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
In our final studio project, we're tasked with reimagining the future of housing. The challenge? Design a multiplex, including a corner store, with a keen focus on equity, quality of life, and community integration. The space will encompass areas accessible to the public, areas exclusive to residents, and individual private spaces. The project also demands attention to the surrounding landscape and urban design.
Our approach should be informed by the recent proposals from the Architects Against Housing Alienation (AAHA) in Venice. However, it's crucial we address Vancouver-specific challenges: the nuances of zoning, the 'missing middle' in housing, and the creation of comprehensive neighborhoods. Our recent site visits to co-housing and co-op projects provide insights into ownership structures and the way a building can influence and integrate with its community.
Given these parameters, how might we ensure our design resonates with both local needs and broader architectural trends?
Program / Parameters
Commercial space (public) ~100 - 200m2)
Amenity program (public) ~75 - 150m2)
6-10 units of housing (or more)
Lobby with mailboxes (semi-public)
Amenity program (semi-public)
Outdoor space (semi-public)
Refuse and recycling area (good access from lane)
Bike parking (semi-public)
2 car share spots on site (publicly accessed)
Manifesto
- Making it Clear:
- "The Continuum Care Centre redefines intergenerational living in Vancouver, bridging the gap between young and old through a carefully crafted environment that promotes shared experiences, learning, and mutual support."
- "The Continuum Care Centre redefines intergenerational living in Vancouver, bridging the gap between young and old through a carefully crafted environment that promotes shared experiences, learning, and mutual support."
- Opinionated:
- "Current urban living models often overlook the profound benefits of intergenerational interactions and fail to provide environments that adapt to the diverse needs of different life stages. Continuum confronts these shortcomings head-on, offering a blueprint for community living that is deeply integrated, sustainable, and empathetically designed."
- "Current urban living models often overlook the profound benefits of intergenerational interactions and fail to provide environments that adapt to the diverse needs of different life stages. Continuum confronts these shortcomings head-on, offering a blueprint for community living that is deeply integrated, sustainable, and empathetically designed."
- Call to Action or Plan of Action:
- "We call on urban developers, policymakers, and communities to embrace this holistic approach. By integrating educational and caregiving facilities with residential spaces, and prioritizing sensory-rich, accessible environments, we can create a more inclusive, nurturing urban landscape. It's time to invest in spaces like Continuum that value every individual’s contribution, regardless of their age."
- "We call on urban developers, policymakers, and communities to embrace this holistic approach. By integrating educational and caregiving facilities with residential spaces, and prioritizing sensory-rich, accessible environments, we can create a more inclusive, nurturing urban landscape. It's time to invest in spaces like Continuum that value every individual’s contribution, regardless of their age."
- As a Response or Reaction to What’s Missing in Vancouver:
- "Vancouver, a city known for its vibrancy and cultural diversity, yet often critiqued for its isolating urban sprawl and lack of affordable, inclusive housing solutions, now has the opportunity to lead by example. The Continuum Care Centre addresses these challenges, proposing a living solution where community engagement, environmental consciousness, and the well-being of all generations are at the forefront."
Strategies
To complement the themes and vision outlined in the manifesto for the Continuum Care Centre, several architectural and urban development strategies can be employed. These strategies allow intergenerational interaction, sustainable living, and community integration:
- Intergenerational Design:
- Develop spaces that are universally accessible and enjoyable for all ages, like wide, well-lit walkways, ramps, and elevators.
- Incorporate communal areas that encourage interaction between generations, such as shared gardens, multipurpose activity rooms, and interactive art spaces.
- Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Architecture:
- Utilize green building materials and energy-efficient systems to minimize environmental impact.
- Design with a focus on natural light, ventilation, and indoor air quality to create healthier living spaces.
- Integrate green spaces, such as rooftop gardens or vertical gardens, to promote biodiversity and connection to nature.
- Flexible and Adaptable Living Spaces:
- Create modular living units that can be easily adapted to meet the changing needs of residents, accommodating different family sizes or accessibility requirements.
- Design spaces that can serve multiple purposes, such as convertible furniture or rooms that can function both as living areas and community meeting spots.
