Besides talking to individuals at the many visits to Mændenes Hjem we also invited to workshops. This in order to hear the needs and opinons of the users in a more official way. And to make it a two-way dialogue. For the first workshop the staff was a bit sceptical about if and how the users would participate. We placed a big table in the walk way in the billard room and placed all our materials on it. We got free coffee and cigarettes. We were all positively suprised, and it was a great victory for the time to come. Just to sit there and invite the people in proved to be a possible and efficient way of getting in contact with the users. We were there form 9 morning to 3 night – 18 hours – and slowly the users began to come, talk and discuss.
How do we make Mændenes Hjem to a better and nicer place to be? To make the ground floor of Mændenes Hjem into a nicer and better place to be we will change the common rooms. It will be renovated, painted and we will have new comfortable furniture. At the same time we will also change the rooms and the entrance. We get help from artist and designers - Thomas, Lena, Charlott, Steffen and Kenneth. They will visit us... Here you have the oppotunity to come with comments and suggestions for the renovation. E.g. What do you think about the common rooms? What do you use them for? Hvad is missing? Which ideas do you have to how it can look like? What offers and activities would you like? There will be different activities that can give ideas to "blow new life into the rooms". We would very much like to hear YOUR opinon - and look forward to seeing you. Please come and participate!
The Ground Floor at Mændenes Hjem is to be renovated and changed As you might know we are about to make the ground floor at Mændenes Hjem into a nicer and better place to be in. We will change the rooms, renovate, paint and we will have new comfortable furniture. At the same time we also move the entrance to the corner of Istedgade and Lille Istedgade. We get help from artist and designers - Thomas, Lena, Charlott, Steffen and Kenneth. They will visit us... Here you can here more about the plans for the common rooms and come with your comments and suggestions. There will be free coffee and cake. We would very much like to hear YOUR opinon - and look forward to seeing you.
The Working Proces
For the design process we made a “dogme-like” plan for the procedure. This was based on the set of values we have defined for the project. We started off by defining outer parts, e.g. walls, ceiling, floor, for then to work our way down to furniture, details and ornaments. Each of the values was then designated as important factors to one or more of the phases. Illustration in Danish below:
Research Report
Below is a research report made in Danish about the needs and aims of Mændenes Hjem:
Research on the function of the ground floor at Men's Home
Collected by Kenneth A. Balfelt in August/September 2002
‘We cannot express our friendly spirit in the current rooms’
Principal Robert Olsen
Purpose of the renovation
In general, the staff will cange place, from being in the office/reception to being in the living rooms with the users. This change, as well as a general renovation, is the main reason for the design of the new space.
Thoughts on the purpose and function of the ground floor
Contact: to connect with users, both in daily interactions and for conversations
Care: daily interaction, attention, pat on the back, socialisation, help with life.
Creating communities of souls. For example, through communal meals and shared experiences.
Meeting place where the setting is OK.
A platform for dialogue.
A contact point for moving on.
Today is characterised by institutionalisation.
The institutionalised look must die.
Create relationship building through trust.
Living room with an ulterior motive!
There must be a balance between discretion and openness. There is a lot of noise today.
It's not a home, it's about relationships.
Creating intimacy and trust Ð cosy spaces.
A break and calm from the stress and chaos of the street.
Rooms with multiple functions, today some are only used a little.
Newspaper-reading social worker Ð i.e. a helper in relaxed surroundings.
Think about the employees so that they will use the rooms.
Staff become ‘de-optimised’ when they have to stay in the rooms and no longer have their ‘boundary control’ to stay in.
Change is difficult.
Soul rooms Ð not waiting rooms for death!
Must accommodate both efficiency in social work and cosiness.
We must move from ‘surveillance’ to ‘participation’.
It is almost a political requirement that users have their own entrance.
We must motivate them to take responsibility.
The design must give responsibility for the place, and motivate them to realise that it is not a place for trade and unrest, but for contact and moving on with their lives.
MH is not a shelter.
Vision
People should look at users with respect.
Design, behaviour and norms
There are always small conflicts: how do we avoid or solve them with design? Norms help make a place work, how do we create them in a good and purposeful way? We can talk about universal values versus private necessity.
The goal of the contact centre
‘That no one should sleep on the streets of Vesterbro!’
Windows/visibility
The frosted windows mean that people from the outside can't see in, while users are not distracted by street activity when they are at MH. This applies to both ‘creditors’ (if people owe for drugs, etc.) and tourists - some employees don't want to be on display either. Drug dealers use the windows to signal that they are there and ready to sell. Users are generally very vulnerable on the street, but are guaranteed anonymity at MH.
At the same time, it signals that users should not be seen! In other words, it raises awareness of their strange and hidden role in society. There is nothing embarrassing about being an addict! Is it embarrassing to live at MH?
