URBAN SPACES OF AMBIVALENCE PETRA ROSS
URBAN SPACES OF AMBIVALENCE Designing future proof neighbourhoods For the 20th Century Belt of Antwerp, Belgium PETRA ROSS with Yuki Fujita, Erika Vandekerckhove Teachers: Marc Dujardin, Gisèle Gantois, Steven Geeraert, Johan Nielsen, Tomas Ooms, Christophe Polack, Bart van Gassen KU LEUVEN, Campus Sint Lucas Ghent 2014/2015 Content: Introduction . Reading . Urgency Position . Lines of thought . Intervention
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INTRODUCTION
Antwerp as well as many other big cities is facing a demographic challenge. By the year 2030 the population will grow with 100.000 people. One of the option for such an increase is accommodation in the 20th century belt. Create new homes, new facilities and new jobs ... Every place has a certain history and by observation of changes in time and by detailed reading of current situation we can discover the essence of place. Public places are about people. They should attract them, make them feel comfortable and give them space for interaction. They should emphasize the social sustainability and living edge. Space where different communities can meet, where things happen in the same time and where is feeling of freedom. Suburb Wilrijk is part of 20th Centrury Belt of Antwerp since 1983. The history reaches around 600 BC and the population is still increasing. Every district around centre of Antwerp still keeps its own townhall, little historical core and it´s filled with modern interventions. Unfortunatelly the area is still not so progressive, and doesn´t have many facilities.People have to go to work or for entertainment to city centre or other more developed neighbourhoods almost daily. The main public space is Bist square. In a walkable distance from here is one of the historical forts of Antwerp surrounded by a green space. The area includes also large campus called Drie Eiken. It´s common that not all of the spaces are currently sufficient for high density development. It´s necessary to focus and support certain well functioning points of the network and transform them into new local cores for future development We started with research of existing historical core called Bist square and neglected University square. There is no connection between them yet, although they´re not far from each other. University square is basically not working as a square at all. It´s just a big parking place. After visiting the site and reading it the luring potential of the place slowly became clear. Although present, the square, the green lane and the mixed functions weren’t treated as they could be. In order to accommodate Antwerp’s future demographic challenge and to make things clear the site needs to be developed with a good visionary strategy. The urban strategy was made as a group approach and the intervetion was designed individually. My personal project, the generator, should be the first of many for the area. It will lay down a path for further development. When finished it will border the university square and redirect the focus to the water. GENERATOR FOR A NEW UNIVERSITY SQUARE is project proposing enrichment of the local core in suburbia of Antwerp. Using tools as comparing the two squares, creating specific program, analyzing the potential qualities and future options, we´ re getting more deep into this area. The intervention is a generator and the main strategy is clarification of the functional and spatial expression. The final result is new University square surrounded by attractive pedestrian zone supported by dense buildings and interesting facilities. Emphasis is placed on social sustainability and especially on community development. My inspirational lines of thought were touching topics like a density vs. individuality, living edge or community as an activator. Final design consist of rich typology mix with different solutions of sustainable architecture in sense of higher density development, water management and lighting issues.
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The traffic in this area is very dense. People are moving mostly by car, or walk just from station to their home. There is hardly any other activity. Included are also path for blind people and for bikes. Area is strongly covered by parking spots now, but the way of transport should be changed thanks to the new tramline in near future. There will be more public transport instead of private one. bist square
doornstraat
READING
Most of the public buildings are situated around Bist square. Here is also the highest density, which is symbolized by gradient in the drawing above (darker = denser). Surrounding of University square provides public buildings which belongs to campus. The other facilities around are for specific types of users (photo studios, sport area, ...)
university square
fort 6
By observing the area closer we can identify the reasons why are some places denser than the other. The most dense are naturally bus stops or facilities. The green space is not always the same. Quite a big area consists of public green, the private green is mostly hidden behind the houses and sports green is also not insignificant. The two squares are in walkable distance from each other. Bist square has 1000 m2, but it´s not fully used as a square and university square has less than half of the surface. The highest building on Bist has 50 meters and the highest on University square only 12 meters. On some of the places we can see repetition in typology and a few local landmarks.
dense buildings public buildings
TRANSPORT
OUTDATED URBAN FABRIC
LANDSCAPE
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BIST 2007
THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY COULD BE ... Bist square started with reconstruction in 2007 and we can immediately notice the changes. Nowadays there is minimum of parking space, maximum of public space and shopping facilities around.
