Project 1 : Empowering the Legacy of Generation Z Han Hao / Unit 22
GENERAL INFORMATION
PEDAGOGICAL PRINCIPLES
PROGRAMMATIC SPACES
Starting Point:
Pedagogical Principle:
Spaces:
Generation Z learn by CONSTRUCTING KNOWLEDGE based on existing experiences.
Playspace Indoor Area Outdoor Area Gallery Garden Pool
From the design in Term 1, the notion of the Playlab is expanded further to a larger site. The Playlab is no longer a ‘independent’ platform of play, but is sited in a heart of a community space to better situate and accomodate children’s learning, particularly in its relationship with the outside world. Through which, the ideas of how children’s play relate to the wider context of community and society is looked into.
Program:
Kings Cross Playlab An Extra Cirricular Center for local students, encouraging the learning of sensimotor, kinestic, social development through play.
Main Users: 1) Generation Z members Aged 3-5: Emphasising on Symbolic Play Aged 6 -8: Intuitive action, concrete thought Aged 10 - 12: Emphasisng on ‘global’ awareness 2) Volunteers / Teachers 3) Parents 4) Visitors to the Park
Site:
Calthrope Project Site, Kings Cross Eastman Dental Hospital Carpark - UCL
Specific Pedagogical subjects: Artefacts from external museums organisations could provide different lessons for different targets and age groups: 1) Shapes, Sizes, Texture 2) Origins, Production, Culture 3) Inventiveness, Resourcefulness: Manipulation of recyled materials for new purposes 4) Understanding of Environmental/Immaterial Conditions. Eg Rain, Light, Water, Heat etc. 5) Globalisation: Understanding of Locality within the Global Context Eg. Virtual interaction/exchanges with foreign schools
Material Storage Kitchen Library Computer Cluster/Classroom
DESIGN STRATEGIES/HYPOTHESIS
1 2 3
Reception and Waiting Area
4 5
The Architecture of the Playlab facilitates Intuitive Self-Exploration by Generation Z through Learning and Interpretation The spaces are should be organised in legible intervals between ‘Didactic and Instructive spaces’ and ‘Intepretation Spaces’. The Playlab should enhance understanding of environmental and immaterial conditions for Generation Z. Sensors are employed in the architecture. Based on fluctuations in temperature, moisture levels, the architecture should respond and indicate levels accordingly, to amplify and redirect the effects of weather. (further investigated in DR) In addition to playing and learning, GenZ are entrusted to operate ‘adult domains’, including the Kitchen, Material Storage and the Greenhouse. Basic Functional space are ‘enhanced’ to highlight the main principles involved. The Kitchen, for instance, is designed as an outdoor campfire. Therefore, the act of cooking would further involve further knowledge of firebuilding, conductive materials, heat etc. As mentioned on Strategy No 2, heat sensors could be applied in this instance. (further investigated in DR) The Playlab should create a mini society where different ages of Generation Z can interact and be self sufficient. The architecture carefully consider details such as specifically designed parapets, levels, steps to cater for different age groups. These specific routes are then strategically placed to encourage interactions. The Playlab empowers Generation Z to become active participants in the design. The Playlab offers Generation Z a learning, instructional environment, but also promotes freedom and capabilities. In doing so, the students are transformed from mere ‘passive recipients’ to ‘active participants’. Adults can ‘reflect’ based on kids discoveries in the Playlab. Things adults can learn from children in this context 1) How children ‘mis-use’ objects, potentially giving new use etc.
Project 1 : Empowering the Legacy of Generation Z Han Hao / Unit 22
SITE - Calthrope Project, Kings Cross
Proposal - Afterschool Enrichment Centre The project adds onto the existing Calthorpe Project. The Calthorpe project is an existing community project that offers a range of activities, including adult classes, children ‘drop in’ play sessions, football pitches for young children etc. The site is located in the midst of housing estates, University Campuses, as well as Student Accomodation. Currently, the playground is only open to children on the weekends. There are some other pockets of playspace littered around the vicinity. The proposal is to further activate the Calthorpe Project as a community garden. A footbridge is proposed that adjoins the Garden to nearby play areas to provide another form of access to students.
Allotments Greenhouses
Open Square Garden Meeting rooms Futsal Field UCL Dental Institute
Project 1 : Empowering the Legacy of Generation Z Han Hao / Unit 22
Calthorpe Project - Operations
Funding from the Calthorpe project has steadily decreased as public funding is cut. The London Borough of Camden has previously been funding the project since its construction in 1989. In 2011, the funding has been removed.
