Unveiling Urban Nomads: Redefining Spaces for a Transient Population
Experience the hidden world of floating communities and their quest for belonging. This thesis challenges fixed structures, advocating adaptable designs for the floating population's temporary housing. Discover how the concept of appropriating public space empowers individuals, creating inclusive and responsive communities. Join us on a captivating journey to transform urban landscapes and bridge the gap between transience and permanence.
I. PRECEDENTS
These three cases explore the possibilities of temporary structures and flexible architecture by intervening at three different scales of urban, architectural, and interior design.
II. USER STUDY: FLOATING POPULATION
WHO ARE THEY?
Under China’s perspective, Floating Population is a concept within the conditions of China’s registered residence system, which refers to the population who left the residence registration place to live in another place. However there is no unified definition at present. The population flows mainly from rural areas to cities, from underdeveloped regions to economically developed regions, and from western rural areas to eastern cities.
In 2020, China's floating population will reach 376 million, accounting for 17% of the total population.
FORMATION OF TEMPORARY COMMUNITIES
Floating populations in China have been observed to naturally form temporary communities in urban areas. Due to the lack of affordable housing and the rapid growth of the floating population, these self-organized communities have become a direct response to the housing needs of this group. Shared rental housing, which is often cheap and overcrowded, has proliferated in urban areas, leading to informal settlements and communal living arrangements. These communities may be characterized by high-density living patterns and a disconnection between living and social spaces from the city, which can exacerbate the challenges that low-income groups face.
III. SITE STUDY: TEMPORARY COMMUNITY
TYPES OF SETTLEMENT
IV. INTERVENTION SITE: BIG BAO ISLAND
EXISTING CONDITION
CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS
PROGRAM ANALYSIS
LIVING DENSITY ANALYSIS
RESIDENTS’ SELF-BUILDING SYSTEM ANALYSIS
V. DESIGN INTERVENTION
OVERVIEW OF DESIGN STRAGETY
COMMUNAL SPACE DESIGN
STRAGETY: FLEXIBLE MODULAR SYSTEM
GOAL
I intend to design a social housing system in which each residential unit has flexibility to predict as many as possibilities as possible for residents to use the "adaptable space" provided. In addition, public areas should also be flexible, such as changing local walls to create certain gathering spaces. Through these designs, I hope to keep the residential density as well as improve residents' quality of life. To evaluate the effectiveness of the design scheme, I will conduct a comparative analysis of the residential density and quality of life before and after intervention.
INDIVIDUAL UNIT - NEIGHBORHOOD - COMMUNITY
The thesis design system proposes a modular and flexible self-construction building system that encompasses three levels of intervention. At the smallest scale, the system focuses on the human scale, enabling the creation of individual living units. Moving to a larger scale, the system incorporates the neighborhood scale, where 6-8 individual units form a neighborhood. Within each neighborhood, residents collectively decide on the allocation and arrangement of shared spaces, including bathrooms, kitchenettes, and storage areas.
Expanding further, the system extends to the community level, where residents living in the building block together have access to communal facilities such as social zones, communal kitchens, game spaces, and job-seeking areas. The design of these spaces aims to facilitate the integration of temporary residents into a cohesive community, fostering a welcoming and engaging environment.
By providing residents with control over their living spaces, the system strives to empower individuals and ultimately establish a sense of belonging within the community. Through this modular and flexible self-construction building system, the thesis aims to enhance the living experience of temporary residents and create a supportive and inclusive community.
For the communal space, my intention is to create a versatile grid system based on a one-meter by one-meter spatial unit, offering a wide range of forms that unlock numerous spatial possibilities. These grid units act as tools that I, as the designer, provide to the community residents, empowering them to engage in self-construction. This system can be viewed as a resident-driven architectural growth system, showcasing my endeavor to categorize and repurpose informal spaces.
The modular spatial elements facilitate both horizontal and vertical expansion and are interconnected through a robust dual-pipe steel frame structure, ensuring stability in construction. Within the subsequent design, I present six distinct spatial languages, encompassing various degrees of enclosure and transparency, along with five functional connector components that shape these spatial configurations. I envision these elements as a resident's toolbox, characterized by effortless disassembly and assembly, fostering fluidity and adaptability as residents come and go.
My ultimate objective is to forge an ever-evolving public space that seamlessly adapts to the floating population, offering them cherished spaces imbued with memories and a profound sense of belonging through their own constructive efforts.
