Adaptive Living Workflow by klaudiaradlinska_id

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”

~ Socrates I

ADAPTIVE LIVING WORKFLOW II

Table of Contents. 1. Introduction 2. Typology. Compact and Hybrid Living 2.1. User Groups 2.2. Case Studies 2.3. The Psychology of Living in Small Spaces 2.4. Compact Living - a new trend? 2.5. Psychology of Light and Colour 3. Selected Site 3.1. Blytshwood Analysis 3.2. Population characteristics 3.3. Sustainable City 3.4. 243-245 St Vincent Street 3.5. Renovated Tenements 4. Updated concept. Design Development 4.1. Planing Analysis 4.2. Proposal 4.3. Communal Space 4.4. Materiality Case Study 4.5. Adaptable apartments 4.6. Modularity

1 3 4 6 11 12 13 15 15 17 19 22 24 27 30 34 36 46 52 60

5. Bibliography

III

1. Introduction

Contemporary life in Earth is being threatened by uncontrolled urbanisation, overpopulation, climate change and related to these the housing crisis. As designers we are constantly looking for the most appropriate solutions to make people’s living conditions better and less harmful to the environment. In fact, sustainability has become one of the key strategies in city and housing planning. The concept of compactness might become essential when planning not only in terms of the size and shape of cities, but also in the relation to the dimensions of our houses while one of the major and increasing environmental damage is closely linked to private properties and their forms. In the light of the urban sprawl

remaining as an eternal problem of urbanisation, many people have recently decided to re-evaluate their needs and moral values, choosing smaller, more flexible and eco-friendly dwellings. However, the solution is not simply scaling down regular types of housing and squeeze more apartments into the same space. In that case, what form will our new homes take? Even though we have to take further actions to successfully accommodate the constant population growth, are we still able to make our new houses comfortable and adaptable? Additionally, are we able to preserve the history and tradition of our cities?

2. Typology. Compact and Hybrid Living Initially, the aim of this project was to explore an innovative way of implementing compact living by merging two different spaces: on the one hand a private space, and on the other hand an open program which includes: work, hobby and relax. My intention was to find innovative ways of influencing people’s every-day life and possibly change their habits. Also, what impact the compact living can have on the cities and environment people live in. Considering the current situation caused by Covid-19, many people have had to spend large amounts of time at home working, looking after their family members, or doing it all at the same time. Some of them live in apartments with limited space (very often not by choice,

but because of socioeconomical circumstances). And the pandemic exacerbated all these even more as they had to live cooped up in tiny spaces where they worked and took care of the family.

2.1. User Groups

My aim was to develop two parallel iterations of the same project, the first of which will meet the needs of young adults who live alone or with their partner and the second will meet the needs of families. The first case comprises the larger group of people living in compact apartments. For them privacy, a quiet room to sleep, cooking facility, and a space to socialise and work are the most important factors. Unfortunately, not all of these aspects are included in small apartments, thus making Compact Living less attractive. I intend to use the communal space to improve living conditions in small flats. The second case is directed to try solving the housing crisis which is still present in Scotland, across the whole UK, and in many other developed countries. However, compact living for even a small family sounds very challenging. People from that group appreciate privacy, a quiet space to sleep, cooking facilities, but they also need a sense of security which means they are not struggling to meet monthly expenses. Could that problem be solved by the smart-designed compact living? I will try to answer this question during my design process.

Different sources (Mutter 2013; Boeckermann 2018; and online sources) have identified a few groups of people who are interested in living small. Most often they are individuals like young adults, students, retirees, seniors, but also those ones who are fascinated by compact design. Almost half of that population live alone, around 1/3 live with a partner, the remaining live with the family.

Why living small? Motivations. Young adults: for many from that group the economically accessible price remains as the most important factor as it is the only way they can afford their own property. However, there are also other factors why people decide to live in smaller properties: 1. Finances 2. Environmentalism 3. Freedom 4. Leading a simpler life 5. Removing themselves from the culture of over consumerism. 6. Creating a community (Boeckermann, Kaczynski, King 2018)

2.2. Case Studies

Hybrid Living Flats and houses are usually divided into common areas like bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and daily rooms. However, sometimes a client can ask for additional programs that could be related to his work or hobbies. This can make the design and daily spatial distribution more efficient. Tree-ness House in Tokyo (Toshima) by Akihisa Hirata Residence + gallery + garden

This organic architecture is integrated with a combination of parts having different characteristics such as plants, pleats (as openings) and concrete boxes. The architect set up a calm environment such as bedrooms and a gallery inside of the box. On the other hand, the outside of the box becomes terraces, gardens, and the place surrounded by glass as the living room and dining room.

