Concept 7

This housing scheme revolves around the central, communal zone of the meadow, protected from the street by the housing itself, and then opening up like a meadow landscape at the base of a valley, dwarfed by vast mountains. This is a common zone for the four families on site, where children can play and picnics can be had on sunny days. As one space, interaction between the families is encouraged.

Each family has been given a living space, bedrooms and bathrooms, which are all dispersed through a top and ground floor level, allowing each family to have the benefits of a ground entrance and raised, private deck space to look out over the site. In all cases, the living room is located on the lower floor, to encourage an ease of transition from the interior to exterior spaces, a connection enhanced by large glass windows and sliding doors, which open out onto a deck space before reaching the meadow.

Common facilities include two kitchens, each one shared between two groups, these spaces lead up to a communal dining space, to encourage interaction and remove the difficulties involved with transporting food back to individual housing units. There is one common laundry on site, which sits on the ground floor, situated in the centre of the site for accessibility to all.

A common corridor runs through the site, providing those who live far away from the entrance an enclosed path to travel to their home, in darkness or in rain.

Key ideas:

-          The meadow and the land

-          View

-          Indoor-outdoor connection

-          The corridor

-          Private/ public space

Imagining the key spaces