 |
Silver Prize |
| Robert Wong Kin Ming, Wong Tak Wai, Lam Siu Wah, Albert Lau (China-Hong Kong) |
| Category A Chinese Style |
| |
|
| |
[Isolation Problem]
Nowadays, as the general living standards are improving in Asian Cities, living spaces are precisely divided in accordance with their specific functions. Digitalization is applied to every way in our lives and every area inside our home. On one side, digitalization improves our living qualities; on the other side, internet and multi-media keeps family members to stay away from each other.
WALL is clearly identified as the key element leading to the isolation of space and more important the reduction of mutual communication between the family members. Within the limited floor areas, the subdivision of functional spaces into fixed rooms further reduces the spatial quality and usable areas of each specific function area.
[Solution]
The solution to resolve the isolation problem and to improve the spatial quality is to BREAK THE WALLs.
[Concept]
Space Buffet
The main concept is to design a common space that gives as many choices as possible for the family members to create their own spaces to live in composition, which serves their needs, taste or preference of living style.
The process of how the space could be served and the amount of functional space at each specific time would not be limited and restricted. Total freedom and multi-combinations would be allowed and, hence, it turns the house to an efficient multi-functional space, which the spatial quality could be enhanced.
Limited spaces are one of the concerns when designing residential apartments in Asian major cities like Hong Kong. The idea of the Space Buffet is also a methodology to respond to the full-utilization of the limited land resources in the urban city context and the art of balance between the functions and activities.
[Architectural Strategy: Family Culture Plaza]
To eliminate the isolation between family members, WALL should be taken away. A single common space for different functions and activities is created for the family, which serves as a Family Culture Plaza. Individual and family activities will be carried out at the Plaza, and no longer inside the isolated functional spaces. Communication and cooperation among family members can be harmoniously taken place.
[Function Box]
Traditional Functional Rooms (defined by walls) are redefined by Function Box. Each function box contains the associated flexible furniture for specific function and activity. Activity spaces are defined at the common area by unfolding the flexible furniture inside the Function Box.
A combination of Function Boxes represents a unique combination of activities in a specific period. These combinations are changeable from time to time throughout the day. Function box is sometimes exercised alone and occupied the culture plaza by itself; while they could also be exercised together to meet the family members' individual desire and needs, which represents the idea of Space Buffet.
Functionally, by sharing of the common space, the apartment floor areas could be completely utilized. The usable areas of each specific function will be unconsciously increased, which is invaluable to the congested living environment in Asian Cities.
[Manual of the Function Box]
The arrangement of Function Box is examined based on the study and identification of typical activities of each family member.
Table showing the typical daily activities of the family members
The concept of Space Buffet is demonstrated by activating different Function Boxes at different time, Architectural plans and perspectives showing the above scenarios of activities combinations are shown in appendix.
[Communal Space]
The community floor is formed by a combination of modular family space [1 no. of apartment]. The modular family space could be re-zoned by the function boxes with the neighbors to form a large communal space to enhance the neighborhood relationship.
With the communal space, both the parents and the single child could have better access and interaction with the neighborhood. The overall dominant role of the child, and the over protection by the parents to the child in single child family can be weakened through the enhanced neighborhood relationship. It is critical to enhance the psychological development to the child. Space and spirit between people will be re-established in this Communal Space - Interactive Kid Space.
[Sustainability and Marketability]
Traditionally, if the function of rooms changes, whole interior space and associated furniture needs to be re-designed to fit the new usage. However, with the introduction of Function Box, only the box for particular function needs to be re-designed or replaced to fit the new usage. Function Box can be easily replaced because of its flexibility and accessibility. Renovation costs will also be reduced substantially, which is advantageous to the good marketability. Spaces could be continuously re-defined according to the growth of family members and their needs, which coherent with the idea of sustainability.
[Conclusion]
The concept of Space Buffet is an experiment of the new living environment for the New Asian Cities, which resolves the key problem of Isolation in the digitized era. This concept re-establishes a new relationship between parents and children, body and furniture, mass of information and products, space and spirit by sharing the family culture plaza together. Not limited to the above, the advantages of space utilization and its sustainability are also served as a solution to the limited scarce land and fast-growing in the Asian Cities. It is believed that the concept of Space Buffet would be a new model for sustainable development, and the resolution of the isolation problem in the single child family, and the enhancement to child development.
|
| |
|
