Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by
ROBIN GRINGHUIS - 4080807
TAYLOR WIESNER - 4257995
10 FEBRUARY 2014
10-02-2014, Delft
Tutors:
Birgit Jrgenhake
Paul Kuitenbrouwer
Marjolein Spaans
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ABSTRACT
Triggered by the design challenge posed by our graduation studio regarding the design of a
hybrid building on the Oostelijke Handelskade, we will begin by reflecting upon the design
context that we are designing in as well as the twenty-first century society in general. We
will begin our research into hybrid buildings specifically by constructing a mental model for
the qualities of a true hybrid building. We will use the mental model we construct from our
research to analyze precedent projects first a basic analysis of fifteen precedents followed
by a more thorough analysis of five projects that have either been explicitly called hybrids,
are relevant geographically, or are of historical significance. Our research will reach beyond
the mental model: considering the qualities that are present in a true hybrid build-
ing (the mental model), we will then extract the architectural elements in the
five precedent projects by which each of the qualities of a true hybrid building
have been achieved. We will be constructing an architectural model for the true hybrid
building by using the mental model as a base. The culmination of our theoretical research
(the mental model for the true hybrid) as well as the architectural model that we extract will
serve as a solid foundation on which we can then design our final graduation projects.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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3) ARCHITECTURAL MODEL ........................................................................................................ 66
I. Introduction to the Architectural Model ............................................................................... 66
II. Architectural model .................................................................................................................... 66
III. Exploring from Mental to Architectural Model ................................................................ 69
i) Project Scale ......................................................................................................................... 69
ii) Urban Area Density ............................................................................................................ 69
iii) Function Diversity ............................................................................................................... 70
iv) Function Scale ...................................................................................................................... 70
v) Function Integration............................................................................................................ 71
vi) Flexibility ............................................................................................................................... 72
vii) Vertical Connections .......................................................................................................... 73
(that Promote Integration) ................................................................................................ 73
viii) Integrated Public Gathering Space ................................................................................... 73
4) CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................... 76
I. General Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 76
II. Personal Reflection...................................................................................................................... 80
i) Taylor ......................................................................................................................................... 80
i) Robin Gringhuis ....................................................................................................................... 81
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1) CRITICAL ANALYSIS buildings along the Eastern Docklands
consisted of dwelling blocks with addition-
- MENTAL MODEL al functions, mostly directed towards ex-
I. Introduction ternal target groups instead of the imme-
The last gap is the last remaining diate surroundings. Namely a specialty
vacant site along the Eastern Dock- clothing shop, office spaces, etc. However,
lands in Amsterdam, and requires a the Detroit building (located three build-
first statement for a housing Hybrid ings to the west of the site) was specified
of the 21st century. This is an exciting as a hybrid building. Apart from dwellings,
opportunity not only because it was the the building also has an integrated swim-
design task formulated by our studio, but ming pool, fitness, sauna, and a communal
also because the location is ideal for an laundry space, only to name a few ameni-
exploration into the (architectural) needs ties. Even though these functions mainly
of today and tomorrow. Regardless of its cater its residents the versatility present,
origin, our interest was quickly sparked to together with the studio design task,
take a dive into researching the possibili- fueled the interest into further research of
ties of mixed functions within a building. A the mixed functions within a building. But
building we would describe as a hybrid it is important to understand the given
building. context, therefore it is necessary to un-
derstand the existing situation through
It became clear upon our first visit to loca- research and analysis, and in turn formu-
tion that we were dealing with a site that late a problem statement.
was a gem hiding in plain sight. Its nick-
name, the last gap, already reveals that The Eastern Docklands of Amsterdam are
among the long strip of buildings at the part of the greater Eastern Harbour area.
Eastern Docklands our site was an un- It is comprised of a long strip of large
touched piece of land that we could mold building blocks alongside the old quay.
to our own liking. The seemingly big plot New building blocks are interspersed with
was the last puncture in a wall of buildings a number of old harbour warehouses that
between the Quay on the side of Java Is- have been preserved. Even though all of
land, and the South-West part of Amster- the other areas in the Eastern Harbour
dam connecting the water to the rest of area mostly consist of dwellings, this par-
the Eastern Harbour Area. The possibili- ticular strip has a relatively high concen-
ties appeared to be almost limitless. tration of mixed functions which vary
from offices, dwellings, (specialty) shops,
The following site analysis made clear that and more.
there were actually quite some re-
strictions and points of attention to which Most of these buildings are comprised of a
the building had to respond within its con- ground floor that interacts with its sur-
text. In short this meant sun and sound roundings through (semi) public functions,
pollution from the south, and strong winds like shops, offices or restaurants. On top
and views on the north. Together with of this ground floor the rest of the build-
very particular building masses around the ing is filled with mostly dwellings and/or
site made it almost impossible not to en- offices. The buildings can be described as
gage in an conversation with its context.
Site research showed that most of the
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plinth buildings1. This plinth typology is not and/or for the storage of grain, livestock,
new, especially within Amsterdam. The etc. According to Meischke, Amsterdam
early house over the store types - like and Rotterdam were the first cities where
canal houses dating from at least the this architectural type emerged around the
1660s2 - were already a combination of 17th century. Though in Amsterdam this
dwellings with a commercial ground floor, happened in the beginning of the century
be it down to the small scale of a single and in Rotterdam more towards the end,
dwelling. Even though many of the (recon- making the Rotterdam version more mod-
structed) canal houses today are more ern. As opposed to Amsterdam where
comparable to a terraced house, many of most were renovated, in Rotterdam most
the earlier types are in essence small of these types were completely demol-
plinth buildings. One of the most distinc- ished4.
tive types within the canal houses is the
so-called Merchant House3. In relation to the current situation, there
is also a modern day example of a dwelling
with commercial space in the Eastern
Docklands. One of the residents in the
Detroit building on one of the higher
floors runs an art gallery out of her own
dwelling, which is not immediately visible
from the exterior. This shows there is still
a need to combine living with working,
even above ground level and without di-
rect visual contact.5
4
R. Meischke, Een terugblik op het Rotterdamse koopmanshuis
1
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a (1940), p.205-206
column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Pop- 5
AT5, Straten van Amsterdam; Veemkade (Online episode, 04-
peliers, Chambers, and Historic American Buildings Survey. 10-13) Source, http://www.at5.nl/tv/straten-van-amster-
(2003, p. 104) dam/aflevering/13083, accessed 07-10-13.
2
Bureau monumenten & Archeologie en Stadsarchief Amster- 6
John Melaniphy, Possible solutions for vacant department
dam, Amsterdam Heritage Days (Amsterdam, 2013), p.5 store spaces (Shopping Center Business, 2001), Source:
3
Translated from the specific Dutch Koopmanswoning or http://www.melaniphy.com/content/possible-solutions-mall-and-
Zaalhuis, common from the 1300s (Kassin et al., 2011) shopping-center-vacancies, visited 30-01-2014
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the buildings the fact that it relies solely zone for storage or a secondary function.
on retail might not be the best strategy in But, as this was mainly on the scale of a
the current economic situation. The City at single dwelling, the distance between them
Eye Level states that according to some was small enough not to lose the connec-
estimates, due to the combination of the tion between the surrounding public
oversupply created in the last ten years realm and the dwellers. For instance, all of
and the rise of internet shopping, half the the dwellings with their commercial space
current shops will disappear from our had an individual entrance, so per family a
streets. In setting up plinth strategies, we connection with the public realm re-
also look at new economic functions such mained. What we observed is that the
as co-working places, restaurants and ca- concept of a single dwelling plinth is often
fs, social functions such as schools, and just scaled up when functions grow bigger
most of all residential space on the ground within the building blocks. But it doesnt
floor.7 work properly, as the connection between
the upper levels and surroundings is cen-
II. Observation; Plinths & Dwellings tralized and therefore is lost. The same
are Two Separate Worlds situation is visible around the site in the
A plinth is more than the literal ground Eastern Docklands. The large-scale func-
floor connected to the surroundings, with tions on the ground floor only have a
a building block placed on top of it. In or- handful of openings that are present to
der to see what exactly it is, we should allow people to go into the building, but
first go to where it came from. The plinth the pedestrian is then totally unaware re-
was first used in literature when Semper garding what happens above the plinth. It
defined it as a crucial element of four ele- is the same the other way around. Dwell-
ments of architecture of any building. Ac- ers move up to their home through only
cording to Semper, a plinth is necessary one or two centralized and isolated verti-
to negotiate between a structure and the cal connection points that lead up to a
ground.8 As every building has a more or secondary gallery to their dwelling. This
less transition between the ground and only fuels the fact that the ground floors
the structure, we would like to approach and upper floors are two different worlds.
