Malte Uchtmann: Ankommen /Arriving

Exploring the German “welcome culture” seen through the architecture of refugee accommodations and what impact architecture and urban planning in this field have on refugees and locals. Does architecture undermine integration in Germany? From the publisher: “Ankommen” is a study of architectural infrastructure for state-provided accommodation for refugees in Germany. During the so called European migrant crisis from 2015 on Germany got known for its 'welcome culture' towards refugees. Since 2015 millions of refugees have arrived to the country and the state has had to react quickly trying to provide sufficient housing for the immigrants. In the fast paced urban planning process material and immaterial borders are created, making it challenging for the refugees to settle. Through photographic documentation, aerial views and official documents of regulations regarding refugee housing complexes the book raises a questions about the architecture’s impairing effects for refugees integration to German society. The dummy of the book received the German Photo Book Award in the category "Best Student Project" in 2020. The work raises awareness of the impact of architecture for housing refugees and to stimulate a discussion of the extent to which structural and institutional racism are embedded in our society and in architecture. By recognising these mechanisms, we not only gain an understanding of the situation of the people affected, but also the possibility to change the conditions.