The National Public Housing Museum is Set to Preserve American History
Justin Lam — January 29, 2018 — Social Good
References: nphm.org & fastcompany
Chicago recently announced the restoration of a public housing building as the new home of the National Public Housing Museum. Set to open in 2019, the museum will be situated in the city's Near West Side in a building formerly used as public housing. The goal of the museum is to preserve and tell the stories of public housing residents, as well as save the space that once housed many people. Current work on the building is being done to restore the space, as it was previously abandoned and suffered weather damage.
The idea behind the National Public Housing Museum came from the Tenement Museum in New York. In a similar fashion, the Tenement Museum told the stories and recreated the lives of those lives who once lived in project housing. The National Public Housing Museum will feature three restored apartments, each detailing the lives of previous residents from different times and cultural groups, and will feature galleries exploring the debates around public housing. The museum will be a cooperative effort owned equally and maintained by public housing residents.
The idea behind the National Public Housing Museum came from the Tenement Museum in New York. In a similar fashion, the Tenement Museum told the stories and recreated the lives of those lives who once lived in project housing. The National Public Housing Museum will feature three restored apartments, each detailing the lives of previous residents from different times and cultural groups, and will feature galleries exploring the debates around public housing. The museum will be a cooperative effort owned equally and maintained by public housing residents.
Trend Themes
1. Preserving Public Housing History - The National Public Housing Museum aims to preserve and tell the stories of public housing residents, providing an opportunity for other museums to explore similar initiatives.
2. Restoring Abandoned Spaces - The restoration of public housing buildings into museums presents a disruption opportunity in the field of architecture and urban development, offering alternative uses for vacant structures.
3. Community-owned Museums - The cooperative ownership and maintenance model of the National Public Housing Museum introduces a new approach to museum management, potentially inspiring community-centered ventures in other industries.
Industry Implications
1. Museums - The National Public Housing Museum sets a precedent for museums focusing on specific social issues, such as public housing, which have the potential to impact how museums address cultural heritage.
2. Architecture and Urban Development - The restoration of public housing buildings into museums provides an opportunity for disruptive innovation in urban revitalization, transforming abandoned spaces in meaningful ways.
3. Community and Non-profit Organizations - The cooperative ownership model of the National Public Housing Museum can inspire community-led initiatives in various industries beyond museums, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.
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