Mændenes Hjem (Men's Home) - outdoor environment and social employment
Created for Mændenes Hjem together with architect Greg Vendena. The project was created with the involvement of users, MH employees, neighbors, police and business owners and was built by Logik og Co.
2019-2020
Vesterbro, Copenhagen
Greening, outdoor environment and social employment
Beautification of the outdoor area of Mændenes Hjem (Men's Home)
Over the past few years, Istedgade has been decorated with more and more seating and plants to the delight and benefit of most people. But the outdoor area at Mændenes Hjem is still desolate and bare. Therefore, together with Mændenes Hjem, we have decided to beautify the area with plants and fold-down seating - by involving users, neighbors, business owners and police around Mændenes Hjem.
We have created beautiful foldable wooden furniture, high hanging hanging plant stands, a urinal (they used to urinate in the street) and poetic translations of the values from the engagement process to the place. Together, this can make it more dignified for the Men's Home users and more beautiful to look at for others. Grip is also about “wrapping the vulnerable” in something dignified and functionally meaningful, as opposed to sitting and standing on the street, which seems lawless and transgressive. The furniture can also help to relieve the congestion that sometimes occurs in front of residents' entrances.
Social employment
The courtyard behind Mændenes Hjem is a training arena for plants and people. Istedgade Green Spots collaborates with the Mændenes Hjem Employment Team to train a competent work team with green fingers who can help look after and care for the green elements in the side streets.
Therefore, under the friendly guidance of gardener Jann, users of Mændenes Hjem plant and care for beautiful, edible plants in their own yard.
When the plants have grown, they are adopted to various green spots around Istedgade - and the future city gardeners will help look after and care for them.
Together with the users of Mændenes Hjem, De Grønne Fingrer (Settlementet) and Beskæftigelsen (Mændenes Hjem) we have held three workshops:
1st workshop: Selection and purchase of organic plants at the Nature Nursery.
2nd workshop: Purchasing organic soil, seeds and beautiful, frost-proof pots.
3rd workshop: 1st planting day, where we planted apricot, kiwi and other beautiful, edible plants in well-drained and nutritious soil.
The work, planting in the farm and training took place in 2017.
