UNITE
PROF - Tania Gutierrez-Monroy & Robyn Thompson
A1 - HOW BIG IS A ROOM
25/09/23
49.26048742019998, -123.25082245950983
A1 - How Big Is A Room
A2 - How Has Housing Been Defined
A3 - Housing Next
Our two-week introductory exercise is designed to immerse us in the immediate, tangible world of 1:1 spaces, while also propelling us into the speculative "what if" explorations.
Our journey began with a morning session where we crafted life-sized drawings from the blueprints of iconic residential designs (we chose the NEXT21 in Osaka by Utida Architects). This hands-on approach meant that we engaged intimately with the living spaces, refreshing our grasp of concepts such as scale and drafting techniques. As we transitioned into the second phase of our project, we were encouraged to produce a short film. This creative endeavor represented our speculation on the future shapes and functions derived from the domestic blueprints we sketched at full scale.
Process
NEXT21, a pioneering urban housing initiative, involves units uniquely crafted by 13 architects, unified through coherent design rules. This architectural feat boasts an innovative structure that simplifies utility distribution and accommodates efficient, in-unit renovations with minimal disruption. Each building subsystem — from the frame and cladding to interiors and mechanical facets — is designed for easy maintenance, upgrades, and individual lifecycle management. The project stands as a testament to adaptive urban living, with ongoing renovations emphasizing energy efficiency and lifestyle flexibility. NEXT21's evolving nature is further highlighted by its experimental approach and the anticipated inclusion of new residents, positioning it as a model for sustainable urban housing futures.
Objectives of Planning Committee: [source]
• using resources more effectively through systemized construction
• creating a variety of residential units to accommodate varying households
• introducing substantial natural greenery throughout a high-rise structure
• creating a wildlife habitat within urban multi-family housing
• treating everyday waste and drainage onsite within the building
• minimizing the building's compound burden on the environment
• using energy efficiently by means including fuel cells
• making a more comfortable life possible without increasing energy consumption
Inspired by objectives of the project planners and architects I began wondering how and if that could be possible in a different time and a different space.
I was intruiged by the concrete skeleton of the building structure and thought of ways to push the modularity further to allow for more agency to be in the hands of the users.
What if the ground was perferated and the inhabitant was given free reign to insert rods vertically and horizontaly to partition the space to their needs? Fabrics designed for acoustic, visual, or other sensory modulation could be acquired or even processed within the building itself...
Then I thought about the columns of the building. And the objectives regarding natural greenery and wildlife kept pulsing their way with increasing intensity. So, I explored the idea of living in the wild and applying the power of trees to balance the community shelter rather than steel or concrete.
At one point I thought how strange it was that we felled a bunch of trees to clear the land, and then used lumber from a similar tree to build a home there. What if the tree and us could share a home. I came across a wonderful sentiment about trees from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer that read: “The trees act not as individuals, but somehow as a collective. Exactly how they do this, we don’t yet know. But what we see is the power of unity. What happens to one happens to us all. We can starve together or feast together.”
The word unity really struck a chord with me and I wanted to explore that and the idea of co-emergence and harmony further.