Jan Gerits

Jan Gerits has been part of GTAS as a PhD student since November 2023. After completing the Political Architecture: Critical Sustainability master’s program at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen, he spent three years balancing practice and research in a self-initiated project called Wohnkomplex in Krefeld, Germany.

Now at GTAS, Jan is exploring ideas around Kommune-living in the post-war German context, engaging with architectural possibilities beyond the confines of capitalism. The focus are spatial ideas and visions that emerged within the New Left in the 1960s - like: non-hierarchical organization of space, alternative ownership models and political action between private and public space.

Jan’s historical research employs forensic methods to connect past architectural and political practices with contemporary issues, seeking new models that address some of the uncountable challenges of today.