Architectural Design Thesis- Welsh School of Architecture- Chenxi Zeng by Chenxi Zeng

ART704-19-20-UNIT D DESIGN THESIS PORTFOLIO CHENXI ZENG C1551696

CONTENTS Abstract, Introduction and Methodlogy

Group Collective Work

4-5

Literature Review- Introduction of Precedent Study in Phnom Penh

6-7

Case Study Analysis Literature review- Discovering Research Gap and Defining Research Question

8-12 13

Methodlogy of Market Investigation

14-15

Exploring Current Commoning Practice

16-18

Design concepts- Proposing in Urban Level and Archeology Route

Framework- Commons in Nuovo Mercato Esquilino and New Proposed Relationship

Project Developing Process-Master Planning

Project Design in Architectural Level- Market Regeneration Process

Design Proposal Evolution- Community Hub

Project Design in Architectural Level- Plans

24-25

Material proposal- Juxtaposition of New and Old

Visualization of Material Proposal and Heritage Interaction Strategy

Public Sqare Visualization

Architecture Tectonic Proposal and Sections

29-30

Visualization

31-34

Abstract

Methodology

The discussion of urban commons gained popularity in last decades under the background of rise of population and therefore the struggle for urban resources. The concept of commons originally derived from the rural experience of shared natural resources including fishing grounds, water, and so on. The concept also been applied to other areas of human production and reproduction (Hess 2008). To be more specific, the term of commons also addresses collective governance mechanisms such as knowledge, forms of organization, time and so on. Traditional market in this design research project has been treated as one of the most significant places of where commoning practice taking place.

The methodology applied to this design research project can be separated into two parts. The first part is about research of urban commons based on literature review and site study. The second part is proposing a market regeneration project in response to the research outcome in first part.

Precedent: Investgiation in Phnom Penh

Key word: urban commons, commoning practice, street vending, traditional markets, market regeneration, gentrification

Literature Review

Precedents studies and analysis Academic readings and information extraction

Initial investgiation in urban commons of informal settlements Explorations in market regeneration and gentrifiaction Academic proof of any assumption and deeper research

Methodology Research gap and research question

Intruduction This dissertation is focusing on commons within the urban environment around and in Nuovo Mercato Esquilino, Rome, Italy. Phase one of the project focused on a short investigation of commons in Phnom Penh and question what kind of socio-spatial strategy could empower the current commoning practice. The second phase focused on commons in Rome and using the market regeneration project and community hub project as a reflection on the significance and challenges of producing and maintaining urban environments and the tension between openness and exclusion. The project questions what commoning practice could promote a common use of urban resources through the research and design process and answers the research question of what kind of role do traditional market play in resisting gentrification process.

Architectural Design

Research through analysis Group work+ individual analysis

Reflect through similarities and differences

Inspiration and Comparison

Reflections on literature review

Concepts and design movements

Design proposal

Tectonic approach- feasibility

The process of literature review could be separated into three parts. The first part is to research commons in White Building and street vending in Phnom Penh, analyzing the relationships between stakeholders and common resources. This can be treated as an introduction of understandings of common resources, commoning practices and commoners who are involved in the production and reproduction of commons. This process started from a group collective work on researching commons in Phnom Penh and analyzing commons and resources in a framework table. The second part is researching and analyzing precedents about street vending reallocation, traditional market transformation and market regeneration. In this stage, the commons between street vending and traditional market has also been explored to explain the logic behind the transforming focus of the two domains. The last part is exploring research gaps and research questions by combining all the previous precedents research and information extracted from various literature readings on topics of traditional market regeneration, urban commons and gentrification.

A comparative investigation across north and south

Phase one Short investigation in Phnom Penh

Spatial strategy for street vending

Phase two Main Investigation in Rome Design research project and reflection Individual project

The second part of the methodology used in the design process started from a spatial strategy for street vending and using it as a design precedent for the later market project. Then the reflection on literature review and design question by delivering the design concepts and evolution diagram. Finally, combined with all the previous studies, the design provides a market regeneration and community hub proposal in response to issues and aiming at answering the research question. 3

Group Collective Work

The group collective works are the prior stage of each learning phase, aiming at investigating comparatively between two different contexts by using a same methodlogy- framework and map. The map of commons in each city aimed at exploring common resources, both in informal section and formal section. Framework of commons listed sites, type of site, stakeholders, commoning practice, common resource, benefited people and excluded people. Studies in Phnom Penh were based on secondary resource while studies in Rome were based on primary resource (field trip) and secondary resource.

