Homelesshome Project by Droog
Homelesshome Project is a social design initiative by Droog Design, developed in 2004 and realised in public space in Amsterdam. Rather than presenting design as a finished object, the project uses design as a tool to create encounters, dialogue, and shared experiences between people with and without a permanent home.
At the heart of the project is a large tent placed in a city square, functioning as a temporary, open home. Around it, a series of activities and spaces unfold, including a biological café, seating areas, workshops, and a catwalk. These elements form a setting where visitors are invited not only to observe, but to participate, meet, and exchange ideas.
One of the central components is the Piece of Home workshop, led by Tomoko Take. Here, participants design and make clothing based on patterns developed specifically for life on the move. These garments are practical, adaptable, and personal, and are later presented on the project’s catwalk, turning everyday survival strategies into acts of self-expression and visibility.
The Homelesshome Project challenges conventional notions of what a home is and who design is for. By creating a shared space rooted in creativity and participation, Droog shifts the focus from problem-solving to understanding using design to question social boundaries, dismantle stereotypes, and highlight the human stories behind the idea of “home.”
According to the artist, the best communication method is making an individualised product. It is a confirmation of the power of the imagination and the heart. In this project, the artist hopes to overcome superficial encounters, stereotypes, and social structures and conditions.
Homelesshome Project evolves around the question ‘what is home?’, in both the physical and mental form. Homelesshome Project wishes to facilitate interaction, communication, and exchange between those who have a home and those who don’t. By giving room to individual expression, the artist hopes that we rethink the role we have in society.