this transition as something that is a buffer
between the city and the building, or
how the City at Eye Level describes it as
the ground floors that negotiate between the
inside and the outside, between the public
and the private.9
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People that visit the public spaces might generally healthier, safer, richer, and more
actually never meet any of the dwellers peaceful than the lives of the generations
that live above it and vice versa. The fact that came before them.12
that the plinth is often designed in a dis-
tinctive way as opposed to the rest of the There are two resulting opinions in regard
building only underlines this phenomenon. to the high level of social diversity present
in the twenty-first century society. The
In regard to the plinth typology, has there first sentiment is one of excitement in
been a change in society that correlates to regard to welcoming the opportunities for
the disconnection between the public learning and sharing from one another, as
realm and the dwelling? well as the potential to have a more en-
riched life as a result of a highly diverse
III. The Situation of Modern Society society. The second sentiment in regard
The society of the twenty-first century is to the increased social diversity present in
incredibly diverse. Amsterdam, the city in the twenty-first century is one of fear.13
which we are designing our graduation Subsequently, many individuals have placed
project, is one of the most diverse cities in a high amount of importance on their own
Europe; the city is home to more than 170 personal security. According to Professor
different nationalities and an ethnic minor- Paul J. Cloke, western societies of the
ity of 45% is present in the city.10 If we twenty-first century are becoming in-
consider this issue at a personal level, we creasingly insulated and capsular. Lieven
also see a great amount of diversity; in our de Cauter describes cocooning as the
studio alone, we have diverse backgrounds word for capsularisation and living. Our
from Holland and other parts of the world daily life can be exactly described as a
including Bulgaria, Korea, and the United movement via transportation capsules
States. With a high level of social diversi- from one enclave or capsule (home, for
ty, there also exists a high variance in the instance) to another (campus, office, air-
demands and needs of society. Today, as port, hotel, mall and so on14 Fear of
citizens of the twenty-first century, we those who are different has caused many
have also have an immense amount of to desire to live and dwell in isolation and
freedoms freedom of speech, expres- a reclusive series of capsules. Fear trig-
sion, movement, and action.11 gers the desire to censor, but then a ques-
tion arises in regard to how far we should
go as a society in censoring others to en-
12
Group of Eminent Persons of the Council of
10
Diversity in the City, I Amsterdam. Retrieved Europe, Living Together: Combining Diversity and
from: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en- Freedom in 21st-Century Europe, (Group of Emi-
GB/living/about-amsterdam/people- nent Persons of the Council of Europe, April
culture/diversity-in-the-city, Accessed 27 January 2011), 9
13
2014 Organization for Economic Co-Operation and
11
Didier Bigo, Sergio Carrera, Elspeth Guild and Development, The Creative Society of the 21st Centu-
R.B.J. Walker, Europes 21st Century Challenge: Deliv- ry (Paris: OECD, 2000), 8
14
ering Liberty (Surrey: Ashgate Publishing Limited, Paul J. Cloke, Country Visions (Essex: Pearson
2010), 272 Education Limited, 2003), 229
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sure that our lives are free of fear and Thus, in order to address the great
risks.15 amount of social diversity present in the
twenty-first century society as well as the
However, the trend of cocooning that we reality that the needs of society are con-
see today hasnt resulted solely from fear stantly changing, we need buildings that
of social diversity. Instead, technology (or can accommodate diversity in needs as
more specifically, the internet) has also well as dynamic needs. Additionally, now
contributed in some cases to cocooning, more than ever, society is need of archi-
as information processing has become tecture that actually facilitates the meeting
increasingly easier. It has become easier of strangers. The hybrid building is then
and easier to organize into progressively an inspiring, interesting, and challenging
smaller digital interest groups (or co- solution for the ever-changing needs of
coons) in which people share the same the diverse society of the twenty-first cen-
ideas.16 tury. Hybrid buildings are said to leave
room for any unpredictable changes in
The extreme of cocooning that we pres- housing demands that might arise. The
ently see in the twenty-first century seems hybrid design task is not geared to an
a bit like Dutch history repeating itself. endpoint but to a strategy: the goal is to
For example, after the year1850, verzuiling find an unambiguous motive for every sit-
(or pillarization) occurred, and it was a uation. 18 Fundamentally, the hybrid
process that was initiated in the villages of building does not deliver a final solution,
Holland. Each Dutch village citizen be- rather the hybrid building provides a
longed to a pillar based on their religion, framework that meets current needs and
politics, etc. Each pillar had its own set of can adapt to unknown future needs.
social regulations and rules as well as facili-
ties such as schools, universities, sports
clubs, etc. Additionally, those who be-
longed to one pillar would not interact
informally with those who belonged to a
different pillar in short, pillars resulted in
a high amount of social isolation.17 In es-
sence, the cocooning and trend of social
isolation that we see today due to tech-
nology is similar to the social isolation that
was present in the pillars in Dutch villages
more than a century and a half ago.
15
Robert Trager and Donna L. Dickerson, Free-
dom of Expression in the 21st Century (Thousand
Oaks: Pine Forge Press, Ltd., 1999), 33
16
Robert Wright, Fighting the Webs Cocooning
Effect, Big Think. Retrieved from:
http://bigthink.com/videos/fighting-the-webs-
18
cocooning-effect, Accessed 26 January 2014 Clemens Steenbergen, Henk Mihl, Wouter Reh,
17
Jon L. van Zanden, Economic History of the Nether- and Ferry Aerts, Architectural Design and Composi-
lands 1914-1955 (London: Routledge, 1998), 10 tion (Bussum: THOTH Publishers, 2002), 208
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IV. Mixed-use or Hybrid mixed-use building in essence contains
In relation to the previous chapter, one of several functions that are not mixed, but
the issues of a plinth in regard to the two instead are simply placed back to back.
different worlds it creates is that the up- Apart from the same footprint, these func-
per building block is disconnected from tions have (in general) nothing in common
the surroundings. Often, the plinth con- and share no spaces. The sum of its parts
tributes to a mere stacking of functions. is just that and nothing more. On the con-
But, one of the strengths of combining trary, the hybrid building contains several
functions is that together the result should functions that are integrated and might
be greater than the sum of the two. But, even share spaces, target groups, etc. In
when talking about mixed-use or hybrid short, the sum of the parts of the hybrid
buildings there appears to be no clear def- building is greater than if they would be
inition of either and they seem to almost separated. In biology, the hybrid off-
be interchangeable in the architectural spring that has qualities superior to
community. It is important that we define those of either parents is called a
what we mean with these terms to create heterotic hybrid, or what we consid-
common grounds for our research. er to be a true hybrid.20
But this does not mean functions in the
Kenneth Kaplan explains very clearly how mixed-use building are not compatible, for
related, but still so different a mixed-use instance most of the times it is primarily a
building is from a hybrid building. Accord- residential building that contains some
ing to Kaplan, buildings, in a sense, have additional functions. However, the addi-
also been crossed, like plants and animals, tional functions present are for the exclu-
to produce Hybrid Architecture. () despite sive use of the residents in the building.
their idiosyncratic and even strange manifes- Further, the mixed-use building is charac-
tations, all the cited buildings possess the terized by isolation within the urban con-
common idea of heterosis or hybrid vigour. text.21 In contrast, a hybrid building turns
Each example, no matter which of its formal, against the combination of the usual pro-
functional or urbanistic elements might pre- grams and bases its whole raison d etre
dominate, ascends to a richer, more elemental on the unexpected mixing of functions.22
wholeness, invigorated by a poetic union of its Even though the relation of these pro-
minor parts. But, this does not mean that grams might not initially be obvious, they
it will always be successful, as Kaplan adds: ought to be compatible. This might be the
curiously, like its cousin in genetics, architec- combination of a function that uses a
tural hybridization also can breed sterility in space during office hours, together with a
its offspring: those all too familiar, barren function that uses that same space during
mixed-use mega-structures that have invad- the night.
ed our urban and rural landscape. The taut
line between vigour and sterility dares our
mastery.19 So, in other words, a mixed-
use and hybrid building are two extremes
on a single scale. With that in mind, the 20
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009.