Group Collective Work

Literature review- Introduction of precedent study in Phnom Penh

Common resource

Commoning practice

People get benefits

People do not get benefits

In the case of street vending, street vendors are vulnerable groups in a grey section in the market, suffer from threats and evictions from police, market authorities, householders and tax collectors. However, street vending as a kind of informal activities are essential in the everyday life within the poor communities. It is also valueable from tourist perspectives as it represents the most authentic food of a country.

The research study began with looking into informal settlements in Phnom Penh, Combodia. Started with the White Builidng, street vending and then moved to traditional markets in Rome. The understandings of commoning practice were enhanced by exploring the relationships between stakeholders in the White Building and street vending. Started from looking for informal settlements and the commoning practice (common activities) in this two cases, therefore analysing the involved stakeholders and common resource they share. Finially, by analysing the benefits and drawbacks that stakeholders get from specific commoning practice, the ambivalence can be found.

The investigation in Phnom Penh has been treated as a precedent for later design project in Rome as it guided the methodlogy of how to analysis commoniong practice. It also pointed out the ambivalence within informal trading context and gave a guidence to later analysis of stakeholders in market project .

Case Study analysis- Street vending- Informal appropriation and typology analysis

Providing basic facilities is key to improve hygine

Avo i d i n g a h o m o ge n o u s program for a specific group

Variety of vendors, products attract a broader audience

Design should be flexible to accommodate the varied needs of different types of vendors

Customers enjoy the shopping and social interaction found in most vibrant public markets

Flexibility and temporality for street vendors should be integrated in the design concept

I n fo r m a l i t y + fo r m a l i t y = CHALLENGE Educational institution encourges street vendors to offer more quality and grow as a sustainable business

Triggering a new type of community engagement

Analysing commons in street vending in Phnom Penh includes the process of locating the areas of vendors on streets and the neighborhood they tend to stay. These areas includes schools and large markets, featured with large amount of visitors and students, which are two of the main cosumers. According to the typology study of street vending, it showed that vendors are extremely varied in Phnom Penh. They ranged from fruits to cooked food and from mobile trading to stationary trading. The flexibility and diversification are two attractive features for cosumers and they are the two of the most focused points of vendors reallocation projects.

Ro o m fo r s o c i o - c u l t u ra l exchange

Cases of the street vendor center Feta Nature Architecture

Cases of the street vending in Jakarta Esti Tichelaar

Case of the Senegal City Market project

Case study analysis- Exploring Connections between Market Regeneration Cases

Research topic transformation- from street vending to traditional market Street vending as a typical informal practice is common to see in Phnom Penh, however, the amount of street vendors in Rome is relatively small. Thus, there is need to explore new but related commoning practice in trading domain in order to do further research in commoning practice. Traditional market as a type of public trading space attract similar audience and serve the similar function. Commons between three London market regeneration cases Threats: Consumption patterns (raise of Internet) Against the abandonment, disinvestment, threat of demolition or displacement and evictions Similarities: Affordability and variety Flexibility Employment Generate a substanial amount of money to families Social cohesion Tourists attraction Multi-ethnic, social identification Act as meeting places and lcoations for social exchanges, for learning about food and for engaging in the commuinity.

Comparisons between markets and street vending Traditioinal markets

Street vending

Formal/ Informal Multi-ethnic communities Poorest and most vulnerable communities Developed country (Mainly)

Informal Poorest and most vulnerable communities Developing country (Mainly)

Case study analysis- Leeds Kirkgate Market- Analysing Gentrification Process in Traditional Market Location

Background

Proposed Development Core shopping area Leeds Kirkgate Market

Kirkgate Market occupies a strategic and critical place in the center of the city. It lies opposite the regenerated and pedestrianized Core Shopping Quarte. Directly across the road stands the Victoria Quarter, a luxury shopping arcade, home to the first branch of the expensive department store. Currently the market hosts around 400 businesses and provides over 2000 jobs, about 22% of retail employees in the city center.

1857 Leeds Kirkgate Market became the largest indoor market in Europe

December 1975 Fire destoryed 2/3 of the market

1976 and 1981 New halls were opened Financial preesure came the traders

Construction of two new buildings of low quality Issues of disinvestment Owner: city council- Private developers

2002 Established traders out of business

April 2010 Friends of Leeds Kirkgate Market (FOLKM) Improve but retain the character of the market Retain affordability, diversity and involvement of traders and members of the public

A shift to redefine the market as an asset in need of commercial revalorization rather than a public service

Process of transformation 1. Council strategy: attracting traders selling higher value added goods, which taken together means that there is a potential shift or at least desired shift for a different kind of trader

Kirkgate Market footfall since 2006 (source: Leeds City Council, 2010b (FOI request REF 4600))

2. Broken relationships between traders and the market management

2006 The number of people coming into the market (footfall) has been in decline since 2006. There is strong evidence to suggest that the customer base is in a large part made up of poor residents in Leeds. 2007 A process of gentrification of this area started when the independent traders of one of the most loved and few alternative spaces in Leeds, the Corn Exchange, were evicted by their landlord. The building subsequently lay empty for about 2 years until new more upmarket occupiers started to move in, paying much higher rents. Kirkgate Market stands out as a rundown building which does not necessarily attract the sleek, young, pin-striped city dwellers and professionals.

