Terrains Vagues// Different Sites_One Solution

I've decided to select a few different examples of "terrains vagues" as hypothetical sites for my urban proposal. The main reason for this is, being a mobile solution, which could potentially only occupy any given site for a short period of time (ie a number of months), it should ideally have the ability to adapt to different sites. I have identified a few possible sites throughout brisbane's inner-city areas, but same idea could also be applied to all of Australia's urban centres.

QuaDror // Standardidation = User Flexibility

In today's lecture Yasu mentioned the idea of standardisation to provide user flexibility. This caught my eye, as I had previously been reflecting upon possible ways of creating something "standardised" that could then be adapted to each individual site (when it moves from one to the other). I had been thinking about creating a modular or "grid-like" system whereby individual elements could be "plugged in" to provide different spatial configurations in different scenarios. One example given today, that I found particularly inspiring, was the "QuaDror" structural support system: a modular system that can be multiplied and can suit a variety of different applications and configurations. This sort of modular system is also a great way to encourage user participation, which I think would be a positive thing in the situation of refugees, as their involvement in the construction process could help make them feel like they have contributed to society in some way.

QuaDror from Dror on Vimeo.

Urban Scenario // Which facilities for the refugees?

Now that I've decided to pursue the urban strategy, I need to research different options for a relevant facility for refugees that could be housed in this context. As discussed, one of the main advantages of the urban environment is the proximity to services such as healthcare, transport, education, employment etc, so none of these facilities seem particularly important in this context. For me, the main issues that need to be addressed are shelter/housing, as well as a community building strategy that would aid in integrating the refugees into Australian society. For this reason, I'd like to explore the possibility of a combination of 2 distinct elements: a more public, community focused one, and a more "private" one focused on the refugees as individuals. At the moment, for the community focused element, I'm leaning towards a cultural exhibition centre, market place or urban farm, and for the individual focused element I was thinking of sort of modular housing perhaps.

Advantages of Informal Settlements // Learning from Slums_Shantytowns_Squatter cities

I was interested in further exploring opportunities for the urban scenario (terrain vague) that our group had proposed as a possible solution to the emergency refugee situation. I found the article "Learning from Slums" by Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow from the Boston Globe, which suggests that, while there are numerous problems surrounding the concept of the slum, modern cities could certainly learn a thing or two, if we can just separate the laudable aspects from the negative ones.

The article prompted me to reflect on the unique qualities of these 'informal settlements' and how these strengths could be applied to the specific mobile scenario of terrain vague.

Urban_

// Urban Proximity

// High Density

// Economic Opportunities not found in rural environment _ greater access to jobs + education

// Mixed Use

Sustainability_

// Occupation of the land _ lightness

// Sustainable Materials otherwise going to landfill

// Pedestrian Friendly

Community_

// Participatory Practices _ strong sense of community

// Layering that occurs over time _ trace

// Ability to integrate poorer immigrant population into area by creating openings for a community to evolve

Mobile_

// Mobile "squatter" scenario offers a low/no rent option _ most refugees low income/no money for property, therefore providing temporary solution while they "set themselves up"

Public art by French photographer/street artist JR covering a favela in Rio, Brazil

TED Prize Winner JR & INSIDE OUT from TED Prize on Vimeo.

01 // Capital Strategy

02 // Capital Infrastructure and Presence

03 // Architectural Types + Purposes

04 // Architectural Presence + Identity

05 // Project Statement

Refugees // 3 Strategies

This week we have arrived at our future scenario for the need to relocate and provide shelter or community services for 100 000 refugees. We then came up with 3 possible solutions, which would allow these refugees to contribute to Australian society in a positive way, and therefore, would also be beneficial to the Australian government, economy and society.

01 RURAL

The first strategy is to relocate small groups of refugees to rural properties to farm and assist land owners. This would allow them to contribute to Australia's agricultural industry, benefiting from skills that they may already have (if they have come from a farming background in their country of origin).

02 URBAN

This strategy involves the integration of refugees into existing cities by allowing them to occupy temporarily disused/abandoned urban space ("terrain vague"), and then move on to another site once the current one is to be "officially" used again. The advantage of this strategy is that the refugees are located in cities, close to services, education and jobs, therefore encouraging them to contribute to Australia's economy and the urban fabric of the cities. Also this would be a possible solution to the increasing problem of urban sprawl.

03 COASTAL

The third option, which I consider to be the least viable solution, is to base some of the refugees along Australia’s coastline on mobile water craft communities. This could be of possible aid to the fishing industry. The floating communities could be moored/docked near any of Australia's existing ports.