Site plan of prescribed study territory
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Architecture & DemocracyDivided into study groups based on their areas of interest, students explored seminal texts based on the group theme - in this case, Architecture and Democracy. This research investigated the role of democracy in architecture, culminating in literature reviews on the topics explored.
Keen on exploring housing in its many forms – particularly social housing and co-housing models – I explored links between these areas and democracy. This work touched on areas such as adaptability, co-housing, and the garden, progressing later to explore the theme of care based on my study of these. BerolinaWith sites allocated to suit the group themes, I visited Kreuzberg, Berlin, in January 2020 with the Architecture & Democracy group. During our time in Berlin, we visited a variety of relevant case studies, including the R50 Baugrüppen and Spreefeld.
The specific site is owned by Berolina, a German housing co-operative with approximately 4,000 apartments across the city – most of which were built post-war, 1956-1989. It comprised of post-war Soviet Plattenbauen – concrete slab buildings, usually apartment blocks – built from the crushed remnants of buildings destroyed during the Second World War. |
Site AnalysisWhile on site, ethnographical analysis was completed, to analyse the current site condition, and its spatial and atmospheric qualities. The site was photographed in depth, and the route taken tracked using these photos. This work was later used to capture how it felt to traverse that landscape - how it felt to pass through these spaces and the impact this had on my perception of the site.
The findings of this research were distilled in a booklet [see document to right] describing the experience of the space through written word and photograph. |
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This study determined my area of focus, Annenstraße 31-34. This apartment block is in a unique position, both in its location to the centre of the site, but also regarding the disparate nature of its northern and southern faces.
To the north, the building looks onto a comfortably-sized courtyard, populated with plants and personal effects. There are clear signs of life here, with the personal realm spilling out onto the shared green space. By contrast, the landscape to the building's south is barren and devoid of life. Beyond sparse landscaping, there is no activity here, just open space. That only one of the four buildings facing onto this space are entered off it likely has a large part to play in this desolation. Without the hustle and bustle of people coming in and out of their homes, stopping to talk to neighbours, etc. this space remains sterile, without any signs of life. |