Kristina Petrauskaite - Master of Architecture - Growing House

Kristina Petrauskaite Growing house House for aging together kristina_petrauskaite@hotmail.com

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2015-2016

Architecture

Kristina Petrauskaite Growing house House for aging together

This project is an endeavour to propose a solution for the accommodation problems of elderly citizens. The project aims to improve the housing and well-being of the elderly. The ‘Growing house’ project introduces concepts and ways to use collective spaces for increasing interaction and collaboration between, as well as the quality of life of, its inhabitants. The combined use of nature, light and materials make it possible to merge private and public life, so that inhabitants get the best out of both spheres. The mixture of private and public programmes within the building allows elderly people with limited mobility to experience the richness of social urban life. The project gives a new lease of life to an old historical building located in the Amsterdam city centre by using novel materials and spacial concepts, as well as integrating public, private and in-between spaces. The building consists of courtyards, greenery, internal streets and flexible spaces that create a diverse environment for its residents.

The idea of living together and helping each other has been around since time immemorial.

Today’s society has become centered around individual needs and people are less aware of their surroundings. Human connection is gradually disappearing. Knowledge, experience and traditions can’t be passed down if these connections are lost. In order to create a sustainable community lifestyle, connecting people with like-minded and shared values is necessary. This project takes advantage of the ‘living in community’ concept to develop solutions to connect various generations.

The ‘Growing house’ is a place where young and old with same interests live together, help each other, complete each other, exchange ideas and connect through art, nature and architecture. In this house, people have chance to grow and age together.

Use of different materials, light and shapes creates various atmospheres, even in the very same room. The combination of these architectural elements helps to create spaces for collective activities, while taking privacy into consideration. The choice of the materials is inspired by the context of the old building, former artists working at the location and novel ecological materials (mycelium). The ‘Growing house’ never dies. Using different materials, which can be recycled, reused or degraded in different conditions transforms the house every day, every season and every year. The house changes the people as people change the house.

Living and studying in Amsterdam made me think of ageing generation problems. The rapidly increasing elderly population in Amsterdam and their social isolation, the changing economy and the inadequate healthcare system have made the future for old people even more insecure. Growing up in a collective environment encouraged me to promote the idea of community living. We are the future elderly. The way our generation is going to age will be different. In order to achieve a better quality of life, we need to start preparing and changing now. We should rethink how we want to age?

The ‘Growing house’ will be for seven people. It will contain five private units, collective and public spaces. Housing units will shrink to the minimum size and will provide sleeping spaces and showers. Each private unit is connected to the outdoor space with a view to ensuring people do not feel locked up. The laundry room, kitchen, dining and living rooms will move to collective/sharing spaces. Multifunctional spaces can be used for daycare, sports, small events, workshops or as a big living space for residents and their guests. Workplaces, libraries and personal spaces will be created in the building so inhabitats are provided with rooms that fit their needs. This will be merged with an art workshop next to the house. It will include workshops, guest bedrooms, storage spaces, a gallery and a museum.

Graduation date 17 02 2016

Commission members Jan-Richard Kikkert Lada Hršak Rene Heijne

Additional members for the examination Gus Tielens Floor Arons

00

Kristina Petrauskaite

SECTIONS D-C-B-E

SECTIONS D-C-B-E

Floor plan 00

Section C-C

Section E-E

MATERIAL TESTS Architecture

INSPIRATION TO REUSE MATERIALS

MATERIAL TES

HOUSE FOR 7 IN THE URBAN SURROUNDINGS

MATERIAL TESTS

INSPIRATION TO REUSE M

MATERIAL TESTS INSPIRATION TO REUSE MATERIALS

INSPIRATION TO REUSE MATERIALS

Location - Amsterdam city centre

Material test 1

Situation - inside of the urban block

MATERIAL MATERIAL TESTSTESTS

MATERIAL TESTS

INSPIRA MATERIALS INSPIRATION TO TION REUSETO MAREUSE TERIALS

INSPIRATION TO REUSE MATERIALS

Material test 2

Material test 3

ROOF TOP SECTIONS A-F-1-2

FLOOR PLAN 01

Material test 5

Floor plan +01

Material test 6

Material test 4

Material test 7

Roof top

Material test 8

Kristina Petrauskaite

Semi-public hairdressing salon and greenhouse

VIEWSEMI PUBLIC HAIRDRESSER SPACE AND GREENHOUSE

Workshop

WORKSHOP

Entrance zone

ENTRANCE ZONE

Architecture

Entrance to the block ENTRANCE TO THE BLOCK

Bathroom visualization

BATHROOM VISUALIZATION

Collective space

Model picture

Model picture

Kristina Petrauskaite

Model picture

Model picture

Model picture

Model picture

Model picture

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Architect, Master of Science Urbanist, Master of Science Landscape Architect, Master of Science

With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof.

Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline.

The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design

projects form the backbone of the syllabus.

On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills.

The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects.

The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation.

During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors.

Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.

Architecture

Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals.

There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation.