Thesis book -Ryan Michka by Ryan Michka

socially catalytic architecture integrated communities through architecture

ryan michka

bachelor of architecture thesis thesis advisors // ansgar killing+greg wynn academic year 2016-17 all photos from collection of the author unless otherwise noted in image works cited

urban commons

[new]

städtische gemeinschaften ‫ةديدجلا ةيرضحلا تاعاشملا‬ нові міські Загально cộng đồng đô thị mới nέα αστικά κέντρα ‫םיינוריע םישדח‬

dresden

contents

intro // abstract

responsibility in architecture

refugees

germany background

integration in germany

towards a solution

social architecture

dresden

104

catalytic architecture

114

vellum

project

120

00 6

// the sprawling suburb perpetuates a culture of closed communities

“Contemporary cities and suburbs struggle today to adapt to current and future challenges, such as global warming, depletion of fossil fuels and other natural resources, economic recession, population growth, housing and employment crises, and growing social and economic divides. In this context, most of the current approaches to urban regeneration are top-down, driven by municipal or private developers, and fail to take into account the social and ecological interests of the residents. It is clear that new approaches to urban regeneration are desperately needed in times of economic and ecological crisis, and that as financial capital diminishes, social capital increases.” -Atelier D’Architecture Autogérée

WHO IS THE AUTHOR?

My name is Ryan Michka, and my studies in the last five years have provided me with wide-ranging experiences that have shaped my architectural interests today. As a student I have had the opportunity to explore architecture through a variety of project types and locations including single and multi-family housing, educational, cultural, mixed use, and through projects as small in scope as furniture design. I also spent 12 months living and studying in Germany. While studying in Hochschule Biberach with a design project based curriculum, I was able to complete seven different architectural design projects in my two semesters of study. A sample of these projects ranges from refugee housing, to an

// Architecture as a foundation for making communities more plural is something I am passionate about and this project presents an architectural solution in dresden germany

art museum, and a market hall mixed use project.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

This thesis project will explore how architecture can be used to bridge the gaps between people and places. I have interest in exploring how a piece of architecture can serve the function of bringing people from all walks of life and backgrounds together, whether rich or poor, young or old, refugee or lifelong native. An integrated community allows for better dialogue between groups and can bridge the gaps between them. My time in Germany afforded me the opportunity to meet people from many cultural backgrounds and life experiences. I had the opportunity to befriend and play music with refugees in the town I lived, and their challenges with integration made a profound impression on me.

// facades of Wilhelmian era building in dresden

ABSTRACT By the close of 2016, Germany had accepted 1.4 million claims for asylum which marked a nearly 2% total population increase in two years for the country of only 81 million. Accommodating the influx of foreigners with often significantly different cultural and religious backgrounds is a task that has left many Germans feeling disenfranchised or at least overwhelmed. Fear for a resultant dilution of German identity and cultural values has given rise to right-wing political movements, racist tendencies and physical violence against refugees. The question of how to adequately integrate refugees into German communities is an important issue within Germany today; the resolution of which could help offset Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aging population and ensure cooperation between ethnic Germans and their new foreign neighbors. Aiding refugee integration lies in catalyzing social interaction and intellectual stimulation between refugees and their German hosts, a feat which can be accomplished through constructing a community space that provides services to help refugees establish themselves in the country, and a platform for the neighborhood as a whole to develop intellectually, socially, culturally, and locally. Developing cooperation and camaraderie among members of a community who might otherwise remain strangers can be accomplished by providing a platform for frequent, casual interaction, encouraging reciprocity, and teaching people to care about others who live within the community. To achieve these goals, there must exist a space which structure daily social routines, provide a platform for the gathering and sharing of knowledge, culture, and experience, catalyze socialization among individuals, and provides a stage for contesting established social norms. This project is located in the eastern German city of Dresden, a city located in a region which has long held both those with anti-immigrant sentiments and those who are more open-minded. Architecture can serve the needs of the evolving and ever diversifying communities of Dresden and greater Saxony in the interest of providing a platform for intellectual development, building local social networks, and lessening the division between different social and ethnic groups to create more plural, engaged neighborhoods.

01 12

responsibility in architecture

// People create meaning out of place just as place comes to define the way people use it. [Notre Dame, Paris]

“Public urban spaces convey centrality, in terms of social relations, providing meeting places and social melting pots. This space not only reflects the cultural identity and character of an area, but also shapes identities and dispositions. Viewed as a democratic forum, public urban spaces collectively help comprise ‘‘the city’’, providing opportunities and potentials for social activities. Citadins have made a clear cry and demand for open and accessible public urban space where they can share views and debate. A crucial role for architects and other spatial practitioners in a democracy is the creation of public space that encourages civic interaction and discourse.” -Lee Pugalis

Urban Scholar and Sociologist

responsibility in architecture

// More than simply providing shelter and workplace, architecture faces the crucial task of fulfilling a social role in society and providing that society a platform with which to develop and evolve. This role can take many forms and follow different strategies, but ultimately the goal is to use architecture as the base from which the health of a given community and the individual members within that community can grow.

// pub in dresden, virtually unchanged in decor since the 1980s yet full of life in 2016

WHAT IS SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE? â&#x20AC;&#x153;As people live and work in urban spaces, they gradually impose themselves on their environment, modifying and adjusting it to suit their needs and express their values. Yet at the same time, people themselves gradually accommodate both to their physical environment and to the people around them. There is thus a continuous two-way process, a socio-spatial dialectic, in which people create and modify urban spaces while at the same time being conditioned in various ways by the spaces in which they live and work. Neighborhoods and communities are created, maintained, and modified; the values, attitudes, and behavior of their inhabitants, meanwhile, cannot help but be influenced by their surroundings (Knox, 3).â&#x20AC;? As both a primary driver for social progress and tangible record of societal habits since the formation of the first human settlements, architecture simultaneously guides, catalogs, and responds to the contemporary needs of humanity. Architecture thus acts in the dynamic role of providing a platform for people to interpret and use both independently and as a collective body; initiating social interaction, acknowledging the evolving nature of how people perceive and use space, and allowing the built environment to adapt to the changing spatial and social requirements of a community. In the context of this book, socially responsible architecture is defined as the use of the built environment in the interest of improving and stimulating group and individual health, and in providing a platform for social discourse within a community; in effect, acting as the living heart of a community. A series of socially driven projects within a city have the opportunity of providing a network connecting all members of a given society, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or affiliation to various sub-cultures. Social responsibility in architecture is the wellspring from which intercultural or intergroup understanding, dialogue, and long-term environmental sustainability derive.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Agora in ancient Greek cities formed the heart of the community and can be regarded as the archetype from which the traditional public square developed. What the agora initiated was a space for assembly and business. It was the heart of democracy and social stimulus in the city, an open, accessible place where the community could come together to further the collective consciousness. As the birthplace of democracy, the Greek agora signified an early manifestation of public life and a symbol of self-governance. The Roman forum followed, and built on the idea of agora as an integral and essential part of the community, so much so that the forum was located as the center of power and civic life within the city. In addition to being an open public space, the Roman forum also consolidated civic institutions (market hall, courts, basilica). It is here that daily life and community centered. It provided a place for people to socialize, learn, hold assembly, hear news, and conduct business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Meanwhile, much information was dispensed in the forum; election posters, sale contracts, adoption notices. It was, in short, a media center (Herzog, 14).â&#x20AC;? The Roman forum was an intellectual progression of Greek ideas, and was followed by the Medieval marketplace in following centuries. Rather than a single consolidated civic center, larger medieval cities had a network of public open spaces in front of churches or town halls, and at the centers of trade. The locations of these public spaces, in adjacency to other religious, civic, and economic institutions, meant that they were logical gathering places, and spaces that people would inhabit or pass through on a daily basis. This public realm was the center of community life. The Renaissance saw more spaces for people to inhabit within the urban fabric, outside of the public square. Theaters, cafes, universities, and libraries began to populate the social realm. The idea of public space had evolved to become a city-wide network providing different contexts and scales for social interaction.

// To understand the nature of social responsibility in architecture, how it relates to the context of contemporary community infrastructure and health, it is useful to understand how it has manifested itself and changed over time.

// market square Krakow, Poland; the largest in Europe and packed despite the temperature which hovers beneath -10F in January

responsibility in architecture

// The Corbusian project for the redevelopment of central Paris sought to level the historic center and replace it with a series of high-rise, self contained towers, effectively removing street life in the interest of modernity, privacy, and efficiency.

// plan voisin, le corbusier

DOWNWARD TREND The dawn of the Industrial Era, however, signaled a downward trend in the socialization of cities. Public life generally retreated to private residences and as immigration reached a fever-pitch, social groups and ethnicities who never before shared a city, found themselves as unwelcome neighbors. Oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s status, group affiliation, or appearance dictated the areas of the city one would inhabit, and the areas where they were not welcome. This in turn created segregated neighborhoods as ethnic enclaves which had the benefit of providing a familiar environs for members of such a group.. However, creation of these neighborhoods severely impacted the socialization of cities because it created strict social boundaries and isolation among groups rather than cooperation. The Industrial age took the idea of leisure time away from the masses. Society moved towards production and capital as the commonly held values. The public realm was less important and in many cases avoided. Streets are where the undesirables loiter, its filthy, its dangerous, or so the belief went. Modernist ideals saw architecture less as a social responsibility, and more as an industrial unit of production, a means to an end, fulfilling a set, specified purpose and intrinsically focusing on the individual rather than the community. Converting architecture to the machine age had the consequence of often removing the humanity from it. This downward trend in sociability is only exacerbated by the prevalence of technology today all but replacing physical interaction. The internet, cell phones, television, and radio have allowed people to access virtually anything from home and have conditioned society to value commodities and virtualized communities more than physical interaction. The idea of the city as societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living room had all but vanished. Cities are today more fractured than in previous centuries due to globalization and also because there is an inherent lack of social life within the city. There is little social discourse and interaction among groups within a community, which leads to a lack of understanding and consensus, a trend which is slowly changing through the introduction of more social architecture and a return of public space; squares, cafes, community commons, cultural centers, etc.

responsibility in architecture

// What is essential to the success of such a project today is responding to the cultural requirements, environmental context, and acknowledging the community impact of a space. Social architecture can provide a space for public interaction and betterment, and a space that is an integral part of daily life, seeking to connect a variety of smaller communities, groups, and sub-cultures in the interest of making the city a unified collective. AS GLOBAL NECESSITY

As the world has rapidly globalized, the need for architecture that is sensitive to the environment, both contextually and as a means of reducing impact, and for architecture that supports marginalized or underprivileged groups has increased. The traditional model of social responsibility in architecture has evolved. Today social responsibility in architecture also relates the idea of humanitarian and environmental efforts. Contemporary architecture requires adaptability and relevance. The ideas of humanitarian architecture, helping those who are less fortunate build strong communities, like aforementioned urban design rely on understanding the social context and needs of a given group. A humanitarian project has the opportunity to do more than just fulfill a specific need; ie a clinic, school, housing. It also has the opportunity to provide that place with a center for community, providing adaptable spaces to insure that a project is used in daily life, and can initiate intellectual growth within the community: social architecture.