21
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
p.60
22
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
19
Kenneth Kaplan in Joseph Fenton, Architecture Pamphlet Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
#11; Hybrid Buildings, 1985, p.4 Back cover
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In addition to what This is Hybrid states Two recurrent, major aspects that differ-
about the hybrid as an unexpected mixing entiate a hybrid from a mixed-use building
of functions, we should look at what we are scale and form. Leen van Duin com-
actually mean with this unexpectedness. pares the relatively new hybrid building
At first glance, it might seem that this un- typology with the studies done by the
expectedness is solely based on the com- Structuralists or the Metabolists in the
bination of particular functions, for in- 1950s and 1960s. But he states that there
stance two functions that one just didnt is a fundamental difference between these
think about combining before. But this is mixed-use megastructures and the hybrid
not necessarily always the case. It can also building in scale and form24. Kaplan argues
refer to the nature of functions that might that more specifically a hybrids scale is
be unexpected, but would work very well determined by the dimension of a city block
together. The hybrid is a celebration of within the orthogonal grid. 25 The fact that a
complexity, diversity and variety of pro- hybrid building is often superimposed with
grammes. () a mixture of different interde- the grid of the city as defined by city
pendent activities. It is a search for unex- blocks and other factors, like perspectives,
pected, unpredictable, intimate relationships, public spaces, and landmarks, the hybrid
encourages coexistence and is conscious that actually becomes a part of the realm of
unprogrammed situations are the keys to its public planning.26
own future. 23 This shows that it is truly
about the interaction between these func- Sociability is a more abstract view on what
tions that is the unexpected element. The the hybrid should be, what it should facili-
hybrid opens up to its surroundings and tate. A place where the intimacy of the
contact among strangers should be en- private and sociability of the public
couraged. spheres meet. With this a key element is
its permeability for (in essence) every-
In order to illustrate what we mean with body. And it is a place where there is ac-
this, it may be helpful to now introduce an tivity 24 hours a day, because the activity
example. At OMAs Bryghusprojektet in ought to be constant and, therefore, not
Copenhagen, there are terraces present controlled by public or private rhythms.
on the upper level of the building that are This is Hybrid coins the term of the full-
shared by the dwellings, offices and the time building.27
Danish Architecture Centre. In this sce-
nario, the Danish Architectural Centre Considering the qualities of a hybrid
attracts both external visitors as well as building as opposed to a mixed-use
the dwellers and workers from the offices building, the following question was
which creates a connection among
strangers. This illustrates how unpro-
grammed situations in a combination of
functions affect each other and can gener- 24
Clemens Steenbergen, Henk Mihl, Wouter Reh, and Ferry
ate a higher quality experience. Aerts, Architectural Design and Composition (Bussum: THOTH
Publishers, 2002), p.208
25
Joseph Fenton, Architecture Pamphlet #11; Hybrid Buildings,
1985, p.5
26
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
p.45
23 27
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
p.43 p.50
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then triggered: what are the architec- the hybrid building type has the mixed-use
tural elements through which the quali- building type gene in its gene code, but
ties of a hybrid have been achieved in that the hybrid building has evolved from
precedent projects? the mixed-use building type.32 As defined
in the previous chapter this is derived
V. Development of the Hybrid from the fact that the mixed-use and hy-
The combination of multiple functions brid building both consist of the gene of
within a single building structure is some- combining functions. However, we define
thing that is not a new approach. Rather, it the mixed-use building as something that is
is an architectural strategy that has been a mixture of functions that is just that. The
practiced for hundreds of years. Joseph true hybrid building evolved from this in
the sense that its main purpose is to cre-
Fenton in 1984 already compared the ate a greater building through the mixing
house over the store, the apartment above of functions.
the bridge and the Roman bath as tradi-
tional examples of combining two or more One of the first publications regarding the
functions within the walls of a single struc- hybrid building was Joseph Fentons Pam-
ture.28 Already in the middle of the twen- phlet Architecture #11 Hybrid Buildings,
tieth century, buildings that contained mul- which was published in 1985. In this publi-
tiple functions were coined mixed-use cation, he attempted to write about the
buildings.29 According to This is Hybrid, the fact that there was a distinction between
mixed-use concept itself came about at the anonymous building masses filled with
the end of the 19th century in American several functions and buildings with inte-
cities.30 grated, well-thought function combina-
tions. Steven Holl wrote in his foreword
Additionally, Richard Ingersoll believes that hybrid buildings are undeniably fruits of
that in order for city life to survive it re- modernity 33. He states that this is directly
quires the anthropological equivalent of linked to the mechanical advancements of
biodiversity31. In his eyes, one of the things that time, such as improved concrete con-
to guarantee this diversity is crossing pro- structions and steel frames, and maybe
grams. So it is not remarkable that mixing even more importantly: the development
of functions within one building has been of the elevator.
around for years. But it has not been until
the twenty-first century that a rise of a Apart from the fact that hybrid buildings
second building type has been seen: the are comprised of several unexpected func-
hybrid building. This is Hybrid states that tions that should work together seamless-
ly, makes it a resistant building to different
needs. But that doesnt necessarily mean it
is resistant to changes in these needs. As
28
Joseph Fenton, Pamphlet Architecture: Hybrid Buildings, mentioned in previous chapters, society is
1985, Vol. 11, p.5
29
Joseph Fenton, Pamphlet Architecture: Hybrid Buildings,
1985, Vol. 11, p.3
30
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
32
p.13 Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
31 Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
Lecture by Richard Ingersoll, The Death of the City and the
Survival of Urban Life (2004), Source: back extract
33
http://www.publicspace.org/en/text-library/eng/a030-the-death- S. Holl in his Foreword in J. Fenton, Architecture Pamphlet
of-the-city-and-the-survival-of-urban-life, visited 30-01-2014 #11; Hybrid Buildings, 1985, p.3
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diverse, and ever changing. Thus, the hy- diverse membership mix that represents
brid building will also be subject to chang- an array of professions, sectors, and indus-
es in functions, so it has to be flexible. tries. They can work on flexible desk-/ and
Some functions will leave spaces, others networking spaces during the day, which
will reoccupy them. In essence this is al- opens up as an event space for debates
ways the case with buildings, and there- and lectures during the night. All flexible
fore a problem that architects, engineers, spaces are available for private hire, and in
urbanists, etc. have always had to deal addition to all the flexible spaces it also
with. But in the case of the hybrid building contains a caf and meeting rooms. Bring-
this is something that will affect the whole ing people together is apparent as one of
building, as the idea is that the function the greatest benefits of this concept.
should work together in a way that the Again, even though this building might not
building transcends itself. be entitled as a true hybrid, its principles
are in essence the same.
But, it is good to specify what we mean
with flexibility. A good summation to illus- In the beginning of this chapter, we talked
trate this is given by the article Building about the hybrid building as a strategy
Flexibility Management. It talks about three rather than a building per se. Therefore,
basic types of flexibility within a building, with the eye on tomorrow it would be
which should be present in order to facili- inconsistent to write down how exactly to
tate change. The first one is service flexi- build a hybrid. One has to keep in mind
bility, and is important for the (amount of) that the whole idea of the hybrid is to
buildings users. In average this is im- provide for the needs of various people
portant during the first two years of the and target groups. And as hard as it is to
buildings life. Second is the modifiability of build for the current society, all the harder
the building itself, to allow for changes in it is to build for the future society. There-
use of spaces. On average, this is of special fore the (future) hybrid building should be
importance from the third until the tenth adaptable to all kinds of situations. This
year. And lastly the long-term adaptability could be a small change on the scale of
which is a key factor especially in the strati- immediate users, to a change which might
fication of the urban structure and the cultural impact the whole hybrid building. Which
environment.34 means changes of user groups over the
course of a day, to complete function re-
For example, The Hub at Kings Cross in placement. And it could even mean that
London is an example of how this can be the building has to deal with a (temporary)
implemented, and is a proven success. vacant space, whilst retaining its function-
Even though it is for a large part owned by ality.
a single company, which facilitates a com-
bination of renting and traditional mem-
bership. Members are chosen to ensure a
34
Arto Saari and Pekka Heikkil, Building Flexibility Manage-
ment (The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal,
2008), p.239. source:
http://www.benthamscience.com/open/tobctj/articles/V002/239
TOBCTJ.pdf, accessed 03-02-2014.
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VI. Doubts: Are Hybrids True Hy- VII. Mental Model for a True Hybrid
brid Buildings? Building
Today, more than ever, it seems that eve- Through our theoretical research, bound
rywhere you turn in the architectural by literature about the hybrid building and
community, the term hybrid building is the observations that we have discussed in
mentioned. However, once we embarked the former paragraphs, we arrived at a
on our research regarding hybrid build- mental model that is comprised of eight
ings, doubt and a hypothesis surfaced: we qualities that we argue when implemented
realized that the majority of the together result in a true hybrid building.
buildings that are coined as hy- The following section introduces and pro-
brids are in reality not more than vides an explanation regarding each of the
mixed-use buildings. In essence, the eight qualities contained in the mental
conventional building model that is so of- model for a true hybrid building:
ten referred to as a hybrid is not wrong
per se, but we believe that the conven- i) Project Scale
tional building model in question is not
actually what it claims to be.