10-15 years ago, MH was a totally closed place. In the last 10 years, MH has become more visible in the community. Today, it goes against openness and accessibility.
Users said ‘Forget it’ when it comes to staff being in the living rooms and not having frosted windows. ‘Where are we going to shop?’
The windows are poorly insulated!
The staff
The staff at MH are perceived as incredibly committed and engaged in their work. There is a strong commitment to looking at the users' needs above all.
They have methodological freedom, i.e. they can choose how they want to achieve their goals. Therefore, they have completely different working methods and approaches. The way they work allows them to act personally-subjectively. For example, some make deals while others don't!
The users
Anyone can come to the ground floor. To become a resident, you must have another problem besides being homeless, such as addiction, mental or social problems. In addition, they must be Copenhageners.
The vast majority are drug addicts and others are drunks. 30-50% are immigrants and refugees.
To a large extent, they can't set boundaries themselves. For example, they don't say ‘I'm too stoned to sign now!’. Understanding their needs is therefore crucial in order to respect them.
What are the users' wishes for MH? What do users think about MH today?
Users' relationship with staff
Today, staff are a stress factor for users. They monitor whether they are not acting and fixing and complying with the rules. They have a control function. This is essential to change. Staff should be seen as a help to get on with life. What if the feeling was like walking into a friend's living room?
Authority/carer vs. friend
How much of everyday life do the therapists want with the users?
For example, playing football, fishing, going on a trip, creates a situation where there is a completely different ‘space’ for interaction and behaviour. You don't ‘freak out’
Autonomy and self-determination for users? Should they have their own unsupervised entrance?Should they have more responsibility?
User involvement
Should we seek to involve users in the renovation process? In what and how?It seems right to at least ask users about their assessment of the current and possible wishes and needs for a future design as well as what they want to use the spaces for.
Activities
What activities should we create a framework for? Are billiards, table tennis, football games, TV, PC and canteen what is needed today?What activities can support MH's purpose?
Clothing depot
Handing out clothes is a good way to socialise. Should it be on the ground floor instead of in the basement as it is today?
Hairdresser
Cutting a user's hair can both provide an opportunity to get the person in the shower, as well as create a dialogue that would otherwise not have been there. Lise/The contact point (full satisfaction or the hair is lost!)
The night café
This is where the most cosy moments are and where the best contact is made. The chairs are uncomfortable and directly harmful to your back. You should be able to sit in them all night. Cosiness like candles, music, games, newspaper reading, etc. How is this atmosphere and use of MH created during the day as well?
Nursing/contact point
Could have its own entrance, or be close to the café, which then has its own entrance or is close to the entrance.
Canteen
The goal of the canteen is to create calm, pause and meditative cosiness. The fact that users get to eat is incredibly important for their health and survival.‘You become more homeless when you can't get food’.The users are very conservative as they like brown gravy and potatoes.
Food/eatery is: Mum, care, security, embracing, warmth, ‘the lap of the house’.
One idea could be one large table and some smaller tables. We need to provide space for both socialising and being alone.Some people can't handle intimacy at all and very few can sit on bench together. Meanwhile, others can benefit greatly from socialising.
It takes energy to be together. Closeness is difficult. The dining situation is a good setting for socialising, connecting and learning norms for togetherness.
The canteen is used when there is no eating and sleeping!
Chairs should be able to be hung on the tables to facilitate cleaning. Alternatively, they can be lightweight so they can be turned round and placed on the table.
The counter may be too short, as the queue is sometimes longer than there is room for. Everything gets stolen by night sleepers!One idea is a men's room with chesterfield furniture for after-dinner smoking and coffee.
The entrance
We want a warm reception that radiates openness and hospitality. The feeling of sneaking in through a back entrance should go away. Airport imagery can be used, where we encounter a large open space that has air and clarity.Less claustrophobic.
Whether we should create a completely new entrance facing Istedgade, in what is currently the TV room, or refurbish the current entrance must be decided! The current entrance has potential by removing the outer gate and utilising the curved ceiling in the entrance area.
In winter, we need to prevent slush and dirt from being dragged in.
Reception/Office for staff
A reception and reflection room is needed: Reception with hotel functions, alarm, telephone, computer, etc. Whether this will be used as a control centre also needs to be decided.Reflection room to process experiences and discuss users.This should have windows facing the living rooms to maintain an overview.
Fixing
There are problems on many levels with fixing. They fixate in the living rooms, on the toilet and when sleeping at night.They cook in the living rooms - often in very awkward positions, giving a poor impression of the place.Non-addicts must be scared away.As a result, syringes are strewn all over the place Ð dangerously infectious for everyone.
As long as users have to hide their fix, there will be a gulf between them and the practitioners. The relationship will be characterised by prohibitions and pointing fingers, and not least rejection.