02 22

refugees

// A handful of the millions of displaced persons worldwide

“The 1980s rudely shook the industrialized countries out of their old notions of insularity. The asylum caseloads in all Western Countries grew rapidly, as most asylum applicants came from places where a mixture of political chaos and economic hardship prevailed. Most of these new arrivals did not fit the image of refugees for most Westerners: asylum seekers arrived from all over the world, they generally had few political and cultural links with the industrialized countries; their religions were often foreign, and their ways of life were completely alien.” -Gil Loescher

Refugee Studies, in his book “Beyond Charity”

// The perpetual cycle of unrest, violence, revolution, and retribution is as quintessentially part of the human condition as that of our birth, growth, and eventual death. The course of human history has been defined by a pedigree of war and conflict, and it would seem that it is simply human nature to thirst for violence due to any perceived slight or difference. Furthermore, humanity is in a state of constant conflict with the very world we live in, with environmental factors such as famine, disease, and extreme weather categorizing natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unceasing war against man.

AN OVERVIEW

The tangible signs of these conflicts include destruction of property, atrocities, the degradation of culture, and loss of humanity. Additionally, upheaval creates refugees, a class of people outside of regular society and stuck in a state of political limbo. The world we live in today is one of constant conflict and migration, an era of refugees. Conflict, climate, economy, politics, and social factors are just some of the reasons people make their way to a new country and attempt to establish a new life there.

WHY EUROPE? For one reason or another, a person flees their home as a means of last resort, an act of selfpreservation in the face of overwhelming hardship. It is easy to believe that in the wake of conflict, the inhabitants of a particular place simply pack up and disperse to appear several days or weeks later knocking on the doors of far-away nations. However, the vast majority of refugees are actually internally displaced persons (IDPs). A high percentage of people uprooted by conflict relocate to a new town, city, or refugee camp within their country of origin

or in a neighboring one. In 2014, an estimated 38 million people fell into this category, with a staggering 11 million of those newly displaced in 2014 alone (UNHCR). No person wishes to forcibly leave their home, family, and friends with the possibility of never returning or being turned away once they reach their destination. Giving up ones routines and livelihood to travel to an unknown land with little money, few possessions, and little to no knowledge of the host culture acts as a significant barrier. Additionally, covering vast distances with small children, as single women, or with the elderly and large families poses yet another challenge. That is why the majority of those displaced by conflict remain relatively close to home. That is also why the majority of those who actually come to Europe are young men or particularly brave families. This is a demographic of people who need to establish themselves in a very foreign place. Cultural differences, stubbornness in keeping to tradition, or marginalization are a few challenges to integration. Architecture can provide a key to the solution of tackling integration while simultaneously improving the atmosphere of the host community.

refugees

Major Refugee Crises of The Last Century Mass displacements are not a 21st century concept, and their recurrance is all but assured by the cycle of violent conflict and natural disasters which have been becoming more frequent due to the growing-pains of developing countries, idealogical extremism, and climate change. Additionally, immigration due to globalization is creating a need for societies to rethink the methods of integration and socialization of a place. graphic made by data collected from the Washington Post

// There is the crucial question of how one can be integrated into a new country, find employment, a home, and adopt the customs of their host. Masses of refugees and an influx of applicants can be a real economic and social strain on a country. How to find a place for every one while simultaneously providing services and insuring positive integration is a logistically challenging situation, but one that if handled correctly, could prove to be symbiotically beneficial to both parties involved. HOW IS THIS ARCHITECTURE?

While the numbers of IDPs are actually much larger than the number of those who relocate further afield, the number of refugees seeking asylum in Europe alone is still a significant number, and one that has put serious strain on the nations involved. This thesis is primarily focused on integrating the individuals who seek asylum in European nations and as such the following chapters will focus on this particular issue and propose a lasting solution to integration, which will be closely tied to the goal of healthy communities. Insuring that one is able to settle comfortably in a new land is a topic that continues to challenge contemporary society.

A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reality is that the present increase in the number of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants is neither a temporary phenomenon nor a random product of chance events. It is the predictable consequence of fundamental political, demographic, economic, and ecological crises occurring throughout the Third World. (Loescher, 96)â&#x20AC;? The current refugee crisis facing us today is conceptually not a new one. The preceding quote was written in the 1990s but its message applies equally today as it did then. As long as there has been (and will be) violence, persecution and environmental disaster, there have too been refugees. Within the last century alone there have been a number of major events that have resulted in masses of displaced persons with increasing regularity. Both World Wars, The Russian Revolution, The Armenian Genocide, Spanish Civil War, French-Indochina War, Cuban Revolution,

Soviet-Afghan War, The Rwandan Genocide, and the Balkan Conflict are a few of the largest in the last hundred years but the list is in no way exhaustive. While these conflicts caused mass displacement, (several hundred thousand up to nearly 40 million people as a result of the Second World War) the crisis faced today poses new challenges. What makes the current refugee crisis unique is its scale, both in terms of number of people involved and in the variety of conflicts and countries included. With more than 65 million displaced persons worldwide, and 21.3 million refugees (UNHCR) encompassing several different countries and regions, it is imperative that the international community come to lasting solutions rather than temporary ones.

WHAT IS UNIQUE TODAY Countries have traditionally had a less disastrous time accommodating an influx of refugees, especially as up until the 1980s, refugee movements were more culturally isolated. European conflicts resulted in European refugees moving to other European nations or to the United States. African conflicts resulted in African refugees moving to other African nations, and so forth. Refugees were traditionally not so culturally dissimilar from the countries they fled to. Travel was more limited. The world was much less global. In the age of instant communication and rapid transportation, the question of refugees is much less a localized one. Today, as mass movements of people become more frequent and include significantly more people, the international community needs to be more resourceful and more innovative to avoid further calamity.

refugees

NUMBER OF REFUGEES BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, 2015

does not include IDPs, represents total number of persons who have fled to far-away countries *information gathered through UNHCR

DEMOGRAPHICS The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), estimates that nearly 34,000 people per day are forced to leave their homes because of conflict or persecution. The contemporary sources of displacement are numerous, with the most obvious being the result of Civil War in Syria and conflict across the Middle East. Also included are those fleeing poverty in Kosovo and Albania, those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, and those from across North and Central Africa fleeing government persecution and rebel or terrorist groups. Among those seeking asylum in Europe, the overwhelming majority are male, and between the ages of 18-34. It is simply much more difficult and dangerous for entire families, the elderly, and single women to make the arduous journey to Europe than it is for single young men. For this reason, there is a disproportionate demographic of young asylum seekers within Europe, and this age demographic unfortunately has the distinction of being the most susceptible to radicalization, as feelings of marginalization and discomfort may lead to indoctrination. It has been shown that Europe is vulnurable to attack, most notably terrorist attacks carried out in France, Germany, and Turkey in recent years. It is easy to blame asylum seekers and immigrants in the wake of such attacks, but xenophobic rhetoric, racial violence, and blanket condemnation of immigrants only succeed in further marginalization of individuals who otherwise might have become integral members of society, given the right circumstances. Community is a step towards harmony and architecture is a a component of said community.

// For Germany in particular, such an influx of young well educated men, or those wishing to pursue education, can help solve the issue of Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aging population, and every effort should be made to avoid letting them slip through the cracks of society only to cause problems later. Well managed integration is essential for a sustainable future .

refugees

data collected from UNHCR

03 30

germany background

// The Berlin Wall, long a symbol of oppression and division comes down after nearly thirty years.

“Between 1945 and 1990 Germans did not live under the roof of a nation-state, but in a divided country. This did not at all prevent the reintroduction of principles and practices of civil society, quite the contrary: for the first time, they became stable and effective, solidly anchored in West German society. Unification extended the still-evolving system of West German civil society to East Germany, where it is slowly developing roots. European integration raises the question to what extent and how civil society can be established on a level beyond nation-state.” -Jürgen Kocka

Civil Society and Dictatorship in Modern German History

germany background // With the crossing of a simple painted line, a young woman narrowly escaped East German police to reach freedom in the west.

“German unification was by no means completed when the GDR acceded to the Federal Republic on October 3, 1990. The two economic systems remained distinctly different, and the sharp psychic divisions of four decades seemed likely to divide the two regions for years to come. Radically different social structures, as well as quite dissimilar personal histories, continued to divide the citizens of United Germany, and mutual suspicion and distrust perpetuated a high degree of social segregation of the two groups.” (Quint, 3)

GERMAN DIVISION The division of Germany into two separate countries at the close of the Second World War by Allied forces signaled new beginnings and the formation of two very different countries. The Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland), West Germany, was influenced by Western nations and pursued democracy and a social market economy based on protecting the freedoms of both suppliers and demanders and providing a strong social welfare system. In Post-War years, West Germany enjoyed relative economic prosperity and stability with strong industries and economic freedoms. The motto, “as much market as possible, as much state as necessary” characterized the political thinking of the country at the time. In contrast to Capitalist West Germany, The German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik), East Germany was an autocratic nation and aligned with the Soviet Union. The economy of the east was characterized by state owned enterprises and collectivization of industry. While among Soviet Bloc and satellite countries the economy of East Germany was the most advanced, the inherent socioeconomic climate of the communist nation lagged behind that of the west (Kocka).Even the nearly impregnable demilitarized zone between the countries didn’t deter many people from attempting escape into the west. Different economies and ideologies built over two generations of life under Communist influence would be tested with the unification of the country.

// It has been now over two decades since the fall of the Wall and the unification of East Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany, yet some semblance of division remains, and in looking at graphics comparing state by state statistics, the former demarcation remains in some aspects.

