Sick Building Syndrome

"Assessing the health of living spaces in the Netherlands often focuses solely on physical criteria like indoor air quality, overlooking the deeper implications of their construction using resources from colonial territories. However, these buildings from the 1700s and 1800s embody values rooted in a colonial legacy, despite decolonial perspectives revealing the Netherlands’ ‘Golden Age’ as a period of plunder and violence.
An installation highlights the interconnectedness of these facades with some of the neglected buildings from the former Dutch colony of Suriname. It highlights how the preserved wealth harvested from colonised territories, alongside the historical violence and neglect, now contribute to the climate crisis.
The project points to the importance of assessing the health of living space through a broader lens than only material origins, production methods, associated costs, and environmental impacts. Importantly, society must consider the mental and ethical implications for inhabitants living in houses built through colonialism."