HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND HOUSING:
A Project targeted at an informal settlement in South Africa, aimed to improve existing artisan networks and develop skills to improve their commercial and trading industries.
FRAMEWORK PROBLEM STATEMENT
The artisan network in Alaska lacks a defined formalised structure. There is no
attempt to establish a recognised platform from which the commercial sector
can function, and this commercial sector is at present far too underdeveloped.
The artisan network in Alaska lacks a defined formalised structure. There is no
attempt to establish a recognised platform from which the commercial sector
can function, and this commercial sector is at present far too underdeveloped.
SITE OF INTEVENTION:
Mamelodi, Pretoria, South Africa. [An informal settlement]
BRANDING ALASKA THROUGH ARTISAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ZONE:
The aim is to brand Alaska as an artisanal skills development zone. The area will educate and equip the people to live in the city of Pretoria by giving them the vital skills needed to be successful in the jobs they have and to be entrepreneurial. We noticed that there were many people trying to create opportunities for themselves with the skills they had, but there was very little chance of selling their products. By creating awareness of Alaska as a brand, the opportunity to sell locally produced products will increase. This will alleviate the day-to-day struggles of residents by providing a cost effective solution, to promote a sustainable lifestyle. The small-scale catalytic nature of the intervention aims to strengthen existing activities and the placement of them, by formalising the informal artisan network in an attempt to brand Alaska and strengthen its commercial industry.
PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION:
The individual intervention will form part of phase 2.
PHASE 2:Targeting the local artisan network will better the lives of the artisans by equipping them with the necessary skills to survive in the city. Improving local capital through metaphysical branding and physical branding.
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
An increasing number of people struggle to satisfy basic needs,
they face tremendous difficulties, while still having to accomodate
and introduce changes in almost every aspect of their lives.
they face tremendous difficulties, while still having to accomodate
and introduce changes in almost every aspect of their lives.
Community architecture will not alleviate world poor; this will only
be achieved through world-wide co-operation, funding & technology.
The intervention will be a true test of the architect’s ability to
facilitate for real life challenges within a framework with very
strict constraints.
be achieved through world-wide co-operation, funding & technology.
The intervention will be a true test of the architect’s ability to
facilitate for real life challenges within a framework with very
strict constraints.
DESIGN CONCEPT:
The proposed community [interior] intervention is for the people
by the people. The ALASKAchic series aims to strengthen the
artisan network of Alaska through skills development of [its]
artisans. To solve the existing problems associated with the
poor living conditions and create new conditions in an attempt
to promote sustanable development within the community.
by the people. The ALASKAchic series aims to strengthen the
artisan network of Alaska through skills development of [its]
artisans. To solve the existing problems associated with the
poor living conditions and create new conditions in an attempt
to promote sustanable development within the community.
The series enables residents to develop and build their own
personalised houses from the pieces provided in the ALASKAchic
series. The modular explores clever solutions and design
sophistication in order to upgrade and implement modern
infrastructure.
personalised houses from the pieces provided in the ALASKAchic
series. The modular explores clever solutions and design
sophistication in order to upgrade and implement modern
infrastructure.
The ALASKAchic series reflects the aspirations of both [its]
artisans and residents.
artisans and residents.
THE CLIENT:
Residents of Alaska. Aimed to improve the standard of the
living conditions; to reduce vulnerability, build livelihoods and
sustain development.
living conditions; to reduce vulnerability, build livelihoods and
sustain development.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES:
Wall panels:
Potential to function more than simply a dwelling unit and skin.
Potential for furniture to be built into and fold out of the
panel, as well as the potential for incorporation of insulation.
Potential to function more than simply a dwelling unit and skin.
Potential for furniture to be built into and fold out of the
panel, as well as the potential for incorporation of insulation.
Multi-functional furniture pieces will result in better use of
the one/two room all-purpose housing typology.
the one/two room all-purpose housing typology.
Current approach to dwelling is make-shift, essentially function,
has the potential for clever solutions and design sophistication.
has the potential for clever solutions and design sophistication.
DESIGN BRIEF:
The proposed intervention aims to enable a panel-maker artisan
Tiisetso to expand his business and product range through a
series of specifically designed furniture pieces that are
collectively branded as the ALASKAchic series. The series is a
collection of multi-purpose furniture pieces that can be configured
in a variety of ways within a one/two-room housing typology of an
Alaskan shack. The series consists of a modular redesign of the
existing shack wall panel, a free-standing table, a fold-out table,
a storage cupboard, a bed proposal and an insulation proposal.
Tiisetso to expand his business and product range through a
series of specifically designed furniture pieces that are
collectively branded as the ALASKAchic series. The series is a
collection of multi-purpose furniture pieces that can be configured
in a variety of ways within a one/two-room housing typology of an
Alaskan shack. The series consists of a modular redesign of the
existing shack wall panel, a free-standing table, a fold-out table,
a storage cupboard, a bed proposal and an insulation proposal.
The ALASKAchic series responds to the sensitivity of resources
and simplicity of design associated with unskilled labour. All pieces
of the series have been designed with ease of assembly in mind,
to have joining and material consistency throughout to promote
overall simplicity and design sophistication.
and simplicity of design associated with unskilled labour. All pieces
of the series have been designed with ease of assembly in mind,
to have joining and material consistency throughout to promote
overall simplicity and design sophistication.