Office - Residence Building by Tomoyuki Kurokawa Architects Residence + office This architectural complex consists of the office, the shared-room style student residences, and the residences for the staff members and the client. The building is located within the shopping district near the university. An entrance hall is situated along with a town street and opened to the city, so that the open area can be used as a lecture space for the students, or as a casual drop-by space for any city residents.

Home – Art studio in Gaucin by DTR studio architects Residence + art studio Understanding the ideas of the lights and the space. The painting studio, sited in the ground floor, has double height to allow paint large format pictures. The attic room is built with a light structure and open to the work area. The living area is upstairs, developed as a open space and looking at the amazing views. 7

Compact Living Undoubtedly, the world is becoming a cluster of cities, where the most of the world’s population is concentrated. This is creating an increasing demand for new apartments, which together with today’s phenomena such as individualism and changes in family structure, makes small dwellings the fastest growing type of residence. (Konemann, Compact Houses 2019) Nr 1977 by Mihadesign in Tokyo This is a renovation of a 770 square feet apartment in Tokyo designed for a family of five. Playing with the verticality of the space, the designer was able to create a great living for five people. The wooden furniture in this project became dividers of the apartment.

Chatou by H20 Architects in Chatou, France Chatou by Paris-based h2o Architectes is a garden pavilion where the furniture forms the entire interior. Arranged on four split levels, the 12m² building is intended for a teenager to live within the garden of the family home. Made from silver birch plywood, the furniture allows for sleeping, living, studying and washing.

Final wooden house by Sou Fujimoto architects Extraordinary Design. Outstanding in terms of space and design where the interior is characterised by no separation between floor, wall and ceiling. The house allows people to experience multiple special measurements and its inhabitants have the opportunity to progressively explore and discover different functions of objects rather than sticking with the ones conventionally prescribed. In such a way, we can get the greatest possible dynamic space from just a single small room. 9

Rehabilitation of an interior and furniture design by Paul Coudamy Organic forms inseminate in a minimalist space created by wooden pieces of furniture of various species that lay on the raw concrete floor. The inhabitant sizes the space to his conveniences. The different furniture can be stored under the elevated bed that contains: a dressing, a storage space, a table, six seats and a bench as well as a small and a large dresser.

2.3. The Psychology of Living in Small Spaces

The potential health risks and crowding challenges might outweigh the benefits of affordable housing.

There has been growing concern that the internal space of new dwellings may be getting smaller. There is evidence that less family size housing is being provided. There is however concern that internal space within both family and non-family homes may also be reducing. This has implications for both accessibility and for sustainability and for quality of life including health… (Park, 2017).

Studies shown (Zhang 2019) that in the relationship between perception of the volume and the floor area, we concern that in the same volume, the higher the story feels more comfortable. So most of the small house in the area, which cannot be increased, will choose layer overhead mode to increase the comfort of the living room.

Small but not too small Very small apartments may be a great idea for young professionals in their 20’s. However, they can be unhealthy for older people, in their 30’s and 40’s, who face different stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem. In different ages people face distinct stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem. Experts also believe that kids who grow up in teeny apartments can develop short attention spans or social problem (Urist, 2013). Study the comfort for living room

2.4. Compact Living - a new trend?

People have been always living in small flats. However, new ideas and solutions make small spaces feel bigger - more liveable, comfortable and functional. There are many reasons for people to move into a small house. In most big cities, lack of space and high real estate prices make it a necessity to live in limited space if a person wants a place without moving to the suburbs. Today, the compact living spaces, both apartments and houses, don’t have to be cramped. Smart design and advanced technologies can make such spaces spacious enough for normal living.

