AI-Generated Summary
vonwegenleer is an architecture collective based in Hamburg that addresses housing scarcity by converting vacant office spaces into temporary residential units.2 Founded approximately one year before mid-2025 by Leona Erdmann, Juli Sottorf, and Emma Stiehle, the collective emerged from research conducted during their Bachelor theses exploring the legal, political, and societal possibilities of temporary housing.7
The organization operates at the intersection of activism and institutional practice, using architecture as a tool to expose existing structures while creating space for alternative approaches to emerge.7 Their work is grounded in principles of care, curiosity, and spatial justice negotiated collectively.7 The collective positions itself as a response to Hamburg's acute housing crisis, which contrasts sharply with rising office vacancy rates in the city.7
vonwegenleer's activities encompass design, research, and activism focused on temporary housing solutions.7 The collective has developed projects including "Pop-Up Wohnen" and "Heute Besetzen! Handbuch" (Today Occupy! Handbook), demonstrating both practical interventions and knowledge-sharing approaches.16 Beyond housing conversion, the collective engages in community activities, including workshops and public events that invite participation in their spatial practice.1
The organization's geographic scope is primarily local to Hamburg, Germany, though their research and methodology have potential relevance for other cities facing similar housing and office vacancy challenges. By repurposing underutilized commercial real estate for residential use, vonwegenleer contributes to more efficient urban land use while addressing affordable housing shortages—key concerns within sustainable housing discourse.
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