FALOWIEC : Spatial Interventions as ReUrbanization

FALOWIEC A COLLECTIVE LONELINESS

PRO GRESSIVE EVOLU TION OF SO CIALIST MASS HOUSING SPATIAL INTERVENTIONS AS REURBANIZATION THESIS PROJECT SUMMARY

Mar tyna Michalik 2016

Architecture & Urban Master Thesis Martyna Michalik advisor : dr hab. inż. arch. Krystyna Pokrzywnicka, prof. nadzw. PG reviewer : dr hab. inż. arch. Andrzej Baranowski, prof. PG Gdańsk University of Technology 2016 Acknowledgments & Special Thanks : Peter Staub, Magdalena Podwojewska, Robert Idem, Andrzej Baranowski Daniel González Alonso, Paweł Maszota, Hana Pleskačová family & friends

this is a summary of the conceptual proposal of the thesis project. the timeline was originally presented on four A0 panels.

1970 [ FA I L E D U TO P I A ]

2016 URBAN REVIVAL [ BOTTOM-UP ] SOCIAL

FORMAL

INTEGRAL

2020 PUBLIC EXCHANGE

BUFFER

R E U R B A N I Z AT I O N

GROUND-LEVEL

2030

HETEROTOPIA

PUNCTURE

DISCOVERING COLLECTIVITY [ SPATIAL SPECTRUM ] [ COLLECTIVITY AS PROGRESS ]

SOCIAL HOUSING

PUBLIC

2040

SEMI / PUBLIC S E M I / P R I VAT E P R I VAT E

CHALLENGING PROGRESS

R E LO C AT I O N

NEW USE

ABSTRACT

The falowiec was designed as the direct urgent response to a desperate deprivation of housing - one that especially enveloped cities of post-war Europe. Derived from the modernist movement and exploited by socialist regimes, the utopian visions of mass housing estates ultimately failed to create the perfect society. Inhabitants became anonymous users and homes became confined units. A collective loneliness prevails. The overwhelming scale and static monofunctionality descends mass housing estates into degradation and isolation. In contemporary context they are the source of social stigmatism and spatial fragmentation, whilst remaining irreplacable in providing cheap housing to a desperate percentage of the population.

This thesis responds to the ongoing state of social and formal degredation of the falowce [pl] in Poland. Through comprehensive analysis of the historical and cultural genesis of the issue, the future of socialist mass housing estates is considered in context of social, architectural and urban development. Recognizing the specificity of challenges reaching beyond the dialogue of physical space - the concept is portrayed through a narrative timeline.

The proposal introduces a progressive evolution process executed at different scales. A series of acupunctural interventions are regarded as an adaptable program instead of a singular plan. The main formal aspects of the concept deal with the relationships of public, semi-public, semi-private and private space - as fundamental elements of reurbanization. The human scale is re-established through a collective process encouraging a more sustainable, multi-dimensional development strategy, that challenges the future functional program of the falowiec.

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The concept is portrayed through a narrative timeline that explains the situation of the space at each point in time along with an description of the design proposals.

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The timeline anticipates three different main scenarios located at different points along the Falowiec.

Each scenario is also a representation of specific conceptual proposals at different stages in the future.

Other smaller concepts support the main scenarios and are also dispersed through time.

1970 BIRTH OF UTOPIA

PRZYMORZE NEIGHBORHOOD, GDAŃSK, 1969-1972

2016 U R BA N REVIVAL

The first conceptual responses pertain to the grander urban scale of the entity of the neighborhood. Certain acupuntucre actions have been designed as a frist step in the transformation.

These actions are focused around the existing public space - not solely for the inhabitants. The transformation of public space is regarded as an essential step into the entire conceptual process. Making the public spaces more efficient and taking advantage of exisiting unused infrastructure opens opportunities to create urban life - which currently is inexistant.

The few actions were chosen based on the most basic unsatisfiable needs of the neighborhood - pertaining to mobility, friendliness of public space, greenery and recreation. The challenge is to animate the exisiting society living in the neighborhood - which has grown accustomed to indifference and isolation. At the same time, making the public space attractive and efficient as a whole will also bring the movement and migration of other people into the space - creating opportunities for meetings and interaction.

