Inhabiting Contingency - Refugee Migrants as a Key to Address Urban Asymmetries

Refugee Migrants as a Key to Address Urban Asymmetries Created by a Shift from Planned Economy to Capitalism

inhabiting contingency

Signe Perkone P5 Presentation 29/06/2017

Introduction -

Aspects of inquiry

Refugees

Location - Latvia

why? who? where?

specific conditions into which refugees arrive

What Do these have in common?

Introduction -

Problem statement

Neoliberal capitalism increases inequality, drives migration, and amplifies existing urban asymmetries.

Research question -

Premise I

The project has to be an open system instead of being focused solely on refugees

segregated society + an instant risk of marginalising refugees/migrants

A system to which anyone can subscribe (without primacy or victimisation)

?Research question

?

-

...

Premise II

?...

...

?

?

... ?...

A building as a lone architectural object is not capable of fully engaging with such a complex issue as refugees

Through relations to other factors, latent capacities of the building can be activated and its agency maximised

-

Research question

How can a system and a building within this system be designed, where refugees and locals come together to balance out capitalistic asymmetries

?

Research -

Questioning asymmetries

Economic indicators

-actual-

quality of life

Research -

Relational apparatus

In Michel Foucault’s philosophy: The power dispositif or apparatus is the system of relations that exists between various institutional, physical and administrative mechanisms, and knowledge structures, which enhance and maintain the exercise of power within the social body.

