Multi-Locality and Civic Disengagement, Munich Roommate Search

1. Multi-local living in the North: leading to a decrease of civic commitment? Nicola Hilti ETH Wohnforum ETH CASE (Centre for Research on Architecture, Society & the Built Environment) ETH Zurich Conference Multilocality in the Global South and North: Factors, features and policy implications , 18-19 September 2014, TU Dortmund

2. H omesick man from Munich looking for a room 2

3. Looking for occasional flatmate 3

4. HafenCity Hamburg: multi-locals welcome

5. Der Spiegel 13/2006 P arenting by webcam

6. P artner working away Im bored already

7. Overview Introduction and definition Three conceptual premises Some facts and figures Four types of possible interrelations of multi-local living and civic commitment Conclusions

8. a way of organizing everyday life in and between different homes. ... a socio-spatial strategy to locate oneself in and between different homes. ... a structural framework of everyday life. Multi-local living is ...

9. Between movement and mooring

10. Between presence and absence

11. Overall context of here, there and in-between

12. Multi-local living arrangements in Switzerland Project : Multi-local living arrangements in Switzerland exploring mobility in the interplay between material, social and biographical conditions (2012 2014) Funding : Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, basic research) Partners : Margrit Hugentobler and Nicola Hilti (ETH Zurich), Cdric Duchne-Lacroix (University of Basel), Helmut Schad (Hochschule Luzern) Main methods: online survey (screening of 3246 respondents, 905 multi-locals between 15 and 74 years) and photo interviews

13. Study goals Description of the extent of the phenomenon, sociodemographic data and socio-spatial form of organisations Exploration of motives, practices of everday life and subjective meanings Further development of theoretical and methodological concepts to enhance the understanding of multi-local living Differentiated description of the phenomenon Contribution to the discussion in scientific community and transfer into practice

14. Experience in multi-local living n = 3246

15. Numbers of places of residence n = 905

16. Characteristics of multi-locals Highly dependent on financial assets and income High percentage among: young people (15-29 years) and older people (60-69 years), unmarried partners or those living in a non registered partnership, students , apprentices , business owners , and retirees Other features of highly mobile groups : frequent business and air travel, internet use several times daily, frequent traveller train tickets, owners of several private cars as well as more frequently people without cars 16% of the additional residences abroad

17. Types of residences % per residence, multiple answers were possible n=889 (1), 897 (2), 279 (3)

18. Connections between the residents biographies and their home n = 900 (1), 900 (2), 283 (3)

19. Meaning of home (Heimat) n = 905 Multiple answers were possible

20. Favoured future living situation n = 912

21. Favoured place of burial Have you ever given a thought to this question? If yes: favoured place of burial? n = 944

22. Important family members nearby? n = 901 (1), 891 (2), 279 (3)

23. Important friends nearby? n = 901 (1), 893 (2), 280 (3)

24. Local support as needed? n = 899 (1), 866 (2), 274 (3)

25. Four types of interrelations Doubling civic acitivities Starting/adding new civic activities Transferring civic activities Giving up or avoiding civic activities

26. double nesters employee (37), teacher (48), child (2) flat in Lucerne flat in Chur Doubling civic activities

27. multi-functional home political consultant (63) house in Zurich chalet in Grisons Starting/adding new activities

28. away from the family forest manager (40) house in FL flat share in Zurich Transferring civic activities

29. around the world with music producer, 29 parent s house FL flat in L.A. hotel rooms ... Giving up or avoiding civic activities

30. Conclusions Multi-faceted interrelations between multi-local living and civic commitment Civic potential of multi-locals underestimated? New forms of identification with places and civic commitment ( no placeless living) But: also depending on other factors like personal orientation, values, life phase and situation (Petzold) Rigid structures vs. mobile life realities Need for more flexible structures to include temporarily present residents who are willing to engage in local communities

31. Im not here

32. Dr. Nicola Hilti hilti@arch.ethz.ch ETH Zrich ETH Wohnforum - ETH CASE www.wohnforum.arch.ethz.ch