A great example of an innovative small house is High House by architecture and interior design practice in Paris and Montreal, Delordinaire. The building provides unconventional space, and its lifted structure allows the natural light to directly enter the house at any time of the day. Its stilt typology and large windows provide an uninte rupted peaceful vista which makes the exterior become an extension of the interior. At the same time, these characteristics increase the inhabitant’s perception of available space while unifying them with nature.

2.5. Psychology of Light and Colour

How Colors Change the Perception of Interior Spaces If we create an environment with walls, floors, and neutral ceilings, when we apply certain colours on the different surfaces, we get different visual effects. For example, if we apply a darker shade on the ceiling, the sensation of a lower space is generated.

If we apply colour to the central wall of space, the idea of a certain “spatial shortening” is created visually.

On the other hand, when the idea is to make the room appear more compact, smaller, and cozier, opting for stronger colors on wall surfaces can work well.

Painting the walls in a darker color and leaving the ceiling white makes it feel like a higher ceiling (archdaily.com).

To create a feeling of spaciousness in an environment, the best method is to use light colors, which will reflect natural light and make surfaces appear larger to the eyes.

Colours and their perceptions are responsible for a series of conscious and subconscious stimuli in our psycho-spatial relationship. According to Israel Pedrosa (painter and writer), “a colourful sensation is produced by the nuances of light refracted or reflected by a material, commonly the word colour is designated to those shades that function as stimuli in a chromatic sensation.”

For Luis Barragán colour plays as significant role as dimension or space. Rough textures and water reflections heighten the impact of bright sunlight in his colourful buildings.

“One may say that architecture is the thoughtful making of spaces. … It is the creating of spaces that evoke a feeling of appropriate use. To the musician a sheet of music is seeing from what he hears. A plan of a building should read like a harmony of spaces in light. Even a space intended to be dark should have just enough light from some mysterious opening to tell us how dark it really is. Each space must be defined by its structure and the character of its natural light.”. - Louis Kahn 14

3. Selected Site 243-245 St Vincent Street - The building is one of the symmetrical classical Georgian townhouses located on St Vincent Street, between Blythswood Street and Douglas Street. The reason why I chose this site is that the building is part of a section of terraced houses and its structure is repetitive in that particular area. This means that the idea of compact apartments could be continued in more than a single building, thereby creating a settlement of buildings with a similar internal ethos.

mainly offices, hotels, shops, restaurants and art organisations.

Closer Analysis 1. The main function of the terraced houses is office use. Most of the offices are allocated only on the ground floor, sometimes also on the 1st floor leaving the rest of the building without occupancy. 2. Some of the buildings are residential with small services on the ground floor or basement (cafes, shops). 3. There are a few hotels in the nearest area.

3.1. Blythswood Analysis

4. Very well-developed services and public transport.

This particular building sequence is situated on Blythswood Hill which is one of the central hills overlooking the River Clyde, and forms the city of Glasgow. The area was developed as one of its prestigious residential areas from 1800 onwards, being known then as the magnificent New Town of Blythswood. Later on, the terrace was converted for commercial use in the late 19th century, as residents moved out to the developing West End and southern suburbs. Today, residential use is returning to Blythswood Hill, while remaining

5. Lack of cycling paths. 6. Lack of urban greenery, gardens or parks which is a huge disadvantage for the residential development. 7. There are a few new co-working buildings (today, they are getting more and more popular) 8. The area is very attractive to young people and active individuals.

Glasgow Central Conservation Area

The building is located in Glasgow Central Conservation Area, even though, close to its borders what makes that zone a unique combination of old and new architecture.

Listed buildings in the area RED: A listed BLUE: B listed PINK: C listed 243-245 St Vincent Street : B listed. Lo16

cated at the intersection of St Vincent and Douglas Streets.

3.2. Population characteristics

Glasgow is the largest city of Scotland and the fourth largest of United Kingdom by population. The city has a total population over 608,000.000 and the density of 3,521 people per square kilometre. The population of Glasgow is constantly increasing every year, which contributes to the fact that some neighbourhoods of Glasgow, also Blythswood, attempt to repopulate and increase their density to turn them into a more vibrant and alive districts, at the same time trying to avoid the further spread of city urbanisation. The Blythswood District is divided by the M8 which cuts through the area in a north-south axis. The western portion is the predominately residential area, the eastern side is mostly represented by offices and hospitality. The dominant property use in Blyhswood neighbourhood is offices (58%) followed by hospitality/ leisure (19%), and the residential use (18%) (Blythswood Report, June 2019).

