Our place: Public + private balance in a state housing community

<p>Government owned housing in New Zealand is moving towards a model of privatisation. This can limit the opportunities found in the semi-public space for neighbours to meet and interact. Without these human interactions, a housing complex loses that which makes it a community. By restructuring the site to facilitate social interaction, this thesis aims to focus the space between buildings towards communal living, through an exploration of the public private interface in council housing complex, Arlington Apartments, in Wellington, New Zealand. This project will develop the balance in which residents can share space with their neighbours, by re-zoning current ambiguous space to be communal to a smaller group, in order to give tenants an opportunity to appropriate their living environment.</p>

Our place: Public + private balance in a state housing community

<p>Government owned housing in New Zealand is moving towards a model of privatisation. This can limit the opportunities found in the semi-public space for neighbours to meet and interact. Without these human interactions, a housing complex loses that which makes it a community. By restructuring the site to facilitate social interaction, this thesis aims to focus the space between buildings towards communal living, through an exploration of the public private interface in council housing complex, Arlington Apartments, in Wellington, New Zealand. This project will develop the balance in which residents can share space with their neighbours, by re-zoning current ambiguous space to be communal to a smaller group, in order to give tenants an opportunity to appropriate their living environment.</p>

An Afrasian Entanglement

The establishment of the Phoenix Settlement and the Gandhi Development Trust (GDT) in South Africa was an experiment in self-sufficient communal living and the promotion of the values and principles of Mahatma Gandhi and South Africa’s democratic Constitution, respectively. While both entities are the result of Gandhi’s South African connection, they serve to embody, through the Mahatma, an Afrasian Entanglement. Gandhi’s time in South Africa made a remarkable impact on him and the country, transforming his political and social positions and influencing its struggle for freedom. In post-apartheid South Africa, the shared mission of both organisations is to advance a culture of nonviolence, peace and social responsibility through a range of transformative programmes. This article details Gandhi’s South African journey, his evolving ideas of passive resistance and social reconstruction there, and the resultant legacy programmes that resonate with the spirit of Ubuntu and the South African Constitution to reinforce democracy.

The humane co house

<p>The Humane Co-house design-led research project presents a new typology for shared medium-density housing sited in a city-fringe Wellington suburb. The research argues communal living can be utilised to achieve smaller dwellings, a high medium-density grain, a humane living environment and a new form of social interaction that home buyers will find desirable. Buying a home is difficult throughout New Zealand and Wellington is no exception. Inner-city apartment blocks lack individuality, space for growing families and a sense of community and autonomy. While research shows houses in outer suburbs are perceived to provide these, they come at a high price and there are low amounts of available stock. There is potential for city-fringe suburbs adjacent to the inner city to accommodate more dwellings, creating available housing stock that is appealing to buyers who would otherwise be looking at expensive suburban houses. The research begins with the current attitudes and preferences within the New Zealand housing context, and suggests that the appeal of the traditional detached suburban house is intertwined with a desired balance of private space to common space. The research designs and develops a new typology that attempts to achieve this balance, but with smaller dwellings at a high medium-density. Through design-led research an architectural definition and manifestation of a humane dwelling is formed. This focuses on a balance of private space and common space. Qualities of common and private spaces within a dwelling are explored through literature and design tests. Evaluation of design case studies produced from research, tests and iterations draws conclusions about how communal living can be utilised by different demographics to achieve a new type of social interaction, and a basic level of affordability that will resonate in the current context. The final design case study was critically reflected upon in terms of a theoretical client that over time might transition through three demographic groups – a working young person or couple, a family and a retired person or couple. In this way the design case study produced was considered as a flexible and long-term dwelling, resulting in a humane and appealing home for occupants at different stages of life.</p>