3. Neglect and mismanagement of Kirkgate Market

4. Poor state of the market buildings Years of disinvestment Percentage of empty stalls by different areas/halls of Kirkgate Market (source: Leeds City Council, 2011c)

Inferences for my project Catalyst of gentrification Transformation between Council and private developers Regeneration projects around market Disinvestment Loss of traditional character Rise of rent Loss of old traders Main exclusive stakeholders in the process(get drawbacks) Poor groups of people Main anti-gentrification stakeholder Grassroot organization

5. A rent review that put many established traders out of business

The number of empty stalls has increased since 2005. Those data means the market shifts from being the place for basic everyday shopping to an occasional destination.

6. “Rent gap”

7. Proposed regeneration projects on alternate sides of the market

8. “Worse rent gap” 9

Grassroot organizations concern about poor groups of people's benefits. The establishment of these organizations help with limiting the process of gentrification by gathering the opinions of vulnerable groups and retaining the attractive characteristics of traditional markets.

Case study analysis- La Boqueria Market- Analysing Gentrification Process in Traditional Market

Local residents oriented

Tourists oriented

Literature evidence

Adoptation risk

Dimitrovski, D. and Crespi Vallbona, M. (2018) ‘Urban food markets in the context of a tourist attraction– La Boqueria market in Barcelona, Spain’, Tourism Geographies. Taylor & Francis, 20(3), pp. 397–417.

Regeneration process Food markets become touristified markets

Adoptation target

Crespi-Vallbona, M., Domínguez Pérez, M. and Miró, O. M. (2019) ‘Urban food markets and their sustainability: the compatibility of traditional and tourist uses’, Current Issues in Tourism. Taylor & Francis, 22(14), pp. 1723–1743.

Adoptation rmovements

Coletti, R. and Rabbiosi, C. (2020) ‘Neighbourhood branding and urban regeneration: performing the “right to the brand” in Casilino, Rome’, Urban Research & Practice. Routledge, 00(00), pp. 1–22.

Non-disappearance of traditional stalls (the attractive base for tourists), facilitating adaptation and reinvention of the business to new consumers, without forgetting the traditional users.

Readyfood Butchers and nut shops: tasting as the emblem tripe and offal stalls: readymade dishes Fruits stalls: juice and sliced fruits

Merged functions Market

Multi-functions of markets Cultural activities, gourmet cooking courses and workshops for both residents and visitors.

Plaza

Ambivalence

Resident perspective: congestion in the aisles, the exceeding of carrying capacity, and the price increase of goods

Solution

To ensure social coexistence between local and tourist visitors, the local government approved a decree limiting visits by organized groups of tourists

Market features: Reflection

Antiquity Immigrant traders Location: its proximity to the main attractions of the city

Food markets have to be authentic, genuine and local. Food plays an important role in everyday activities local identity

Case study analysis- Community Food Market in Baza, Spain- Analysing Market Regeneration Project

Flexibility- Transformation during seasons: The market area is kept heated in winter, and is opened when the warmer weather arrives, allowing the sale on both sides of the building. In this way, the square and the market are merged.

Plaza- Public space C o m m u n i t y f o o d m a r ke t a i m s a t becoming a perfect opportunity to reactivate the historic centre which was until now immersed in the problem of depopulation due to the progressive deterioration of commercial activity in this area. Similarities: Adaptation to new needs of the city, integration in the protected urban environment

Historical quarter of Baza Historical sites

Considering the new adaption to local environment and requirement, there is needs to take actions of transforming the old market to a multi-functional space. The idea of merging public space and market is crucial to generating new activities and users, integrating the building and strengthening the current urban grid.

Merging

Public space/ Plaza

Reflection:

Market

It is also important to manifest the hidden virtues of the original building, adapt it to the needs of the 21st century, and take care of the materiality when placed in a protected environment.