Glasgow, Scotland, G2 5QY is based on the last census performed in the UK in 2011. They are performed once every 10 years. The figures are therefore representative of the local area, not a specific street address or row of houses. The census collection is designed so that each group of postcodes should contain at least 100 people (50 in Scotland). (https://www.streetcheck.co.uk/) Age group A large concentration of residents that are aged 18-30. This is most commonly seen in inner city areas that have good entertainment facilities (bars, clubs, theatres etc.) that appeal to this younger demographic.

Area Information for St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 5QY

The information on housing, people, culture, employment and education that is displayed about St. Vincent Street, 17

Housing Tenure The area containing St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, contains a higher than average level of rented housing.

Housing Occupancy This data lists the total number of residents normally resident within each household.

Relationship Status In the immediate vicinity of G2 5QY there is a large concentration of residents that are single - 62% of the resident population. 18

3.3. Sustainable City

“Sustainability as a concept includes principles of social equity, access to resources, participation and social capital, as well as a concern with human rights and exclusion.” The concept of social sustainability has been highly influential in the development of contemporary UK housing policy, the objective being most evident through the policy of creating mixed-income communities, involving a combination of ‘affordable’ properties and market housing. This agenda aims to confront the problem of social exclusion (Manzi, Lucas, Lloyd Jones, Allen, 2010). Urban areas that succeed in providing affordable housing for people with fewer resources while continuing to attract higher-paid employees can effectively grow. The social mixture in cities helps to create safe and attractive environments with good services, which highly encourage professional workers to stay in the area. Without this mixture, cities polarise into a group of ghettos and that is a big danger confronting our cities as it generates economic and social unsustainability. (Rogers, Power, 2000)

Blythswood Urban Village

Key objectives:

Based on the Blythswood Report provided by the city of Glasgow, I developed a plan on how my project could help transform the Blythswood neighbourhood towards more sustainable development. The modular concept could be repeated also in different districts of the city.

1. Shift towards a more efficient, healthy and sustainable mobility 2. Create more attractive and remarkable public spaces: urban greenery 3. Create diverse building environment with existing buildings 4. Create high density and lively city centre 5. Turn Blythswood into a more vibrant mixed neighbourhood

Blythswood Hill was Glasgow’s first suburb consists of Georgian townhouses. However, as Glasgow prospered the area became the commercial centre of the city. The terraced houses adapted to house offices and hotels as the residential population moved out to the western and southern suburbs. Now the neighbourhood is undergoing further changes and urban planners assume new projects in the coming years including: 1. Update St Vincent Street 2. mproved Blythsood Square 3. Public art 4. Low emission Zone 5. Smarter Blythswood 6. Street safety and accessibility 7. Strong and diverse neighbourhood 8. Community amenity and infrastructure plan 9. DRF Planing Policy: Mixed and re-populed Blythswood 10. Re-purpose vacant spaces/buildings

3.4. 243-245 St Vincent Street

This classical house is made with Ashlar stone. The building is rusticated at ground floor with voussoir window lintels. On the 1st floor, the windows are with architraves and cornices with apron panels. (https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/) Site Visit. 243-245 St Vincent Street, Glasgow.

The above property is a vacant office townhouse occupying five floors ground, first, second, also lower ground and basement - and attic on the corner of St Vincent Street and Douglas Street. The site’s topography rises from south to north such that the rear ground level is two storeys lower than the front such that to the front the building presents as three storeys whilst to the rear as five. The building is dilapidated but many original features survive: cast iron railings to the front, fireplaces, fireplace surrounds, door architraves, skirtings, window panels, cornicing and a large skylight. Details The building is entered via a flying staircase which leads to two doors. The twodoor arrangement allowed for separate accesses to the residential and office space. 22

Ashlar is a type of masonry which is finely cut or worked, and is characterised by its smooth, even faces and square edges. It can also be used to refer to an individual stone that has been finely cut and worked until squared. Ashlar has been used in construction as an alternative to brick or other materials dating back to classical architecture, where it was often used to contrast with rustication.