Global factors

migration

state factors

migrant factors

Trust in the

uri ty

Ch

ild ca re

cia lS ec

st o

nts for Immigra s r e i r r a B l Lega

io rE

xp er ien

Amount o f Welfare a vailable

ce

Tax Bu

ity

are of Inf orm

of St ar tin g

e

Inequality

al Ec on om y

sin

es s

LE

L A G

L A C LITI

Co n

l op Pe e Sm

om y

g La bou r

Arms Trade

ng

i rm

Outs ourc in

lE co n

Glo ba

-a ng tro

flicts Military Con

tion ritisa Secu

Os AT

/N EU

g in gl ug

Be tw ee n

Me dia

CU

n

sio

mp l oym ent

s es

Une

in

mi cT en

s Bu

in E co no

Bu

ng

se ho lds

a

oi

Co un t ri es

D of

g

PO

ivin

IC

L of

OM

e lanc e Ba Trad

CA

ON

my ity of Econo Heterogene

I YS Ho u

s Ea

EC O N O M IC st Co

PH

c In

e siv u l

ic bl u P

Ea se

rden

L

Lev el

Ed uca tion

Pr

R AT I O N

ource s

RA

M IG

e Res

AL

s

S

ce a Sp

EC

Ga p

Availa bl

ia oc

pe r

alit

L

ity

r

k or w et lN

Pr os

n -f u o n

on cti

ce leran o t and om d e fre ious g i l e R

us l Stat Lega

tu s y Sta l i m a F

AL

CIA

pe r

n io

i bu f yo

rs de r Bo

Pr os

L RA TU UL

Language

s

P H YS I C

SO

Po

y

lig Re

ge ua g n

Sh

L

sit ro

nic it

La

ce pa s lt

n tio lisa

al n io at N f yo

Et h

Gend e

re uctu r t s a Infr

a

an d

tie ori u th oA et

SO CI AL

ud

iton

Ra ce

to

C

it Att

h -c are

ace usiness) Sp (b le b ta n e R

b G lo

s es c Ac

n tio a c

LT U

n

Availability of Affordab le Housing

Mo

Corruption

POLITICAL

u Ed

LEG

at io

Ac ce s

n io us

al St ratifi ca

cl In

of He alt

So

licy Po

d an

Soci

bil ity

se gr eg

m edo

n tio gra

ce

Av aila

ic

nt Governme

Fre onal Pers

mi

Im

n ra le To

Et hn

Apparatus Mi n imu mW age

Methodology

su m

er

Cu l

tu re

/I

nte rn

et

Global factors and migration

Dissecting the Apparatus

M IG

R AT I O N

SO

I YS CA

L

EC

ON

ng

i rm

g La bou r

lE co n

om y

Outs ourc in

-a ng tro

Glo ba

Ga p

g in gl ug

Be tw ee n

Sm

Os AT

/N EU

ity

PO

L A C LITI

tion ritisa Secu

pe r

IC

flicts Military Con

Pr os

OM

Co n

e

Co un t ri es

sit ro

LE

L A G

l op Pe

Po

rs de r Bo

Arms Trade

al n io at N f yo

Me dia

CU

PH

LT U

L

RA

L

CIA

a

b G lo

n tio lisa

su m

er

Cu l

tu re

/I

nte rn

et

uri ty

Ch

ild ca re

cia lS ec

Mi n imu mW age

Corruption

Migration destination factors

Ac ce s

st o

So

n io us

POLITICAL

n

s es c Ac

to

u Ed

C

SO CI AL

h -c are

iton

La

L RA TU UL

al St ratifi ca

cl In

of He alt

at io

nt Governme

licy Po

d an

Soci

bil ity

se gr eg

m edo

n tio gra

ce

Av aila

ic

Fre onal Pers

mi

Im

n ra le To

Et hn

Trust in the

Dissecting the Apparatus

n tio a c

ge ua g n

ce leran o t and om d e fre ious g i l e R

Availability of Affordab le Housing

R AT I O N

AL

re uctu r t s a Infr

M IG

Amount o f Welfare a vailable

AL

ce siness) Spa

LEG

P H YS I C

u Rentable (b

nts for Immigra s r e i r r a B l Lega

Tax Bu

Sh

ce pa s lt

ity

n

s es

