The Economat
Looking like a traditional photobooth, this project aims to revitalise Rotterdam's homeworking network.


The Netherlands Architecture Institute collaborated with design studio Droog to create Wijkonomie Tarwewijk, an initiative aiming to revitalise social vitality in Rotterdam's residential neighbourhoods that have a hidden network of people working from home.
Among the proposed social interventions is a project by Thomas Lommée of design collective Intrastructures entitled The Economat, an interactive machine that strives to map and reveal all micro-economical activities within a specific area. The concept converts a photo booth into a space where visitors can match their headshot to one of their own personal demands or supplies. This message can then be posted online or immediately printed to hang on a nearby wall.
By creating a refreshingly playful reinterpretation of the classifieds section of your local newspaper, The Economat hopes to enrich small public spaces by encouraging social cohesion and interaction.





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