BIKE MOBILITY new bike routes seperated and integrated with pedestrians, bike parking CAR PARKING underground and surface parking with strict zones for permanent and temporary PUBLIC TRANSPORT inner microbus route with more frequent schedule, shortening walking distances for elderly people WASTE MANAGMENT & RECYCLING underground waste bins and biowaste and recycling collectors. second hand and reuse containers.

REVIVING ABANDONED PUBLIC SPACE adapting exiting amphiteatre to a periodical event and performance schedule ENGAGING RESIDENTS IN TRANSFORMATION events around local tree planting, urban furniture construction or reparations and painting allow community integration and engagement in the process of transformation RECREATIONAL & FITNESS ACCESS for the health and wellbeing of the residents, access to sport facilities and fitness is essential. urban multifunctional playgrounds with priority access to residents.

2020 PUBLIC EXCHANGE

Once the urban and social interventions are put into place, the concept begins with the first proposed Scenario. This Scenario deals directly with public and semi-public space. The location of the site is located along the falowiec from the north facade, where at this point the placement of the falowiec is farthest from the ul. Obrońców Wybrzeża and consists of the largest existing open underpass through the building at the ground level.

The concept proposes that the first intervention remain in the theme of public exchange - engaging and reviving the existing public space and creating new form that aims to reurbanize and create urban life. This will ultimately make the transistion from “neighborhood” to “city”.

The proposal hopes to integrate and pull in the falowiec into urban street life.

The current existing space between the falowiec and the street is neither truly public nor semi-public nor semi-private nor private. It is a space containing chaotic parking lots and direct access pathways to entrances of the falowiec. In order to transform this space into the explained rerubanization, the underlaying concept of urban composition is divided into 3 elements.

BUFFER In order to deflect the current direct relation of the falowiec to the street, a buffer zone is needed running parallel to the street. Thanks to this buffer space, the line of the ground directly in front of the falowiec gains the qualities of an more intimate semi-public space, becoming an urban interior. This buffer zone is not intended strictly to be built in architectural form - plazas, greenery or recreational zones can also outline the two spaces.

PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION One of the predominant spatial and compositional problems surrounding the falowiec is the uninterrupted length and linearity, lacking intermittent forms that would break up the monotone of length. For this reason, perpendicular direction and movement is required. This takes place in the form of trees - greenery, as well as breaks and breaths in the new architectural forms, as well as new roads and pathways.

ENGAGE GROUND LEVEL Since the ultimate concentration of urban life exists on the ground level, it is essential that the new forms engage the lower levels to meet this requirement in terms of form and function. Only in this way the public space becomes a place of meeting and urban-social dialogue. Transparency of materials and openings, walk-throughs and passage-ways are all essential elements that give access to the ground level. In terms of functionality, the ground level of most of the new buildings should be reserved for either public access or generally-available services.

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PLAN OF SCENARIO I 1:1000

ENTRANCE HALL SCHEME

new barrier-free entrance undergroung connection to parking garage

gallery facade panels lifted underpass UNDERPASS & NEW FACADE SCHEME

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ENTRANCE FACADE FRAGMENT 1:400

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PLAN OF ENTRANCE FIRST FLOOR 1:400

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PLAN OF ENTRANCE GROUND FLOOR 1:400

SCENARIO I AXONOMETRY - NORTH

After the north side of the falowiec becomes progressively re-urbanized into enclaves of public and semi-public space, the second Scenario calls upon action in the private and semi-private space. With this however, comes the challenge of social collectivity and community. The purpose of this stage is to break up the space so that it exhibits a comfortable human scale.

A predominant spatial problem of the falowiec and entire Przymorze neighborhood (as well as other mass housing estates) is the harsh contrast between public and private space, without semi-private or semi-public.

The undeveloped and unoccupied space between the buildings is both everyone’s and no one’s. To give the inhabitants the necessary components of urban space, the underlaying concept of urban composition is divided into 3 elements.

2030

DISCOVERING COLLECTIVITY

DIVISION AND DISTRIBUTION The south side of the falowiec is first divided parallel to its line into - private - shared - collective and semi-public.

The extended private, located closest to the falowiec acts as an extension of the living space into a private garden. The next, shared - requires the engagement of a small scale group (a couple of neighborhs) to jointly inhabit the space - whatever function it might be. The third, collective creates space available to a larger group of inhabitants - perhaps from an entire floor or vertical segment of the falowiec. The final is the public space of the street and use of the new frontage.

