Architectural Design V-IX: Composition (E.Mosayebi)

Abstract

In this semester we investigate transformations of anonymous post-war office and commercial buildings into residential buildings. The semester will be carried out in cooperation with the Professorship for Sustainable Building of Guillaume Habert and the artists Taiyo Onorato and Nico Krebs.

Objective

- Basic knowledge in housing construction - Design of alternative forms of housing - Constructive knowledge in conversion strategies - Pictorial representation of complex narratives in the form of miniatures - Architectural Theory of the second modernity

Content

Conversions put existing and new parts into a compositional relationship. The existing order is not abandoned, but remains in renewed meaning. The added changes the structure and causes an adaptation to the present. How does the old express itself in the new composition? How does the new change the old? In the semester we investigate transformations of anonymous post-war office and commercial buildings into residential buildings. While the demand for residential space in Swiss cities remains high, the vacancy rate for office space is currently rising again. The corona pandemic and working in the home office reinforce this development. Depending on the project, the conversion is either permanent or temporary; the possibility of working remains in the residential programme. The value of selected buildings will be assessed at the beginning of the semester on the basis of a detailed analysis. Which room and material compositions appear particularly valuable and why? Do the buildings have a historical, monument conservation value? How much craftsmanship is put into which elements? How much CO2 did the production of certain building elements require? The analysis is carried out on the basis of drawings. Only a catalogue of all components records the entire value, because houses are always also material and energy stores for a certain time. Furthermore, we are interested in how the form of living changes under the conditions of the existing building. How do we deal with space, building depth and access? Where does the outdoor space necessary for residential use come from? How strongly do we intervene in the structure? Are we aiming for a minimal, reversible change or one that permanently establishes a new order? The semester is carried out in cooperation with the Chair for Sustainable Building of Guillaume Habert. After the first three weeks of the inventory analysis, miniatures summarize the research and form the narratives of the projects. In workshops with the artists Taiyo Onorato and Nico Krebs experimental films and images of the compositions are created. Models of relevant details serve for constructive discussion.

Resources