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