VILLAGE TEXTURES

Explorations Into Urban Landscapes

Tutor: Iain Monteith • Studio work of Stage 2 - 2015-16

The aim of the project explores the way in which villages or small towns might be extended avoiding suburban sprawl by creating high density low rise housing. Although based on reality the project is, in this instance set in an abstract scenario devoid of surrounding context, exploring the development of new and adapted typologies without the additional burden of a context specific response.

SCENARIO

In 1971, just eight per cent of households were headed by a lone parent, but by 2011 that figure had reached 22 per cent. This was mirrored by a fall in the number of two-parent families – either those married or cohabiting – from 92 per cent at the beginning of the 1970s to 78 per cent in 2011. There are now almost twice as many people living alone than 40 years ago.

According to the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey Overview from the Office for National Statistics, the popularity of marriage has fallen as the proportion of single women aged 18 to 49 who have never married has doubled, up from just 18 per cent in 1979 to 43 per cent in 2011.

This “breakdown” of traditional family life shows that “society has a death wish”, according to one pro-family campaigner. Britain has become a lonelier place to live over the last 40 years with the number of people living alone almost doubling from nine per cent in 1973 to 16 per cent by 2011. People aged 25-44 were five times more likely to be living alone in 2011 (10 per cent) than they were in 1973 (two per cent).

MALE PRESENCE | FEMALE PRESENCE

This is for the needs of their children - both for their sons and daughters. Female mentors are extremely important for both girls and boys. It is important for single fathers to seek out female help from sisters, aunts, cousins, co-workers, neighbours and other parents. These women can serve as role models for their daughters and provide relational models for their sons.

CONCEPT DESIGN

The given condition was that each block is orientated east/west and 9 blocks sitting adjacent to one another. The key consideration was how to get the sunlight and skylights were seen as a key tool. Void spaces were planned on both west and east sides which also act as transitional space. Public spaces such as kitchen and living room are on ground level and private spaces are above.

A SERIES OF SKYLIGHT

Skylight plays a significant role in a building not only for daylight, but also for ventilation. There are 13 types of skylight existed. The diagrams and section drawings show how each of skylight receives sunlight and how natural ventilation system is operated.

HOME FOR US

Ground floor plays a key role in the relationship between public and private spaces, between two families and between daddy and son. It was deeply considered on the transition spaces and different heights of the floor plan will provide transitional sequence and invisible boundary between the spaces.