CONTENT XL
The Social Network Tactical Points, Active Surfaces, Bifurcating Lines VCA Competition 2014 - Everyone Connects
L
Metabolic City
M
Heavenly Steps
Urban Renewal Scheme
Columbarium 2012 NTUT International Orientation Competition
S
XS
A Touch of Delight Shopping mall
Flickering Public Furniture ArtAlive @ Park 2012 In collaboration with LAAB & HULU Culture
Tactical Points
The Social Network Tactical Points, Active Surfaces, Bifurcating Lines
It all starts with life. Life we spot in every nook and cranny of Mumbai. Scenes of all sorts of social encounter in the street market to slum dwellers who wash in the filthy nullah. From the most versatile to the least attended part of Mumbai, public life characterizes the aura of the city. Public space engenders social cohesion to people of all caste as well as opportunities to livelihood. The anarchic quality is the authenticity yet the cause of sanitation, insecurity and congestion problems - the extreme condition Mumbaikars face everyday. With the belief that public spaces are beacons of a better urban life, the Social Network is a movement in response to the chaotic condition in Mumbai. Embracing public life while resisting against the inhabitable factors; the reconstruction of a network of social connectors, through the synergy of tactical points, active surface and bifurcating lines, turn Sewri into a more habitable place to dwell. Seemingly a top down rational plan imposed on the existing disorder setting, the Social Network opts for a bottom-up approach which is sensitive to its users at every point of action. Public space is to be perceived rather than prescribed; the active role of building mass in every tactical point starts a dialogue with the surrounding passive open spaces. Provision of tactical points allows tactics to take place, where appropriation of public space is carried out by the users themselves rather than the authority. The intimate relationship between building mass, public space and public life becomes the agenda of the proposal. Evolving itself from an introverted role to a leading position in the Eastern District of Mumbai, Sewri is right at the crossroad of future development and its past. As a transportation hub serving national population, life pattern will inevitably change with the dynamic flow. To improve the living condition while characterize the authenticity of Mumbai would be the balance to strive for. Amidst the fast paced development, public life is the last thing to be preserved.
Social Loci
Bifurcate & Hierarchical Network
Varying Scale of Public Space
Floor Plan Variation
Social Loci User sensitive programming Public facilities, Resource Center and other Communal alike facilities are distributed in the inner part of the city for the benefits and needs of the people in poverty as the inner region is dominated by slum and pavement dwellers. Moving towards the waterfront, more prominent buildings like Transportation Hub proposed for the Worli Sea-Link Interchange and landmarks will serve as the Social Loci for a wide spectrum of users from local residents to commuters or even tourists.
High Density Communities Verticality by Locality With the restriction imposed by current FSI, verticality is a limitation in the context of Mumbai. To accommodate a population of 100,000 within the 1 sq. km area, we proposed to increase the FSI by locality as opposed to the blanket FSI all over Sewri. In such, ample public spaces and humane living conditions and can be guaranteed to everyone amidst the high dense living environment. In quantitative terms, the Open space per capita will increase from 1.1 to 2.5 sq.m while living space per capita is 8 sq.m at a minimum.
Inclusive Habitation The emerging Condominiums are being developed in Sewri at the expense of a stable dwelling for slum and pavement dwellers. Inclusiveness in Habitation becomes a pivot of the scheme. Different income groups are provided with housing according to specific living area per person. With a premise to accommodate 100,000 populations in the proposed site; design for vertical communities offers a clue to high dense yet collective living environment to people of all caste.
Active Surfaces Social Loci activate large Surface Underused Surfaces like sports ground and parks together with the virgin promenade area will be activated through a more comprehensive pedestrian network; nearby upcoming habitation programmes and the Social Loci. Large open spaces usually suffer from nonprogrammed or mono-programmed cause; Hybrid Building as Social Loci sustains the large open space with multiple programmes and diverse user groups.
Image courtesy to Jimmy Ho
Mumbai Habitation Study Middle Income
Low Income
Working
Celebrating
Chatting
Slum Dharavi Area / person: 2-8 sq.m
Playing
Playing
Communicating
Communicating
Chatting
Chawl Haji Kasam Chawl Ohawla by private Enterprise Area / person: 2.6 sq.m
Chatting
High Income
Playing
Mass Housing Building No. 30 Mass Housing by State after Independence Area / person: 10 sq.m
Condominium/ Township Glen Heights Township Housing Area / person: 40 sq.m
Haji Kasam Chawl Chawls by private Enterprise
Haji Kasam Chawl Chawls by private Enterprise
Glen Heights New Suburban Township Housing
Area / pers : 2.6 sqm
Area / pers : 40 sqm
Area / pers : 2.6 sqm
Building No. 30 Mass housing by the state after independence
Haji Kasam Chawl Chawls by private Enterprise 1:500
Area / pers : 2.6 sqm
1:200
Glen Heights New Suburban Township Housing
Area / pers : 10 sqm
1:200
Area / pers : 40 sqm
High Density Communities Underused Surfaces like sports ground and parks together with the virgin promenade area will be activated through a more comprehensive pedestrian network; nearby upcoming habitation programmes and the Social Loci. Large open spaces usually suffer from nonprogrammed or mono-programmed cause; Hybrid Building as Social Loci sustains the large open space with multiple programmes and diverse user groups.
Image courtesy to Jimmy Ho
Hybrid Building Design Hybridity implies diversity. In the Public Service Building, Social Loci in one of the tactical points, residential, public service as well as office is all mixed up within the block. Diverse user groups are beneficial to the large square in front of the building. The square will be occupied by diverse user groups who live, visit or work nearby. It can ensure the public area will be well articulated at different time of the day.
Co-habitation of working and living Co-habitation is a lifestyle commonly found in Mumbai, people work and live under the same shelter in Slum, Mercantile Houses, Agrarian Villages etc. Co-habitation allows its inhabitants sustain their own living within a walkable zone, minimizing the reliance on transportations.
Public facilities for the unprivileged Slum dwellers and people living in poverty are often left unattended. The slum-prone region is one of the tactical moments to be take care of in our proposal. Social Loci in these regions are mainly planned for communal services. The Water Resource Center is a provision for water, where inhabitants and surrounding neighborhood can share the resources as a way to alleviate water shortage. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry acts as magnet for the needy while social interaction is encouraged.
Testing on Material & Attachment Detail
Prefabrication
PVC fabric is proposed to be the final material of‘The Flickering’. Since it is elastic, foldable, durable and reflective, which can create the shimmering effect.
Testing on acrylic mirror reveal its fragility; while aluminium is labour intensive in the folding process.
3 female snap buttons and 1 male snap button are used on one triangular module. The female buttons are aligned on the middle to adjust the form of ‘The Flickering’.Foam boards are used as base to support the form.
Mock-up
On-site Construction
Structural Anatomy
Tiers of foam board support the desired form of the installation.
Scaffolding acts as structural frame to stiffen the flickering surface and encaged the foam base.