Heterogeneity in Suburbia

In the discussion of the pitfalls of traditional suburbia, I don’t think that the question should be about its existence; as many have stated, there really is no “getting rid of” suburbia, and the people who care for that type of lifestyle will still push to live their quiet suburban lives. To me, the issues of proliferation and lack of heterogeneity seem to be the repetitively voiced drawbacks concerning suburbia that can and should be addressed.

The Funari Project, a concept by Dutch architecture firm MVRDV and Traumhaus, is an endeavor to provide suburban heterogeneity by redeveloping former US Army barracks in Mannheim, Germany into a blend of housing, gardens, and public space. MVRDV calls the concept “the fully pedestrianized ‘village,’” a place where paths meander through communal spaces and themed eco-environments, like fruit alleys and buttery gardens. Each home also has private garden spaces that can be utilized to one’s preferences. However, it is not intended as a vehicle-free zone; there are parking facilities available and the entire complex is adjacent to a public transit service.

I think that the Funari Project is a quite successful example of creating suburban areas for those that care for that lifestyle, while still providing diversity in both architecture and inhabitants. Different users are attracted to this type of project when there are opportunities for them to fill their own unique spaces rather than conforming to cookie cutter houses. As MVRDV explains about the typological variety in houses and the different users these will attract, “this [diversification] method means that diversity is inevitable and, unlike in most residential areas, gentrification or community isolation will be avoided.”