AND UNIFICATION Unification of Germany in 1990 was relatively smooth and nonviolent but came perhaps too abruptly for the East. While unification was widely considered a success, the initial difficulties of unification resulted from the rapid change in the GDR central economy and currency to a social market economy and implementation of the Deutschmark. The quick adoption of the Deutschmark and extension of Western markets eastward meant that East German companies had to compete with much more successful and better connected West German ones. Many companies collapsed and unemployment in the east rose from nearly zero to nearly twenty percent (Hockenos). Young people from the east moved west in search of better employment opportunities and education. While unification also signalled a large flow of money into the former East Germany to build up infrastructure, business, and educational institutions, economic prosperity in the eastern German states remained visibly lower than in the rest of Germany.

// Berliners from both sides of the Wall rejoice at its destruction, ushering a new era for Germany

germany background

UNEMPLOYMENT, 2013

DISPOSABLE INCOME, 2011

former demarcation line

DATA SYNTHESIS What the data is trying to articulate is not that eastern German states are inferior or somehow undesirable , but rather that although Germany is one country, there remain distinct differences between the former parts. The data begins to show how the lives of individuals living in the eastern states is markedly different as a result of alternate growth in the twentieth century. With that knowledge in hand, it becomes more apparent why there exists some Populist sentiment and ethnic tension.

DISCLAIMER

While this chapter begins to articulate the sources of pro- and anti- refugee sentiment within Germany, it is not attempting to suggest a solution to political views or portray a pessimistic view of the German people. The intention is to identify the sources and effects of socioeconomic German differences in order to understand what sort of solutions might exist in architecture to create dialogue between people and build more social communities. To reach that conclusion, it is useful to understand where and why some resistance might occur.

germany background

AGE DEMOGRAPHIC, 2011

RIGHT WING VOTING, 2013

lowest (oldest)

highest (youngest)

data collected from The Washington Post

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In east Germany, we have had 25 years of very powerful influence by neo-Nazi culture. Few immigrants were going there out of fear of being threatened. Now you see these asylumseekers placed in cities in the east, a part of the country that is completely white. Sometimes the response is pure racism.â&#x20AC;? (Anetta Kahane, chairwoman of Amadeu Antonio Foundation, Berlin)

// Karl at the a small hĂźtte in the Austrian Alps.

CONVERSATION WITH KARL

In speaking with a man named Karl from Dresden who grew up in the former GDR, one can see where anti-immigrant sentiment and differing political views in eastern Germany stem from. He explained that East Germans have spent the last twenty-five years recovering from the former regime and subsequent economic turmoil, feeling like second-class citizens to those in the western states. After a slow rebound, those in the east are finally experiencing relative economic stability, albeit at lower levels than the rest of Germany. People in the east feel like they have finally achieved economic independence, building up businesses and lifestyles since the Wall fell. Many feel that their livelihoods and hard work will be taken away from them with an influx of foreign nationals taking jobs, requiring state money that could be put towards the Germans themselves, and weakening social stability. Furthermore, forty years of nationalistic influence in a country with almost no foreigners besides a small population of contract workers relegated to the outside of cities means some in East Germany remain wary or uncomfortable of outsiders.

germany background

STATISTICAL DATA

Despite the perceived and apparent economic difficulties in eastern Germany, the economy of Germany as a whole is strong. It boasts the largest economy in Europe, and the fifth largest GDP in the world, only behind much larger countries like China and the United States. Among European countries, Germany is best equipped economically and in many cases socially to support immigrants and refugees until they can establish themselves.

Many German women today pursue careers over housekeeping and as a result, fewer have children or at least wait until they are older to establish a family. As Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population ages over the long term, a lasting solution is needed to insure continued economic prosperity and longevity, as well as having a youthful working population available to support the aging population.

While Germany is strong in many areas, the population structure of Germany reveals that the trend is moving towards an older age demographic majority. In fact, German fertility rates (8.5) fall near dead last at 217th in a ranking of world nations, while mean age of the population (46.8 years) ranks third in terms of oldest population, behind Monaco and Japan (CIA).

FUTURE An influx of refugees, roughly 1.1 million in Germany alone, who are namely young, mobile, and educated men can be of great benefit to Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy and social structure if integration is fluid and handled properly to insure long term stability and assimilation.

// The dichotomy of thought can be seen in demonstrations by both sides of the idealogical spectrum.

germany background

POLITICAL CLIMATE

MIXED FEELINGS

The political climate of Germany has been marked of late by the rise of far right leaning parties and groups such as Alternativ FĂźr Deutschland (AFD) and PEGIDA. Disillusionment with current policy and fear for loss of German identity has given rise to right-wing, Populist movements in Germany, especially the east. There is a prevailing fear that the inclusion of so many Muslims and non-German foreigners into the country will dilute German culture and compete with the cultural traditions and Christian values which define German society.

// It is important to note that while racism, xenophobia, and physical violence against refugees are most prevalent in former East Germany, the feeling is not mutually exclusive. Many East Germans fall on the far right of the political spectrum, while a similarly large number welcome refugees with open arms. Such sentiment can be seen in cities such as Dresden, which has weekly right-wing demonstrations, but concurrently boasts thriving, diverse, and open-minded neighborhoods.

Furthermore, the resentment by some to the fact that any semblance of national pride is suppressed for fear that it be seen by the international community as a return of Nazi ideologies, is pushing more Germans to support political movements that wish to see a return of German national pride. The negative expression of German nationalism today is in part, a response to 70 years of suppression.

The general sentiment among Germans remains, understandably, that they do not want to lose German cultural identity as a result of foreigners. Additionally, the idea of German cultural identity has gone through many phases in the last 200 years, only developing fully since unification, due to events of the 20th century largely inhibiting its establishment. Germans do not want to lose it because foreigners refuse to assimilate.

germany background

// If the climate of integration were to change to allow more discourse between refugees and Germans, and if refugees were given the opportunity to better assimilate into German society, the inclusion of refugees in Germany could be a mutually beneficial arrangement that would help protect the long term economic and social prosperity of the country.

SYNTHESIS Feelings towards refugee integration in Germany are mixed, but the fears of those who fear a loss of German identity can be assuaged through more wholesome integration. There is a fine line between marginalizing immigrants completely and in immigrants outright refusing cultural assimilation. Integration is a two-way street; Germans need to be open to new ideas and assist refugee integration, while refugees need to accept that living in a new country means accepting the rules, customs, and values of the host country. It is foolish to think that one can universally change the mind sets of people and that architecture is the savior and ultimate solution to achieving world peace. That is simply not so. Those who fall on the far sides of the political spectrum will not be swayed. This project seeks to study the relationships people have with their communities and also with outsiders, and bring them both together.

// Populist movements are not the answer to immigration and an amicable solution lies somewhere further left. Architecture could provide the basis for finding such a solution.

A German woman I spoke to in Munich shared with me a profound sentiment, that today, â&#x20AC;&#x153;much of the immigration culture is to put refugees on the outside, in isolation. If refugees and Germans inhabited the same streets, stores, and neighborhoods, they would become familiar faces, members of the community. No person would be violent to a neighbor. The hate and violence is reserved for strangers.â&#x20AC;?

04 44

integration in germany

// Student group aimed at creating inclusion and dialogue through music and dance [Biberach an der Riß, Germany]

“In principle, the project of civil society, when it emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, claimed universal applicability. It aimed at freedom, equal chances, and participation for all. The rights, duties, and principles that it formulated should be valid for all human beings, whatever their socioeconomic status, nationality, religion, and even sex.” -Jürgen Kocka

Civil Society and Dictatorship in Modern German History

// While the system of integration isnt perfect, it provides refugees with the basic tools to one day become naturalized. The critical component that remains missing is in enabling communities to include new citizens in civic and social life. Many cities and villages have such programs in place or are initiated by single persons, but universal participation is a critical component that is needed. Architecture can provide the between local and newcomer. INTEGRATION TODAY According to the German government’s migration office, Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF), integration in Germany is based on the even distribution of asylum applicants to each state in Germany as a percentage of the local population. There refugees receive temporary housing, often in dormitory style accommodation, access to basic services, and a monthly stipend from the government to cover daily expenses. Refugees also receive three months of German language lessons and help in understanding culture and customs. Additional help with language may be sought independently. The issue of providing shelter and the building blocks of integration to those fleeing conflict is one that has been accounted for. The complex challenge of actually integrating individuals is one that remains. Refugees are most often placed in living accommodation with others from their home country. Gambians live with Gambians, Afghans with Afghans, Syrians with other Syrians, and so forth. While this provides a familiar home environment and allows individuals a measure of security, it does not encourage, nor does it facilitate contact with Germans. This lack of contact inhibits one’s ability to learn a language and also becoming a familiar member of the community. In speaking with refugees living in such accommodation, a major complaint was that they had too little contact with Germans, resulting in insufficient language practice. Some refugees have the opportunity to be sponsored by or live with a German family or group of students. Those fortunate enough to receive such an opportunity are already one step ahead in becoming naturalized.

The following challenges ar common among refugees and are issues that should be addressed when considering integration:

LANGUAGE

It takes several months or even longer to gain a basic understanding of language, and to feel comfortable speaking it in conversation and daily life. Until then, it can be a struggle to meet people and complete day to day tasks. Finding work or starting one’s studies can be nearly impossible without it.

COMMUNITY

Becoming a part of the community is a major step towards naturalization. Learning the customs, cultures, and heritage of a place is an important stage of integration. If refugees are marginalized and don’t have the opportunity to socialize and interact with ethnic Germans, they will continue to maintain their own traditions and create enclaves, just as immigrants have done throughout history.

LIVELIHOOD

As stated before, the primary barrier to starting at university or working is language. Until one establishes a basic level of fluency, or finds a job or school where English is acceptable, supporting oneself is a challenge.

integration in germany

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT In these ways refugees can be misled to believe that Germans are unwilling to help or include them in daily community life, while Germans can be misled to believe that refugees are lazy, cause crime, and are unwilling to be a part of German culture. While some Germans, in fact, harbor racist or xenophobic tendencies, and some refugees are unwilling to be an active part of German culture, the majority on both sides would be receptive to dialogue.

// Often, the lack of communication and understanding between refugees and the German inhabitants of a given city creates tension or simple disconnect. Tension manifests itself as physical violence, arson, or demonstrations against asylum seekers. Disconnect manifests itself much less aggressively in the local population simply avoiding interaction with refugees.

