The Civic Residence

Abstract

Trust in political and democratic institutions is under pressure. Many citizens experience these systems as something distant, inaccessible, and unreliable. Yet democracy depends on participation, understanding, and dialogue. This project explores how architecture can contribute to strengthening the relationship between citizens and the democratic system through direct experience and radical inclusion.
The proposal introduces a new governmental institution based on the concept of a “democratic duty”. Once in their lifetime, every Dutch adult is invited to spend a week participating in the political process. During this stay, citizens attend lectures, workshops, debates, and voting sessions while engaging with fellow participants from across the country. The institution functions as a bridge between citizens and political representatives, imagining civic education as an immersive experience.
Located in the Binckhorst district of The Hague, close to the city’s political center, the building accommodates 6,000 participants per week. Rather than separating functions, the project combines living, learning, governing, and leisure within a single architectural system. Residents stay in private rooms while simultaneously becoming part of the democratic process.
At the heart of the building is a monumental central void. This space is made up of all the staggered residences, each equipped with a balcony that functions as a seat within the democratic system. From these balconies, residents listen to presentations and vote on current policy. The balcony features a side table with a movable chair, here the residents can take notes and use their monitor for voting and viewing presentations. Additionally, during certain moments, adjacent residents are encouraged to collaborate or discuss topics together.
Around the residences lies the “democratic city”: a network of classrooms, restaurants, and activity spaces designed to encourage discussion, collaboration, and informal encounters. The multi-purpose classroom is the group’s hangout for the week. It has space to work, gather, and take brakes. It can be used in however way the group likes the best; sitting around tables, gathering at the tribune or lounging on the couches. This approach to design reflects the democratic values of diversity, flexibility, and individual agency. The restaurant is where the residents have their meals 3 times a day. Designed with an open floor plan and with integrated circulation, the space aims to create a different yet familiar environments from the other spaces where residents spend most of their time. Several activities can be practiced as forms of bonding and creating fun memories outside of the scheduled hours.
The Civic Residence argues that architecture can play an active role in democratic education by transforming political participation into a lived spatial experience.