The way we are dwelling in the city today has changed, mostly driven by technological advances, which have contributed to a blurring of distinctions between public and private. Todays’ urban life-styles are merging our everyday activities including living, working, interacting, consuming, etc into an understanding of space that can be characterised by co-existences and simultaneity.
Following recent shifts in the political landscape, there is a sense of suspension of a formerly known order, which has contributed to an increase of uncertainty. Set within this contradicting context of pending and ongoing change, this raises interesting questions about the effects on future demand for new types of civic buildings that sustain Londons’ diversity.
This year we will set out to investigate architectures and spatial conditions that are defined through characteristics of openness.
We will explore new forms of spatial design, organisation and construction that will allow adaptable strategies, co-existences of multiple programmes and increased connectivity to propagate hybrid architectures that are coherent product of London as a collective space of open minded citizens.
Wood Green’s cultural quarter will act as study area for the entire year and will become the testing ground for your architectural interventions. The building briefs will evolve around civic programmes and mixed-use and multiple activities including productive spaces for making, cultural consumption and the spectacle in combination with alternative forms of dwelling.
The design proposals at architectural scale will act as contextual ‘adjustments’ within the urban context dealing with a multiplicity of programmatic, spatial and social scenarios.