Additionally, the risk of radicalized or those at risk of becoming radicalized pose a serious threat to Germany, and the only thing that can be done outside of closing borders is to insure that those at-risk individuals residing in the country become well integrated. When feelings of anger or loneliness manifest, they make youth easy to indoctrinate. It is not a guaranteed safe guarding method but may help in reducing domestic risk. This project doesn’t claim to be the solution to every potential problem area, but rather a step in unifying cities and the people that reside there in the interest of building a better tomorrow. Most every-day problems stem from the fact that people of very different cultural backgrounds and heritages are coming together in one place, with little-to-no knowledge of one another, and a lack of social interaction. It was shown in the last chapter that there exists a climate of welcome and goodwill within Germany, but it is not universal. For every refugee who has had a positive experience adjusting to life in Germany, there are those that feel marginalized or unable to get a good start. Part of this is a result of anti-refugee sentiment, but part of this comes from communities and individuals that either don’t know how to help, or simply don’t have any connection to refugees and therefore no clear way to help them.

// Student group aimed at promoting intercultural relations Biberach an der Riß, Germany

integration in germany

50 INTERVIEWS To better understand the various challenges faced by refugees in Germany, in the fall of 2016, I posed a series of questions to a few friends of mine who are living in Germany. To better understand what sort of architecture could help someone with the same circumstances, I inquired after the positive and negative experiences they have faced and also about any goals they might have.

Name:

Ala Arab

Homeland:

Syria

Age:

Name:

Salifu Ceesay

Homeland:

Gambia

Age:

Q: How long have you been living in Germany? A: I have lived now one year in

Germany.

Q: How long have you been living in Germany? A: About 1 year and 3 months Q: What has been the most difficult thing about adjusting Germany? A: The most difficult thing was the language. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak German at the beginning. Q: What has been the most helpful to you

adjusting to life in Germany? A: The most helpful thing was the kindness of the people. They helped me a lot to learn the language and to improve my skills in German and even in English.

Q: What services, opportunities, or things do

you wish you had access to? A: Maybe later I can continue my studies. I wish to be successful in languages.

Q: What is your primary goal for the next year or even longer? A: The main goal is for me is to work as a translator in Germany. I can speak Arabic, English, and a little bit of German, that could be helpful.

Q: What has been the most difficult thing about adjusting to life in Germany? A: I have so many difficult things in Germany. Number one is language problem because it is very difficult for me and my Gambian brothers to go to school. We have to go to school. The living condition is also very poor, 5 peoples living in one room and only 1 kitchen for all. It is very hard for Africans to do what they want, especially Gambian. Education and work is my biggest difficulty because here I have no chance to study or go to school. Right now I have no hope in Germany because I have no opportunities to do what I want to do. Q: What has been the most helpful to you adjusting to life in Germany? A: The opportunities I do have in Germany are money from the government for my food and house to sleep in. I have also had a language course for three months. Q: What is your primary goal for the next year or even longer? A: My primary goal in Germany is to have good education and better life.

integration in germany

Name:

Baja Aljasem

Homeland:

Syria

Age:

Q: How long have you been living in Germany? A: About 1 year now Q: What has been the most difficult thing about adjusting Germany? A: Well the most difficult thing was, and still is, the language; German is one of the most difficult languages.

There is also the culture shock, but for me it wasn’t really a shock because I was expecting a very different culture from mine, and I’m not a stranger to the western culture thanks to British and American movies, but it didn’t cross my mind that the shock would come from the other part, the Germans. They are very nice and all, but it is hard to adjust to life in a country where people stare at you in the streets as if you were an unknown creature. I hope in time they become more open-minded to the differences between people.

Q: What has been the most helpful to you adjusting to life in Germany? A: Well I haven’t really adjusted yet, but the English language has been a GREAT aid for me in the

beginning-I could communicate normally with people and ask for directions. I am sure it would have been a much scarier experience if I had no idea what was going on in the minds of others and if I couldn’t express myself. The social lifestyle of Germans has helped me a lot too. A lot of them are very friendly and welcoming and offer their help. I have met some of the nicest people here in Germany. The rock music culture made it easier for me to make friends.

Q: What services, opportunities, or things do you wish you had access to? A: One great thing about Germany is you can’t really be disconnected from the internet. You can use free

Wi-Fi in the town square or public library. If I couldn’t speak English, I would need a translator, and a lot of people are having that problem now. It was also very difficult for me and my siblings to know to apply to a German university.

Q: What is your primary goal for the next year or even longer? A: I am going to apply next year for a place in the university of Ulm to continue studying medicine So to

start studying again is the primary goal for me and my siblings.That involves other sub-goals like learning German and adjusting to life in Germany.

52 // A handful of members of International Identity playing at the hochschule in Biberach. 6 countries and 4 continents are represented in this photo.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE While stories of hate against refugees and immigrants are prevalent in the media, Many Germans have put a great deal of effort into welcoming refugees; donating their time, money, and goodwill to welcome their new neighbors.

For example, in the small southern city of Biberach, students at the Hochschule (university) started WELCOME-Eine Studentische Intitiative der HS Biberach. This small organization meets a least once weekly to provide a place for refugees and students to come together and socialize as well as providing events outside of normal meeting times. Another group, International Identity, which I had the privilege of helping to initiate with my flatmate, aims at connecting people through a shared interest in music. Open to anyone and meeting at least once weekly, the group mixes instruments, musical styles, and members from across cultures. International Identity has had the ongoing opportunity of playing live music in and around the small city of Biberach to great success and positive response within the community. A third organization, Integrationshilfe fĂźr FlĂźchtlinge (Integrations Help for Refugees) aims at providing resources for refugees around the city of Hamburg. Their stated goals include sponsorship of refugees, language lessons, help finding employment or internships, connecting people through sports, music, and other hobbies, and providing activities for refugees.

CONCLUSION Projects that engage the whole community and seek to find common ground have proven to be successful. Applying this particular solution to the built environment will have the effect of making community involvement more universal and commonplace.

integration in germany

05 54

towards a solution

// Residents and local architects reclaimed an abandoned lot for use as a collective cultural space [Campo de Cebada, Madrid, Spain]

“When public spaces are successful they will increase opportunities to participate in communal activity. This fellowship in the open nurtures the growth of public life, which is stunted by the social isolation of ghettos and suburbs. In the parks, plazas, markets, waterfronts, and natural areas of our cities, people from different cultural groups can come together in a supportive context of mutual enjoyment. As these experiences are repeated, public spaces become vessels to carry positive communal meanings.” -Stephan Carr Sociologist, in the book, “Public Space”

56 // AMSTERDAM

MULTICULTURALISM As the world becomes increasingly globalized, and traveling long distances becomes less expensive and more rapid, countries will have to face the fact that diversification of ethnic groups within cities will continue to grow, and cities traditionally composed of an ethnic majority face an inundation of new cultures. Immigration and subsequent “integration” is not a 21st concept or issue. Since the dawn of the industrial era, immigrants have arrived en masse to cities all over the world in search of a new life and new opportunities.

TORONTO Toronto, Canada is considered the most ethnically diverse and integrated city in the world, with nearly half of its population born outside Canada, while also being considered the safest large metropolitan area in North America (City of Toronto). Roughly 140 different languages and dialects are spoken there and one third of residents report speaking a language other than English at home (City of Toronto). While these cities boast diverse and “integrated” cultures living in harmony with one another, they still house isolated ethnic neighborhoods, bastions of the old country inside of the new. This model can be observed in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where cultural identity is defined by the full spectrum of cultures inhabiting a place, rather than by that of a single ethnic group sharing common traditions and values. In effect, many large cities in these countries are composed of a series of smaller ethnic enclaves. And in this sense, among countries lacking strong traditional cultural identity, culture is built by the mixing of various groups and beliefs.

As the trend for urbanization and globalization continues, traditionally mono-ethnic cities are seeing an influx of immigrants. Cities that never before saw a plurality of cultures outside tourism and marginalized ethnic minorities now face a reshaping of social fabric and unwanted dilution of traditional cultural values. The city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands has for decades supported being a multicultural city of acceptance, and has a majority population born outside of the Netherlands. The website for the city (iamsterdam.com) outlines the strategy for fostering multicultural identity. City measures prevent discriminatory behavior and the formation of ghettos or ethnic boroughs, encourage diversity and protect the rights of women and LGBT. Even a city as ethnically diverse and integrated as Amsterdam faces pushback today by those opposed to the loss of Dutch identity, or frustrated with the resistance of immigrants towards Dutch customs and rules, which are valid concerns. “The government shares the social dissatisfaction over the multicultural society model and plans to shift priority to the values of the Dutch people. In the new integration system, the values of the Dutch society play a central role. With this change, the government steps away from the model of a multicultural society. A more obligatory integration is justified because the government also demands that from its own citizens. It is necessary because otherwise the society gradually grows apart and eventually no one feels at home anymore in the Netherlands. The integration will not be tailored to different groups.” (Dutch Integration Bill)

towards a solution

// The contemporary model of integration should accept that cultural differences will remain between people of differing cultural backgrounds, and that cultural diversity brings life to a city, but should also promote assimilation within a host culture. It should be universally accepted that in establishing oneself in a new country, one should seek to adopt the language, customs, and traditions the host, while still respecting oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own heritage. Members of a host country should accept that cultural differences will remain, but should make an effort to include new members of that society within the community, to benefit the community as a whole. Creating an integrated and plural community is dependent on both immigrants and natives coming together.

GERMAN PERSPECTIVE Within Germany, opposition to immigrants and refugees has increased within the last few years as a result of the refugee crisis. As stated previously, some Germans fear a potential loss of cultural identity and dilution of culture with a large influx of foreign nationals. Opposition against refugees has manifested itself as violence and in the rise of right wing movements. Unfortunately, though this is a vocal minority, it is the view that is most often reported by the media. One major barrier that stands in the way of refugees assimilating into German society is lack of dialogue between Germans and immigrants.

// â&#x20AC;&#x153;No person is illegalâ&#x20AC;?

Side of building in Hamburg, Germany

While many refugees have found Germans to be welcoming, helpful, and friendly, other refugees have faced violence or been left feeling marginalized. A community has the responsibility of supporting itself but it relies on the inclusion and participation of all its members. Refugees have now become de-facto members of German communities but still need to be participants in said communities, a feat which requires both refugees and Germans communicating.

towards a solution

UGANDA Uganda, which has a refugee population of roughly 500,000 and a much larger population of 182 million, has an established means of refugee integration. The country has taken a stance that refugee inclusion is necessary to creating community and that refugees should be able to work, attend school, and participate in government from immediately. The government upholds that refugees can be self-reliant and communities resilient under the following 3 points; â&#x20AC;&#x153;1. equity, dialogue, and mutual support 2.sustainable livelihood supports that takes into account the demographic, economic, and cultural contexts of each community 3. Inclusion of refugees in government-managed systems (Clements)â&#x20AC;?