URGENCY
> BIST 2014
Potentials of being successful square might be: high density of people, landmark to remember, transportation node and mixed use (sport field, kinder garden, shops ...) University square is situated in very atractive and potentially sucessful location. It´s close to the existing core, nature and the campus. We can find here existing facilities for sport, park and especially well functioning public transport network in near future.
GREEN LANE 2014
UNIVERSITY SQUARE 2014
The reasons why is Universitätsplein not working properly are: not adequate use (only parking), not enough people and activity, far- reaching university campus.
2070 whole street changed in time by trigger effect 2017 add high density close to existing urban fabric include landmark and undergroud parking
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2020 green lane for people, not for cars 2019 square for people, not for cars
1 2 3 2022 future tram line and parking towers
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things have to be clear.... i. university square should be used by students, more facilities, social activity and reachability by public transport should be provided. Focus will be placed on community development.
current high density area
sport
s q uare
II. GREEN LANE can be used as a linear leisure space and provide visually interesting starting and ending point.
bus
parking
III PEDESTRIAN ZONES places around the cafés should define at least one strong side of the square. V. DENSITY - because the new square requires more people, fwe should focus on type of housing which increase the density. VI. VISUAL CONNECTION between square and water It´s good to emphasize the water feature, but still treat the connection between park and square very delicately.
POSITION INTERVENTION
THE NEW GENERATOR University square´ll be the central meeting point for students and locals. It can provide an entrance to the park, the sport area, the university area the housing and new way of tranport.
future high density area as a start point for change
sport
attractor
bus
The plan is to develop a NEW GENERATOR for higher density, use potential communities in the area and improve the public space. Mixed used buildings as student housing, starting housing, the facilities and a new real university square will bring life into the area which naturally impacts the development of the surrounding. We choosed to support the existing urban fabric and bring more people to this area in the same time. People which already know this area, because of the campus. Students and young professionals, which require active lifestyle and modern facilities. They expect mixed used buildings which are flexible, diverse and have sence of individuality even in repetitive form. The should be suitable for little events and also encourage others to come visit the park and participate in sport activities. Until now there was missing one clear visible meeting point.
bist
new higher density housing
the generator
future apartment houses as a trigger effect of the square
student housing starting housing underground parking little shops cafĂŠs hybrid buildings porous volume not only one mass atTractive edge of the square
new university square and green lane
leisure places space for events water attractor gate to park and sport area central space of new wilrijk living edge for different communities
park and sport water surface
campus housing
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RESISTANCE
Community 1
> > >
> > >
LIVING EGDE
Community 2
+ POROSITY > >
> > Community 2
>
Community 1
>
LINES OF THOUGHT
= LIVING EDGE > >
Community 1
> > Community 2
>
>
STUDENTS
SINGLES
How can we transform spaces into living edges? Such a space is like a cell wall. It needs to have two conditions - RESISTANCE and porosity. It´s a very sensitive task to create living edge between two or more distinct communities. We talk about edge which is multifunctional and constantly explores bounderies. Here things happen at once without any isolation. (Inspiration - Richard Sennet - Democratic spaces) SQUARE - should provide more intimate feeling, not like Bist - avoid creating gentrification = not expensive facilities - emphasize water feature To get more deeper into defining the square and the generator and I needed to discover what can create the synergy between communities. I research 3 different grounps of people and imagined what they expect, need and what might be overlapping. Needs of STUDENTS: little rooms, bigger common areas inside/ outside, place for bikes, to eat together, laundry area, gym Characteristic: noisy, open, social Needs of youg family: more rooms , outdoor space, playground, terrace, shared: gym, garden, laundry, car Characteristic: more quiet, social, some privacy needs of SINGLES: social contact, guest room, shared: gym, garden, laundry, car Characteristic: social
YOUNG FAMILIES
COMMON FACILITIES can be: underground parking, small business, gym, laundry bar, cafĂŠ bar, rentable bigger rooms, guestrooms, ...