Georgian Tenement

Tenements in Edinburgh and Glasgow

The Georgian period lasts from 1714 to 1830 – and what we consider the late Georgian period from 1830 to 1837.

Tenements make up a large percentage of the housing market of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Glasgow tenements were built to provide high-density housing for the large number of people immigrating to the city in the 19th and early 20th century as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

It covers the reign of George I to George IV. Broadly speaking, it covers the 18th century and is generally identified by very simple facades. It is all about symmetry, and Georgian properties often appear quite plain. They are often built with brick and stone, sash windows, and later with stucco. Properties built in this period were built to be spacious and comfortable, with grand proportions and a heightened sense of space and light.

Many tenements in Glasgow were demolished in the 60s and 70s because of slum conditions, overcrowding and poor maintenance of the buildings. Perhaps the most striking case of this is seen in the Gorbals, where virtually all the tenements were demolished to make way for tower blocks. 23

3.5. Renovated Tenements

Inspirations Renovation of a traditional tenement house in Glasgow by Goodd Design.

In this project, the owners decided to convert one of the brighter front rooms into the kitchen. Usually the kitchens are at the back of these tenement buildings, but in this instance, wasn’t it just the right thing to do? - to live in the bright front rooms of this beautiful apartment; while, the bedrooms are ideal at the quieter side of the house. (greatscottishindoors.com)

To create a bright and modern home, the architects decided to reconfigure the floor plan. The former kitchen has been opened up and now includes a dining area, complete with white-painted walls and oak herringbone floors. (dezeen.com)

Transformation of a Georgian townhouse into a modern living space.

Hanging front and center on the walls of the spacious entry are the owners’ bikes.

Overcoming spatial problems:

“The bikes…have a special meaning for the owners - they are not only their primary means of transportation but an

The north-facing living area had 24

hardly any access to natural light, and the kitchen was small and felt isolated from the other rooms.

A great modern apartment for a Couple “Who Lives and Breathes Urban Life”

expression of urban freedom,” says Blaž Kandus, co-founder of Kombinat Arhitekti, an architecture studio based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (remodelista.com)

Tenement in South London The owners’ mission was to keep costs down as much as possible. They renovated the kitchen and bathroom, exposing plaster walls, painting the floorboards, and adding touches of colours.

“We didn’t plan to leave the ‘feature wall’ - as we’ve come to ironically describe it - in the living room like that,”

says Mina. “It was just going to be skimmed, but when the old wallpaper was ripped off, it exposed this incredible surface of old plaster with a beautiful color scheme. We loved it as it was” (remodelista.com)

“The dwelling again puts before us the architectural problem in the demand for totally new methods of building, the problem of new plans adapted to modern life, the problem of an aesthetic in harmony with the new spirit.” ~The City of To-morrow and Its Planning, Le Corbusier 26

4. Updated concept. Design Development In the housing market there are many singles share apartments designed for families, with master bedrooms and smaller rooms for children – it is a layout that doesn’t work for adult roommates. “It’s a real crisis because it ends up being hugely dysfunctional in the housing market,” Watson, a deputy director of Citizens Housing and Planning Council, said (theguardian.com). The current system of housing delivery is failing to meet demand (for 1-2 householders) (Armstrong 2016). But could the answer be found in bold, imaginative, design-led solutions? Is it possible to make a house that adapts to the needs of families through time?

Adaptive Living On the one hand, modern families have often non-conventional structures. On the other hand, globalisation and career-focus individuals are driven towards relocating outside their place of origin. These modern life trends require new space management approaches. The main concept behind the marriage of adaptive living and modular space is that any given house has to evolve as a family member. A single family unit starts small, then grows and last decreases in size. When acquiring properties in the first place, the owners can split the space in two or more separate compact living spaces. This way, they can profit from putting that extra space in the rental market, save money, but also help others to obtain a more affordable apartment. Later, when the family grows, owners can reacquire and integrate the space back into the main property. But, most importantly, once the children leave the family house, that extra space can again be split and go back to the rental market.

4.1. Planing Analysis

Exisiting Plans The exisiting plans for 243-245 St Vincent Street have been found on the Glasgow City Council website https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/.