CURRENT INCOME SOURCES Funding/Grants
POTENTIAL INCOME SOURCES ... Facilities Rental
Classes for Local Community
Feasibility Study - Self Sufficient Cafe, with low carbon footprint.
Calthorpe Project has to find ways to become self sufficient to ensure its survival. Current income sources: 1) Public Funding/Donations Local grants are decreasing and would soon be depleted. 2) Renting out facilities Football Pitches - hosting local football league Gardens for functions Meeting Rooms
Public Funding cut in 2012. Calthorpe has to become self sufficient within 5 years to sustain itself.
3) Classes 4) Public Donations
A group of UCL students are proposing to install a Micro digester on site to recycle food waste and paper to generate fertiliser and heat
Community Cafe.
Project 1 : Empowering the Legacy of Generation Z Han Hao / Unit 22
BRIEF
USERS
EXTERNAL ELEMENTS
INTERNAL ELEMENTS
artefacts, objects on loan from external institutions or from general public
contained and maintained on site
Didatic Materials
Preschoolers
Primary 1 - 3
Ages 3-5
Ages 7-9
Secondary Target Users
Interaction with Nature
Primary 4-6 Ages 10-12
Art Related Materials
Recycled Materials/Industrial Products
Interaction Zone
The playground should contain a ‘network’ of didactic materials as well as Interpretative Zones. Children can freely roam between these areas at will
Local Community - Parents and Families of the children
Management Staff/ UCL Staff
The General Public
University Student Volunteers
Project 1 : Empowering the Legacy of Generation Z Han Hao / Unit 22
CASE STUDY: University Research as generators of community
To examine a similar case of community involvement, I looked at the City Hammarkullen, in the northern part of Gothenburg, Sweden. Hammarkullen was built from scratch as a satellite city in the 1970s, part of the Million Programme for Housing in Sweden. The City has an extremely young population, with 40% of the population below the age of 20. More than 40% of its population was also foreign born.
Sweden
A
HammarKullen
To act as an agent to promote growth, 2 University joined forces to create the Centre for Urban studies. As a Centre for Urban studies, student volunteers and staff work within the city itself, organising activities and studying the reprecussions within the community.
B A - Giving new use to derelict buildings
C
Gothenburg
D
2 Universities set up a joint subsidary campus right in the heart of Hammarkullen. They received a total of up to 2 Million Euros of funding from the 2 Universities, as part of their community outreach programme.
Chalmers University of Technology
B - Creation of a public forum
University of Gothenburg
Population Centre for Urban Studies A Joint Research Unit
Live Research Social Work
>40%
are under the age of 20
C - Community Games for Children
are of foreign descend
Educational facilities for Generation Z (Children born after 1995 - currently aged 20 and below)
6
2 Kindergardens for ages 3 - 5 3 elementary schools for ages 6 - 12 1 Middle and High school for ages 13 - 18
D - Renovating derelict pathways
Project 1 : Empowering the Legacy of Generation Z Han Hao / Unit 22
KEY SPACES: Diagrammatic Layouts
New Pedestrian Entrance
New Pedestrian Entrance Allotments
MAIN SPACES Reception Area
Greenhouse / Science Lab
Parents dropping off their children. Public Signing up for Classes
Playground Material Storage
Playground Zone A Activity Houses
The playground is divided into 2 main zones. One of these zones are for ‘dirty’ activities, including mud, clay, and water. The other zone is for ‘dry’ activities. The playground is divided into zones. These zones are interrupted by the activity houses. These activity houses contain didactic material brought in from external institutions, and also recycled industrial materials for children to manipulate.
Existing Building
The Existing Building is retained for its multi purpose room. However, the room structure could be altered
Kitchen
Reception
Futsal Pitch (Changed Orientation from Existing)
Activity Houses
Community Cafe
One of the initiatives of the current project, the cafe would serve food cooked from ingredients locally grown in the allotments. The Cafe is where adults could potentially observe and learn from the inventiveness of Generation Z
UCL Research Group
Existing Building Playground Zone B
Cafe Built above existing Car Park UCL Community Group Classrooms/ Computer Clusters
The research group is sited on the adjacent UCL owned campus building. This section of the building is elevated above an existing carpark. The research group produces funding and also studies the feasibility of both Technical factors - such as the bio digester, and community factors, such as the social generative impacts of the project as a whole.
Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen partially run by Generation Z, to teach them about the methods and also physics of cooking.
Greenhouse
Houses plants. The Greenhouse, similar to the Kitchen, is also partially run by GenZ as a method of teaching environmental sustainability
Material Storage
Houses industrial and art materials. This is again, partially organised by Generation Z. The material storage bank is connected to the playground activity houses and provides an constantly fluctuating supply of resources.
Proposed Existing