35
Natalie A. Jones, Helen Ross, Timothy Lynam, Pascal Perez,
36
and Anne Leitch, Mental Models: An Interdisciplinary Synthesis Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
of Theory and Methods, Ecology and Society 16 (1): 46. Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 45
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ARCHITECTURE & DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
extremely condensed urban block. known genotypes and create genetic
Komossa argues that this is an im- allies to improve living conditions and
portant characteristic of the hybrid revitalise their surrounding environ-
building due to the fact that the hybrid mentsThe hybrid goes beyond the
building itself increases the citys domain of architecture and enters the
density and contributes to the public realm of urban planning.39 Essentially,
realm of the city horizontally as well the hybrid building flourishes in dense
as vertically37 urban environments and even has the
potential to positively impact the sur-
ii) Urban Area Density rounding urban fabric.
The second quality in the mental model Figure 1.5: Function Diversity,
for a true hybrid building pertains to source: Author
urban area density. Hybrid buildings The third quality in the mental model
thrive in the presence of a dense urban for a true hybrid building concerns
fabric surrounding the project. Global- function diversity. For example, This
ly, congestion and density in the city is Hybrid states that the hybrid building
have been plaguing issues; however, it turns against the combination of the
was Rem Koolhaas who first saw the usual programs and bases its whole rai-
potential that lies in density regarding son detre on the unexpected mixing of
the architecture of mixing different functions. 40 This is Hybrid compares the
functions during his study of New York. hybrid building to the social conden-
A true hybrid building exploits the ser which is a building type that arose
conditions of congestion to generate in the Soviet Union. Like the hybrid,
new forms of social interaction.38 In the social condenser typology is said to
regard to urban context, the hybrid also have the mixed-use typology in its
building proposes intense environ- DNA. However, what really seems to
ments of cross fertilisation, which mix distinguish the hybrid from the social
condenser is the fact that the condenser
37
Susanne Komossa, Researching and Designing GREAT; the
Extremely Condensed Hybrid Urban Block, AE... Revista
39
Lusfona de Arquitectura e Educao 5 (2011), 29 Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
38 Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 45
Rafael Luna, A Flexible Infra-Architectural System for a
40
Hybrid Shanghai MA Thesis MIT (2006), 10-12. Retrieved from: Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/57525, Accessed 16 De- Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011),
cember 2013 back extract
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is only geared to a closed community, iv) Function Scale
and this is especially visible in the func-
tions that are present in a condenser:
they are predictable and only cater to
the needs of the building residents.
Whereas, the hybrid is claimed to open
up the city and ultimately encourage
contact among strangers.41 In terms of
defining exactly what can be considered
unexpected in terms of functions, it
may be best to define unexpected
functions as those that do not simply Figure 1.6: Function Scale,
serve a closed community and promote source: Author
41
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 52
43
42
Ariel Manolo Fausto, Merge: The Hybridization of Architec- Susanne Komossa, Researching and Designing GREAT; the
ture, Infrastructure, and Landscape MA Thesis MIT (2002), 1. Extremely Condensed Hybrid Urban Block, AE... Revista
Retrieved from: http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/37562, Lusfona de Arquitectura e Educao 5 (2011), 29
44
Accessed 28 January 2014 Jan Gehl, The City at Eye Level (Delft: Eburon, 2012), 16, 203
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ARCHITECTURE & DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
areas present at the project.45 In es- in order to activate.46 This is Hybrid
sence, we are not referring to the scale compares integration within the hybrid
of the unit in particular (in the case of a building to a system of interconnected
dwelling or a shop), rather in regard to vessels; she states that potential is gen-
scale we are referring to the size of the erated by the integration of functions
function as a block as it has been im- and it is transferred to weaker activities
plemented. For example, one of the present within the hybrid building.47
precedent projects that we studied was From precedent research, we have con-
the Marina Bay Complex in Chicago, cluded that integration of functions can
where one massive functional block of be horizontal or vertical and further-
900 apartments was implemented we more can be achieved through visual or
are not referring to the size of the indi- physical connections.
vidual apartments, but instead the fact
that the dwelling function is massive and vi) Flexibility
has not been broken up by subsequent
functions.
v) Function Integration
46
Susanne Komossa, Researching and Designing GREAT; the
Extremely Condensed Hybrid Urban Block, AE... Revista
Lusfona de Arquitectura e Educao 5 (2011), 34
45 47
Linked Hybrid, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
(July 2013), 58 Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 45
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ARCHITECTURE & DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
never the same.48 Thus, accepting that to create strong vertical connections
there should not be a sense of finality in that facilitate way-finding in the hybrid
regard to the hybrid building and that it building for users. According to Su-
must instead react to unpredictable sanne Komossa, vertical connections
future needs and situations, it is crucial such as elevators and stairs make it pos-
that the hybrid building can accommo- sible for building users to find their des-
date possible future uses. tination in the city within the city, which
is the hybrid building.50 It is clear that
Flexibility is greatly reliant upon a struc- vertical connections in the hybrid build-
ture that results in spaces that are flexi- ing have the ability to facilitate the inte-
ble in terms of subdivision as well as gration or separation of the functions
changes in function. The flexibility of a present.
building also relates to the surrounding
urban context; a building can best serve viii) Integrated Public Gathering Space
the social needs of a community by hav-
ing the ability to adapt to the changes in
the needs of those in the community.49
48
Paul Fraioli, The Invention and Reinvention of the City: An
50
Interview with Rem Koolhaas, Journal of International Affairs Susanne Komossa, Researching and Designing GREAT; the
65 (2012) Extremely Condensed Hybrid Urban Block, AE... Revista
49 Lusfona de Arquitectura e Educao 5 (2011), 32
Laura Maynard, Community Reclamation: the Hybrid Build-
51
ing MA Thesis, 2012. Retrieved from: Regarding Public Space, 306090 Architecture Journal 9
http://docs.rwu.edu/archthese/84/ (2005), 32
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ARCHITECTURE & DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
realms.52 Finally, Susanne Komossa
states that a hybrid building extends
the citys public domain horizontally and
vertically into the buildings interior and
links the public domain inside and out-
side.53 In short, regarding public space,
the true hybrid building integrates public
space; the true hybrid does not stop at
confining public gathering space to the
ground floor, but instead integrates
public gathering space vertically into the
building.