Inequality

in

Une

s Bu

g

mp l oym ent

sio

ng

ivin

mi cT en

oi

L of

e lanc e Ba Trad

my ity of Econo Heterogene

in E co no

D of

Pr os

are of Inf orm

of St ar tin g

e

pe r

s Ea

EC O N O M IC st Co

c In

e siv u l

ic bl u P

Ea se

ce a Sp

se ho lds

alit

Ho u

Mo

n -f u o n

on cti

i bu f yo

rden

a

Bu

sin

al Ec on om y

es s

at io

uri ty

Ch

ild ca re

cia lS ec Ac ce s

st o

So

Mi n imu mW age

Corruption

State apparatus complexity

POLITICAL

n

s es c Ac

to

u Ed

C

SO CI AL

h -c are

iton

La

L RA TU UL

al St ratifi ca

n io us

of He alt

cl In

Soci

bil ity

se gr eg

m edo

d an

licy Po

ce

Av aila

ic

Fre onal Pers

n tio gra mi

Im

n ra le To

Et hn

nt Governme Trust in the

Dissecting the Apparatus

n tio a c

ge ua g n

ce leran o t and om d e fre ious g i l e R

Availability of Affordab le Housing

AL

re uctu r t s a Infr

Amount o f Welfare a vailable

LEG

ce siness) Spa

AL

P H YS I C

u Rentable (b

nts for Immigra s r e i r r a B l Lega

Tax Bu

Sh

ce pa s lt

ity

pe r

in s es

Inequality

s Bu

Une

ng

g

mp l oym ent

n

oi

ivin

mi cT en sio

D of

L of

e lanc e Ba Trad

my ity of Econo Heterogene

in E co no

are of Inf orm

of St ar tin g

e

Pr os

s Ea

EC O N O M IC st Co

c In

e siv u l

ic bl u P

Ea se

ce a Sp

se ho lds

alit

Ho u

Mo

n -f u o n

on cti

i bu f yo

rden

a

Bu

sin

al Ec on om y

es s

nt Governme Trust in the

n

uri ty

ild ca re

Ch st o Ac ce s

Lev el

y

lig Re

n io

P H YS I C

r

Availa bl

tu s y Sta l i m a F

k or w et lN

Pr

s

ia oc

AL

io rE

e Res

xp er ien

S

ource s

ce

i bu f yo

Amount o f Welfare a vailable Tax Bu

ity

pe r

s es

n

Inequality

in

mp l oym ent

s Bu

g

Une

ng

mi cT en sio

oi

ivin

in E co no

D of

L of

e lanc e Ba Trad

my ity of Econo Heterogene

se ho lds

rden

are of Inf orm

of St ar tin g

e

Pr os

s Ea

EC O N O M IC st Co

c In

e siv u l

ic bl u P

Ea se

ce a Sp

ce leran o t and om d e fre ious g i l e R

nts for Immigra s r e i r r a B l Lega

Sh

Ho u

Mo

n -f u o n

alit

ge ua g n

us l Stat Lega

ce pa s lt

on cti

n tio a c

AL

SO CI AL

Gend e

Ed uca tion

nic it

to

La

L RA TU UL

Et h

s

Availability of Affordab le Housing

an d

Language

Ra ce

tie ori u th oA et

iton

re uctu r t s a Infr

s es c Ac

C

ud

h -c are

ace usiness) Sp (b le b ta n e R

cia lS ec So

POLITICAL

u Ed

LEG

at io

it Att

al St ratifi ca

n io us

of He alt

cl In

Soci

bil ity

se gr eg

m edo

d an

licy Po

ce

Av aila

ic

Mi n imu mW age

Fre onal Pers

n tio gra mi

Im

n ra le To

Et hn

factors of Migrant life in the state Corruption

Dissecting the Apparatus

a

Bu

sin

al Ec on om y

es s

Apparatus analysis -

Relational force of factors

Intensity and number of relations determine which factor is the most important of each category. often it is possible to create qualitative change not by acting upon a factor directly but by addressing its relations.