Plans as exisitng:

Actual state of the Ground Floor

Demolition:

Actual state of the Lower Ground Floor

4.2. Proposal The two upper floors are addressed for flexible apartments where one bigger flat can become two smaller ones. The ground floor has been designed as a communal open space dedicated to residents, but also with the possibility of external access (after booking a place). On the lower ground floor, from the south side, the space is dedicated to a fully accessible apartment. The second part of the same floor is used for a café, thus creating a more lively building with various purposes. Glazed in-house garden At the back of the building there is a parking space (~13 m), which could be partially used for a glass-type garden. An extension of this character could definitely have a positive impact on life in the city and encourage people to live in urban areas.

4.3. Communal Space When designing housing, especially with small flats, it is always good to look at communal areas to compensate for the shortage of space in small apartments. This can also have a positive impact on people’s social lives by nurturing local communities as it encourages them to spend time together while sharing facilities. These could include a common working space, lounge area, or greenery. In the current times of Covid-19, many people have had to spend large amounts of time at home working and looking after their family members at the same time. Taking this into account, family-friendly coworking spaces will take the workspace culture to the next level and soon they can become very popular. Undoubtedly, these spaces can preserve the best components of a conventional coworking hub supplemented with a childcare aspect. Family-friendly working space An open-plan workspace has been designed on the ground floor with the possibility of sectionalising it into three zones: two zones for work, including one with a height-adjustable table, and one zone for relaxation. This family-friendly coworking space can let caring parents balance their work 36

and life, keep strong bonds with their youngsters, and build a career.

Urban greenery People’s perception of a good quality city depends largely on accessibility to urban green and blue spaces (rivers, lakes, etc.) as they have a significant impact on people’s health and well-being. The World Health Organisation advises that each individual should have an access to a minimum of 9 m2 of green space with the urban green space value of 50m2 per capita. This suggests that new approaches related to greenery should be introduced when planning and designing residential developments.

In-house garden The design of the in-house garden supports the belief that having access to green areas and nature as well as openair spaces has a positive impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing. The creation of similar spaces might encourage people to live in urban areas. Because of the above, a glazed extension has been added to the rear part of the building. The floors of the garden are connected with a staircase and a lift to make the building better accessible.

Glass House by Maison de Verre. Inspiration Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre is one of the most celebrate icons of modern architecture. La Maison de Verre (French for House of Glass) was built between 1928 and 1932 in Paris, France. This masterpiece of modern architecture used primary industrial materials such as steel, glass, and the famous concentric glass blocks.

Glass house by Maison de Verre

Glass block windows came into fashion around the early 1900s as a durable and insulating way to let natural light into factories. We still use them today: not only for windows but also for walls and skylights. Unlike ordinary glazing, these glass blocks would not overwhelm the rear facade of the tenement house with their modernity, and would also fit into the industrial character of the city of Glasgow. 40

Glass brick wall, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

Glass brick wall, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Small window frames, Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh

Proposal. The main material used in this space is glass brick emulating glasshouses. This material allows natural light to pass through without compromising any privacy.

Glass Brick This beautiful architectural material, also known as glass block, is made from glass. It provide visual obscuration while admitting light. The texture and color of glass blocks can vary in order to provide a range of transparency. Patterns can be pressed into either the inner void or the outside surface of the glass when it is cooling in order to provide differing effects. Glazes or inserts may also be added in order to create a desired private or decorative effect. Glass brick has an r value (insulation) between 1.75 and 1.96, close to that of thermopane windows. There are newer glass blocks injected with argon gas and having a layer of low-emissivity glass between the halves, which increases the insulative (U) value to 1.5 W/m²·K, which is between triple glazed windows (1.8 W/m²·K) and specialty double glazed windows with advanced frame and coatings(1.2 W/m²·K) (wikiwand.com).

The glass brick has been also added in different parts of the design: in the working space (ground floor) to let the natural light travel throughout the space, glass brick division wall (second floor) between staircase and corridor that leads to the rear garden, as well as glass bricks in the bathroom which allows light to come from the corridor.

Ground Floor - open plan and light flow

4.4. Materiality Case Study

Rubber Flooring Roll Rubber flooring which comes with a durable protective surface for toughness, stain-resistance and low maintenance. It is one of the greenest floors on the market. Makes a perfect fit for shared and working spaces.

chosen - working space and lounge

Whiewood flooring The original flat flooring in tenements is wooden. However, to keep this beautiful material we have to remember to put a good quality underlay to help with sound reduction and fire protection. Whitewood flooring has been laid out in the apartments on the first and second floors.

