Silje Erøy Sollien

Silje Erøy Sollien is an architectural researcher (post doc.) at Vandkunsten. She is a qualified architect and holds a BA in Development Studies with Economics. Wanting to combine the social science background and a wide international network with being an architect, has led to research and a Ph.D on housing and urban development in Southern Africa. The home building practices of ordinary people, most of which takes place in the informal sector, are fundamental to an understanding of how African cities are growing.

At Vandkunsten Silje is investigating alternative housing strategies to meet current political and social challenges in Denmark. As a researcher she will carry out fieldwork in alternative housing settlements with a focus on social sustainability and architectural quality. She will also facilitate workshops with the purpose of developing utopias to critically investigate how we live today and challenge existing bureaucratic and financial frameworks in the building sector. The project is part financed by Innovationsfonden and will result in concrete proposals for new housing products for the European market.