PERPENDICULAR EXTENSTION The purpose of this stage is to figuratively and literally extend the space of the falowiec into the south ground. Therefore the entire space between the falowiec and the street become an urban interior enclave and semi-private spaces intertwined with semi-public. Similarly to the north side, the perpendicular direction of new form breaks up the spatial monotone length of the falowiec.

NEW FRONTAGE As the new form appears on the south facade - creating an extension of the falowiec - a new frontage is created along the line of the street.

Not only does this enhance a more intense urban environment, it also creates a more pleasant urban angle experienced by the users of the public space and street. The aspect of the human scale is therefore returned to a comfortable proportion.

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NEW FLAT ARRANGEMENT 1:400

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CURTAIN WALL CATALOGUE

existing standard apartment 32m2 / 39m2 / 56m2 NEW FLAT ARRANGEMENT SCHEME

proposed new apartment 64m 2 / 90m 2 / 122m 2

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NEW DOUBLE-STOREY FLAT ARRANGEMENT 1:400

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PLAN OF SCENARIO II 1:2000

SHARED COMMON SPACE SCHEME

shared loggias & terraces parterre co-working collective spaces

green roof terrace FIVE POINTS OF MODERNISM REVIVAL SCHEME

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PLAN OF PAVILLION FIRST LEVEL 1:450 PLAN OF PAVILLON GROUND FLOOR 1:450

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SECTION SCENARIO II 1:450

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PLAN OF PAVILLON UPPER FLOOR 1:450

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SCENARIO II AXONOMETRY - SOUTH

shared spaces SOCIAL HOUSING MODEL SCHEME

2-people living spaces 42m 2 / 44m 2

shared gadren space SOCIAL HOUSING EVOLUTION SCHEME

3-4 people living space 66m 2

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SOCIAL HOUSING PLAN GROUND / FIRST / SECOND FLOOR 1:200

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2040

CHALLENGING PR O G R ES S The conceptual proposals at this stage are in some aspects a continuation of the previous stages. The challenge is to achieve a certain degree of constant progress in the space, so that it does not remain static and “forgotten�.

Constant development, extensions and additions create opportunity for innovation and creativity.

Furthermore, the challenge is to gradually engage the residents into the process as active participants. After being accustomed to participation and social engagement through small tasks and responsabilities, it is possible that a larger responsability and respect for the inhabitant space can be developed. Due to its location and centrality, the currently empty and desolate public space of the neighborhood has the potential to become a dynamic urban environment.

SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRESSIVE EVOLUTION SCHEME

shared social spaces & gardens double-storey apartment extension (2 pp) 42m 2 + 48m 2 = (4 pp) 90m 2 (3-4 pp) 66m 2 + 66m 2 = (5-6 pp) 132m 2

SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT This stage of the social housing model is a continuation of the previous description.

The “permanent” segments have mostly grown with extenstions. The urban composition of these arrangements becomes more and more complex as private or cooperative settlements are completed. Over time, it is possible that an evolution of design of the curtain walls occurs - this will allow for variation in the current framework, creaiting more organic and vernaciular character of the houses.

MODERNIST VISION REVIVIAL Le Corbusier’s anticipated five points of modernism have been rarely used in most housing blocks. Aspects of this proposal use certain points of “the five” to deal with the falowiec (open plan of the new pavillon, punctures and accessible parterre in the falowiec, flexible facade with the new catalogue of curtain walls). Additionally, the project proposes the use of the roof of the falowiec, specifically for a greenroof with an open garden and terrace.

FUTURE EXISTANCE OF FALOWCE Today, it is still not certain how long mass housing blocks or specifically the falowiec will survive. This project proposes a concept that forsees a progressive fragmentation of the falowiec, wether it be literal physical (removal of small apartments, parterres, or larger entire segments) or figurative (abandonement and relocation). For this purpose, the concept proposes to retain the volumes that once existed as a part of the mass housing and replace them in the same space in a different form. Though this is most directly aimed at housing, the new volumes naturally hold a mixed use of functions - replenishing the current lack of them.

SCENARIO III AXONOMETRY - SOUTH