/ Studium / Juliane Vocke
EMBODIED HOLLIGEN: Unpacking Socio-Spatial Dynamics & Identity
Juliane Vocke | Master Thesis , 2024
This thesis explores the socio-spatial dynamics of housing cooperatives in the Holligen quarter of Bern, Switzerland, in the context of increasing demand for affordable housing. The study focuses on two housing cooperatives—Warmbächli (Holligerhof 8) and Huebergass—and their integration into the pre-existing urban and social fabric of the neighborhood. Through an ethnographic approach, it examines the intersection of political, social, and spatial developments, highlighting how housing cooperatives influence and adapt to the established community structures.
Holligen, a historically significant neighborhood undergoing substantial transformation, serves as a microcosm for understanding urban Switzerland's response to housing pressures. The study critically engages with local political debates and urban planning measures, charting how collective identities are formed and maintained in these new residential environments. The research draws upon geographic, sociological, and architectural frameworks, applying theories such as Low's concept of embodied space to assess how social interactions and spatial relationships are constructed.
Key areas of inquiry include the interaction between new and old structures, the role of public spaces like Begegnungszonen and Abstandsgrün, and the broader implications of social class struggles. The thesis aims to fill a research gap by offering localized insights into how housing cooperatives shape urban landscapes, contributing to a deeper understanding of socio-spatial integration in Switzerland’s evolving urban centers.