Heterotopic grid. The other dwelling in the Green Belt. Drawings

CONCEPT PHOTOMONTAGE

HETEROTOPIC GRID The Other Dwelling in The Green Belt

Ivars Kalvans

The thesis investigates the potential of

The thesis draws parallels between the

using the heterotopic (other, different) grid

cultural, social and political issues of the

as a conceptual and formal framework

Others on one side and the accompanying

for a utopian vision - accommodating

urban processes and the role of Architecture

increasing growth of Scotland’s population

within them on the other. It also highlights

in a concentrated and equal manner

a set of questions which interrelate with

within a highly infrastructural Green Belt on

each other on the basis of the concept of

the city edge of Edinburgh.

heterotopia.

How could the heterotopic grid intensify, diversify and in the same time preserve the Green Belt?

How could the heterotopic grid be able to accept and embrace different social groups within a homogeneity of housing context and create an egalitarian community?

How could the heterotopic grid operate as the catalyst of utopian visions?

HETEROTOPIC GRID. UTOPIA IN PROCESS Precariat (the poorest class )forms

15 percent of the UK population.

24,909 people are on the waiting list for council housing in Edinburgh.

Once, there was a Green Belt around

There also were Others - people in crisis. It

Developers were interested to build as many

Edinburgh. It was a real countryside in the

was a housing crisis in the city of Edinburgh.

homes as possible. Detached houses were in

reach of hand.

Housing was for profit.

favour as they are more profitable than flats.

The two camps were fighting against each

Heterotopic grid projects desires and needs

Heterotopic grid is based on the concept of

other with opposite opinions about the future

of society on the ground. It reflects the idea

heterotopia by Michel Foucault and the idea

of the Green Belt. To build or not to build?

of preserved Green Belt and frames it.

of egalitarian society.

HETEROTOPIC GRID. URBAN CONCEPT

MAIN GRID ELEMENTS

The city of Edinburgh

City centre

Newbridge

Sub-centre

The Green Belt

Armature is the basic length module

which

different

(200m) of the grid’s section, a public

functions - housing, business and retail

space within the enclave and the

activities, car and bicycle parking. It

connecting and organising device

is a body (length 150m) of the social

between heterotopias.

accommodates

00

m

condenser.

16

m

00

16

Heterotopic grid

The enclave is a self-organizing system

Heterotopic grid as a framework for the future growth / sub-centres Heterotopic grid is an alternative to the proposed option of growth corridors by SES Plan.

Heterotopic grid defines a clear edge to the city by framing the Green Belt around it. At the same time, it preserves what it frames and by being porous, it allows nature, infrastructure, and people to flow through.

Sub-centres of intensified development could accentuate the presence of the city and reinforce the strength of the periphery.

The basic unit of the grid (in the rural context) is 1 square mile (1600 x 1600m).

Heterotopia

is a crossing point

Social condenser is a singular unit of

where flows of people from different

the heterotopic grid – a micro-city

enclaves,

and

where the main urban components –

implement their utopian visions. It

meet,

interact

enclave, armature, and heterotopia

starts as a void which provides a space

are condensed and manifested into

for possibilities and transformations.

one entity.

HETEROTOPIC GRID. DENSITY AND THE SPACE IN-BETWEEN Grid

Density

400x400m

15,000 inh./km2 3,750 inh./km2

800x800m

935

1600x1600m

235 inh./km2

200x200m

The size of the heterotopic grid responds to the local context.

inh./km2

The grid must be flexible to grow (adjust new buildings) and to adapt to the context - to be interrupted when it meets an obstacle, to enclose existing objects, to be lifted when there is a change in level.

Voids (200x200m) between social condensers. A park, allotments, futball field

Voids (400x400m) between social condensers. Warehouses

HETEROTOPIC GRID. SKETCH PHOTOMONTAGE

LOCATION PLAN I NEWBRIDGE VILLAGE SCALE 1:5000 PLAYGROUND

HIGH SCHOOL PRIMARY SCHOOL

TRANSPORT HUB

OPEN MARKET PLAYGROUND

K/ OU GR R DE UN

ND

R PA

K&

R

PA

E

RID

TO AIRPORT

LEISURE/HEALTH CENTRE

COMMUNITY CENTRE/ LIBRARY

PLAYGROUND

PLAYGROUND

PLAYGROUND

PLAYGROUND

PLAYGROUND

POPULATION ~ 3,000 INHABITANTS

HETEROTOPIC GRID. SITE MODEL SCALE 1:5000

HETEROTOPIC GRID. SOCIAL CONDENSER MODEL SCALE 1:500

HETEROTOPIC GRID. HETEROTOPIA: COMMUNITY CENTRE / LIBRARY / ART GALLERY

HETEROTOPIC GRID. THE STREET

HETEROTOPIC GRID. STREETS IN THE AIR

HETEROTOPIC GRID. WORKSHOP

HETEROTOPIC GRID. STUDIO FLAT