Most relevant factors

Apparatus analysis Trust in the

uri ty

se gr eg

at io

ild ca re

Ch Ac ce s

ic

st o

So

m

cia lS ec

edo

nt Governme

Fre onal Pers

Et hn

POLITICAL

n

s es c Ac

to

u Ed

Lev el

Ed uca tion

L RA TU UL

P H YS I C EC O N

O MIC L of ivin

g

Inequality

st Co

Pr os

pe r

ity

AL

re uctu r t s a Infr

Language

SO CI AL

C La

n tio a c

ge ua g n

Most relevant factors

Corruption

Apparatus analysis

POLITICAL

Language

Availa bl

AL

c So

k or w et lN

s

ia

Pr

io rE

e Res

xp er ien

ce

ource s

AL

P H YS I C

e iness) Spac s u (b le b ta Ren

LEG

Le

iers for Legal Barr

tatus gal S

Ea se s Ea

EC O N O M IC

of St ar tin g

e

a

oi

D of

Bu

sin

ng

es s

s Immigrant

s Bu

in s es

Most relevant factors

Corruption

Apparatus analysis

Ed uca tion

P H YS I C

ace usiness) Sp (b le b ta n e R

s Statu

Availa bl

AL

k or w et lN

Pr

s

ia oc

S

io rE

e Res

xp er ien

ce

ource s

AL

l Lega

LEG

Language

Lev el

POLITICAL

Tax Bu

Ea se s Ea

EC O N O M IC

of St ar tin g

e

a

oi

D of

Bu

rden

sin

ng

es s

s Bu

in s es

my ity of Econo Heterogene

Most relevant factors

So

cia lS ec

uri ty

Apparatus analysis

al St ratifi ca

iton

Availability of Affordab le Housing

s Statu l a g Le

e Res

ource s

EC O N

O MIC L of ivin

g

Inequality

st Co

Pr os

pe r

ity

AL

LEG

P H YS I C

Availa bl

s Statu y l i m Fa

AL

Soci

SO CI AL

POLITICAL

Amount o f Welfare a vailable

Most relevant factors

Apparatus analysis

Fre onal Pers

mi

Im

m

d an

cl In n io us

se gr eg

licy Po

ce

ic

edo

n ra

n tio gra

le To

Et hn

at io

POLITICAL

n

an d

Et h

nic it

Gend e

Lev el

Ed uca tion

iton

Ra ce

y

s Statu l a g Le

r

P H YS I C

s Statu y l i m Fa

AL ce pa s lt

c In

ive s lu

ic bl u P

e ac p S

EC O N

Inequality

Mo

n -f u no

lit na

ui fb o y

o cti

n io il g Re

O MIC

L RA TU UL

al St ratiďŹ ca

Language

Soci

SO CI AL

C

ge ua

ng La

iou Relig

s fre

ance oler t d m an edo

Most relevant factors

Apparatus analysis

uri ty

of He alt

s es c Ac

to

C L RA TU UL

h -c are

Ch st o Ac ce s

POLITICAL SO CI AL

bil ity

ild ca re

cia lS ec So

nt Governme

Mi n imu mW age

Trust in the

Av aila

u Ed

n tio a c

Availability of Aordab le Housing

l St Lega

P H YS I C

tu s y Sta l i m a F

Amount o f Welfare a vailable

AL

Tax Bu

se ho

Inequality

mp l oym ent Une

lds

in E co no

mi cT en

sio

n

EC O N

Ho u

atus

O MIC

rden

Apparatus analysis -

Programmatic elements

Spatial

Education Housing Work

non-Spatial

Tolerance and Inclusion Social Security Ease of Starting a business

Methodology -

Programmatic considerations

architecture is contingent and exists always in relation building within a system - process

Programme of the development

Apparatus analysis

+

Location research

+

Varying human input

location research -

mapping asymmetries in riga

potential location asymmetries: clash / disintegration park / graveyard microrayon industrial area water

location research -

The chosen site

location research -

The site and the neighbourhood

conceiving the project -

Aims and objectives

Facilitate

Natural mingling of refugees and locals - coexistance and integration

Provide a

new node of activity for the wider neighbourhood - address asymmetries

Design

The project has to

affordances for creative productive action - learning, housing and production

respond to contingency -

inhabitants take charge of their environment, and accommodate change

oc

menities

pe ex

s

es nc

ork tw Ne ial

ed ct pe ex un

To als leran c ou tsid e an e o d In f th clu si es yst on em

loc

a Sharing of

ith

y er

/

n te r a rg e nd Ki

s

r Nu

Sh a rabl e

ce

at Voc

l oo h -s c

g ainin r t l iona

nstruction Greenhous

es

Resident’s council

ns

l fu

ucti Work outsid e the develop ment

nk

on

ba

Prod

nd in

g

tax

K

Ex ter na

s nt’

W OR

d

e sid Re

sin u B

fun

e m Ti

-

sh

e Day Jobs centr

e ac p ss s e

s fe a c

d an

s op rce

x Fle

o-h c e ibl

Co -op

in g s ou

me

ace B uil t s p

e Gard

Pre

in rat g e Int

ns

Self-help c o

spa

Co m

ith

S of nt me

w

nw

m

ste y s ol

ari ng

sh bli

lp He

Int era cti o

Lea rn ing Sk ill s h

ta Es

y t i n u m com

Ins

u t ti

it o

t to n i g

he

o ch s l a loc

conceiving the project -

Aims and objectives

Apparatus analysis

+

Location research

+

Varying human input

PRIVATE

SEMI-PRIVATE-PUBLIC

PUBLIC

co-housing units

learning centre

retail spaces

nursery / pre-school

jobs centre

How it functions -

From refugee to resident

Asylum seeker with refugee status

Local person

Resident’s council

Assigned housing Check if any of the existing residents need dwelling space restructuring (add or remove rooms)

Take part in community life, use facilities

Pay resident’s tax according to income

Co-op fund

Economic migrant

How it functions -

From passive resident to active

Resident

Needs certain skills

Wants to start a business

Learning centre

Co-op fund Can provide a start-up loan

i.e. take Latvian lessons

Resident’s council

Get help with local jurisdiction regarding starting a business Share skills with other residents

Collectively decides how the money is applied

Start a business in one of the retail spaces Workshops can be used to produce

Urban scheme -

Concept: Urban interior Objectives _foster encounters between refugees and locals _improve social cohesion in the area _intertwine the site with urban environment

Strategies _Activate circulation in the interior of the urban block by adding connections _Improve the quality of green space - micro parks and playgrounds, where paths meet

Urban scheme -

Urban elements and programmes

Street Housing Open public space Retail spaces Interior urban square Workshops and offices Semi-private courtyard Learning centre Urban gardening Jobs centre Trees and greenery Nursey Landscaping

Urban scheme -

Method

Magnet Attractor Smaller functions

Smaller functions

Magnet Attractor

Permeability Variety Robustness

visual cues of routes and programmes multiplicity of ways of usage

Architectural composition -

Axes of movement

Architectural composition -

Massing according to axes

Day Care Job centre Commercial spaces facing the street Housing facing private courtyards

