Transient Dwellings

Cities exist in a perpetual state of metamorphosis, with each decade introducing new elements that blend with the remnants of the past, forming the tapestry we recognize
as the present. Buildings are constructed and torn down, the spaces between them are filled with new structures, creating a conglomerate of the old and the new. These fragments from different epochs coalesce into ever-changing facades that silently shape the backdrop of our daily lives. We navigate these urban landscapes, often oblivious to the striking gaps and quirks that define them.

In a city like Berlin, where history is profoundly etched into its very fabric, the contrast between monumental boulevards and areas where old brick factory buildings stand beside makeshift constructions is especially stark. This eclectic mix of urban planning and the coexistence of diverse architectural influences forms part of the city’s unique character—or, depending on one’s perspective, its dissonance.

When observed closely, these urban landscapes reveal glimpses of the collective psyche. Efficiency and cost-effectiveness are evident in the way gaps between ornate pre-World War II residential buildings are filled with plain, unadorned facades in incongruous colors—structures that seem purposefully designed within their own units, yet almost nonsensical within the broader context of neighbouring structures.

Transient Dwellings seeks to closely examine some of these peculiarities and bring their strangeness into focus. Through movement and photography, the body is employed as a vessel to close gaps, bridge distances, and question the intentions—or lack thereof— behind these urban interventions. In doing so, this project offers a different gaze on the ever-evolving landscapes we inhabit, and the silent narratives their paradoxes convey.

photography zine, 40 pages, spiral binding.