1. Natural Disasters
A major hurricane devastates at least one country in the Caribbean every year. While earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are not as prevalent, the Caribbean sits on a tectonic plate which could mean danger at a moment’s notice. This simply means that the architecture found in these places either need to be extremely resilient or adaptable. I have decided to take the latter approach.
2. Structural Model
The image shows the framework of a single ‘modular’ unit which has led to the design development of the thesis project. This form was generated through several iterations which were tested on site.
3. Community: Self-build Pavilion
The concept of self-build is complimentary with sustainability and disaster relief. This liberates the user from having to hire an expensive contractor and recognizes the social dimensions of the process, from consideration of the structure through to the lived experience of individuals.
4. Pavilion Functions
The pavilions themselves have specific functions to address specific needs. They can be used to address social needs such as gathering, community needs such as soup kitchens and market stalls and productive needs such as spaces for isolation and urban farming.
5. Filling the Urban Void
Welcome to Europark, a district located on the left bank of Antwerp city centre. There is an interesting collage of urban typologies and landscape fragments found within the district however, there is a lack of social infrastructure. Ninety-five percent of the land is residential and is otherwise completely isolated and not maximizing its full potential. The aim of the thesis is to solve the problems set forth by this type of modernist landscape such as, the lack of jobs, lack of social infrastructure and numerous urban voids while addressing the needs of the demographic.
6. District Strategy
The thesis proposes the regeneration of Europark by implementing a network of architectural interventions which address social and cultural needs culminating at an urban hub. The interventions seek to improve living conditions in Europark regardless of demographic by using a modern set of design principles which fill urban voids left behind since its completion.
7. Medieval Context
The units are capable of suiting multiple contexts for various needs. This unit solves the need for a social gathering space located in the centre of the medieval city in Antwerp, Belgium.
8. Residential Context
This image also depicts how the social unit can be used in a residential setting to fill cultural voids.
9. Pavilion Adaptability
Bringing people together to build these pavilions will undoubtedly improve the quality of life through a sense of community but also a sense of belonging and ownership. The pavilions are adaptable, multifunctional and self-built. This means that when the units reach the end of their lifecycle the materials can be repurposed to create something entirely new such as housing for residents, an office space or even an urban hub…
10. The Urban Hub
This self-build initiative will be used to train people in construction methodology which then prepares them to handle larger projects such as an urban hub. The following images depict how the interior spaces of an urban hub can be organised to host a variety of functions such as a market, community centre, training facility and more.