// A refugee in Uganda helps a customer at his small pharmacy

local

APPLICATION TO GERMANY

Based on this model, and the idea of initial inclusion, refugees can sooner be self-reliant. In the case of Germany, a country with a primarily ethnic German population, this relies on both refugees and Germans working towards that goal. Germany has given hundreds of thousands of refugees a new start, with living accommodation and a monthly stipend as a starting point. Refugees have given Germany a source of young people who can potentially insure the continued prosperity and longevity of the German economy. Standing in the way of social and cultural unity is disconnect. Refugees most often live with others from their homeland and can have difficulty interacting with German residents outside of everyday transactions. It is foolish to expect that refugees integrate within a place without community outreach and that Germans help refugees integrate if some refugees have apathy towards becoming naturalized. Refugees must accept that part of living within a new country is being receptive to local customs and traditions. Germans must accept that in a globalized world, people from different nationalities will inevitably move to Germany and that it is the responsibility of members of a given community to help include new members. Without this fundamental, accepted truth, cultural division and dilution will only grow.

towards a solution

// With the health of a given city, and the participation of all its members in civic life, comes the ability to fluidly integrate refugees and any new members into that community, as well as different groups within the existing community, to protect the continued viability of local culture. Architecture has the opportunity to be the catalyst for this growth as the point from which all public life is born.

SYNTHESIS A city has the opportunity to be a fluid, living body, composed of all its members who do their part to support the common good. Towards achieving that goal, the community requires a space at its heart, where all members, regardless of perceived or real differences can come together to hold discourse, socialize, share ideas and further the community. This space should be a place that provides opportunity for differing interaction, and the mingling of both refugees and Germans. The public forum, civic buildings and the market square have traditionally acted as an anchor for the community, the hub from which all public life originates, but in many ways, the use of those spaces is antiquated and rigid.

// A simple intervention in Venice using soft, movable blocks creates an environment that the user can shape, and anyone can be a part of. [â&#x20AC;&#x153;commonplaceâ&#x20AC;? Interboro Architects]

The 21st century requires a space that is adaptable and allows for a variety of uses, as well as space that fosters the interaction between people that otherwise would not interact, i.e. refugees and residents, youth and elders, punks and posh. The key then to refugee integration isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a specific, narrowly focused and blanket application across a country, but in the growth and betterment of individual communities.

06 64

social architecture

// A classic example of an architectural project which promotes life in a neighborhood, and provides a variety of uses and levels of interaction. Centre Pompidou, Paris

social architecture

Name:

El Campo de Cebada

Location:

Madrid, Spain

What:

With the assistance of local architects, residents of the La Latina neighborhood redesigned an empty lot. The space has become a living development, with embellishments being made as residents deem they are wanted or required.

Why: The project is a smaller scale gesture towards bringing the city back to the people. The space is used for all manner of community events and supports a wide variety of functions at different scales due to the addition of community made furniture and structures. It is a social and cultural space for the people of the neighborhood and equally important, it is driven by those members.

Synthesis: With mobile, wheeled furniture and a large open plan, the space can be manipulated at any time to suit the needs of the inhabitants and support nearly any size function, or several at one time due to the fluid nature of the project. The scale allows interaction and events from one on one conversation, up to concerts that include the entire neighborhood. More so than any other precedent researched, this particular project is user-defined, meaning that its use is not limited by existing conditions. The primary issue with El Campo de Cebada is that after a period of a few years, residents grew fatigued with the constant voluntary involvement required for such a space. The biggest problem facing community architecture is that it relies on the community having members who are dedicated to running the space long-term and for no monetary gain. Finding a balance between community and forprofit leadership is essential.

social architecture

Name:

R-Urban Commons

Location:

Colombes, France

What:

The urban commons is aimed at the “social, economic, and ecological change of the neighborhood.” Located at the heart of a Parisian suburb, the project seeks to be a beacon for community discourse. The project includes communal farmland, classroom and workshop space for use by both craftspeople and residents, a market, and a series of spaces designed to act as the neighborhood living room.

Why: The project is a smaller scale gesture towards bringing the city back to the people. The architects (AAA) wanted a place to facilitate community growth and resilience. This was acheived by making a space for the community to grow sustainably, learn skills in workshops and classes, and come together for various local events.

Synthesis: This project is one in a series of proposed interconnected urban commons which seek to bring together the immediate community, but also connect surrounding areas to one another in the interest of creating more unity and positive growth in a changing world. The important aspects of this project which make it successful are in having adaptable space for different kinds of events and interactions. Furthermore, The project is driven by the community, which means it will always suit the best interests of that community. It promotes intellectual development and the sharing of valuable skills in what the architects describe as “facilitating citizens experience of making and doing.” Being more than just a generic public space, an urban commons should encourage learning, teaching, and doing.

social architecture

Name:

Centre Pompidou

Location:

Paris, France

What:

The Centre Pompidou, by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers is a well-known cultural center which mixes library, gallery, cinema, social space, and museum to provide a unique landmark within Paris that is a draw for tourist and resident alike.

Why: Turning its back on the busy street but opening up a large pedestrian square, the project is sensitive to the importance of pedestrian street life and making the building inviting to people. The large sloped square leading to the entry provides a place for people of the neighborhood as well as outsiders to socialize, relax, demonstrate, and share culture.

Synthesis: Centre Pompidou provides a site for learning, socializing, and experiencing culture. The large plaza that slopes towards the entrance acts as a means of catching the interest of passers by, and drawing them inward. The large plaza provides a place for respite as well as activism and socializing. The building itself remains both a visible icon and welcoming platform for the community. Circulation within the building is visible to people on the outside, projecting its life outwards. In relating back to the context of this thesis project, the Centre provides an example of connection to street life, acting as a community outlet, mixing of programmatic elements, and being inviting to a near universal demographic.

social architecture

// Rolex Learning Center, by SANAA CITIZEN CITY

“The vision of a Citizen City is one that transcends the traditional goals of economic stability and working infrastructure, and allows for inclusivity for its people, with a variety of economic levels, different cultures, and diverse identities. It also allows and encourages fairness, civic engagement, and the cultivation of cultural identity (Marya Cotton

Gould, Citizen City).”

The idea of a Citizen City begins with the implementation of single buildings and small scale urban interventions. These projects are the start of city-wide urban social networks, which seek to create meaningful connections and stimulate social growth.

HEART OF THE CITY As was discussed in the first chapter, the forum, agora, and marketplace are a few examples of how traditional cities primarily dealt with the issues of socialization, spread of information, and civic participation, in effect an analog form of the internet today. How do these spaces translate and evolve to be relevant in contemporary society? The public square is still an integral part of city life but it is not the only solution to housing social life in an urban environment today. The Creek tribe, native to the southeastern United States has a unique word for town, Italwa. The word implies “spiritual membership in and social responsibility for a civic ceremonial center (Childs, 27).” This word Italwa embodies the essence of what socially catalytic architecture is attempting to achieve. While the prototypical urban public spaces were outdoors, their boundary was punctuated by adjacency to the built environment; important civic and economic centers (courthouse, market hall), and later cultural and intellectual institutions (theaters, libraries, universities). Their location created a central community heart and in turn the community gave life to the heart. The space was dependent on people being active participants just as people relied on having such a space as a social and intellectual outlet; a communal soul. Social architecture was and is a place where the city has its heart. It is the place people

inhabit and pass through on a daily basis. Its location places it near other important spaces and structures or create new importance. These social spaces have access to food, leisure activities, and a wide variety of services that encourage interaction. It is here that people of a given city can come to further themselves, learn about others from their community, and seek to bridge the cultural and socioeconomic chasms that lie between people of a city.

RIGHT TO THE CITY In the 1960s French philosopher and sociologist Henri Lefebvre proposed his idea of the “right to the city” or the “freedom to make and remake cities for ourselves.” The Marxist undertones of his work can be synthesized into the context of architecture for the social and intellectual growth of communities described in this book. His vision of the “right to the city” includes the idea of participation of its inhabitants, both as active components of public life improving the urban fabric, and in shaping spaces to suit the requirements and lifestyles of the community. This includes the “right to be, to access, and to participate(Lefebvre).” Furthermore, Lefebvre asserts that social relations are connected to spatial relations. Both respond and evolve in relation to historical, physical, and social contexts. The connection is deepened through architecture that takes cues from the symbiotic relationship between the two, such as the Rolex Learning Center by SANAA. Space and circulation blend together to form one continuous, undulating volume throughout the entire building, bridging the divide between social and programmed elements and creating an open learning environment. // Space is the primary requirement of

socialization. All interaction and subsequent action is initiated by space, and designed space has the ability to shape socialization, as context and qualities of space have profound effects on the nature of social interaction. Differing spaces can guide the scale, nature, or quality of interactions, but poorly designed or sited spaces can negatively influence the nature of a city or neighborhood. //

social architecture

// [above] Granby Park, Dublin [below] corridor

// A “place” should have adjacencies to activated ground floor spaces, guide rather than dictate use, provide a wide range of opportunities for varying degrees and sizes of social interaction, and be a destination rather than a passageway. In creating meaningful place at the heart of the city, and eventually creating a network throughout it, this project seeks to break the post-modern cityscape and bring people together both for the betterment of self and the community. PLACE VS NON-PLACE In their book “Situational Urbanism,” Otto Paans and Ralf Pasel use the terms ‘place’ and ‘non-place’ to define urban spaces. “The first characteristic of non-place is discouraging of establishing lasting social relations. You can move through them (highway, corridor), you can stay a short time in them (hotel room, lounge bar), and you are able to consume supermarket, shopping mall). Non-places are not actually made to develop a social life in (Paans, 39).” Of the idea of non-place, French anthropologist Marc Auge says, “The space of nonplace creates neither singular identity nor relations, only solitude and similitude.” It is interesting to consider the idea that circulatory, transient spaces create similtude. This undeveloped public corridor where we tend to encounter the most people remains a space where we keep to ourselves. Architectural interventions, moments that cause pedestrians to stop, reflect, question, and socialize bring us together and allow for individual as well as group stimulation. The lonely public corridor is transformed into a vibrant center of life. “The feeling of being similar and nondescript is a form of monotony, not in a spatial sense, but in a relation sense. It could be argued that the low involvement of people with their neighborhood is an indirect consequence of this similitude (Paans, 40).”

