Under the theme of Caring City, students from Berlin schools, alongside artists and architects, explored the idea of a community-oriented city during the seventh edition of Urbane Künste ERbeLEBEN, aimed at fostering care among all living beings.
How can a city ensure that all its residents feel comfortable and safe in their diversity? What urban infrastructures or trusted spaces promote interpersonal bonds and create a sense of security?
Care encompasses any action aimed at preserving lives to ensure the best possible quality of life. The concept of a Caring City envisions a network of mutual care, focusing on the needs of all beings sharing urban space, with the goal of enhancing urban living standards. In a caring city, architectural features are considered just as important as fostering a neighborly, supportive community. Reproductive activities such as education, caregiving, upbringing, cleaning, and more are emphasized for their crucial role in social life.
While the idea of a Caring City may vary from one place to another—moving away from standardized solutions—it requires residents to be aware of both their own needs and the needs of others across cultural and generational boundaries. What would a city look like that ensures children and young people can thrive? What practices do we need to develop to empathetically address the diverse interests of all residents?
The context-specific research on the Caring City focused on several urban locations, including Bärenzwinger, Himmelbeet Garden, the ruins of the Franciscan Monastery Church, the schoolyard, Haus der Statistik, and ZK/U Center for Art and Urbanism.
The artistic outputs were exhibited at Haus der Statistik.