PT1: The Best of the New
- Saffron Mead
- Dec 5, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 11, 2022
Capitol Hill Cohousing - Schemata Workshop
Cohousing as an antidote to Zoning and Isolation: Low rise, High density apartments
What is Community?
Community is looking out for your neighbour:
- Sharing, tools, skills and experience (Learning and development)
- Keeping an eye on their children, pets or property when needed (Increasing safety and trust)
- Having reassurance that there are people to turn to in times of hardship (wellbeing)
- A sense of responsibility to other inhabitants and to the space you share (Upkeep and maintenance of social relationships and of the public space/architecture)
The Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing project is an example of a structure which connects its users through a sense of Community.
The inner courtyard is a multi-use, private space shared by the residents and their children, overlooked by the apartment windows.
Connected to the courtyard is a Common house space where residents take turns cooking together and eating together.
The ground floor, Street side, is a shop front, encouraging visitors and social interaction with he outside world.
The rooftop is used for growing plants, potentially fruit, vegetables and herbs for use in the communal kitchen.
URBAN ACUPUNCTURE - Holistic Approach
Acupuncture – in Chinese medicine, a process of inserting small needles into specific areas of the human body to treat a multitude of symptoms.
In Architecture, simple, quick interventions – such as pocket gardens – placed into specific areas in need of intervention, to kickstart an overall process of regeneration.
Pocket Gardens as an Antidote to Air pollution, Concrete monotony, Disused space and Lack of public areas.
The High Line, NYC - James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf.
A sky garden which connects you through the city in an alternative method.
- Hosts free public events
- Changes with the seasons
- Natural
- Underside of line is used as market space
- Venue for art showings
- Encourages walkability
It is interesting to note that the implementation of the 'Sky Line' caused an amount of gentrification to the area. Large luxury apartments began to pop up around the walkway. This was tackled by implementing a series of public culture centres, and hosting free events on the space to open up the area to everyone regardless of economic class.
Urban Farming as an antidote to unhealthy lifestyle, lack of microlocality, social interaction and unhealthy food habits.
Top down Approach - Targeting the symptoms of problems with solutions
Bottom up Approach - Targeting the cause of problems with preventions
Both need to work in Harmony to be effective.
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