Public mainly pedestrian SLOW ROAD as LIVING EDGE between the volumes
DIRECTIONS OF SLOW ROAD
Public green & trees
PRIVATE & SEMI PRIVATE GREEN
FINAL PROPOSAL
To create a real city area the existing communities (students, workers, families, sportsmen,‌) should be able to interact without being disturbing to each other. The design integrates students housing close to the sports facilities since they can both be noisy at certain periods. By doing so, the student blocks form a perforated wall to the housing blocks so they can live in peace without being totally isolated. While having their private living area the small private exterior terrace or garden flows into a communal garden where residents can interact. This garden is completely public accessible but because of the well thought design the place screams private atmosphere. Too often students get separated into isolated areas, but in this case they are part of the design. To create a mental and physical border between the students and the housing a water pond should be present. The university square acts as main crossing between all the communities and by removing some trees the water becomes a main attraction point for all.
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density vs. individuality There are two desires. The density of the tower block and the individuality of suburbia. The challenge is to combine these two and serve the both. The global needs of the environment and the personal needs of the inhabitant. Provide comfortable living, but don’t lose the sense of sustainable vision. (Inspiration - MVRDV t?f - The vertical village) “INDIVIDUALITY is based on freedom of expression through one´s living space. If architecture is too dominant, people cannot expand their own life. On the other hand, if it is so dumb and irrelevant, people don´t care at all.” To achieve the individuality in dense space I was focusing on different communities, which require different typology and delicate living edges. This was reflected in final design as porosity, difference in heights, clusters of volumes and hybrid buildings. Later I decided to focus on whole block, so the schemes has changed.
LINES OF THOUGHT
The density of the tower block and the individuality of suburbia.... what is in between? Medium rise buildings. The key to make them work properly also in suburbia is mixed use and collectivity.
HIGH RISE LOW COVERAGE
LOW RISE HIGH COVERAGE
> MEDIUM RISE MEDIUM COVERAGE
In dense areas can we often notice problem with light because of very narrow streets, disadvantaged orientation to the sun and not big windows in general. There´re typologies which are able to avoid this problem and still can be sufficient to area with medium density. I ´m working with Z- shape living units for the free standing apartment houses typology and also with light corridors for apartments in row houses.
P PRESERVING DEMOSHING
PARKING under the square
DENSITY & landmark height of the buildings
EXCEPTION block pushed inide as an advantage entrances to block
SQUARE
With higher density there has to be room for more than just housing but also the need for green space becomes higher. There is necessary to provide a mix of typologies which give enough density (demographic challenge) without losing too much privacy. Students are the easiest. They don’t need much and are fine with living in high density buildings with common areas and facilities. Young families however need more privacy and are therefore located on the most quiet spot next to the cemetery with low density and high individuality row houses. Singles are somewhere in the middle and can be happy with both. By putting all those different personalities together in clusters of one single design it can create a coherent community where people will know each other and accept each other’s presents. Last but not least the green character of the design will help to keep families here were as now they go and live outside the city. A big part of the design feels like it’s some private park inside a building block which accentuates the feeling of ‘this is my area’. This feeling can also be found on the university square where the green character is complementary to the Bist square.
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SYNERGY AS AN ACTIVATOR OF SPACE The result of putting all these people together on a location where is sport, water, student livelihood, a square, green area’s becomes so much more then what they would be separated from each other. Like it was before. It’s more than just mixing personalities. It’s also about shapes, functions, visual and function links, it’s about integral design. Almost like an ecosystem. All together it will activate the area and boost it to the next level. One of extra dimetions of the project is SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT. The design consist of green roofs, ponds and is situated next to the water reservoir. Using water can be one way how to develop more into detail also the rest of the block and of course water features have in general positive effect on community development.