Community market

Functional division: Covered public square Market area, Youth centre 11

Case study analysis- Analysing Precedents of Architecture Built Heritage- Interaction Strategy

Aqueduct- Nuovo Mercato Esquilino

Types of interaction strategies 2

Immersion

New Old

Insertion Adhesion

Archeology reactivate strategy Absorbing the archnology element of the aqueduct and adapting them to the new construction while preserving the old structure. 1. Kalø Tower Visitor Access New Construction

2. Baena Castle Restoration Volumetric Reconstruction

3. Pombal Castle's Visitor Centre Peservation of Ruins

‘Touch’ ‘Culture and Nature’ ‘levitate’

‘Restoration’ ‘consolidation and enhancement ’

‘Collective memory’ re-enact’

Adaptive reuse- involve a new co n st r u c t i o n to h o st a d d i t i o n a l A new layer is added that recovers the functions that do not serve themselves original volumes- Sandstone blocks to a historic structure Wood material- provides a warm and friendly character to the monument, Visitors can enter and climb the main establishing a functional continuity space of the tower, perceive the between the interior and exterior archaeological layers and view the spaces. landscape.

The project re-enacts the spatial experience of the castle as a device to exert control over the landscape Material-limestone A spatial device inspired by the tectonics of the castle's stone masonry, a conspicuous new addition to the existing built structures.

These cases indicate three types of interaction strategies. New structures u s u a l l y b e i n s e r te d o r added to old structures without demolishment or damage. All of them showed respect to the original structures and did not take the dominant role of them. Match of material is also crucial in the subject of architecture b u i l t h e r i ta ge s i n c e i t requires higher needs of harmonious atmosphere.

Inferences for my project The interaction of space strategy between the market, community hub and the archnology structure is crucial in providing vistors enriched experience of archaeological layers. The Insertion of the new structure should not take the priority of the aqueduct and there is needs to consider the visual relationship between architectural elements. It is also important to focus on emphasizing the value of the heritage and the potential impacts on the local community.

Literature review- Discovering research gap and defining research question Main related literature Urban food markets in the context of a tourist attraction – La Boqueria market in Barcelona, Spain

Topics in market regeneration and gentrification Traditional market protection Threats

Urban food markets and their sustainability: the compatibility of traditional and tourist uses

Decline Struggles

Neighbourhood branding and urban regeneration: performing the ‘right to the brand’ in Casilino, Rome Market Failure?: Can the traditional market survive? Communities and Local Government Committee Resisting retail gentrification in traditional public markets in London

Actions

Tourism sustainability

Market investigation

Traditional Retail Markets: The New Gentrification Frontier? Va n c o u v e r ’s C h i n a t o w n N i g h t M a r k e t : Gentrification and the Perception of Chinatown as a Form of Revitalization

Traditional market protection Threats Decline Struggles Actions

Gentrification transformation

Research gap

Gentrification resisting Grassroots movements

Impacts

Gentrification Coletti, R. and Rabbiosi, C. (2020) ‘Neighbourhood branding and urban regeneration: performing the “right to the brand” in Casilino, Rome’, Urban Research & Practice. Routledge

Ambivalence

Community

Research gap The relationship between grass root groups of people and traditional market is a part of the research gap. The various forms of how people resist retail gentrification remain understudied according to the overlapped diagram above.

Literature related to my research project can be categorized into four main topicstraditional market protection, sustainability, market investigation and gentrification transformation. Connections between informal traders and traditional market can be further confirmed in this process. According to Dawson (2015), there is a lot of work discussing street and informal traders' struggles from central urban areas and their resistance to gentrification. Milián and Flores (2016) also document the mobilisation of traders when they were displaced during market regeneration. Displacement happened to informal traders as well as traditional market during the process of urban retail gentrification.

Gentrification transformation Touristification Revitalization Tourists oriented

Inferences for my project By categorizing those topics into the overlapping diagram, the research gap has been exposed. Most literature discussed topics relate to traditional market regeneration and impacts of gentrification phenomenon. Even though gentrification is the main object of many academic discussions and expanding debates, resistance to it by residents and community groups is barely mentioned.

Touristification

Dimitrovski, D. and Crespi Vallbona, M. (2018) ‘Urban food markets in the context of a tourist attraction–La Boqueria market in Barcelona, Spain’, Tourism Geographies. Taylor & Francis

Touristification Revitalization

Traditional market

Grassroots movements

Tourists oriented Exploring the Impacts of Gentrified Traditional Retail Markets in Lisbon in Local Neighbourhoods

Regeneration design

González, S. D. G. (2018) ‘Resisting gentrification in traditional public m a r ke t s : L e s s o n s f ro m L o n d o n ’, Contested Markets Contested Cities. Gentrification and urban justice in retail spaces, pp. 54–71.