- Community-Centric Urban Planning:
- Prioritize pedestrian-friendly and socially engaging street designs that encourage residents to interact with their environment and each other.
- Ensure the development is well-integrated with the surrounding neighborhood, offering easy access to local amenities, public transportation, and green spaces.
- Cultural & Social Inclusivity:
- Design with cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in mind, providing spaces that reflect and celebrate the diverse heritage of Vancouver.
- Facilitate social programs and activities that foster a sense of community and belonging among residents.
- Responsive Care & Educational Facilities:
- Incorporate on-site facilities for health care and lifelong learning, ensuring that residents have convenient access to essential services.
- Design these facilities to be welcoming and integrated into the larger community space, rather than isolated or institutional.
Process
Continuum
I am imagining an intergenerational exchange where both groups can learn from each other. Young children can benefit from the wisdom and patience of elders, while seniors can find renewed purpose and joy in the boundless energy and curiosity of the young. Plus, there’s this rich potential for shared stories and experiences as models to bridge the gap between generations and deepen the sense of care toward their immediate culture and location.
The idea of engaging spaces that stimulate both memory and development is equally fascinating. It's like creating a physical and emotional landscape that caters to the full spectrum of human experience. This fusion of design and function could offer a profound impact on well-being and growth.
Early childhood and later adulthood are both periods of significant transitions, aren't they?
For young children, many experiences are first and they're rapidly developing, soaking up the world like sponges. For those growing older, many experiences are last and they are rapidly declining, reflecting like mirrors holding a patina of memories.
Both groups are often learning to navigate changes in independence, and there’s this profound sense of wonder and adaptation that spans across both. It's like bookends to the narrative arc of life, with each transition holding its own challenges and beauty.
The physical environment (space) would be tailored to encourage individual and community engagement. For both children and seniors, this could mean spaces that promote learning and exploration, encourage social interaction. Thus, facilitating development and maintenance of spiritual, cognitive, and physical functions.
Above is a conceptual graph describing societal perceptions, where the value attributed to individuals can peak during their most productive adult years and decline as they move away from active participation in the workforce or the central responsibilities of family and community life. For children and seniors, societal value is often less tangibly recognized, and their contributions may be undervalued economically and sometimes culturally.
Quantifying this, however, is complex. For children, their 'value' in a utilitarian sense is often framed in terms of future potential rather than immediate economic contribution. For seniors, the perceived decline in value might be linked to their reduced presence in the workforce and assumptions about their need for care.
Speaking of care, burnout in healthcare and early childhood education is well documented and Continuum aims to address that by providing a safe, comfortable, and local residency for an educator and a nurse. The two (or more) professionals collaborate on the shape and permutations the of responses to the overlap between the two interdependent age groups.
Belonging
Children in their early years are in the process of forming their social identities, and a sense of belonging helps them to feel secure and valued. In an environment where they regularly interact with seniors, they can experience a unique form of socialization that extends beyond their immediate family and peers. It helps them develop empathy, gain diverse perspectives, and learn respect for different generations. This inclusiveness can contribute significantly to their emotional development and sense of self-worth.
For seniors, social isolation can be a significant issue, leading to feelings of loneliness and depression. A shared space with children can rekindle a sense of purpose and connection. They may feel needed and appreciated, which can enhance their sense of belonging and identity. Moreover, regular interaction with a different generation can keep their minds active and engaged, contributing to better cognitive health.
Cycles / (growing list)
Spaces at Continuum
- Shared Kitchen:
- Garden: A shared area for growing and harvesting, teaching the rhythms of life and the satisfaction of nurturing growth, while improving mental and physical health.
- Flex Space/Hall/Gymnasium: A versatile area that accommodates physical activities, gatherings, and events, adaptable to the needs of all ages for exercise, celebration, and community building.
- Café: A social hub where nutritious meals from garden produce are shared, fostering conversation and camaraderie among all generations.
- Library/Reading Room: A tranquil space filled with books and resources for learning and reflection, bridging generations through the timeless act of storytelling.
Activities at Continuum
- Mosaic Art: An exercise in creativity and cooperation, with the dual purpose of art therapy and the beautification of shared spaces, providing tangible narratives in every piece.
