking the urban otherwise : by forging links between the inhabitant·es, amplifying the solidarity, and creating living spaces that are sustainable and accessible to all. It is to share, to question and test ideas for collectively managing and equitable way of living together, while ensuring affordable housing for the long-term and demonstrating a high value social and environmental.
You may be thinking that this seems utopian ? But no, it is indeed possible, and this has been demonstrated at the conference of the 1st of October in Geneva, attended by over 100 people. Four exemplary initiatives of habitat participatory, from Senegal, Indonesia, Spain, and Switzerland, all awarded by the World Price of the Habitat, have been presented. These projects embody concrete and long lasting solutions that respond to the urgent needs of affordable housing while enhancing social cohesion and responding to ecological challenges.
The theme of the evening was highlighted several key aspects of the habitat participatory, including self-management, theimprovement of the habitat and access to rights in the precarious neighbourhoods major urban centres in the global South, with the presentations of Dad Keita of urbaSEN & the Senegalese Federation of the Inhabitants, Senegal, and Guntoro Centre Rujak and the Urban Poor Consortium, Indonesia. The question of the housing co-operative non-speculative in Europe in response to the housing crisis has been addressed through the presentations of Aline Juon of Hemlock, in Geneva, Switzerland, and Elisabet Ràfols of Sostre Cívic, in Catalonia, Spain.
The conference continued with a panel discussion moderated by Armelle Choplin of the university of GENEVA, with the speaker·es, as well as Christophe Brunet, representative of the association of housing co-operatives in geneva, raising many questions from the public. Discussions focused on such topics as the essential support of local and national governments and the ability of housing co-operatives to meet the quantitative needs of the cities, while maintaining their process participatory and co-creation.
The evening was also able to meet with other european partners and the global South Network CoHabitat, present in Geneva on the occasion of the celebration of 10 years of the network, and engage in a dialogue on the challenges and perspectives from the habitat participatory and collaborative in the face of the global crisis of housing.
You can review the entirety of the conference on our YouTube channel at the following address : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBYqKBNEAJU
