Hip shelter: Homeless accommodation gets a face-lift

Berlin – A revamped hostel for the homeless aims to give some dignity to its downtrodden visitors. With its hip makeover, Reichtum 2 hopes to help Berlin’s homeless population, a group often conceded to the margins of society, become a recognised part of the city’s aesthetic.

Reichtum 2, or ‘wealth’, has a bright yellow and blue exterior; inside, chandeliers hang from the ceilings, and each resident has his own room. ‘I wanted to give homeless people – people who had lost everything in their life – respect and dignity back,’ the Berlin-based designer Miriam Kilali has said. Kilali raised €130,000 to finance the renovation project, and consulted with the home’s residents at each stage of work.

Aiming to give a sense of worth to those unfortunate enough to live in the homeless shelter, Kilali provides another example of the increasingly civic atmosphere in our communities.