The humane co house

<p>The Humane Co-house design-led research project presents a new typology for shared medium-density housing sited in a city-fringe Wellington suburb. The research argues communal living can be utilised to achieve smaller dwellings, a high medium-density grain, a humane living environment and a new form of social interaction that home buyers will find desirable. Buying a home is difficult throughout New Zealand and Wellington is no exception. Inner-city apartment blocks lack individuality, space for growing families and a sense of community and autonomy. While research shows houses in outer suburbs are perceived to provide these, they come at a high price and there are low amounts of available stock. There is potential for city-fringe suburbs adjacent to the inner city to accommodate more dwellings, creating available housing stock that is appealing to buyers who would otherwise be looking at expensive suburban houses. The research begins with the current attitudes and preferences within the New Zealand housing context, and suggests that the appeal of the traditional detached suburban house is intertwined with a desired balance of private space to common space. The research designs and develops a new typology that attempts to achieve this balance, but with smaller dwellings at a high medium-density. Through design-led research an architectural definition and manifestation of a humane dwelling is formed. This focuses on a balance of private space and common space. Qualities of common and private spaces within a dwelling are explored through literature and design tests. Evaluation of design case studies produced from research, tests and iterations draws conclusions about how communal living can be utilised by different demographics to achieve a new type of social interaction, and a basic level of affordability that will resonate in the current context. The final design case study was critically reflected upon in terms of a theoretical client that over time might transition through three demographic groups – a working young person or couple, a family and a retired person or couple. In this way the design case study produced was considered as a flexible and long-term dwelling, resulting in a humane and appealing home for occupants at different stages of life.</p>

Introduction of design culture as approach in endogenous regional development: a study case in farming community of Sabrang Village, Central Java, Indonesia

Within Design Science, Design Culture is a branch focused on regional development through design principles and participatory tools designed to intrinsically understand endogenous potentials. Designing living is a goal/output based on recognizing regional “color” and facilitating the community for economic sustainability, social acceptability, and environmental soundness. Anthropological/ethnographic study embodied in material culture research is applied practically in learning about life in the field to incite curiosity and learning reflexes. In experiencing communal living, student-participants Observe-Collect-Map valuable tangible/intangible potentials (treasures), and analyses for presentations, ideate visions and co-design with local community as one of stakeholders. As an example, UNS-FSRD Design Culture Laboratory collaborates with UNS-Agriculture Faculty and GAPOKTAN Sedyo Makmur to redevelop Rojolele Delanggu Rice and community-based plantations in Sabrang Village, Delanggu.

Part Three, Book One: The Fire or The Eternal Life

In this text, I analyze the most important topics of one of the most complex portions of Rosenzweig’s Star of Redemption. The chapter “The Fire or the Eternal Life” deals with the community and communal life of the eternal people, and it reconstructs the basic elements and conditions of communal living. A presentation of all key protocols of life and work of a group of people ought to show the plurality of heterogeneous practices that have helped maintain a people scattered and always on the verge of extinction.

Analysis of Proposed Adaptation of Fostered Environment and Evaluation of Built Environment in Bali in Facing Covid-19

At the time this paper started being written, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had been taking place for more than a year. To date, it has caused fear in society because the number of deaths it causes is nearly 3 million people, the effectiveness of the vaccines being developed is uncertain and there is no convincing drug available. As a result, the virus having hit almost all countries and regions around the world has affected the way humans behave and will have an impact on the architectural design and urban spaces in which humans live. This paper explores the possible criteria for architectural design and urban design in response to a pandemic, particularly in Bali. Plural society serves as the characteristic of the island whose inhabitants have traditional activities mixed with modern trends. The mixed society has a rich tradition of communal living with social activities involving large masses of people. To produce post pandemic design criteria, this study critically reviewed recent publications including peer-reviewed articles, journals, and expert’s blog posts. In the next stage, the results of the review were used to evaluate activity patterns and fostered environment at several locations in Bali. The locations observed included traditional houses in Ubud, urban houses in Denpasar, offices, and traditional markets. Secondary data were organised into several themes. Meanwhile, field observations were focused on the possibility of implementing Health protocols in different places as well as community compliance in complying with them. This study found that during the period of limiting community activities due to the pandemic, health, safety and environmental hygiene had received the attention of all groups. The study also revealed that the built environment tried to make many adjustments. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these adjustments is questionable. For this reason, further research that will produce new built spaces needs to be carried out. It will result in the need for more detailed design criteria as a mechanism to prevent the spread of the virus.