Free-standing housing block Learning centre

Architectural composition -

Informal tests

Commerce Learning Centre Day Care

Learning Centre Housing Job Centre

Commerce Job Centre

Learning Centre Housing Day Care

Job Centre

Sensible double housing cluster Waisted main axis because there are no commercial spaces along it Good location for the nursery, enough outdoor space for playground

Commerce

Day Care Housing

Axis completely obstructed No private space for nursery Inner urban square Shopping gallery between two housing clusters with semi-open courtyards Arrangement of public buildings and landscaping creates leading “gates” into the site

Variety in clusters Good housing cluster with a private courtyard Inner urban square - cosy, cafes Gesture of a “gate” formed by public buildings, leads into the interior of the site Public space too small

Architectural composition -

Final composition

interior urban square Car park

Job centre Housing courtyards

Learning cente, creates a “gate� with the job centre building

Housing with courtyards on the inside, commerce on the outside Day care, play area marked with landscaping creating privacy

courtyard

community gardening courtyard courtyard courtyard

job centre

Public plaza

learning centre

Interior urban square

nursery

playground

Public green space

Car Park

Site plan 1:1000

Architectural composition -

Public, private and shared space Shared

Community Gardening Courtyards (Outdoor) Communal Space (Interior)

Public

Urban Square Public Circulation

Semi-Public

Public Green Space Shared Access to Dwellings Nursery PlayGround

Jobs Centre

Learning Centre

nursery

site section -

Designing with relations in mind

Neighbourhood

Road

Public space

learning centre

Path

urban square

Path

Housing

garden

road

Neighbourhood

Architectural design intentions -

Responsiveness to change

Increased density of dwelling

Continuity needed to allow responsiveness

Design to accommodate contingency-avoid waste

Architectural design intentions -

maximised courtyard

Courtyard maximised in several levels The heat of the scheme

Designing affordances -

Courtyard as a social condenser

Main communal building functions Communal kitchen and dining Event space Co-working space Sports Launderette

urban massing and density -

Approach to the block

sketches of approach

early visualisation

urban massing and density / early visuals -

Entrance to the block

early visualisation

Dwelling, retail, community -

Composition of the block

Three floors of dwelling

Dwelling, retail, community -

Composition of the block

Retail space on the ground floor

Dwelling, retail, community -

Composition of the block

Communal courtyard (open air) Two floors of communal building (lower floor underground)

Circulation -

Adjacent flows

Public, private and shared spaces -

Perspective section

Materiality -

Context

Dark wood white silicate brick

painted plasterwork

old sandstone-y bricks

Painted wood

Dilapidated wood

sandstone-y panels and plasterwork

plaster

Materiality -

Building exterior and interior

Wood shingles

Wood accents

Wood slats

Wood slats

Felt panels

Plywood

Materiality ageing and weathering -

Continuity between wall and roof

Materiality -

Shading devices

Street facade - more closed three available settings

Courtyard facade - more open

The whole building -

Longitudinal section

Dwelling -

Inside an apartment

Dwelling -

Building technology principle

Timber column and beam construction Allows maximum flexibility

Building technology principle Solid wood walls in circulation cores provide cross-bracing

Sharing space -

regular units

Sharing space -

Horizontal and vertical connections

Sharing space -

Regular unit plan

Room 1

kitchen dining

Room 2

Bathroom Wc

Room 1

Bathroom Wc

Room 2

kitchen dining

Sharing space -

Rooms that can be easily added or removed

Room 1

kitchen dining

Room 2

Bathroom Wc

Room 1

Bathroom Wc

Room 2

kitchen dining

Sharing space -

Apartment layout changes

Room 1

kitchen dining

Room 2

Bathroom Wc

Room 3

Bathroom Wc

Room 1

kitchen dining

Sharing space -

Corner unit plan

kitchen dining

kitchen dining

living

living Bathroom Wc

Bathroom Wc

Room 1

Room 1

Room 2

Room 2

Sharing space -

Rooms that can be easily added or removed

kitchen dining

kitchen dining

living

living Bathroom Wc

Bathroom Wc

Room 1

Room 1

Room 2

Room 2

Sharing space -

Apartment layout changes in corners

kitchen dining

kitchen dining

living

living Bathroom Wc

Bathroom Wc

Room 1

Room 1

Room 3

Room 2 Living

Room 2

Room 1

Room 1 kitchen dining

Bathroom Wc

kitchen dining

Bathroom Wc

half of the block -

Dwelling layout

Syrian family. Ahmand and Amala operate a tea parlour in one of the retail spaces downstairs. Their son Kadir attends intermediate classes preparing him for education in one of the local schools

Local family. JÄ nis does carpentry in the workshops in the communal building and sells furniture in a small shop downstairs. LÄŤga is a nursey teacher, which their two young children also attend.