Granby Park in Dublin, Ireland was a popup park installation completed by local groups and residents on a vacant lot. The very process of planning and construction was a community led, participatory process, transforming the former dirt patch in urban Dublin into a park with a varied program that promoted neighborhood events. It created a community hub in an otherwise dead corridor. The park created a moment for inhabitation and interaction along a path that otherwise would be strictly circulatory in nature. The second example, a pedestrian tunnel lacks the meaning of the first example. It provides no place for pause, conversation, or a view. It has utility but only serves as space connecting point A to B, rather than becoming a destination in itself. These archetypal spaces have importance but should not consume the entirety of the urban environment. Absent access to ‘places;’ space for meaningful connections, intellectual development, and culture, one stagnates. The public realm remains a corridor between two points rather than an integral part of ones daily life. This is one way feelings of closed-mindedness and resistance to change develop or perpetuate in society, as people only mix within their own circles. When people lack interaction and discourse with others of their community, they have no way to feel connected to other groups. Architecture is tasked with making familiar faces out of neighbors who otherwise often remain strangers to us.

PUBLIC VS PRIVATE Today, the private home has become the primary socialization space across many demographics. The prevalance of digital media allows the home access to virtually all information and entertainment, lessening the motivation to leave the home and search for meaning within the public realm. Phones, video calls, and messaging mean we dont even have to leave our room to socialize with a friend halfway across the globe or halfway down the block. Shopping can be done with a few clicks on a computer, and millions of videos are available from home. The public realm today just needs to show its relevance to an increasingly digital society. What makes the city more special than our own living room? Most of the time the answer is the people, the vibrant sub-cultures, and the ability to challenge ones own preconceptions.

// Just as a machine cannot operate to its full potential without the function and cooperation of all its parts, neither can a community reach its full potential without inclusion and collaboration. Cities which boast inclusion of all members and the celebration of different ideas have the opportunity to form a city that is welcoming and healthy as a body, and also beneficial to the health and welfare of individuals.

If the public realm has a real sense of place, a space one can inhabit, interact in, make ones voice heard, and in turn be an active member of the community, one can begin to break Augeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mold of similitude. What follows next is the socialization of the community and sense of camaraderie between members rather than alienation based on perceived differences.

PROMOTION OF COOPERATION

Creating community and bridging the divides between different groups relies heavily on cooperation, a direct result of positive socialization of individuals. Cooperation begins with casual, persistent contact with members of varying groups, and ends in the formation of commonalities and willingness to work together for reciprocal benefit. Members of theoretical Group A have something to share with those of Group B, and in turn Group A can learn something from Group B and vise-versa.

// Cyclists counters throughout cities such as Copenhagen allow people to become a visible part of their community in an interactive way and help promote a positive trend.

social architecture

PLACE Paul Knox, author of the book “Urban Social Geography” outlines the importance of place for social interaction within an urban context as follows:

Structures the daily routines of economic and social life

Structures people’s life paths, providing them with both opportunities and constraints

Provides an arena in which everyday, common knowledge and experience is gathered.

4. Provides a site for processes of socialization and social reproduction

Provides an arena for contesting social norms

COOPERATION Furthermore, in his book The Evolution of Cooperation, Robert Axelrod, political scientist and complexity scholar defines a set of parameters to initiate cooperation among individuals:

“As long as interaction is not iterated, cooperation is very difficult. That is why an important way to promote cooperation is to arrange that the same two individuals will meet each other again…This continuing interaction is what make it possible for cooperation based on reciprocity to be stable (p. 125)” -Create frequent and convivial interaction

2. Make payoff more cooperative 3.

“Teach people to care about each other. Without a doubt, a society of such caring people will have an easier time attaining cooperation among its members (p. 134).”

4. Teach and encourage idea of reciprocity

// Seating which allows the user to rotate the bench about a single point turns a public square into something people can manipulate at will. In this way, the user has some amount of control over their environment and can begin to modify the space and interact more fluidly with those around. [Piazza Risorgimento, Bari]

social architecture

// “All life, everyday life as a potential work of art” Henri Lefebvre CREATING MEANING What many cities lack are an access to spaces which promote the topics mentioned on the previous page. This project seeks to create a network of interconnected paths between people who inhabit the same building, block, neighborhood, and city. Part of this relies on developing cooperation between individuals, the other lies in enabling social interactions. Both of these develop in tandem with one another and work simultaneously towards the goal of making the Citizen City. In achieving this goal, the prescribed building should acknowledge and respond to the following: -elements of user participation and involvement: for example the ability for a person to track their use of a space or change it to suit their needs. -diverse (but not bloated) program: to capture widest audience and insure that the space is usable at different times of day and for different purposes. -combine program elements with circulation and with one another: our paths in life are not linear, neither should those in architecture. Encourage chance encounters and spontaeneous moments as one moves through the interconnected spaces. spaces should overlap to form adjacencies. -community of scholars: encourage people to learn, share, and explore in day to day life, it need not be a planned occurance. -make people into regulars: connect fluidly with the street and associated life, and provide a reason for people to come back. (hmm, I can only buy those spices at that thursday international market, or they have a great rooftop bar, or that fellow always has interesting lectures on monday afternoons, or better yet, my buddies are always there)

//Grocery stores are ubiquitous,so what makes a market hall something more special? [indoor market in Rotterdam]

-community of learning: allow locals to share their knowledge and in turn learn from others or provide a valuable service that they have to offer. It should be socially as well as intellectually stimulating (“anyone can take a class, anyone can give a course” )

social architecture

What is it about a space that makes it inhabitable, successful, and utilized? Dresden Altmarkt, 1884

LOCATION: Location is everything when trying to site a project that seeks public use. There are a few primary site considerations to make. -clever edge siting: Having a central location in the community is wise, but locating a project on the edge of a neighborhood can have a more profound impact. An intervention along the edge of two neighborhoods can galvanize wider use and create a vibrant crossroads between two different communities. -space where people pass frequently: This should be a space that receives a high volume of traffic and is located where a variety of demographics already frequent to catalyze interaction and provide one more platform for uses, bringing more life to the center. -adjacency to other services and used spaces: This is important in insuring continued use of the space and in reaching as many people as possible. If adjacent spaces are activated and relevant, there is more reason for people to find themselves exploring the project. -accessibility: Most importantly, the space should be visible, accessible, and inviting.

PROGRAM:

Based on case studies and research synthesis, the following are general considerations towards programming such a project:

-variety of interactions: It should foster growth through diversity of space, a combination of small intimate spaces to large group gatherings and the gradient in between.

-variety of uses: It should receive use throughout the day and week. A variety of uses and qualities of spaces will allow for different kinds and sizes of social interactions and events. Additionally, the space should allow and provide for a wide variety of uses at any given time of day, so that one feels invited at all times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;something for everyoneâ&#x20AC;? without being simply bloated. -guide rather than dictate use: Creating toospecific spaces discourages creativity. Spaces within should have implied uses, but should allow the user to create their own meaning and transform the space to suit their needs. -casual use: Keeping accessibility casual and

noncommittal will encourage more diverse use. Certain barriers of entry, such as monetary or social ones might discourage passers by from entering or experiencing certain exhibitions, discussions, or events.

-service availability: In supporting refugee integration as part of the program, the space should have access to services to aid refugees in meeting people, joining clubs (sports, music, etc), and adjusting to life in Germany. -information point: Make the space about learning and socialization, a place that has value and relevance in a society where most everything is available from the comfort of home.

// installation in Japan by 24Â° studio

social architecture

From the architect (24° studio)

“a commentary on today’s decreasing trend of face-to-face socialization due to advanced technology, the installation seeks to provide a threedimensional forum that would facilitate collective interaction and exchange. different spatial moments are created through peaks and dips in the circular surface. a small mountain is formed on one side which scoops down to partially shelter the flat seating area in the centre. the design facilitates spontaneous sitting arrangements, from the gently rising surface to a collection of small stools.”

86 FINDING COMMON GROUND

People are generally receptive to others if they have something in common and can relate on some level. Allowing people to find commonalities and make new connections is what this project seeks to do. Music, arts, food, and cultural events have the ability to bring very different people together and transcend cultural barriers. Sport has also been shown to bring different groups together. For example, many soccer clubs in Germany have seamlessly integrated refugees into their teams. Another example, the band project International Identity gives people with very different cultural backgrounds the ability to share a love of music. This gives both Germans and refugees the opportunity to socialize and create a social network essential to integration and feeling comfortable in a new place. Other cross-cultural events such as workshops, discussions, and classes can further provide a means for different demographics to meld.

THE COMMUNITY AS A CLASSROOM

Community space can and should provide a place for teaching and learning, as that helps give everyone in the community useful skills and reduces problems among residents. Refugees, for example, could use such a space to receive language help, learn about German culture and customs, and aquire other skills which might assist their residency in Germany. Refugees could also use such a space to share their own skills and experiences with the community. There should be a constant two-way trade of information and skills in addition to other perscribed uses to facilitate a healthy community.

// “When public spaces are successful, they will increase opportunities to participate in communal activity. This fellowship in the open nurtures the growth of public life, which is stunted by the social isolation of ghettos and suburbs. In the parks, plazas, markets, waterfronts, and natural areas of our cities, people from different cultural groups can come together in a supportive context of mutual enjoyment. As these experiences are repeated, public spaces become vessels to carry positive communal meanings.” (Carr, Francis, Rivlin and Stone, p. 344)

SYNTHESIS

Layered interaction is essential for the socialization of communities and providing a platform for every level and size of group, from a pair holding a conversation, to a crowd of a few hundred listening to a pianist. Equally important is providing a space for learning and teaching. Social architecture is more important now than it ever was. As the world rapidly globalizes and cities have more heterogeneous populations it become more crucial that communities bridge differences in the interest of creating more plural societies. Additionally, socialization of a population is important for self and communal growth.