Apartments flooring

Durat It is a solid surface material made with recycled post-industrial plastics that can be used as a surface in interior applications. Durat was established in Finland in 1990 to create a sustainable material that combined recycling and design. The recycled plastic is granulated into small chips and cast into a resin base to create durable, silky sheets of solid surface. In the project, the material has been used for table surfaces in the common area and for worktops of the kitchen cabinets in the apartments.

Table surface

Kitchen worktops 47

The run of the stairs has been redesign again and returned to its orginal position.

White brick Brick material originally remains on the walls of the ground floor and the lower ground floor of the building. In the project, white brick material has been used for division walls and columns on the ground level. Ground Floor - division walls and columns

Lincoln The tile pattern is using the small 53mm/2” square and matching rectangle. Shown here with a simple border.

Ground Floor - Entrance

Huntingdon This pattern includes also a different hexagon to the others shown here. It’s a very useful shape particularly when creating borders.

Lower Ground Floor Cafe

Harrogate This tile pattern is using the 106mm/4” octagon and 37mm/1” square, suited to smaller areas like porches and halls. Shown with a modified Austen border.

4.5. Adaptable apartments Inspiration

“Form follows function” -the most basic tenet of the Bauhaus

Hundred and More It is a book and four wooden blocks which can be set in various configurations. The author, Hans Karl Zeisel - a Bauhaus-oriented creator, opens up countless design options with basic forms.

Table Lamp Cubelight This design by Tecnolumen is based on Bauhaus architecture and allows an infinite number of geometric design options and colour combinations.

House Within a House Hiromi Fujii, in his project for the Todoroki residence, the use of the grid leads to the modification of the traditional Japanese interior planning, where spaces were combined in layers. Every element which composes a conventional house is reinvented and relocated.

House in Takatsuki Designed by Tato Architects, House in Takatsuki is a three-storey building containing 16 different floor levels. The floors gently rise in a spiral, making it easy for people to move up and down the building. There are no staircases – instead residents walk over wooden blocks, shelves and other pieces of furniture to move between the different levels. 53

An adaptable flat in the Barbican Estate The apartment designed by London-based Studio Ben Allen contains a unit that acts as storage and as a wall partition, with a sliding door that is the only element that directly touches the Grade II Listed building’s exterior. The flexible furniture makes the space easily adaptable for a family of three.

Flexible small apartment in Milan An Italian architecture studio ATOMAA based in Milan and Edinburgh designed a small apartment in a historical building that presents various configurations by using moveable panels and fixed furniture which ‘act as spatial boundaries’. 54

Concepts of flexible dwelling lead to a more efficient and sustainable living when repurposing properties no matter their age, thus preserving the history and tradition of our cities.

Case study of the first floor layout

Case study of the second floor layout

4.6. Modularity

The project carries flexibility built into the scheme, so the apartment could change from one bigger flat into two smaller ones to suit the needs of its tenants. The flats are separated from each other with a double sliding panel which has been allocated in the kitchen area.

Adaptable Kitchen Great attention in the design is also paid to the appropriate location of the kitchen areas in both apartments. The intention was to divide the flats in the place of the kitchen so that after joining the two properties, two smaller kitchens would become one larger.

First Floor Layout 60

Modular kitchen with a close-open worktop. By Miniki

Kitchen case study

Kitchen cabinets fixed to a movable wall

Height adjustable worktop

Different kitchen configurations

Modular Kitchen Miniki MINIKI is a kitchen system that transforms into an elevated cupboard after use. There are three different base modules available (mk1, mk2, mk3). There are kitchens that meet many requirements - from mini kitchens with one sink and storage rooms for small offices, to kitchenettes with, for instance, a fridge and two cooking zones, or a fully equipped eat-in kitchen with the full range of functions. This makes miniki a adaptable and multi-purpose kitchen system. Miniki is made throughout of birch plywood with HPL laminate and sealed edges.