52
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 43
53
Susanne Komossa, Researching and Designing GREAT; the
Extremely Condensed Hybrid Urban Block, AE... Revista
Lusfona de Arquitectura e Educao 5 (2011), 29
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VIII. Overview Precedent Studies We have reviewed fifteen case study pro-
To reiterate, a quick review of many prec- jects using the mental model we derived
edent projects that are referred to as hy- from our research regarding hybrid build-
brid buildings instead often shows a very ings; the projects include:
different situation, which can be summa- a. Marina City Complex, Chicago
rized in diagram 1.11 b. John Hancock Center, New York City
c. Ihme Zentrum, Hannover
However, our research regarding hybrid
d. Torre Velasca, Milan
buildings resulted in a clear mental model
e. Seaside Hybrid Building, Seaside, Flori-
of the qualities that are present in a true
hybrid building and our mental model can da
be quickly summarized in diagram 1.12 f. Cube Dwellings, Rotterdam
g. Shinonome Canal Court Block I, To-
kyo
h. Bryghusprojektet, Copenhagen
i. Linked Hybrid Building, Beijing
j. The Galleria, New York City
k. De Rotterdam, Rotterdam
l. Sliced Porosity Block, Chengdu
m. Solid 18, Amsterdam
n. Brunswick Centre, London
o. Groothandelsgebouw, Rotterdam
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22 ARCHITECTURE AND DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
PRECEDENTS
A MARINA CITY COMPLEX B JOHN HANCOCK CENTER
Bertrand Goldberg, 1959-1964 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1968-1970
Chicago, USA Chicago, USA
OFFICES HOTEL
O GROOTHANDELSGEBOUW
Hugh Maaskant, 1952
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
OFFICES HOTEL
FUNCTION DIVERSITY
INTEGRATED PUBLIC
GATHERING SPACE
FUNCTION SCALE
URBAN DENSITY
CONNECTIONS
PROJECT SCALE
INTEGRATION
FLEXIBILITY
FUNCTION
VERTICAL
CRITERIA 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8:
C IHME ZENTRUM
D TORRE VELASCA
F CUBEDWELLINGS
H BRYGHUSPROJEKTET
I LINKED HYBRID
J GALLERIA
K DE ROTTERDAM
M SOLID 18
N BRUNSWICK CENTER
O GROOTHANDELSGEBOUW
Quality present
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five projects that either embody many of tects of the solid buildings believed
the qualities of a true hybrid building or that this could be achieved by stack-
were ahead of their time and have thus ing various functions within their
withstood the test of time well. We also building envelope.56 Thus, Solid 18 is
placed a high priority on the analysis of just one of the several solid buildings
Dutch precedents, as they will help us on Haveneiland, but each of the solids
better understand the context that we are is unique do to the fact that each was
designing our graduation projects in. In designed by a different architecture
short, we selected the five most interest- firm. In regard to their design ap-
ing or geographically relevant projects to proach, Felix Claus of Claus en Kaan
study closer, not necessarily the projects stated that, We make generic build-
(out of the fifteen precedents) that had ings for unknown usersthey are not
the highest amount of hybrid qualities. eye-catching or photogenic. The only
Before moving on to our analysis regard- presence in the street is the volume
ing the presence of the qualities of a true and proportion of the building. In this
hybrid building in the precedents that we way we try to make our buildings
studied, it may be useful to first give a strong objects. They are anchors of
short introduction regarding each of the the neighbourhood.57
five projects that we analyzed in terms of
vision that the architect had for the pro- ii) Groothandelsgebouw
ject. The Groothandelsgebouw is situated in
Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The
i) Solid 18 building was completed in 1953, and
Solid 18 is situated on Haveneiland, due to the fact that it is still a vibrant
within the greater context of Ijburg in and functioning building over 60 years,
Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The it is safe to say that thus far it has
master plan for Haveneiland was a col- withstood the test of time. Although,
laboration between Claus en Kaan, the building has seen both sides of the
Frits van Dongen, and Schaap en Stig- public opinion. After the build it was
ter. Frits van Dongen proposed plac- considered for a long time to be an
ing solid buildings at prominent loca- exemplar building of the future. After a
tions on Haveneiland. Van Dongens trip to Chicago Maaskant was inspired
vision for the solidswere buildings by the biggest business complex Mer-
that allowed flexibility in terms of func- chandise Mart in Chicago, on which
tions for the present and future. Van the Groothandelsgebouw was mod-
Dongen believed that a neutral floor elled after.58 Because of the fact that it
plan and spacious section were vital was built just after the Second World
qualities in creating flexibility for future War the idea of a mixed functions
functions.55 Furthermore, in order to
activate their surroundings, the archi-
56
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 112
57
Feature Architect: Claus en Kaan Architecten, JA+U Maga-
55
Solid 18 Ijburg, Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Archinect. zine 7 (2002)
58
Retrieved from: Groothandelsgebouw Rotterdam, Groothandelsgebouwen
http://archinect.com/firms/project/27776/solid18-ijburg- N.V. Retrieved from: http://ghg.nl/nl/het-gebouw/, Accessed 16
amsterdam-the-netherlands/80872546, Accessed on 16 Decem- December 2013
ber 2013
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building was quite revolutionary. The Blom was an apprentice of Aldo van
fact that shops and offices where in the Eyck and the two worked together for
same building had so many advantages, years. Both had a specific vision on
many of which were related to eco- how dwellings should be built. A city
nomic or time-related aspects. For in- should be a large house, and a house
stance it was easier to get a permit for should be a small city. It was a re-
one big building, than for many individ- sponse to the then upcoming vision of
ual franchises. Also many shared facili- the functional city. Blom was in a con-
ties made the building cheaper, but stant search for a mixing of functions
could in turn be designed with a higher and form of repetition that was no
quality. This was the case for functions longer visible, in order to create a
like the meeting rooms, cafeterias, en- community.60 Additionally, Blom had
trances, elevators and stairwells. Over- the vision that the homo ludens was
all this translated in an affordable build- not a nomad, but more that of a set-
ing, which still had a high level of finish- tled individual. These things lead up to
ing and appearance. Together with the fact that the creation of both a liv-
flexible workspaces the building at- ing and working environment which
tracted many small companies of which stimulates social interaction, form a
some already settled in the building be- recurring theme in Bloms projects.
fore completion.
Blom was an architect that seemingly
But as said the Groothandelsgebouw worked with two contradictions. His
has also been a centre of discussion in projects were almost always a balanc-
its later years. In 1960s Netherlands ing act between predefined order and
public opinion slowly changed, which individual freedom. He had strong ide-
was largely directed negatively towards as on how the house of the people
material growth. But it was not until should look like, in order for people to
1971 that Maaskants building the develop. This was already clear when
Groothandelsgebouw finally became he wrote about the study he did on
one of the buildings that was consid- Wonen Als Stedelijk Dak in 1965
ered to be a degrading product of an [living as an urban roof]. The men-
anti-social architect. Important qualities tioned contradiction is visible in the
that were considered to be important, compulsion of the idea how people
like visual stimuli, security and the were supposed to live was forced into
human scale, where apparently not a tight grid. In his drawing this is visible
adequate in the Groothandelsge- as they contained his plea of the crea-
bouw.59 tion of space, but were filled until the
last square centimeter. The Architect
iii) Cube Dwellings of Spatiality seemed to suffer of a
The Cube Dwellings are located in horror vacui.61
Rotterdam, the Netherlands and the It is not hard to see that this could also
project was designed by Piet Blom. be the case at the Cube Dwellings. At
60
59
Michelle Provoost, Hugh Maaskant: Architect Van De Voor- Piet Blom, Wonen Als Stedelijk (Bussum: dak, 1965)
61
uitgang, MA Thesis, 2003. Retrieved from: Maarten Kloos, Piet Blom (1934-1999), de Architect 7
http://irs.ub.rug.nl/ppn/251818810, Accessed 6 January 2013 (1999), 9-10
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ARCHITECTURE & DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
first glance, it appears to be a spacious SOHO space that is adjacent to the
project with numerous public func- access corridor is highly glazed to pro-
tions, enclosed public spaces, and play- vide a strong visible connection. Riken
ful dwellings. But after a closer look Yamamoto saw the Block 1 develop-
the limitations of the public spaces, the ment as an opportunity to expand the
public functions, and the dozens of potential of collective housing by inte-
identical dwellings become apparent. grating homes and offices. Specifically,
It is so defined and shaped in a specific Riken Yamamoto envisioned the de-
way, that there is almost no room for velopment as a blend of homes and
variation or changes. This is not very workplaces as opposed to the conven-
surprising, as his view on critique was tional situation of homes situated next
often defined as either you agree with to workplaces.63 Riken and Yamamoto
him, or you have no idea what you are also provided two-storey common
talking about.62 terraces that interrupt the access
corridor in order to visually connect
iv) Shinonome Canal Court Block 1 various building levels.64
Shinonome Canal Court, Block 1 is sit-
uated within the greater context of the v) Bryghusprojektet
Shinonome Canal Court Center devel- As previously mentioned, the Bryghus-
opment. Each of the six building projektet building is currently under
blocks in the development were de- construction with an expected comple-
signed by a different architect. One of tion date of 2017. We specifically
the elements of the vision for the de- chose to study this project due to the
velopment was that it would provide fact that it aims to challenge the con-
flexibility to accommodate future ventional hybrid building model (which,
changes. The architects envisioned the in reality, is typically a mixed-use build-
space between the building blocks as ing).65 It is situated on the last remain-
places for outside living that could ing open site on the Copenhagen har-
accommodate various activities during bor. To begin, Jan Gehl produced an
the day. For Block 1, Riken Yamamoto urban analysis for the project which
designed a basic infrastructure in which included suggested strategies for the
rooms were envisioned as modules project. Gehl believed that the project
with a standard width of 3 meters. A should activate the existing waterfront
theme throughout the Block 1 project and create a destination that also pro-
is the blurring of the lines between vided public space.66 Among Gehls
public and private spaces. For exam- other recommendations, a key sugges-
ple, Riken Yamamoto provided each
dwelling with a SOHO (small office
home office space), which they envi-
sioned as a porch or conservatory that 63
Shinonome Canal Court Block 1, Riken Yamamoto, Re-
would exist outside of the boundary of trieved from: http://riken-
yamamoto.co.jp/?page=ry_proj_detail&id=66&lng=_Eng, Ac-
the private home; the faade of the cessed 16 December 2013
64
Hilary French, New Urban Housing (New haven: Yale Uni-
versity Press, 2006), 136, 139
65
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 124
62 66
Maarten Kloos, Piet Blom (1934-1999), de Architect 7 Gehl Architects, Analysis/Strategy/Catalogue of Ideas: The
(1999), 9-10 Brewery Site (Copenhagen: Gehl Architects, 2006), 12-13
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ARCHITECTURE & DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO
tion was that the project should con- within the building.70 As our research
tribute to good conditions for pedes- has shown, this project still may have
trians. not gone far enough in challenging the
conventional hybrid building model due
OMA then completed the architectural to the fact that besides the physical
design for the project. Koolhaas vi- connections that are provided in the
sion for the project was to break away plinth and at isolated terraces within
from the typical hierarchical program the project as well as some visual con-
dispersal within buildings and instead nections interspersed in the building,
create the disorderly combination of the functions are still rather isolated
uses in order to create true interac- from each other.
tions.67 The Bryghusprojektet building
is in line with Koolhaas greater vision
of the modern Generic City as he
refers to it, or a city that is full of
anonymous and generic space that is
flexible and stripped of all traces of
specificity.68 For the Bryghusprojektet
building, Koolhaas idea is to gather
many activities in one building; he
wants to intermingle various functions
(housing, offices, a caf, and the Danish
Architecture Centre) as much as pos-
sible to guarantee a dynamic nature in
the building. Koolhaas sees the build-
ing as an engine that will generate
urban life in the surrounding context.