Sustainability

Neighbourhoods Resisting gentrification in traditional public markets: Lessons from London

Gonzalez, S. and Dawson, G. (2015) ‘ Re s i st i n g reta i l ge nt r i f i cat i o n i n traditional public markets in London’, From Contested Cities to Global Urban Justice.

Market investigation Neighbourhoods Community

Research question

Communities and Local and Government Committee (2009) ‘Market Failure?: Can the traditional market survive? Communities and Local Government Committee’, (July)

1. What role do grassroots people play in helping traditional markets in resisting/ limiting the process of urban gentrification process?

Guimarães, P. (2019) ‘Exploring the i m p a c t s o f ge nt r i f i e d t ra d i t i o n a l re ta i l m a r ke t s i n L i s b o n i n L o ca l Neighbourhoods’, Social Sciences

2. What role do traditional markets play in resisting/ limiting the process of urban gentrification process?

Methodlogy of market investigation- Analysing Ethnic Diversity from Primary Sources

Investigation of multi-ethnic diversity Seafood Grocery Meat Variety Vegetables and fruits Italy China

Philippines

1. Chinese characters in a meat shop ran by Egyptian, Italian and philippinese people

North Africa

2. Annocement in 4 languages

Latin America

3. Muslim pray after one day work

Mix

4. Mix of Chinese and italiano

South Asia

Worker is the owner Owner hired workers Informally sold license to workers

Door use frequency

5. Chinese and Arabic 6. Latin America posters 7. East Asian products in a Bengalese stall 8. Gypsy black market

In/ Out (10 mins) No.1 No.2 No.3 No.4 No.5 No.6 No.7 No.8 No.9 No.10 No.11 No.12

42/30 11/15 20/21 6/13 4/ 16 4/9 20/5 5/14 19/ 10 13/ 9 5/13 14/13

Analysis methodology Studies inside and outside the New Esquilino Market were investigated by gathering primary sources through site visiting. Studies focused on researching the types of traders and consumers as well as their behaviors. By speculating from stall names and asking the ethnicity of traders and customers, this map illustrated that this market is featured with highly diversed multi-ethnic groups of consumers and traders from local Italians to migrated Philippines. The site visit also included investigation around the market, focusing on the facilities and circulation route. Door use frequency is counted by recording people entering and exiting doors in every 10 mins, and this can tell which door has been used the most frequently and which road is the most occupied road. This helps with proposing the new entrances in regenerated design project.

1:500 Market plan 14

Methodlogy of market investigation- Analysing Gentrification Process through Human Behaviour and Observations from Primary Sources Questionaire

Observation methods Counting Mapping Tracing Lines of movement on a plan Tracking Follow people-shadowing Photographing Recording Test walks Notice problems and potenials for city life on a given route

Analysis methodology To study the extent of gentrification in New Esquilino Market and the neighbourhood, it is important to understand people's behavior and to what extent that they have been affected by the gentrified urban context. Previous studies in Kirkgate Market mentioned that the displacement of traders and unemployment evidenced the gentrification process. Analysis in La Boqueria Market provides evidences which can help estimating the level of gentrif ication. Under this context, studying human behavior and understanding the transformations happened in this market become a crucial topic to analysis the gentrification level. In this stage, there is need to make a detailed plan, aiming at exploring users' pattern, behaviors and transformations. Gehl and Svarre (2014) addressed a systematic method to ask questions in five categories. Furthermore, they also described various tools for direct observations. The table above listed questions related to the three topics from five perspectives and the diagram showed various tools have been used for observing users' pattern, behaviors and interactions. Some answers can be obtained by direct observations, some can only be obtained by asking people.

Type 1 Trading

According to the investigation, most traders remained in New Esquilino Market were from the old displaced market. Though some buildings were regenerated around New Esquilino Market, the 12year leasing contract limited the flexibility of mobility to some extent. From questionnaires, most traders disagree that the regenerated projects have impacts on their business since they attract different audience. Poor and multi-ethnic groups are still the majority users which means this market has not been gentrified much.