// “Community as a classroom,” locals of different demographics find common ground, learn a skill, and contribute something back to their community. R-Urban, Colombes France

social architecture

07 88

dresden

// Äußere Neustadt, Dresden; a site of vibrant culture and history

“This is a fundamental view of the world. It says that when you build a thing you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but must also repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at the one place becomes more coherent, and more whole, and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature, as you make it.’’ -Christopher Alexander Architect, in the book, “A Pattern Language”

90 // Dresden after Feb 13, 1945

BACKGROUND Long considered the “Florence on the Elbe,” Dresden has both enjoyed rich cultural heritage and suffered tragic loss over the course of its long history. First mentioned as a city in writing dating to 1216, the next several hundred years found Dresden develop into an economically and culturally powerful city, with beautiful Baroque architecture and boasting world famous music and art. This period saw Dresden as the seat of the Saxon nobility. By the early 20th century, Dresden had further established itself as a manufacturing center.. The pre-war history of Dresden tells the story of a powerful and refined city. On the night of February 13, 1945 Allied firebombing by British and American forces left the city a smoking ruin. It is estimated that 25,000 people lost their lives during the bombing and ensuing firestorm (Dresden Historical Commission), though some groups argue a much higher number. Additionally, 85% of the city was left in ruins, including the loss of several culturally significant buildings, artifacts, and art. The former “Florence on the Elbe,” had been reduced to a shadow of its former self as a direct result of the Second World War and the proceeding years would have a profound impact on its reconstruction. The formation of East Germany as an occupation zone controlled by the Soviets at the close of 1945 and the establishment of the German Democratic Republic in 1949 would come to define post-war Dresden. Rebuilt in a socialist-modern style, large uniform block houses and highways shared the cityscape with the rebuilding of historical buildings within the Altstadt and the punctuation of ruins and rubble as reminders of the war. The Frauenkirche, the famous church at the heart of the Altstadt remained a rubble strewn ruin until the mid1990s, when the German government decided it should be rebuilt as it was.

// Dresden after

r Feb 13, 1945

dresden

// Today, contemporary design provides another layer to the complex built fabric and very visible history, apparent in its architecture. Additionally, in part due to the widespread destruction and subsequent socialist reconstruction, Dresden boasts maintaining 63% of the city as green space (Wolfel). The composition of pre-war, post-war, and post-socialist architecture meld to paint the picture of Dresden, in the city today, but an alternative model seeks to give Dresden a renewed image.

DRESDEN INTO THE 21ST CENTURY:

“Buildings and themes of the GDR have been disavowed, modified, or removed from the center of the city. The new Dresden is a city that has minimal clues to either its Nazi or East German past. It is being presented as a city with one eye on its proud, pre-Nazi and Soviet, history and one eye on its future potential (Wolfel, 1).” Dresden, not unlike other former East German cities, seeks to remove influences of both its Nazi and Autocratic past, and replace them with more favorable images of the past or alternatively a more progressive, contemporary German state, while in both cases still acknowledging the darker moments of its history. The subsequent reconstruction has been made in the interest of creating a German identity, first under an autocratic regime, and now as a reflection of unified German culture.

// Long neglected, today Dresden sees contemporary design inserted next to its historic architecture

Since 1990, reconstruction efforts have centered on both rebuilding the city’s Baroque past, and in designing Dresden as a contemporary city, the idea of dichotomy in design. Architecture of the former GDR has been replaced with both baroque and modern facades, evident in Pragerstraße, the pedestrian axis between main train station and city center. In its search for identity in the modern world, the city of Dresden refers to this genesis as “moving towards a Baroque future.”

dresden

// Towering DDR era apartment blocks across the river Elbe

WHY DRESDEN? -it is a city with much potential: Dresden is a city with both a rich and tragic history. Once a capital of culture and the arts, its near complete destruction at the end of the Second World War and subsequent Soviet reconstruction gave the city a very different identity. German unification saw hard times for the city but today the city is making a strong resurgance in population and industry, and has a rich cultural scene. -it is a city for exploration: On the brink of a

new era, the city has potential for architectural projects, with a significant number of empty lots, disused spaces, and opportunities for adaptive reuse. In avoiding the associated problems with gentrification of a neighborhood, this project seeks to provide a culturally and socially sensitive solution to building community and improving group health without pushing any one group out.

-it is a city that seeks solutions: Long

unaccustomed to outsiders and now facing an influx of immigrants due to the refugee conflict after a final recovery from post unification woes, the city now faces new challenges. The city is a perfect center to explore the ideas of community building architecture and finding a means of more fluid immigration tied directly to the tenets of community participation and unity.

DRESDEN DEMOGRAPHICS: Dresden is the 4th largest city in Germany in terms of gross area (328 km2), of which 62% is made up of green space and forests. After over a decade of declining population, Dresden is beginning to see a resurgence in both population and a strong tech industry, giving it the strongest economy in former East Germany.

Population: Foreigner Pop: Pop Density: Pop Change: 1990)

548,800 33,810 (6.2%) 1,670 per km2 +7.6% (since

Average Age: Foreigner Avg Age:

42.9 years 32.5 years

DRESDEN CLIMATE: Dresden enjoys a mild humid temperate climate throughout the year. It has warm summers and cold winters with an average yearly temperature range of 26Â° F to 77Â° F. The temperate climate means that Dresden rarely sees extreme temperatures. Dresden has no dry season and sees mostly cloudy days throughout the year. Additionally, Dresden receives rain 45% of days though the summer months and 70% of those in winter months, with an average yearly precipitation of only 26 inches.

dresden

Ă&#x201E;uĂ&#x;ere Neustadt:

Due to its high density(highest in Dresden), large percentage of non-German population, prevalence of refugee accomodation, diversity of site conditions, and central location within the larger Dresden area, this neighborhood is an excellent site for exploring community building architecture.

Population: Foreigner Pop: Pop Density: Pop Change:

17,749 1,592 (9.0%) 15,523 per km2 +54.1% (since 1990)

Average Age: Household Size: # of Single Occupants:

31.8 years 1.5 per home 68.9% of households

IMPRESSIONS: The neighborhood enjoys: -thriving arts and culture scene -classic architecture -walkable, narrow streets -relative open-mindedness This region of Dresden is ripe for progressive community ideas and already enjoys it to some extent. A project such as this requires a location to first test ideas and also be a model for future catalytic, community based architecture projects. The demographic of this neighborhood is suited to acting as a trial and would be more open to participation from the start. If the model is proven to be effective, it can see implementation in neighborhoods throughout Dresden, even those that might not have initially been conducive to such an idea.

dresden

100

SITE SELECTION analysis of typologies

TYPE D: HYBRID SITE +corner site +activate new area +access to transportation -fewer adjacencies -fringe location

TYPE C: OPEN SITE +access to public transit +prominant location +high foot traffic +border to 2 neighborhoods -surrounded by car traffic -fewer adjacent services

dresden

TYPE A: PARK SITE +prominant location +access to park +close to other services +access to public transit +border to 2 neighborhoods -limited project scale -buildings exist on site

TYPE B: POCKET SITE +central location +adjacency to sports +close to other services +use existing site -infill -restrictive site

102

SPECIFIC SITE

dresden

08 104

catalytic architecture

// Even small interventions can provide both interaction and participation by creating inhabitable spaces that support stimulation. [pop-up library in Blackpool, England]

â&#x20AC;&#x153;If architects and planners are thinking about real participation, they should be thinking both spatially and politically about developing the role of people as citizens, instead of as users, and about increasing, not decreasing, the public realm.â&#x20AC;? -Teresa Hoskyns

City/Democracy:Retrieving Citizenship

106

MORE THAN JUST A PUBLIC SPACE

To understand social relationships in the context of a city, it was important to first study the role of public squares and parks in activating the public realm. As long as society has collected in cities, there have been public squares, streets, parks, and occasionally buildings which provided the city a platform with which to congregate, share ideas, socialize, and experience. What is it about these spaces that draws people in, and holds them there for some length of time? And what makes these spaces successful or unsuccessful, because a walk around any city will reveal both powerful public spaces, and ones that remain empty? The basic square is essentially nothing more than an absence of structure within a city, but it acts as so much more than that. This blank canvas is a meeting point, event space, social space, market, demonstration space, etc. Its use is nonetheless more grandiose in scale. Contemporary public squares seek to provide more than just a blank canvas for civic use. These more modern spaces are layered in scale and function. It might include more defined spaces within the larger context tailored to specific uses. For example, it might include large open space for larger events, but also would have smaller spaces for sitting in a more intimate context.

//Goal: This project looks to create cities that have strong, healthy, and self-sustaining communities which can adapt to a changing world and help integrate new members of the community though the following aspects: -Social -Intellectual -Inclusion -Participation

The commonalities among public spaces which are successful, and which cause people to stop and inhabit them are as follows: -At a central, accessible point within a given local context, should be walkable distance from adjacent uses -Adjacencies to other nearby uses -Parks, cafes, restaurants, museums, pubs, residences, and businesses -Places to sit, eat, drink, interact -context should be pleasant -should be largely user-defined -frequent use for community events

// What makes some public architecture successful and well utilized, and others barren and decrepit. [Opera House, Oslo]

catalytic architecture

108

catalytic architecture

// Taking the aspects of outdoor public spaces, this project seeks to further the ideas of public spaces to provide social stimulation among members of the community to make the public realm as much a part of our lives as the private one has become. To make a more social community through architecture the following needs should be addressed:

EVOLUTION -include varying scale and quality of spaces

to encourage interaction in a variety of contexts. For example, mix indoor/outdoor spaces, small intimate spaces for a pair of people to socialize, larger open spaces (for concerts, exhibitions, markets, and group events), private rooms for small classes/workshops, and spaces that layer the aforementioned functions to enhance a sense of community as a physical space occupying a wide range of interactions.

-time frame: the space should be used both as a

transient stop along ones journey through the city, as well as a space one can inhabit for a period of several hours

-It should encourage casual inhabitation: the plan should be open enough to provide a sense of space as an extension of the street, and avoid putting a monetary value on inhabitation of the space.

-it should be accessible and visible within the

built environment

-it should have adjacency to other public spaces: parks, cafes, etc

-it should be inhabited throughout the day as well as the week, and provide functions for all (youth and elderly for example)

// Community space in Dresden

-the spaces within should guide rather than explicitly dictate use, to allow the user more control in shaping their own meaning out of the space

110

catalytic architecture // Dresden city center from the air Beyond the Urban Commons The urban commons is more or less a community led cultural center. More than simply public space, an urban commons is a center for intellectual development, community growth, and culture. The inherent long term difficulty with spaces entirely dependent on community participation is that they suffer from fatigue and disinterest, especially if the most outspoken members of the community become no longer involved. Such a space relies on constant community participation, a feat which has proven to be hard to maintain. The solution to this issue is to make the space a hybrid between volunteer and vocation driven. The community should have the ability to partially run the space and use it freely, but to combat the issue of participatory fatigue, it should also include an economic component. If the space facilitates functions which members of the community can profit from, such as a weekly food market or crafts market, art exhibitions, concerts, classes, and services, money will circulate within the community and it provides incentive for local residents to actively be a part of the project, because they have something to gain. Insuring long term success relies on encouraging participation in the project. AAA, an architecture firm in France developed their strategy for creating a successful urban commons in Colombes, France. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We conceived it as a participative strategy based on the setting up of local ecological cycles that activate material (e.g., water, energy, waste, and food) and immaterial (e.g., local skill, socioeconomic, cultural, and self-building) flows between key fields of activity (e.g., economy, habitation, and urban agriculture) that exist already or could be implemented within the existing fabric of the city. The project is intended to gradually generate a network around collective facilities hubs, each with complementary urban functions, bringing together emerging citizen projects and creating spatial and ecological agencies to enhance the capacity of urban resilience.â&#x20AC;? This project will focus on the so-called immaterial; socioeconomic, local skill, cultural, and self building.

