PRODUCTIVE AXES
Avraamidou Chara, Hadjigeorgiou Pantelis, Ioannou Marinos - Spring Semester 2022/23 - Dr. Avramidis Konstantinos, Olga Balaoura
Kaisariani (Athens, Greece) is aunique location of great historical importance. It is admirable how World War apartment complexes, two-floor houses and smaller apartment buildings coexist together. Taking into consideration the blank(empty) walls that exist in the area where tall buildings are next to small empty plots of land we wanted to create some appropriate uses. Adding vertical community farming is the one axis that the title refers to with the other one being the horizontal axis where facilities such as communal housing and kitchen are taking place. The autonomy of the whole project is essential and other than the initial expenses which are gonna be absorbed by European funds, that envolve the improvement of a community in a sustainable way, the project will be completely autonomous.
Keywords
Parasitic structures, Circle Economy, Sustainability, Autonomy, Kaisariani, Community, Affordable
Kaisariani is a unique environment. A lot of different types of housing co-exists from single, two floor both active and abandoned. This large quantity of typology existing is one we would like to incorporate into our design. In addition with the analysis of this general area we would have the chance to select the optimal strip to zoom into and implement our concept and design.
Wanting to use the empty tall walls, which are currently wasted and not used by anyone except some from graffiti artists, we analyzed the different typologies of them as well as their orientation. The orientation was important as the walls would be filled with vertical farming facilities and sunlight is essential to our application.
Our project had a goal to attract all kind of users at different times and at different ages. Due to the complexity of the uses from education to shopping we were able to create a self sustained loop and created a structure that could be transferred to a different location with the same characteristics and provide the essentials to the less.
The circular economy consists of first the Housing units, from the existing units. The units are divided to a ratio of 1:5. Every 5 low income housing, 1 free housing is offered. The ratio was concluded so that the minimal profits from the one type of housing could fund the other. The people housed have the opportunity to educate themselves using the seminars and courses spanning across cooking and farming so they can earn a living and improve their living quality from jobs that will be created. The Vertical Farming will provide with fruits and vegies and all that is essential to sell. The maintenance is dependent on the people living in the housing created as well as the community. After the fruits and veggies offered to the market to provide an additional income to sustain the build the rest is forwarded to the restaurant and communal kitchen of the area. The restaurant works is located to the most central location to attract multiple businesses. The food that will not be sold will be provided to those in need in the community and the vulnerable housed. The loop also included the use of gray water as well as solar panels to reduce the monthly expenses the most. This creates a functional autonomous circle that after initial funding will be able to be self sustained.
The four main strategies further provide with info about how the facilities are working to provide for the community.
Our area is divided into 6 blocks and indicated above are all the facilities and the line created between them for the best connection between them. For example, at the top the education and workshop which is located the nearest to one of the universities of Athens. Rental units also located there to be able to attract students to rent at low income facilities. All vertical farming facilities are north faced to provide the most sunlight for the plants. Next to the existing market is the expansion to the market to expand the market that is there twice a week and provide with rest and sitting areas. Then we have the Restaurant and social kitchen which are located closer to the businesses. Last but not least, across the whole project areas that are full of benches and greenery are provided for the community to come together.
Below you can locate detailed drawings (plans, axonometrics) that indicate up close the facilities of each block.
Final visualizations using the collage methods. The left one from the first block and the last one overlooking the sixth block from the adjacent park.