11:55 AM 40 year-old south Asian male Vegetables 2 mins In and out 12:03 PM Two 40 year-old Italian male together Fish, seperated in Box 104 15 mins chatted with fish shop staff

Type 2 Gathering

12:24 PM 30 year-old Chinese female Looked around Stayed in Box 131 for fish, met another Chinese female, chatted Box 114-Vegetables and fruits Box 115-Garlics---Box 128Chinese shop chatted for 10 mins

Exploring Current Commoning Practice Rome Chinatown shops typology

Informal appropriation of public space

Mercato Centrale Roma- 2016 Regeneration mission: Reviving historic areas of a city left deserted for many years and bringing people back to highly important and vibrant places that were left abandoned Culture envents: Hosting many free and public events and cultural presentations dedicated to culture, music, art and science

Piazza Vittorio Market- started from the end of 19th century

Nuovo Mercato Esquilino (Ex Piazza Vittorio)

Following the restructuring of the square and the surrounding spaces which began in the 1980s , a new c o v e r e d m a r ke t c a l l e d " N u o v o Esquilino. market"

Coverted in 2001 from Piazza Vittorio Market Commons: A place reflects the multiethnic characteristics, people learned to live together and to share

ReFoodgees Commons: ReFoodgees, an association formed mostly by migrants and asylum seekers that fights food waste through integration, solidarity and exchange between cultures.

Commons: "Diversity life element" Art work on the market's external walls C o m m o n s : A s s o c i a t i o n Re s p i r o Verde(Green breath) T h e a s s o c i at i o n i s a n i m ate d b y Massimo Liviadotti and Cristiana Pristy and many other tree lovers. Managing a garden, exchange of plants, save those which have been abandoned.

Framework- Commons in Nuovo Mercato Esquilino and new proposed relationship

Old relationship New proposed relationship

Framework of commons in Rome and the analysed relationship diagram is a key methodlogy for design proposing. Considering the existing elments in site, main stakeholders include local poor communitiy, traders, commoning practice, grassroots organization and market adminstrator. New proposed relationship help local community to interact more with the surrounding context by providing a archeology route and space for commoning practice and grassroots groups involved. In this strategy, local community will be able to find support and solidarity. Traders can potenially have stable income. New relationship would allow this traditional market accommodate various users and help with social cohension. 17

Framework- Commons in Refoodgees

Framework of commons in Refoodgee used the same methodlogy of previous researches upon other commoning practices. Refoodgee as a non-profit grassroots organization holds various public events around Nuovo Mercato Esquilino. Refoodgee currently holds events on streets and in some public space around the market. They distribute food on the west side of the market, close to the public stair. By observing people's activities around the site, the public stair is a relatively popular space. It attracts univeristy students, market traders and costumers. They like to chat with friends, enjoy fresh fruits they bought from the market, or simply have a rest there.

Those events attract all kinds of audience from the local community, providing them with accessibile lesuire activities and arts enjoyment. More importantly, it accomondates needs of poor people by providing them with free food. This helps with retaining community in the local area. These grassroots activities based around the market as it is one of the most everyday space that people would go, taking the advantage of popularity. This area accommodates various commoning practice, made it crucial to social soildarity. 18

Design concepts- Proposing in Urban Level and Archeology Route Proposed spatial strategy of street vending

Based on the relationship analysis of street vending in the community level and the acknowledge of the value within street vending, the initial strategy of reallocating street vendors has been proposed. The strategy put the benefits of vulnerable groups of people in the prior position, avoiding the loss of vending and all other attractive characters. In this stage, grassroots organization founded by small business workers started to be a part in my project. These NGOs concern and collect the opinions of street vendors. Inspired by prposing a spatial strategy for street vending, the significance of exploring the relationship between stakeholders has been confirmed. By analysing the relationships, specific issues can be explored. The design should value the existence of surrouding context, particularly focusing on the issues remainning to be solved and the ambivalence between stakeholders. According to previous literature review, the core idea of resisting gentrification is to interact with grass roots groups. The tendency of bringing in tourists is also a part of the plan since traditional markets need innovation to cater to the new market demand. To attract visitors, archeology route became an important element in my design, current historical structures around site are mostly forgetten by people. By emphasizing and reconnecting the archeology route, this area could be more activated. By offering such a design intervention, the project should be able to interact tightly with local community. It helps with consolidating the community soildarity and resisting urban gentrification. 19

Project developing process-Master planning

New proposed entrances

Ready food stalls

Dining area

Traditional stalls

Circulation

Covered public space

Heritage- Interaction Strategy

Old structure

New structure

Heritage/ Archeology structure Public space

The heritage interaction strategy refer to previous precedent study. Considering the form of aqueduct, the strategy will introduce a new structure, and insert it to the old one without contacting to maximise the visual experience and protection to heritage.

Junction nodes Tunnel

By having heritage and archeology structure connected to the market, the unused space next to the market became a potenial valuable space for developing both the market and also the local community. The existing public space in site is taking roads as areas for public activities and events. Providing a space for public events could help with attracting local community. The idea of proposing a community hub could provide space for community gathering and events. The location of it decided that it should interact tightly with the aqueduct and the university next to it. The interacrtion strategy will take the reference Previous literature study emphasized the importance of transformation for an traditional market, focusing on the the transformations b e t w e e n p ro d u c t t y p e s a n d c o s u m e rs . Traditional markets need to take actions to stay alive and virbant to meet the new tendency of current market requirement.