LINES OF THOUGHT
Scheme of water management
hard surface to collect rainwater green roofs to absorb the rainwater semi-hard surface to collect water ponds for collection of rainwater water surface for emergency cases
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keeping ROW HOUSES filling the gaps & adding new houses
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adding one more FAMILY HOUSE as an exception around entrance
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ATRACTOR + landmark atractive dwellings + facilities
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FREE STANDING HOUSES apartments buildings in clusters
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STUDENT HOUSING as a sound barrier from stadium
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Free standing apartment houses 15 volumes, 7x3 floors, 8x4 floors built area of 1 volume 270 m2 , together 4050 m2 394 people, 113 flats, 420 bikes aparments 33x55 m2 or 80x85 m2
rowhouses 14 volumes, 5x15 m, 4 floors 1050 m2 built area, 85 people
buildings for students 3 volumes, cca 280 people, 1575 m2 built area
apartment row houses
INTERVENTION IN DETAIL
10 volumes, 3x3 floors, 6x4 floors, 1x5 floors built area 1000 m2 78 people, 35 flats, 2x retail space, 48 bikes aparments in sizes from 70 m2 to 170 m2
landmark building 8 floors, ? people 240 m2 built area facilities: cafĂŠ, laundry bar, gym (1st, 2nd floor) luxury apartments on the top floor, rooms to rent
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The situation plan 1:2000 shows complete overview of all important interventions and gives idea about desired “living in the park“ feeling. The basic idea is still open view to the water from the green lane (on the way from tram station) and the cafĂŠ.
SECTION B
RENDER 1
>>
P
>>
SECTION A
RENDER 2
P The situation plan is 1:1000. Semi privite but not closed. My closer focus was on complex of two types of buildings. Apartment rowhouses on the edge of the square and free standing houses inside the block. The relationship between them was the chalange.
The backyard between rowhouses. Gradient of atmospheres...
One shade of living edge, view on the row houses from the University square.
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LIGHT CORRIDORS BETWEEN HOUSES Main inpiration for these buildings was issue which represents lack of light in a classical row houses. These houses should move classical row house to other level and use. Apartment house can provide even higher comfort and still benefit from sharing walls on one side and sharing living edge on the other. Wall to the square become porous which is the main goal. One of the important issues is privacy. Spaces are separated by front gardens and back gardens. One more special feature is using a frosted glass. It´s the way how to avoid unwanted views, but still keep sufficient lighting. The glass corridor has 2 bearing walls made by bricks which are sometimes replaced by “frosted glass windows”. They serve not only for living area, but also for spaces like storage rooms. Thanks to this solution it´s not always necessary to turn on the light immediately. The rowhouses provide flats which always face fully two directions - the square and the back garden. The general appearance shouldn´t be very extravagant, but more to fit into local style of buildings. For little bit of extravagance is here the neighbourhood building - landmark with facilities as a café, gym etc. Z- SHAPE APPARTMENTS The idea came up from learning about typologies of free standing houses. The more houses I saw, I realized that not all the dwellings provide the same comfort. Somebody always has to face north, but at least it´s possible to minimaze the effect and give him 3 sided view provided by Z- shaped dwellings stucked to each other with one main core. If the building has just 3 floors than one floor stays just in 1 level. The same in case of entrance instead of one dwelling. To support the cozy and natural feeling one of the materials is wood. The facade is very open, but just on the first glance. Privacy is a sensitive topic. Somebody doesn´t mind to have open curtains whole evening and someones just doesn´t like to be seen at all. The design provides necessary distances between the buildings (around 15 meters) and has special solution for the side views. Thin wooden lamels which don´t allow the side view, but still keep impressive view out.
Section A shows how different atmospheres can be achieved just behind the edge. We can see the living edge with different levels of publicness and privacy.
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1:250 groundfloor
1st floor
2nd floor
3rd floor
1:500 groundfloor
1st floor
2nd floor
3rd floor
4th floor
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S-E elevation
N-W elevation
S-E elevation
Section B 29
1:250 groundfloor
1st floor
1:500 groundfloor
1st floor
2nd floor
3rd floor 31
campus Ghent Š2015