Interiors of (not)dwelling: Kaiwaka House project

This study explores alternative concepts of dwelling through physical potentials of interiority. The traditional interior, conventionally perceived as a static storage of objects and traces, is challenged by contemporary conditions and subjectivities. Drawing on theories from Hilde Heynen, Beatriz Colomina, Jane Rendell and Rosi Braidotti, the paper explores how feminist nomadic subjectivities inform architectural spaces and practices. The Kaiwaka House by Peggy Deamer serves as a case study, illustrating a multifaceted approach to interiority as an assembly consisting of shelter, a platform, tents, and tanks. Kaiwaka House is studied as an example of departure from conventional notions of dwelling, offering a more flexible, adaptable architecture that accommodates diverse experiences and configurations. This study is therefore a proposal for a way of thinking about architecture that embodies the idea of (not)dwelling through feminist and nomadic perspectives. We suggest that such a perspective can generate a move beyond static interiors, fostering environments that reflect the dynamic interplay between space, subjectivity, and movement.