Koolhaas positioned public terraces
around the building that belong to the
Danish Architecture Centre; Koolhaas
envisions other functions sharing these
integrated public spaces, and the spac-
es facilitating in the integration of peo-
ple.69 Koolhaas provided a passageway
through the building as a distinctive
and special element that would inject
life into the building, with a potential to
transfer the vibrancy even vertically
67
Aurora Fernndez Per, Javier Mozas, and Javier Arpa, This is
Hybrid (Vitoria-Gasteiz: a+t Architecture Publishers, 2011), 124
68 Tatjana Schneider and Jeremy Till, Flexible Housing (Oxford:
Architectural Press, 2007), 165
69 70
Kasper Egeberg, Bryghusprojektet, Retrieved from: Kasper Egeberg, Bryghusprojektet, Retrieved from:
http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-life/copenhagen-x- http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-life/copenhagen-x-
gallery/cases/bryghusprojektet/, Accessed 16 December 2013 gallery/cases/bryghusprojektet/, Accessed 16 December 2013
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2) ANALYSIS ally hybrid buildings. Additionally, for
I. Research Question the more thorough analysis of five case
Considering the qualities that are study projects, we placed a priority on
present in a true hybrid building, selecting Dutch precedents in order to
what are the architectural elements be able to better correspond to our
by which the qualities have been design site. Finally, an additional criteria
achieved in precedent projects? element is that the project contains
dwellings.
II. Goal
We started our research regarding hy- IV. Method
brid buildings by compiling a mental i) Formation of Mental Model for a
model regarding the qualities that are True Hybrid Building:
present in a true hybrid building. We Review of theories and case study projects
wish to further analyze five precedent (via drawings, pictures, literary text, vide-
projects in order to discover the ele- os, diagrammatic analysis, on-site observa-
ments present in the precedent project tions) in order to decipher the qualities of
that have achieved the qualities of a true a true hybrid building. The qualities will
hybrid building. In essence, our re- then be combined to form a mental
search with the compilation of a mental model regarding the qualities of a true
model for a hybrid building and through hybrid building.
a close study of precedent projects, we
wish to derive an architectural model ii) Quick Testing of Precedents Using
for a true hybrid building. Ultimately, the True Hybrid Mental Model:
we will then be able to implement the The mental model which is based on our
architectural model for a true hybrid research for the true hybrid building con-
building in our personal designs for the sists of the following qualities:
graduation project. i Project scale
ii Urban area density
III. Criteria iii Function diversity
As previously mentioned, the first crite- iv Function scale
ria for the precedent projects is that v Function integration
they have either been explicitly referred vi Flexibility
to as hybrid buildings in the architec- vii Vertical connections
tural community or that they were pro- (that promote integration)
jects that were ahead of their time but viii Integrated public gathering space
nonetheless embody many characteris-
tics of the true hybrid building and have
seemingly withstood the test of time.
We have placed a priority on choosing
built case study projects, but we also
selected one project that is currently
under construction (OMAs Bryghus-
projektet in Copenhagen) in order to
see if even buildings that are being con-
structed at this moment in time and are
being referred to as hybrids are actu-
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Using the mental model that we have iv) From True Hybrid Mental Model to
compiled for a true hybrid building, we will an Architectural Model for a True
perform a quick check for the presence of Hybrid Building
the eight qualities in the following fifteen Steps i-iii of our research method pertain
case study projects: to the creation (through research) of a
mental model for a true hybrid building
a. Marina City Complex, Chicago and then the subsequent testing of prece-
b. John Hancock Center, New York City dent projects using the mental model.
c. Ihme Zentrum, Hannover Step iv of the method is where we believe
d. Torre Velasca, Milan that the mental model for the true hybrid
e. Seaside Hybrid Building, Seaside, Flori- building actually becomes a physical model
da for a true hybrid building. In step iv of our
f. Cube Dwellings, Rotterdam method, we will then address each of the
g. Shinonome Canal Court Block I, qualities present in the mental model and
Tokyo select the project(s) that best embodied
h. Bryghusprojektet, Copenhagen the quality. More than just listing the pro-
i. Linked Hybrid Building, Beijing ject that best manifested the particular
j. The Galleria, New York City quality, we will elaborate on the architec-
k. De Rotterdam, Rotterdam tural element(s) present in the precedent
l. Sliced Porosity Block, Chengdu by which the quality was achieved. Archi-
m. Solid 18, Amsterdam tect Mario Botta has stated that, The
n. Brunswick Centre, London essence of architecture lies not in its use-
o. Groothandelsgebouw, Rotterdam fulness the purely practical solutions it
offers to the human need of shelter but
iii) Thorough Analysis of Precedents in the way it meets the much profounder
Using the True Hybrid Mental spiritual need to shape our habitat.71
Model Thus, in some instances in describing the
We will then thoroughly analyze five of architectural model for a true hybrid
the fifteen precedent projects (the pro- building, it will be smarter to locate and
jects listed above in bold) for the qualities describe how a quality was achieved such
contained in the mental model for a true as through columns, etc. Whereas, in
hybrid building. We will perform the anal- some cases it is about atmosphere or spa-
ysis using diagrams in order to be able to tial aspects that have resulted from the
form a standardized means to compare combination, placement, juxtaposition, etc.
and contrast the five projects we will be of more subtle and abstract components.
looking at more closely.
V. Precedent Analysis
The following pages will show an analysis
We will then expand upon one quality in
per project.
each of the precedent projects that offers
the most potential. We will explore that
specific quality diagrammatically in terms
of the extents, limits, etc. that can be
achieved.
71
Beata Sirowy, Architectural Ethics: A Phenome-
nological Perspective, The Department of Land-
scape Architecture and Spatial Planning, The Nor-
wegian University of Life Sciences (2014)
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PRECEDENT OVERVIEW
SOLID 18
Claus en Kaan
2007, Amsterdam
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
GROOTHANDELSGEBOUW
Hugh Maaskant
1953, Rotterdam
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
CUBE DWELLINGS
Piet Blom
1984, Rotterdam
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
BRYGHUSPROJEKTET
OMA
2017 (expected), Copenhagen
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
DWELLINGS GYM
Ed Pelsterpark
IJburg, Amsterdam
SOLID 18
SQUARE
DWELLINGS GYM
COMMERCIAL
PHYSICAL CONNECTION
ND
OU
GR
ND
OU
GR
DWELLINGS
OFFICES
COMMERCIAL
ZOOMED SEGMENT
DWELLINGS GYM
Stationsplein
Centre, Rotterdam
GROOTHANDELSGEBOUW BUILDING
DWELLINGS COMMERCIAL
PHYSICAL CONNECTION
OFFICES
COMMERCIAL
ZOOMED SEGMENT
DWELLINGS GYM
Overblaak
Blaak, Rotterdam
CUBE DWELLINGS
DWELLINGS COMMERCIAL
OFFICES
PHYSICAL CONNECTION
Msc 3 FALL 2013
ARCHITECTURE AND DWELLING GRADUATION STUDIO 49
CUBE DWELLINGS
Piet Blom
1984, Rotterdam
(VISUAL) INTERACTION BETWEEN DWELLING AND EXTERIOR AS WELL AS INTEGRATION OF FUNCTIONS PRESENT
DWELLINGS
OFFICES
COMMERCIAL
PHYSICAL CONNECTION
DWELLINGS GYM
Shinonome
Koto, Tokyo
DWELLINGS COMMERCIAL
PHYSICAL CONNECTION
GR
OU
ND
GR
OU
ND
DWELLING
SEMI-PUBLIC STREET
ITERATION A I ITERATION A II
DWELLINGS GYM
Bryghusgade
Bryghusgrunden, Copenhagen
BRYGHUSPROJEKTET
2 URBAN DENSITY
DWELLINGS COMMERCIAL
The Bryghusprojektet project is located in the dense urban
context of Copenhagen. The project is quite responsive in OFFICES PARKING/ STORAGE
terms of the surrounding urban fabric due to the fact that
it spans over Christians Brygge Road and further provides
pedestrians connections to all sides of the site via routes
that run through the project. 5 FUNCTION INTEGRATION
Some of the functions present at the Bryghusprojektet
N project are integrated. For example, some of the func-
tions such as the Danish Architecture Centre, dwellings,
and offices are physically integrated through the sharing of
public terraces. Visual connections are also offered in some
portions of the building to the Danish Architecture Centre;
however, there are some opportunities for physical integra-
tion of functions that were missed.