Project design in architectural level- Market regeneration process

Community hub 3. Connect to the market

Public stairs 2. Existing vibrant public space

Original market plan

Art school/ Old Mint factory 4. Place for tourists Needs for food

Institute 1. Stores on ground floor

Central courtyard open to public

There are five core architectural elements around Nuovo Mercato Esquilino. An insititute together with a public stair locate on the west side of the market. These two elements are currently the main interactive public spacce around the market, attracting various groups of people. Community hub locates on the north side of the market, aimed at providing sufficient public space for commoning practice and community interactions. The art school which locates on the east side also served as an old mint factory museum. It potenially attract great amount of visitors and thus it requires needs of ready food. The entrance on the south side of the market was the most popular entrance for costumers according to previous research. Thus there is need to consider entrances for different shopping purpose. Normal cosumers will continue using the south side door while the other two entrances will be designed for mainly visitors and ready food costumers.

Food stalls Surveyed previous most 5. popular entrance for costumers

Regenerated market plan

To regenerate the traditional market, Two new entrances has been proposed in the market according to the oriention of the community hub and university. The ready food stalls locate in the central circulation of the market to provide convenience to the users. Dining area locate next to ready food stalls and also the exterior of the new entracne, thus this space can be multi-used by local community and act as a meeting space.

1. New main entrance Offer clear connection to the institute Ensure the consistency of public space Invite people come in through the most open area The second renew entrance aims at emphasizing the interactions between market and community

2. Outdoor dining area Expand the existing public space provide more possibilities

3. International Food hall Offer multi-cultural cooked food and drink provide dining area place for social gathering and meeting 22

4. Local characteristic stalls Grocery/ Fruits which can be offered all day

5. Reorganized multi stalls Meat/ Vegetable/ Fruits/ Grocery

Traditioal stalls will be remained in the market as they are the key features of attracting visitors. It is also the main shopping space of local poor groups of people. More covered public space has been proposed to meet the needs for providing space for meeting friends and also Refoodgee's activities.

Design proposal evolution- Community hub

Phases

The second stage of my concept transformation is to further make space arrangements and circulations more rationalized.

The space arrangements transformed from a single building to scattered blocks since the space between blocks could create more possibilities and flexibilities.

Instead of creating a single route, making use of every pass underneath arches would create a more enriched experience and emphasise the archeology structure.

The space can be treated as two main functional area, one for collective market activities including refoodgee food distrubution. Another space fo r m o re a c t i v i t e d c o m m u n i t y activities including music and dance performance. The two different function thus form two spatial languages.

Phase

The first idea is considering how to make interactions between space and surrounding context. P u b l i c sta i rs a n d ro u te s w h i c h can walk through aquaducts were proposed, thus it could enrich spatial experience

Phases

I n t h i s sta g e , a n e w st r u c t u re responding to aquaduct were designed. It will create a route both on ground and also in a higher level. It divides space for different functions at the same time.

This phase came to the end of blocks transformation. To follow the surrounding architectural language, the blocks came back to a more regular shape which can use spaces to the greatest extent.

The structure will allow connections between existing building and new proposed community hub. It will also offer users a new experience when viewing aquaducts.

New layout also formed two squares which allow adequate space for public activities. In this way, entrances became more straightforward and visual connection got enriched.

In this way, a combination of new and old would be able to attract prople come to this area.

Project design in architectural level- Plans

8 15

6 5

13 1.1

4 1.2

1.1

3 10

2.1

1.3

1:200 Ground floor plan Community Hub 1. 1-1.3 2.1-2.2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Food hall/Events hall/ Pop up market Information/ Market offices Community Kitchen Cafe Lab Dance/Music/Performance lab Stage Workshops Parking Square

1:200 First floor plan Community Hub

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Offices Exterior terrace Viewing platform Cafe Offices

Project design in architectural level- Plans

16 17

16.2 15

17.1 16.1

17.2

1:500 Ground floor plan Master Plan 16.1-16.2 17.1-17.2 18. 19. 20. 25

Main entrances Food hall Public stairs Waste collection Offices

Material proposal- Juxtaposition of New and Old

1:200 East Elevation

The metal arches are the new installation that aim to create routes and provide users with enriched experience of interacting with archaeology structure, both in spatial and visual perspectives. Aqueducts are common to see in Rome city, the protection of archaeology sites should not be the only thing people care about. Finding another way to treat the relationship of the space and its user can be more valuable. The shape of it responds to the arches of aqueducts and also some existed curve windows in site. Each arch componment contains two metal panels and by applying them in a grid, they can support each which ensure the stability of this installation.