112

interactions, from a pair speaking over coffee to a few hundred people participating in a weekly market. The project seeks to maintain a strong connection with the street and adjacent park to act as an open, inviting space; the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living room. -intellectual: An additional program goal is to provide space for classes, lectures, group discussions, and the general sharing of culture and knowledge. Social space and intellectual space should maintain a strong connection to facilitate the free exchange of ideas and encourage interaction.

-inclusion: The program will provide offices and space for services to help refugees and immigrants be successful in their new home; classes, job/ education help, culture, activities, etc. It will also encourage dialogue between refugees and Germans through cultural events, classes, and providing a platform for people to meet others they might otherwise never cross paths with. -participation: Layering the various program

elements so there is physical overlap of spaces and an open plan will encourage movement through the project and a casual ability for a person to explore different events or discussions that are occuring. Furthermore, social spaces will provide a user the ability to modify the space for different use. What if the building could also track occupancy, movement, what is occuring on a moment to moment basis and project that to the street?

SKILLS MAKE

TEACH

WORKSHOP

-social: Provide space for a variety of social

READ DISCUSSION COMMUNITY PROJECT

The primary goal of this project is to create more plural neighborhoods which have vibrant community life, and the secondary goal of is to help refugees in Germany better integrate into German communities. The project goals are outlined and articulated through the four points; social, intellectual, inclusion, and participation.

LEARN

SO WHAT IS THIS PROJECT?

INTELLECTUAL

LECTURE

CLASS

catalytic architecture

PRIVATE

ART LOUNGE

BAR

EXHIBITION

MOVIES

FEST

DANCE

OBSERVE

OPEN

MUSIC

CAFE CONCERT

SOCIAL MARKET

INCLUSION ACTIVITIES

AGENCY

LANGUAGE

INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN BUDDY

EMPLOYMENT MEETING CULTURE

SERVICES

GROUPS

EDUCATION

What does the program begin to look like?

09 114

vellum

What if a single piece of furniture could adapt our changing needs? What if a single piece of furniture could be a seat one day, a desk the next, and later that evening transform to be a small dining table for two? TWOstep explores the concept of user defined furniture in the 21st century, a piece which allows exploration and participation on the part of the user, who may create their own meaning and guide the function of the piece freely.

116

User-defined Furniture

This was an experiment in creating a furniture piece which could adapt to the diverse and changing needs of an owner. If space is an issue, or one has no need for a very specific piece, TWOstep allows the user to shape its form. It encourages experimentation, creativity, and playfulness.

vellum

Formal Development

Form was concieved by manipulating a right triangle with arcs and circles inscribed as tangent to the existing lines. The combination of flat and curvilinear edges provides the possibility for creating different conditions with each rotation. The middle of each piece was removed to significantly reduce weight, and further experimentation was done to minimize the thickness of members.

118

Social Relation The idea of user defined furniture is closely related to the idea of architectureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role as a social catalyst. Just as this furniture piece guides rather than dictates a perscribed use, encourages exploration, and can adjust to changing needs over time, the new urban commons should provide these same opportunities.

Variable applicaton

The combination of rotational movement and pins allows for a wide range of applications and functions of which a small selection are shown at right.

vellum

work surface

chair

stool/end table

table

10 120

project

new urban commons, dresden

122

// exterior rendering

project

124

// site map

project

126

// site plan and diagrams

project

128

// diagrams and plans

project

130

// ground floor plan

kam

enz

ers

traĂ&#x;

[ma

ket 1 ] 2 ma r 3 aud ket i 4 coa toriu m t out room (belo doo w) r pl aza

früh

ling

stra ße

project

bis

cho

fsw

0’

10’

25’

50’

100’

200’

132

// second and third floor plans

[so

1 ial] 2 caf e 3 kitc /rest aur 4 h offi en ant ces 5 me 6 e aud ting r 7 libr itoriu oom m ary soc / ial open spa cla ce ssro om

project

1 2

3 2

[ex

ibit 1 ] 2 ent 3 r exh y 4 i b sto ition r aud age iori um (be

2 3

low

)

134

// long section

project

136

// short section

project

138

project

blocks Stored in furniture wells, blocks can be removed, pieced together, or spread throughout the floor to create different seating arrangements.

// second floor view

Larger pieces may be rotated for alternate uses, or alternatively may be stacked to create a variety of seating conditions.

By providing mobile furniture which can be rearranged for different sized groups and conditions, building users attain their own level of customization.

140

open classroom By removing the walls of a traditional classroom, the mobile units can be set up anywhere and in several different configurations for different uses.

Keeping the classroom space mobile and in an open environment helps make them more accessible to passersby and allows the units to be moved

throughout the building, outside in the plaza or park, or even temporarily to another building for use by the community.

project

142

active facade To create a discourse between interior and street environments, the operable facade panels open and close based on occupancy levels using infrared sensors within each programmed space.

From street level, one gets a sense of where activity is currently taking place within the building and how active the particular space is.

This engages both those at street level (who receive current information about building use) and those utilizing the space (who become active participants in the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use).

project

Enlarged facade detail

144

// facade detail

project

146

social stairs The marriage of occupiable space with primary circulation space helps catalyze more interactions through more frequent meetings between individuals.

This space also provides stadium seating for lectures, film screening, people watching, and viewing live music or dance.

Within the project, vertical and horizontal circulation are located centrally within the atrium space to increase sight lines between various functions and increase interaction of individuals.

project

building feed Digital bulletin boards placed on each floor project live feed information of current buildings use statistics, messages, requests, and a calendar of events.

These points aim to connect people with others with similar interests, inform them of events/ classes, and use digital media to bring together different people in a tangible environment.

By tracking information on building use, users become an integral part of the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s function and life.

148

// gallery view

project

150 // ground floor view

project

152

// model

project

154

project

156 WORKS CITED 1.

Alexander, Christopher, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein. A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. New York: Oxford UP, 1977. [Book]

Amin, Ash. 2006. “Public Space: Collective Culture and Urban Public Space.” Retrieved November 25, 2016a (http:// www.publicspace.org/en/text-library/eng/b003-collective-culture-and-urban-public-space).

Anon. April 2016. “Asylum Statistics - Statistics Explained.” Retrieved November 4, 2016 (http://ec.europa.eu/ eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Asylum_statistics).

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Anon. n.d. “Flüchtlingsfeindliche Vorfälle in Deutschland 2015-2016.” Mut Gegen Rechte Gewalt. Retrieved November 11, 2016b (https://ax3l.github.io/chronik-vorfaelle/).

Anon. n.d. “Was Wir Tun – Integrationshilfe Für Fluchtlinge.” Retrieved November 14, 2016n (http://www.integrationfluechtlinge.org/was-wir-tun/).

Atelier d’architecture autogérée (aaa). n.d. “Harvard Design Magazine: R-Urban: Resilient Agencies, Short Circuits, and Civic Practices in Metropolitan Suburbs.” Retrieved December 4, 2016i (http://www.harvarddesignmagazine. org/issues/37/r-urban-resilient-agencies-short-circuits-and-civic-practices-in-metropolitan-suburbs).

Betts, Alexander and Paul Collier. 2015. “Help Refugees Help Themselves.” Foreign Affairs 94(6):84–92. Retrieved October 23, 2016 [Essay]

Bewarder, Manuel. Khunkham, Kritsanarat. Mucha, Viktor. n.d. “Karte: Rechte Gewalt Und Übergriffe Auf Asylbewerber in Deutschland - WELT.” DIE WELT. Retrieved November 11, 2016n (https://www.welt.de/politik/ deutschland/article139562077/Karte-der-Gewalt-und-Proteste-gegen-Fluechtlinge.html).

10.

Bildung, Bundeszentrale für Politische. n.d. “Die Entwicklung Der Arbeitslosigkeit in Deutschland | Bpb.” Retrieved November 8, 2016 (http://www.bpb.de/geschichte/deutsche-einheit/lange-wege-der-deutschen-einheit/47242/ arbeitslosigkeit?p=all).

11.

Bravo, David. n.d. “Public Space: «R-Urban»: Réseau de Communs Urbains: Colombes (France), 2014.” Retrieved November 30, 2016b (http://www.publicspace.org/en/works/j281-r-urban-reseau-de-communs-urbains).

12.

Brück, Kira. n.d. “München: Erstes Wohnheim Für Flüchtlinge Und Studenten - Ein Besuch - SPIEGEL ONLINE.” Retrieved November 30, 2016q (http://www.spiegel.de/lebenundlernen/uni/projekt-wohnheim-fuer-fluechtlinge-undstudenten-in-muenchen-a-1056701.html).

13.

Bundesamt für Immigration und Flüchtlinge. 2015 “Aktuelle Zahlen Zu Asyl Dezember 2015” Retrieved November 10, 2016 [Document]

14.

Bundesamt für Immigration und Flüchtlinge. n.d. “BAMF - Bundesamt Für Migration Und Flüchtlinge - The Stages of the Asylum Procedure.” Retrieved November 10, 2016 [Document]

15.

Bundesamt für Immigration und Flüchtlinge. n.d. “Flüchtlinge in Deutschland Nach Altersgruppen 2016 | Statista.” Retrieved November 30, 2016 [Document]

16.

Carr, Stephen, Mark Francis, Leanne G. Rivlin, and Andrew M. Stone. 1993. Public Space. Cambridge University Press. [Book]

17.

Cassidy, Lisa. 2013. “Granby Park, Dominick Street, Dublin 1 | Built Dublin.” Retrieved January 21, 2017h (http:// builtdublin.com/granby-park-dominick-street-dublin-1/).

vellum

18.

CIA. n.d. “The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency.” Retrieved November 8, 2016k (https://www.cia.gov/ library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html).

19.

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