GR
OU
ND
GR
OU
ND
DWELLING LOBBY
OFFICE AUDITORIUM
COMMERCIAL LOBBY
STORAGE
FUNCTION INTEGRATION
VERTICAL CONNECTIONS
FUNCTION DIVERSITY
INTEGRATED PUBLIC
GATHERING SPACE
FUNCTION SCALE
URBAN DENSITY
PROJECT SCALE
FLEXIBILITY
CRITERIA 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8:
SOLID 18
GROOTHANDELSGEBOUW
CUBEDWELLINGS
SHINONOME C.C. BLOCK I
BRYGHUSPROJEKTET
Quality present
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STRONGEST ARCHITECTURAL QUALITIES PER CRITERION
FUNCTION INTEGRATION
VERTICAL CONNECTIONS
FUNCTION DIVERSITY
INTEGRATED PUBLIC
GATHERING SPACE
FUNCTION SCALE
URBAN DENSITY
PROJECT SCALE
FLEXIBILITY
CRITERIA 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8:
SOLID 18
GROOTHANDELSGEBOUW
CUBEDWELLINGS
SHINONOME C.C. BLOCK I
BRYGHUSPROJEKTET
Quality present
1: PROJECT SCALE
2: URBAN DENSITY
3: FUNCTION DIVERSITY
DWELLINGS DANISH
ARCHI.
CENTER
DWELLING
COMMERCIAL
DWELLING
5: FUNCTION
INTEGRATION
6000
6: FLEXIBILITY
2500
7000 I II
DWELLING
LING
LENGTH
ENGTH 6720
7000
00
6720 6720
7: VERTICAL
CONNECTIONS
FUNCTIONS
8: INTEGRATED PUBLIC
GATHERING SPACE
FUNCTIONS
CANTILEVERED
FACADE
Figure 3.1: Shinonome Canal Court Block 1, Source: Figure 3.2: Cube Dwellings, Source:
http://riken- http://www.bing.com/maps/#Y3A9NTIuMDgzMDAwfjQuM
yamamoto.co.jp/?page=ry_proj_detail&id=66&lng=_Eng zAwMDAwJmx2bD00JnN0eT1yJnE9cm90dGVyZGFt
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iii) Function Diversity brid building. Again, when referring to
In regard to diversity, the precedent that function scale, we are not referring to the
we studied that displayed the greatest scale of the unit in particular (in the case
amount of diversity in functions was the of a dwelling or a shop), rather in regard
Bryghusprojektet by OMA. In terms to scale we are referring to the size of the
of diversity and the true hybrid building, it function as a block as it has been imple-
is defined by unexpected (not predictable) mented. At the Cube Dwellings, there is a
functions as well as functions that serve range in size of functions present, including
more than a closed community. This is the larger Academy of Architecture in one
especially the case of the functions present of the supercubes. Although there are a
at the Bryghusprojektet. For example, high amount of dwellings and small com-
Bryghusprojektet contains dwellings, a mercial spaces present, they have not
restaurant, offices, and the Danish Archi- been implemented in one large mono-
tectural Centre. In terms of an unex- functional block. Rather, at the Cube
pected element, the Danish Architecture Dwellings, every individual dwelling is
Centre is not only an unpredictable func- placed adjacent to a small commercial
tion to combine with dwellings, but it also space (Figure 3.3) instead of one mono-
goes beyond serving the closed population functional block containing the thirty-eight
within the building and instead serves the dwellings that are present. The pattern in
greater community of Copenhagen. Thus, placement of a small commercial function
there is the possibility of interacting with placed between every dwelling present
strangers and not simply just other build- also facilitates the integration of functions
ing residents. as well as the meeting of public and private
realms.
iv) Function Scale
In regard to function scale, our analysis Moving to the Bryghusprojektet, there is
revealed that function scale has been exe- also a range in scale of functions present,
cuted the best at the Cube Dwellings including the large Danish Architecture
and the Bryghusprojektet. As previ- Centre. The Danish Architecture Centre
ously discussed, a range in the scale of has been broken up and distributed over
functions should be present in a true hy- every floor present in the building, as op-
posed to being placed in one mono-
functional block on one floor in the build-
ing. The same can be said for the dwell-
ings and offices present in the Bryghuspro-
jektet: they have been broken down into
smaller functional blocks and distributed
over a few floors, rather than being im-
plemented as a single functional block on
one floor of the building.
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Figure 3.4: Shinonome C.C.Block I, Source:
http://photo.zhulong.com/proj/detail11742.html
v) Function Integration
To reiterate, the true hybrid contains
unexpected functions that are integrat- Figure 3.5: Shinonome C.C.Block I,
ed, or mingled. In terms of function Source: http://inaxreport.info/no167/feature3.html
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For example, integrated public gathering
space has been strongly achieved at the
Cube Dwellings. For example, there is a
clear and unified elevated pedestrian route
that runs through the project. The pedes-
trian route through the project provides
access to the various functions present as
well as small areas where the public can
informally gather (Figure 3.12). There is
an overhang of the cube dwellings them-
selves over the public gathering spaces
present (Figure 3.13); thus, there is a very Figure 3.11: Cube Dwellings,
Source: http://www.architectuur-
close relationship established between the fotograaf.eu/?media-tags=rotterdam&paged=2
private dwelling and the public gathering
space below, as dwellers can visually con-
nect with the public realm while being in
the privacy of their dwelling. As a result
of the overhang of the cube, the public
gathering space then feels more enclosed;
additionally, glazed panels have been
placed on the upper voids between cubes
(Figure 3.14) in order to filter out the
noise of the city, which further results in
an enclosed feeling in the public gathering
areas.
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At the Shinonome Canal Court project,
space for public gathering has been pro-
vided. For example, the architects de-
signed a space for gathering that is situated
in a unique manner: the space is freely
accessible by the public (through several
staircases), but it is located one level
above the ground (Figure 3.15). There-
fore, the space is open to all but seems to
have an element of integration due to the
fact that it is located one level above
ground and the main entrances to the
dwelling towers are located in close prox-
imity to the public gathering areas.
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Figure 3.17: Bryghusprojektet,
Figure 3.18: Bryghusprojektet,
http://www.dac.dk/da/dac-life/copenhagen-x-
galleri/cases/bryghusprojektet/ Source: http://www.arch2o.com/bryghusprojektet-oma/
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To close, we will shortly summarize per of function integration in that the project
quality of the mental model for the true contains strong visual as well as physical
hybrid which project(s) best embodied connections. For example, SOHO func-
that quality and how (the architectural tions are visually connected across double-
elements). In regard to project scale, we height voids in the project. Further, a high
found that Shinonome Canal Court best degree of physical integration results from
embodied the true hybrids characteristic the presence of the movable partitions in
of project scale in that it seemed to take between the private dwelling and the pub-
the many functions that would typically be lic SOHO.
found in a sprawling city block and con-
densed them into one building. Moving to flexibility, the two projects best
embody the true hybrids characteristic of
In regard to urban area density, the Cube flexibility are the Groothandelsgebouw
Dwellings best embodies the true hybrids and the Shinonome Canal Court Block 1.
characteristic of urban area density in that The Groothandelsgebouw offers a struc-
the project was integrated into an existing ture with double-height spaces for future
urban context and provided solutions to vertical changes. The Shinonome Canal
issues that existed within that existing Court project offers immediate horizontal
urban fabric. flexibility through movable partitions. On
the contrary, the load-bearing wall struc-
In terms of function diversity, the Bry- ture at Solid 18 provides little to no flexi-
ghusprojektet best embodies the true hy- bility for future horizontal changes.
brids characteristic of function diversity in
that it contains dwellings and offices com- In regard to vertical connections, the
bined with a public and rather unexpected Groothandelsgebouw and the Cube
function (the Danish Architecture Cen- Dwellings best embody the true hybrids
tre). characteristic of strong vertical connec-
tions. In both projects, nearly all of the
In regard to function scale, the Cube functions present use the same means of
Dwellings and the Bryghusprojektet best vertical access, which reduce isolation and
embody the true hybrids characteristic of contributes to the integration of functions.
function scale. In the case of the Cube
Dwellings, one small commercial function Lastly, in referring to integrated public
was placed in between each dwelling as gathering space, three projects best em-
opposed to the implementation of larger body the true hybrids characteristic of
functional blocks (i.e. all 38 dwellings in integrated public gathering space: the Bry-
one functional block). The Danish Archi- ghusprojektet, the Groothandelsgebouw,
tecture Centre really stood out at the and the Cube Dwellings. The Bryghuspro-
Byrghusprojektet due to the fact that it jektet provides a route through the
was implemented over all project floors ground floor that is connected to the ur-
instead of being confined to one or two ban fabric and contains places to informal-
storeys. ly gather. The Groothandelsgebouw con-
tains a main lobby with space to informally
Looking at function integration, the Shi- gather which is strongly visually connected
nonome Canal Court Block 1 project best to the surrounding urban context. Fur-
embodies the true hybrids characteristic ther, the pedestrian route that meanders
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through the Cube Dwellings contains
places to informally gather and it has been
enclosed to a certain extent by the over-
hang of the cubes.
