Sheville
Housing Society for Women To study natural species as a system and get inspired to solve the problems faced by reasonably independent single mothers in an urban environment.
REPRODUCTION AND NURTURING
NEED TO NURTURE Protection
PROBLEMS FACED BY SINGLE MOTHERS
MATRIARCHAL SPECIES Elephant
Sperm Whale Feeding
Lioness Survival Honey bee
Life skills Hyena
THE PROCESS
ABOUT THE SPECIE
LION (Panthera leo)
ELEPHANT (Elephantidae)
Lions live in a matriarchal society. The lionesses work together to hunt and rear the cubs. This allows them all to get the most from their energy, keeping them healthier and safer. Being smaller and lighter than males, lionesses are more agile and faster. During hunting, smaller females chase the prey towards the center. The larger and heavier lionesses ambush or capture the prey. Lionesses are versatile and can switch hunting jobs depending on which females are hunting that day and what kind of prey it is .
Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal family groups of related females called a herd. The herd is led by the oldest and often largest female in the herd, called a matriarch. Herds consist of 8-100 individuals depending on terrain and family size. When a calf is born, it is raised and protected by the whole matriarchal herd. Males leave the family unit between the ages of 12-15 and may lead solitary lives or live temporarily with other males.
NURSING YOUNG
By all mothers
Only by mother
REARING YOUNG
By the whole pride
By the whole herd
RESOURCE GATHERING
By all young and old females
By whole herd
RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION
Equally to all, including young, old, sick and injured
Equally to all, including young, old, sick and injured
REASON FOR SOCIALISM
To protect young and for synchronized hunting
Protect young and ďŹ nd more food faster
ADAPTATION
Synchronized working, caring for all young
Caring of young and heirarchy of administration
INSPIRATION
HONEY BEE (Apis)
BONOBOS APES (Pan paniscus)
SPERM WHALE (Physeter macrocephalus)
The social structure of a bee hive is that of a matriarchal family headed by a queen. The worker bees make up the majority of the population and are all females, but with undeveloped, or static reproductive systems. The worker-females have a short lifespan of approximately 30 days, and during this time will go through dierent developmental stages which dictates their role in the hive, as well as giving the hive its hierarchal character.
In bonobos, female bonding works to control individual males despite the males’ slightly larger size. Unlike abused loner chimp females, the bonobo gal gang prevents males from killing the babies of rival males (as other apes do) and allows females to choose their own mates and grab the best food. In the wild, females also hunt and distribute meat, once considered exclusively a male preserv.
What makes the sperm whale unique is the fact that it has the largest brain of any mammal. The sperm whale is a toothed whale; it has a box-shaped head, a single blowhole and is considered to be a social mammal. The sperm whale often swims in pods; a pod is a loosely organized group if whales that bond together to protect their young, hunt, or nurture other sick sperm whales.
By workers
By mother
By mother
By workers
By female group
By whole pod
By workers
By smaller female groups
Individually
to all workers
Individual
Individual
Collection of resources and protection of species
Protection of young and power in numbers
Protection of young
Cyclic responsibility and heirarchy
Protection of young
Formation for protection of young
THE PROBLEM
The solution is to build a housing society especialy for women which exclusively is designed to cater th their needs: THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH A SOCIETY: PRIVACY - No direct exposure of residents to passer’s by. Residential area must not be in direct line of sight of passer’s by. - Residents may not have direct access to service gate. - Tree line may be used as buffer along road side for visual barrier, sound absorption and air quality. SECURITY - Play area must not be near exits. - The society must be Introvert or linear by design based on type of plot available. - Pump room and other services must be near service gate. - Tree line must not interrupt visual connectivity along playground. VISUAL CONNECTION - Play area must be in line of sight of each residential building. - Amenities may be in considerable line of sight of play area. - Day care centre must have visual connectivity with the playground. - Shops must be easily accessible. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - Stairs must be avoided in and around play area. - Building materials or design must be chosen such that the minimize noise in case of social gatherings. - Community kitchen should have easy access to service gate. - Shops should have easy access to service gates. - Building heights must be decided keeping in mind any sudden disaster or calamity that might take place. - Parking must not hinder playing areas. - Demarcation of drive ways should be intuitive and have clear signage. - Day care centre must not have more than one floor. - Orientation of building must be according to local climatic conditions. - Railings and parapets must be provided where necessary in play area. - Materials and textures in play area must be child friendly. - Four flats per floor is preferable.
THE SOLUTION
Based on the solution, below are a few society layout samples which follow the guidelines ensuring a reliable support system for single mothers.
Service gate
Service rooms
Main gate
Residential areas
Community Kitchen
Main road
Residential areas
Day-care Centre
Playground
Club house/ Admin
Shops
Residential areas
Shops
Main road
Playground
Service gate Club house/ Admin
Day-care Centre Residential
Community Kitchen
areas
Service rooms
Residential areas RADIAL SCATTERED
Service gate
Main gate
Service rooms
Community Kitchen Shops
RADIAL BUILDING BLOCK
Club house/ Admin
Main road
Playground
Residential areas
Day-care Centre
Club house/ Admin
Community Kitchen
Service
Tree cover
Main gate
Private spaces
Playground Day-care Centre
Service gate Main gate Main road LINEAR SCATTERED
Shops
KEY
Semi public spaces Public spaces
Residential areas
Circulation pattern
LINEAR BUILDING BLOCK
SAMPLE LAYOUTS