- 'Pleasel' Art: A novel approach to artistic expression, where the act of creating and the ephemeral nature of art are celebrated, fostering collaboration and the healthy detachment from the material aspect of art.
Integrating Spaces and Activities
- Shared Kitchen:
- The garden stands as a living classroom, not only feeding the body but also nourishing the mind and spirit of everyone involved, from the young planters to the wise harvesters.
- The flex space/hall/gymnasium offers a stage for the physical vitality of youth to intertwine with the seasoned movements of the elders, promoting health and wellness across the lifespan, during entirety of the day.
- The café presents a place for nourishment and storytelling, where the preparation and enjoyment of food become another layer of communal connection.
- The library/reading room could be a quiet alcove for intergenerational learning, where the whispers of pages turning and stories being shared weave the fabric of communal memory.
Each of these elements builds a community spirit in Continuum. It's a place where age doesn't define your worth or your ability to contribute. From toddlers to seniors, everyone adds to the health and energy of the community. It's also about looking out for each other across generations—a promise that the place nurturing your kids now will be there to support you in your golden years too. It’s a full circle, ensuring that everyone, at every stage, feels valued and secure.
Materiality + Texture
Within this environment texture and materiality aren't just details—they're the foundation of our design philosophy. A space that’s easy to navigate and inherently safe, yet offers deep connection with the environment. The tactile richness of the materials—from the inviting grain of natural wood to the cool solidity of metal—doesn't just serve an aesthetic purpose; they guide, comfort, inform, and ask.
In his essay, Hapticity and Time, Palasmaa refers to the profound interaction between materiality and experience. The choice of materials like untreated wood, textured clay, and exposed brickwork isn't merely a stylistic preference. It's a conscious decision to employ surfaces that age, that tell a story, that engage not just the eye but the entire body. The variance underfoot or at the touch of a hand becomes a subtle, yet powerful, cue for spatial orientation—especially for our younger and older residents for whom such cues are invaluable.
We recognize that an environment is 'read' by more than the eyes. It's felt, it's lived in. The Continuum is a landscape of sensory experiences that doesn't shy away from the marks of time. Instead, it integrates them, making the patina of wear a badge of community identity and belonging.
This is where safety meets sense of place. The Continuum doesn’t overpower with visual drama; it grounds with haptic comfort. Here, every material is chosen not just for longevity, but for its capacity to connect with the human spirit over time. Think of it like a sensory dialogue with the world — an antidote to isolation.
We embrace the tactility of our surroundings. Imagine trailing your hand along a rough-hewn stone wall, feeling the grain of aged wood, or the cool, smooth touch of metal. These are not mere surfaces; they're guides, they're storytellers. They bring a grounding intimacy to the space, making it not just a place to live, but a place to be alive.
Sound shapes our experience of space as much as stone and wood. In our music room, the walls themselves will be crafted to carry melodies, whether from a piano's gentle sonata or the laughter from a storytelling session. It's about creating a soundscape that echoes the rhythms of life inside these walls — a whisper, a melody, a memory.
The Centre will be a tapestry of scents. The café, with its brewing coffee and fresh-baked bread, anchors us in the comfort of the familiar, while the garden's earthy fragrance and the fire’s burning wood reminds us of the cycles of nature. These smells don't just please the nose; they stir emotions and evoke the intrinsic human connection to the Earth and each other.
Visual cues are integral to our Centre. From the thoughtful lighting that guides our circadian rhythms to the colours that change with purpose — serene blues and greens for calm, vibrant yellows and reds for energizing spaces — sight is not just about seeing, it's about perceiving and understanding.
And then there's taste, arguably the most intimate of senses. The shared kitchen and garden aren't just about consuming nutrients; they're about savouring the flavours of life. The tang of a freshly plucked tomato, the zesty herbs from the garden, the communal act of tasting — it's about the essence of sharing and growth.
Approximate Area Data
- Population: 5000
- Total private dwellings: 2000
- Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 1,500
- Total land area: 0.777km squared
- Perimeter: 3.56km
A visit to le Marche St George for inspiration
Gray’s park 2 blocks north of windsor castle
psl beam to go across the houses - shows history and layering to create strength honest materiality
something something - bring osb structure on top of stud 2x4s