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II. Personal Reflection
i) Taylor Wiesner There are several elements that I have
In reflecting upon our research, I feel as incorporated into my design that were
though I have gained a clear understanding influenced by our research into the Shi-
regarding exactly what a hybrid building is, nonome Canal Court Block 1 project.
its origin, and also why it is such an intri- Similar to the Shinonome Canal Court
guing and challenging design solution to fit project, I have implemented a SOHO into
the needs of our diverse modern society. my design that features movable walls and
Through our research, we discovered the each SOHO is connected to a dwelling.
qualities of a true hybrid building (the The SOHO not only results in flexibility
mental model) and through the process of based upon the diverse desires of each
creating an architectural model from the individual user but it also contributes to
mental model, we now have documented the integration of functions, as there is no
actual elements from the precedents that longer a strict boundary between public
we can reference as an approach to and private realms if the SOHO is used to
achieve each quality. As a result, I believe house a public function. I have gone one
that I now have a firm basis for my per- step further than the Shinonome Canal
sonal design. Court SOHO in terms of flexibility, as the
SOHO I am proposing also allows for ver-
Our research has resulted in a mental tical expansion vertical flexibility was
model that we can refer back to through- something that I thought was strong in the
out the design process to ensure that the Groothandelsgebouw building and I want-
buildings that we are designing are actually ed to also incorporate it into my design.
truly hybrid buildings and that they em-
body each of the eight qualities that we The presence of the SOHO in my design
studied at the moment that our personal also results in the absence of one large
designs stray from the mental model, they functional block (related to function scale),
are no longer true hybrid buildings. as each dwelling is situated adjacent to a
Although I am disappointed that our re- SOHO, such was the case at the Shi-
search revealed that there may actually nonome Canal Court project. Further
not be any constructed buildings that em- expanding on the topic of function scale,
body all of the qualities of a true hybrid our research revealed that it is not wrong
building (as all of the projects that we per se for hybrid buildings to contain large
studied fell short in some aspect), the re- functions, but it is highly desirable if the
search process was nonetheless fascinat- larger functions present are broken up and
ing. The examination of various prece- implemented in smaller functional blocks.
dents was an exciting process, as we real-
ized that in some cases different prece- We specifically saw this concept at the
dents took unique approaches regarding Bryghusprojektet: the Danish Architecture
the implementation of architectural ele- Centre that is present is large but it is
ments, but in the end could achieve the broken up over seven storeys and inte-
same quality. grated with other functions this is a con-
cept that I incorporated in my own design.
In thinking about the architectural model For example, the study library that I am
that we extracted from our research, proposing is somewhat large in scale, but
there are several connections that I have it is broken up into several smaller func-
made with my personal project design. tional blocks and is integrated with func-
Below I will name just a few of the con- tions such as dwellings, the hotel, and a
nections that I have made thus far in the restaurant over several storeys in the
design process. building. Lastly, I drew upon the strong
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vertical connections (the staircases and gives way to a hands-on approach in de-
ramps) that we saw present at the Cube signing a hybrid building, something we
Dwellings; the vertical connections at the need(ed) in order to design for the design
Cube Dwellings revealed that vertical project parallel to the research we did. I
connections can contribute to the integra- think this research made it clear what a
tion of functions. Thus, in my personal hybrid building actually is. For ourselves,
design, I have implemented a strong verti- and hopefully for anyone who reads it
cal connection in the form of a red stair- with us.
case that wraps through the project and is
clearly visible to building users. The stair- There are several elements from the re-
case directs building users to the most search that I want to incorporate into the
public places within the building, but can building that we have to design on the
also be used to access more private func- Eastern Docklands.
tions such as dwellings.
Firstly, in the Cube dwellings there is a
In conclusion, I believe that the mental High density function diversity, as is illus-
model for the true hybrid building backed trated in the Function Scale criterion. The
by the architectural model that we have dwellings are so intertwined with the
extracted from the study of precedents commercial spaces that a high level of in-
has given each of us a firm basis to pro- teraction is possible. But, when working
ceed with for our personal designs for our with this project it became clear that
graduation projects. there was room for improvement. One of
Taylor Wiesner, 06-02-2014 the things that I like to address, or in a
way try to improve, is the fact that the
ii) Robin Gringhuis unexpected interaction between people
The hybrid building is something excep- could be higher. Maybe because most of
tional. It is a title that is not restricted to the commercial spaces are not related to
any profession or product, and is used by the dwellings. Or not designed in such a
many. Hybrid cars, animals, software, way that they invite people to actively
buildings, only to name a few. At the be- interact with one another, which creates
ginning of this research I thought I knew vacancy. In my opinion there is a solid
about the hybrid building, it was something base that works, but it could use some
that was good, it was improvement, pro- architectural refinement. For instance;
gress. But still, I did not really know what more intelligent program placement, smart
we actually meant when talking about a use of materials, higher degree of flexibil-
hybrid building. ity, diversity of dwelling types, etc.
But the research provided us with a men- The way I tried to incorporate this in my
tal model that gave a clear overview of design project is to try to provide a higher
qualities which would (or should) be pre- degree of unexpected interaction. I believe
sent in a hybrid building. In retrospect this is possible through the use of SOHO
many of which are often present in the spaces, which are all connected to a big
numerous unrealized projects of hybrids atrium space. The SOHO spaces from the
that we have encountered during our Shinonome Canal Court Block I inspired
search; projects that have often failed to me to implement this, as it generates a
leave the drawing table. The reason for high diversity of functions, that are all
this is maybe because the mental model is permanently occupied by its dwellers. Al-
not yet an architectural model. Based on so, the functions within these SOHOs can
realized buildings the architectural model be immensely diverse. Some people might
use it as an office space, gallery space, to
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host workshops, or even because they nected to an atrium space, I would like to
want a bigger living room. In this way di- address this problem of disconnected-
versity is always guaranteed, without the ness to the surrounding urban fabric. The
risk of vacancy, which is key in order to atrium should generate a vibrant, pleasant
generate vibrancy. environment that invites to stay. It is not
about the SOHOs, atrium, or other func-
An element that became clear in the re- tions, it is about the combination of them.
search is that the SOHOs in the Shi-
nonome project are all connected to a Additionally, in my opinion the Merchant
not-so public interior corridor. This is House has shown that the combination of
because of the entrance system with buzz- a dwelling with a commercial, storage, etc.
er, which only facilitates local traffic meant function works. But how can we trans-
for specific SOHOs, i.e. an office. With form this old concept in regards to 21st
this notion one could almost rule out un- century society and aforementioned hy-
expected interaction, as it is never truly brid building strategy? How can we create
unexpected. This is really an important a true hybrid building all the way from
element which I would like to further in- the building block scale down to the indi-
vestigate and test in my design project. It vidual dwelling?
is not just about creating a corridor for all
of the SOHOs, but about creating a quali- All in all, everything we found in the re-
tative space that people would visit, and search done, together with the literary
make visitors to stay for a bit. It is all foundation I think we have laid a solid
about triggering people to visit more than foundation. We have seen what works,
just what they came for. what is a pre, and what we should be
aware of. In my opinion that is exactly
How I think this is possible on the given what research should provide, in order to
location is through the use of an atrium further develop the design project.
space. Protected from the harsh wind, rain Robin Gringhuis, 06-02-2014
and pollution I created an enclosed (but
accessible) atrium, which is connecting all
of the SOHO spaces. This is in line with
what we learned from the Cube dwellings.
The street that is created there is public
and sets a framework for different people
at various times of the day. Additionally it
shows that it is possible to get people to
wander around in a secondary public
space, even above ground level. As long as
there are functions or activities that at-
tract people. The Groothandelsgebouw
does this in a smaller, but similar way. In
the lobbies it connects an open staircase
with a couple of functions, which mixes
various target groups.