Should we take the consequence and establish a fix room? MH should probably take over the needle bus's function of handing out tools to drug addicts.
Trade
There is a lot of trading at MH. For example, in the morning between 8-9am when the staff are in a meeting.When the staff are present in the rooms, they can get comments like ‘what, don't you have something to do’, so they can shop undisturbed!
WC/Bathroom
Is shabby today and does not appeal to personal hygiene. Today, users must have a key from staff.This is to keep an eye on whether they OD.There are two toilets and a shower. Night sleepers pee on the floor in the canteen.
It is currently difficult to clean. For example, the WC should hang on the wall so it is easy to clean underneath.
Placement point
There is a need for a car park/location for users who need to lie down for a few hours under supervision. Typically heavy coke users or those who have not slept for several days.
Cleanliness
Everything should be easy to clean, from vomit/ice and more.
Kitchen
Kitchen functions may be needed when it is closed. E.g. for coffee, tea, and water.
There is a need for easy access to clean water, both for drinking and fixing.
Miscellaneous
Floor: We need to move away from institution-style and into a living room spiced with ‘here I can be helped further in my life’. Wooden floors can be a good and easy-to-clean solution.
Lighting: Dimmers for light dimming.
Air conditioning?
Music: radio in the canteen, music in other rooms?
Storage room: Missing, living rooms are used for this.
Piano: Move to the café instead of the canteen?
Sources of inspiration
The outpatient clinic ‘The Starling’ (Ambulatoriet “Stæren”): has communal dining at a large table followed by coffee in sofa groups. Exercise room.
De Hjemløses Hus: bright and cosy room with a large table and some smaller ones. Sofa corner. They talk together, socialise, read the newspaper, etc. Has painting equipment and easel.
Kofod School: newly refurbished
Lærkehøj, Lindevangs Alle 9: newly refurbished
Redens place out of town
Kinagrill at Central Station: divided into groups at different levels. Some can watch TV while others talk.
Sweden: Charlott will explore places in Malmo
Mændens Hjem
Lille Istedgade 2
1706 København V
Telefon 33 24 39 04
Fax 33 26 08 17
Sygepleje (Stine, Bodil, Christian): 21 67 89 32/33 26 08 16
Kontaktsted (Lise, Lars, Katrine): 29 44 27 02
E-mail: mh@hjemlos.dk
www.maendeneshjem.dk
Forstander: Robert Olsen
Mændens Hjem:
Robert Olsen: mh@hjemlos.dk, 28 43 89 43/priv. 38 79 17 16
Souschef Birgitta: bircol@sol.dk
Lars Petersen: larspe@get2net.dk
Kunstnere:
Kenneth A. Balfelt
Saxogade 5, 3.th.
1662 København V
Telefon: 33 25 00 32/26 52 66 00
E-mail: kennethbalfelt@yahoo.com
Thomas Poulsen
Vesterbrogade 112C, 2. sal
1620 København V
Telefon: 33 21 97 21/61686101
E-mail: fos@city.dk
Design/arkitektstuderende:
Steffen Nielsen
Saxogade 5, 3. th.
1662 København V
Telefon 33 25 00 32/26 74 88 58
E-mail: nielsen_steffen@hotmail.com
Charlott Karlsson:
Fšreningsgatan 12
S-211 44 Malmš
E-mail: charlott_k@hotmail.com, +46 733 38 13 54, mobil +46 40 300 668
The Values (distilled from Research): Fear is part of being in common
Fear is always there – by accepting it and making it non-tabu we will cope better.
MH is a chosen community
A vision. It is a place you “end” – but we want to give it a feeling of that you could have chosen it!
Home design over life style design
We have to sense the aestethics of the homeless and value it over our own style.
The whole society is to be accepted
Being marginalised is a “just” a societal definition. By accepting us all we can avoid the added problem of being outside because you have problems.
Being in common is the security
There are problems with violence. By building a community, violence will not be so present as a means of negotiating a position.
Power should be visible
It is wrong to hide that power is present.
Love
The belief in alternative life style
To be homeless is also a choice, and this can be looked at positively instead of problematised.
You are not insane
By accepting the individual and his position you become less insane.
Nærumsspyk polamuk / nærumsspyk polamuk
Art as a factor that understands and translates the unspoken. Also to be understood as a “space for the undefined” as an accepted mode of expression at MH.
I am not “that” person here
You have space to redefine yourself at MH.
The structure should not convincingly treat
Play down the institution and meet person to person. By being together the homeless get essential social skills and the staff learn about the homeless’ situation, and can act on facts rather than asumptions.
It is coincidence that is the building blocks
You can not understand and therefor plan and program how people work together
The social is a physical entity
The social production of social space…
No figure is whole
The power should not reject proposals
It is the individual that defines what is best for him or her.
Experimental living