Research scenarios

Monday 04 of July 2011

In the first week of workshop the studio has sketched a narrative of research. To look at different aspect of the site.

Informality

There is an unplanned settlement in the south west corner of site, this is to be researched. I also think informality carries with it the analysis of the way buildings are expanded, added to. Informality to me in this context is a study of the constant growth of the city, the reasons why and the morphology of this growth so that we can plan for it.

Sustainability

This carries with it mainly the study of watershed of the seasonal river in the Al Addesseh valley. But it should also look at the ecology of sun exposure, the vegetation and the gray water.

Affordability

20% of all development is to be affordable housing. In the situation where one of 120 m2 house cost $300 to build affordability is a real issue. Costs escalate with administration fees and with work force from Jerusalem, where is used to be cheaper West Bank workers building Jerusalem houses. There is no scheme foe affordable housing in Jerusalem of West bank. Your bank is your family or community.

Public space

This study requires looking at good examples of places where Palestinian community spend their time. To listen and learn form the people. I wonder if precedence from successful public spaces of Europe are of any significant use here.

Architectonics - typology

The Arab architecture spans from Mesopotamia, Arabian peninsula, Niles area, Africa to Mediterranean. There is no single Arab typology, there is only how people live here and now. There is Anthropology of human existence in this hot climate. This leads us directly to the Precedence studies.

Densities

To understand the brief, and locate it on the site. The typology and density are not interconnected.

Site analysis

Mapping of that is there, what are the moments to be preserved, what are the edge conditions.

This is my look at thaw should be done at the onset, we have 15 other international architects and students in the studio with their own perspective to all issues drafted above. It will be interesting to see where individual researches lead us as a group.