- close-open worktop - two cooking zones - induction - sink with a mixer tap

- close-open worktop - two cooking zones - induction - sink with a mixer tap - cabinet with shelf - fridge module

Individual appliances

Mixer tap - brushed chrome - high pressure - spout can be retracted and swivelled by 360° - with ceramic disk cartridge - flexible connector pipes Induction hob - touch controls - residual heat indicator - automatic pan recognition - automatic safety switch off - safety lock / control panel locking - dimensions : 380 x 520 mm

Fridge - gross/net capacity : 90/88 Liter - net capacity fridge: 79 Liter - net capacity freezer : 9 Liter - energy efficiency class : A+

Oven (various manufacturers) - overn - oven with microwave - steam oven

Height Adjustable Worktop Lift A height adjustable worktop has been added to one side of the kitchen which allows to clear off the window space when the worktop is not in use. However, the lift that adjust height of a worktop or a table is a great addition of an adaptable and flexible space installation, and a key feature in the accessible apartment which has been designed on the lower ground floor of the building. A simple change in height can provide great benefits in usability and independence in day-to-day living.

Ropox FlexiManual Height Adjustable Worktop Frame Assembly - 1000-2000mm Widths

Ropox FlexiElectric Height Adjustable Worktop Frame Assembly - 1000-2000mm Widths

Modular Furniture Different Case Studies. Inspiration Shapeshifting furniture in a Barbican apartment in London by Intervention Architecture.

GO-Growing Object It is an easy-to-assemble, tool-free, modular furniture system that adapts to user’s needs and space.

A composition of solid wooden shapes (oak boards and beech bearings) and blocks of cork are the basis of making very strong and resistant structures: without any nails or screws

play YET ! A furniture system that is polyvalent and reversible.

Adaptable Room

The room has been designed in a way that can be adaptable to the user: for an adult/couple, when there is one child in the house, and if there are two children in the family. The first case can be dedicated to a single adult or a couple and in that case, the room will provide a double bed as well as an adaptive mezzanine which can be used as a lounge (reading corner) or storage.

Transformative bed

Foldable table

Bibliography Books: Articles: 1. Ball, Rick, Space Craft: Design for Compact Living (London: A channel for book 1987). 2. Jenkins, Hannah, Living Little, simplicity and style in a small space (Australia: Images Publishing 2020). 3. Maak, Niklas, Living Complex, From Zombie City to the New Communal (Berlin: Hirmer 2015).

1. Armstrong, Angus, ‘Commentary: UK Housing Market: Problem and Polices’, National Institute Economic Review 235 (2016). 2. Foye, Chris, ‘The Relationship Between Size of Living Space and Subjective Well-Being’, Department of Real Estate and Planning, 18 (2017) p. 427-461 Reports:

3. Martínez Alonso, Claudia, Compact Houses (Koenemann 2020). 4. Rogers, Richard, Cities for a small planet (London, UK: Faber & Faber 1998). 5. Rogers, Richard and Anne Power, Cities for a small country (Cambridge UK: Faber & Faber 2000). 6. Ween, Camilla, Future Cities (UK: Hodder and Stoughton 2014). 6. Zeiger, Mimi, Tiny houses in the City (New York: Rizzoli 2016)

1. Blythswood Annual Report, (Y)our Blythswood (2019) 2. WHO, Urban green spaces and health, WHO Regional Office for Europe (Copenhagen: 2016) Online Sources: 1. Francisca González, María ‘Hybrid Homes: Living and Working Collide’ < https://www.archdaily. com/898641/hybrid-homes-living-andworking-collide-in-these-26-projects> [accessed 01 May 2021] 2. Souza, Eduardo, ‘How Colors Change the Perception of Interior Spaces’ <

https://www.archdaily.com/935067/ how-colors-change-the-perception-of-interior-spaces> [accessed 03 May 2021] 2. Urist, Jacoba, ‘The Health Risks of Small Apartments’ (2013), <https://www.theatlantic.com/ health/archive/2013/12/ the-health-risks-of-smallapartments/ 282150/> [accessed 01 May 2021] Videos: 1. NEVER TOO SMALL <https://www. youtube.com/channel/UC_zQ777U6YTyatP3P1wi3xw>

ADAPTIVE LIVING WORKFLOW Adaptive Living Klaudia Radlinska 19023227 Interior Design Y4 Glasgow School of Art 2021