Working for the competition that took part during my stay in Shenzhen (China), I have focused my attention on the study of the area and of its main features, both from a morphological and social point of view, in order to proceed with an operation that can adapt perfectly to what is the current and future situation.
The conception of the project was preceded by the formulation of future scenarios with 5-year intervals from each other.
We imagined our area as a site in constant evolution, and that with the passage of time, could adapt to the natural mutation of users, from the initial conversion of the industrial area to a complete transformation of the site.
In order to know the site and its inhabitants, we have proceeded to perform some calculations on certain data which would allow us to make an accurate study on what are the conditions of
housing and of the urban village.
From these data we have identified the fundamental theme of our project, aimed at urban spaces and community services, for the present and future communities .
The project starts with the desire to preserve as much as possible of the urban village in order to limit the operations of demolitions obtaining a greater number of new housing units.
All demolition will be carried out in order to obtain new paths within the old urban village, trying to bring healthiness and requalify spaces that appear unhealthy and congested.
Each demolition will increase the available open space, creating new paths and open spaces serving the community of the village.
A second operation of redevelopment will affect the entire industrial area, which will mutate into a new center of research.
Even here, the intention is to keep as many buildings as possible and start a process of modernization and conversion of all the existing structures, enriching them with new green spaces and superfetation that will grow in height, creating new public land.
The conception of the project was preceded by the formulation of future scenarios with 5-year intervals from each other.
We imagined our area as a site in constant evolution, and that with the passage of time, could adapt to the natural mutation of users, from the initial conversion of the industrial area to a complete transformation of the site.
In order to know the site and its inhabitants, we have proceeded to perform some calculations on certain data which would allow us to make an accurate study on what are the conditions of
housing and of the urban village.
From these data we have identified the fundamental theme of our project, aimed at urban spaces and community services, for the present and future communities .
The project starts with the desire to preserve as much as possible of the urban village in order to limit the operations of demolitions obtaining a greater number of new housing units.
All demolition will be carried out in order to obtain new paths within the old urban village, trying to bring healthiness and requalify spaces that appear unhealthy and congested.
Each demolition will increase the available open space, creating new paths and open spaces serving the community of the village.
A second operation of redevelopment will affect the entire industrial area, which will mutate into a new center of research.
Even here, the intention is to keep as many buildings as possible and start a process of modernization and conversion of all the existing structures, enriching them with new green spaces and superfetation that will grow in height, creating new public land.
The project was awarded with the 4th Prize.
Regarding the new buildings, we have focused our attention on increasing the number of square meters of indoor and outdoor common areas, useful to new residents and the actual-one.
This operation has been possible only through the conception of buildings growing in height multiplying the common area on the ground floor, raised off the ground through multiple platforms that contain community services and green spaces on the top.
In the space adjacent to the lake, it was decided to build a basement containing all commercial activities and services that the village may need.
Over this platform are located the tallest buildings intended for new residences.
The platform’s roof is configured as an additional outdoor public space accessible by ramps and stairways connected to the paths of the new urban village.
In order to connect all the new urban spaces, we have opted for a pavement, made of different colors and materials, which resemble a spider web that reaches all the part of our new project in order to create a multicolored path between the new and the old village.
Each building tries to reproduce those that are the main features of the urban village.
What we have tried to do was to reproduce ideally, an horizontally extending housing conurbation in a vertical building.
Fundamental characteristics such as flexibility and dynamism typical of an urban village, were taken as the main target for the architectural design of the building.
Taking advantage of the modularity generated by the structural system, the project may have new and different distributive and functional configurations depending on the users and the necessity of the time.
Each floor consists of several units, differing from each other by size and designed for different users.
In addition to the living spaces, each floor now has a new multi-purpose space, available to tenants.
Given the flexibility of the structure, the configuration of a plan can always change and adapt to those which represent the future needs of the village and the lodgers.
The first three floors, used for commercial activities, are divided from the residential floors by a multipurpose space constituted by a cantilevered structure that incorporates the adjacent buildings creating a connection between them.
The choice to raise a platform on the upper floors, leaving the ground floor empty , has allowed to increase significantly the square footage of the communal areas, creating paths and community spaces on several levels.
This operation has been possible only through the conception of buildings growing in height multiplying the common area on the ground floor, raised off the ground through multiple platforms that contain community services and green spaces on the top.
In the space adjacent to the lake, it was decided to build a basement containing all commercial activities and services that the village may need.
Over this platform are located the tallest buildings intended for new residences.
The platform’s roof is configured as an additional outdoor public space accessible by ramps and stairways connected to the paths of the new urban village.
In order to connect all the new urban spaces, we have opted for a pavement, made of different colors and materials, which resemble a spider web that reaches all the part of our new project in order to create a multicolored path between the new and the old village.
Each building tries to reproduce those that are the main features of the urban village.
What we have tried to do was to reproduce ideally, an horizontally extending housing conurbation in a vertical building.
Fundamental characteristics such as flexibility and dynamism typical of an urban village, were taken as the main target for the architectural design of the building.
Taking advantage of the modularity generated by the structural system, the project may have new and different distributive and functional configurations depending on the users and the necessity of the time.
Each floor consists of several units, differing from each other by size and designed for different users.
In addition to the living spaces, each floor now has a new multi-purpose space, available to tenants.
Given the flexibility of the structure, the configuration of a plan can always change and adapt to those which represent the future needs of the village and the lodgers.
The first three floors, used for commercial activities, are divided from the residential floors by a multipurpose space constituted by a cantilevered structure that incorporates the adjacent buildings creating a connection between them.
The choice to raise a platform on the upper floors, leaving the ground floor empty , has allowed to increase significantly the square footage of the communal areas, creating paths and community spaces on several levels.