Corten steel will be used for the installation structure. The material oxidizes naturally over time, giving it an orange-brown color and a rough and granular texture. The colour of it match the surrounding building facades. Also, It has a very high tensile strength and its transformation during time of showing rusted appearance emphasize the design idea of juxtaposition of new and old elements.

The Existing Building is currently an abandoned building and the plan is to regenerate it. transform it into a multi-functional space. The function includes but not limited to community activity space, offices, communal kitchen and observing platform. The ground floor will mainly serve as collective workshops and the upper floor will be converted to an open plan office. To offer such a space, the plan is to remove the original interior structure and remain the building envelope only. The original roof has glass skylight, so the interior nature lighting could be ensured. New implantation and old reservation naturally form the juxtaposition of new and old elements which is an important architecture language in my design proposal. The old structure wall will remain what it looks like now, even with natural peeling. The attachement method would be raw and can been seen physically which allows a strong contrast between materials and remind the time scale between the new and the old.

Visualization of material proposal and heritage interaction strategy

1:200 Section AA

View 1 View 2

View one and two both locate on the community upper walking platform. The aim of this interaction strategy is to maximise the visual and spatial experience for vistitors. The walkway will bring visitors into the ancient aqueduct.

This viewing point allow people observe the structure from a unqiue aspect withoout damaging the heritage structure. The walkway also provide an alterative route for officers and people who work in the workshops. The juxtaposition of new and old will potenially maximise the popularity of this area and bring more visitors.

Public Sqare Visualization

View 3 View 5

Two public square have been proposed in the community design as the yellow area illustrated in the aerial view. The bigger one on the south side is a multi-functional square. It surrounded by a community kitchen and some event halls. This square is closer to the market and serves for multi community events, including Refoodgee food distrubution. Seats are provided for the community kitchen and also for traders in the market. They can also accommodate needs of market food hall costumers, proivding them with a exterior space to enjoy food and drinks. This space is accessible for all groups of people from the local community. Another square locates in the front of a performance stage. This area mainly serve for art enjoyments and the upper platform will provide sufficient views to the stage. This space is designed for night time leisure while the bigger one is mainly designed for some day time activities. The walkway showed in view 3 seperates the two public square and makes circulation more straightforward and clear.

Tectonic proposal

Material consistency& colour matching

Considering the timber cladding in community hub, using the same technique for interior stalls envelop to ensure material consistency

Reconstruction of roof system

Stalls flexibility

Resepecting the original tiles’ colour tone but replacing the material to corten steel. Warm colour will blend harmoniously in the traditional rome context.

Various organizations of stalls Stall size and layout can be easily transformed by reassembling the structure depending on requirements

Precedent of material and roof structure

Glazing roof system with truss conveniently providing protection from the sun and the rain. New metal truss helps to enhance the stability and durability. The new system is a clean and bright rendition of the original market.

Using corten steel structure in community hub as reference, applying the same material to roof system to regenerate the market.

Municipal Food Market Baza/ Spain

Testaccio Market Rome/ Italy Glass roof provide sufficient nature lighting

Glass openings and steel frame Create light atmosphere and ensure visual continuity 29

Commmoning storage space

In the new market layout, commoning storage space has been proposed. According to market investigation, many traders complained about limited storage space. A single storage is surrounded by three types of stalls, including seafood, vegetables and ready food stalls. Food stalls can directly take ingredients from the other two's storage and this can ensure freshness to a great extent.

Tectonic proposal and sections

Market Section BB Flexible stalls Fresh vegetables & Fruits

Settled stalls Meats& Grocery

Food hall International food Ready food

Settled stalls Meats& Grocery

Flexible stalls Fresh vegetables & Fruits

Timber cladding Treated battens Breather membrane Insulation Concrete The Community Hub will mainly use timber cladding as its material pattern. Timber is 'soft' compared to other materials and will potentially create a delight and relaxing atmosphere. The warm colour of timber respond to its surrounding context which will allow it naturally embrace local environment and also the community. 1. Strong steel tube 2. Steel purlin 3. 30mm Perforated wood acoustic panel 4. 80mm Sprayed polyfoam insulation 5. Coated corten steel roof panels 6. Triple insulated glass 7. Steel truss 8. 50mm Floor finish 9. 200mm Rigid insulation 10. 700mm Concrete floor slab

1:20 rooof ssection

1:50 Community hub section 30

New Entrance Visualization

Public Sqare Visualization

Food Hall Visualization