Ibrahim, his wife Mona, and their four children, from Libya.

The adults both worked as tailors and are continuing it here.

The children are taking preparation classes so that they can continue their education in one of the close by local schools.

Anwar is from Eritrea. He used to be a fisherman but now works at the local asylum seeker centre liaising between asylum seekers and the authorities. He is hoping to be reunited with his wife and young son who are still in Eritrea.

Marwan used to be a doctor in Iraq. His wife Aaliyah worked in the public sector. Now they are looking for appropriate work via the Job Centre on site.

Student apartment. Four of the students are local but recently Amir from Syrira has moved in. He used to study hotel management in Homs and is looking to continue his studies here. They met in an event in the communal building.

Hosein (civil engineering student), sister Shokoufeh and an elderly mother Fatme from Afghanistan.

Elderly couple from Iraq. Wife used to work in a bank, and the husband owned a sweets shop. Now he is looking to open one on the ground floor here.

Single mother Sanita with her young daughter Ieva. Local, mother works as a hairdresser.

Ieva spends afternoons in the learning centre, taking coding and drawing classes

Entrance view -

Communal building

Entrance view -

Communal building

Eve nt

Wo r

ks

co Gy

m

spa ce

ho

-w sp orkin ace g

p

Com

mu

La u

n o i t la

Ci

u c r

Co mm kit un ch al en

nal

din ing

nd

er e

tte

Communal building -

Building technology principle

Strong structure that allows large spans and independent flexible secondary walls Bubble deck concrete slabs and steel columns

Ground floor plan -

Structure and slab openings

Ground floor plan -

Cores and stairs

core

Light well

Light well

core

Ground floor plan -

most fixed functions

Storage services

WC WC

WC

WC

Ground floor plan -

mostly fixed functions

workshop

communal Kitchen

Ground floor plan -

More flexible areas

Co-working space

Reading space

communal Dining

Ground floor plan -

Most flexible areas

Chill zone

Chill zone

Ground floor plan -

Plan changes in flexible areas

Combined co-working space and break space

Meeting room Meeting room

Ground floor -

Reading space

Underground plan -

Mix of hard and soft functions

Changing room

Changing room

Chill zone yoga room Event space

Gym

Bar Kitchen

storage

Wc

Chill zone

Launderette

Technical room Wc

Underground -

Event space and bar

environmental STRATEGY -

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND LOW MAINTENANCE Low velocity ventilation + air reusing Mechanical ventilation runs at low velocity, which means less noise pollution, and is made possible by reusing air from living spaces (bedrooms, living rooms) to circulation and service spaces (WC, bathroom)

Airtightness The building is also designed to be airtight to not let any heat escape and waste energy. Airtightness also makes low velocity ventilation possible

Highly insulated dwellings Dwellings are highly insulated to ensure low heating demand and make them economically viable for refugees and low income locals

Natural materials in dwellings The building is clad in wood shingles, and timber is also used to express the interior, creating a pleasant indoor climate

Thermal mass in the communal building The communal building has thick concrete floor slabs, which serve as thermal mass, passively regulating the temerature of the building

Heat pump + underfloor heating The building is heated via a ground sourced water heat pump, which is more effective and easier to maintain than air heat pump

Solar shading All facades are equipped with foldable shading panels, which provide relief from solar glare and overheating.

Water collection Run-off rainwater from the roofs is collected for courtyard lawn irrigation.

Pre-heated/pre-cooled air The fresh air for ventilation is taken in through underground concrete piping, which allows its temperature to even out, significantly lowering the need for pre-heating or -cooling

Heat recovery ventilation The atrium within the building is used as a wind tower, sucking the warm, stale air up and out of the building.

Indoor climate -

Dwelling ventilation scheme

Indoor climate -

Communal building ventilation scheme

Inhabiting contingency Thank you for your attention!