TECHNIQUES

Visiting Houses

An closing activity to honor the different people we have shared with in an intimate group process.

Written by

Carolina Neu

Edited by

Gioel Gioacchino

Developed by

Corporación Otra Escuela (Colombia)

Stages:Community Building* Reflection

This technique comes from Corporación Otra Escuela, a Colombian NGO with 25 years of experience in building cultures of peace through playful, artistic, and participatory methodologies. More information at: www.otraescuela.org.

Carolina attended their training: Theory and Creative Methodologies for Building Cultures of Peace and facilitated “Visiting Houses” at Magnify 2022 in Stromboli, Italy.

We used this exercise to close Magnify, a two-week intensive residency. The exercise served as the final space to witness and celebrate each other: after having lived, researched, and co-existed together during that time, the group used this exercise to acknowledge each other in a personal and meaningful way.

When is this technique most useful?

This is a technique used at the end of a process to recognize and name what we experienced together. It strengthens the group’s social ties and validates the collective experience. It makes visible the human impact of the process, beyond technical or research outcomes. It is recommended when the group has already spent significant time together, knows each other, and has interacted deeply. It is not suitable for groups that are just beginning.

What do I need?

A group of 10–20 people, including facilitators. A large space to set up the ‘houses’. Each house consists of two spots (one for the host and one for the visitor), so ideally each house needs two chairs, cushions, or clearly defined places. For example: if there are 10 people, you need 20 chairs. A rest corner with herbal tea and comforting elements for people who need a pause.

How long does it take?

Preparation: 20 minutes. Organize chairs or cushions and distribute them in the space. Ensure enough distance between houses. The layout should not be circular or linear. Activity: 1 to 2 hours, depending on the number of people. The key is not to rush: time is part of the design.

Preparing the space:

Place chairs or cushions in the large space. For each person, set up two spots where participants can face each others: one for the person whose home it is, and one for the visitor.

Note: Facilitators who were part of the process also have their own house and participate.

Giving instructions

"Welcome to our neighborhood! Each of you has a house. In your house, you can receive visitors, and when someone visits you, you will receive words of gratitude, shared moments, or anything they wish to express. You will receive their message without interacting, holding silence. When they are done you can thank them, in silence, and they will leave.

When you are alone in your house, you can also go visit others. You can visit as many houses as you like. You can also stay in your house. We recommend both visiting and being visited. Take your time, both to receive and to give.”

Hold the space without rushing: Allow the activity to flow at its own rhythm. After some point, facilitators can check how the group is doing and whether most people have finished. A good indicator is how many people are in the rest corner.

Grounding in my house:

Depending on how adaptable the space is, you might invite each person to arrive at their house and give it a personal touch, making it their own.

Once everyone has settled into their “houses,” you can offer a short grounding practice to invite presence. Acknowledge that it may feel uncomfortable to receive from others in silence, and gently welcome that experience. You might also invite participants to notice how they feel throughout, and to both give and receive from the heart.

Closing

At the end, thank everyone for the courage to visit and to receive in their homes. Mention that this technique comes from Corporación Otra Escuela in Colombia.

a) Benefits

A very intimate and powerful way to close a collective process.
Works for large groups (10–20 people) without losing the quality of personal exchange.
Creates a space of vulnerability and genuine sharing among participants.
Allows co-researchers to recognize each other beyond their functional roles.

b) Challenges

This exercise should not be rushed and takes its time. So allocate a full morning/afternoon and communicate the need for spaciousness clearly.
This exercise works best when the group has spent enough time together and knows each other well. So use it for closing long, shared processes.
Since you need a lot of chairs to create the ‘houses’, you may chose to adapt with cushions or other creative elements to define each house.