URBAN
IMAGINARIES
OTTAWA
Second Edition

in partnership with Project Project Collective, the second edition of Urban Imaginaries Ottawa explores the theme: ‘Financialization of housing’. Financialization of housing refers to the global phenomenon where both direct and indirect flows of capital (money) enter the housing (real estate) market for investment purposes.

within an integrated global market economy such as ours, the impact of the financialization of housing has had profound implications. For example, when housing is treated as a commodity there is a lack of access to affordable housing which is seen to have broader negative societal impacts, leading to pronounced income inequality, deepened class stratification, and unhealthy social cohesion. In Canada, there is broad consensus that Canadian house prices are overheated, with many young Canadians feeling housing is out of reach in their lifetimes, and some municipalities have declared housing emergencies, Ottawa included.

what are the impacts of the financialization of housing at a local level? How does it affect local inhabitants? What has it erased or enhanced? How have the impacts changed over time? What will the situation be in the future?

a series of activities are taking place to explore, counter-map, and reimagine the city. This includes urban walks, critical mapping, and public events to collectively reflect and discuss both the current context and possible futures.

the second edition is currently ongoing and works in collaboration with Chiara Del Gaudio (Urban Imaginaries Lab), Project Project Collective, Chiara’s Design Anthropology graduate students, and has several opportunities for community participation.