Omahäuser als matriarchales Erbe: Auf der Suche nach antihegemonialen Erzählungen in häuslichen Raumen

Abstract

For the longest time, the history of architecture — and thus what is preserved as cultural heritage — has been shaped and dominated by men and their values. The ongoing absence of women’s* spaces in the narrative of heritage conservation contributes to the continued reinforcement of gender stereotypes in heritage. By focusing on the homes of grandmothers — the “Oma houses” — my students and I intervene here: by identifying and interpreting female places beyond traditional art historical interpretive patterns, we critically question the dominance of male perspectives in cultural heritage. This essay examines to what extent Oma houses — their approach, methodology, and narratives — can broaden the spectrum of heritage preservation, open up alternative perspectives on what cultural heritage can be, and break up the hegemonic-patriarchal structures of the discipline.