Understanding the Whom
The NEXT21 project in Osaka, Japan seems like the most practical of all of the participatory projects. I know that this was not under the main heading of Architecture of Participation but in a way the same principles are at work. The architect does not take on the entire project in solitude but involves the client and users to allow them to determine the architecture. In the case of NEXT21 the project is left as a shell to be finished by the residents similar to an office building. This is a really interesting concept where in Japan housing and architecture are a lot more temporal. The architecture is a framework allowing for the next user to adjust and change the interior layout to suit their own needs. Unlike some of the housing projects this seems to have a level of reality that the others do not. Housing alterations and modifications are a luxury and a luxury that individuals in public housing can always afford or even desire to afford.
The NEXT21 project reminds me of the Camperdown project in downtown Greenville, SC. This is a housing project in the heart of downtown Greenville with a high end price tag. The project units are sold as a shell that then much be purchased and finished by the resident. The resident like in NEXT21 has the freedom to tailor their unit to their needs and wants and to hire their own architect. Again, like NEXT21 the residents in Camperdown are not permanent residents. Many of the owners are from out of town or are older and using this as a place to retire. This means that there will be a lot of transitions in ownership through the course of the projects lifespan and the units will be able to adapt and change based on the desires of a very wealthy customer base.
Again, I feel as though NEXT21 and Camperdown are two projects that set forth a goal and method of operation that is honest about the user groups and what their capabilities are. A millionaire might want to be able to redesign their entire apartment unit where someone of lower to middle income might be more concerned about pay their bills and buy groceries on a monthly basis than the layout and flexibility in their dwelling.
Camperdown, Greenville, SC
NEXT21, Osaka, Japan
The NEXT21 project reminds me of the Camperdown project in downtown Greenville, SC. This is a housing project in the heart of downtown Greenville with a high end price tag. The project units are sold as a shell that then much be purchased and finished by the resident. The resident like in NEXT21 has the freedom to tailor their unit to their needs and wants and to hire their own architect. Again, like NEXT21 the residents in Camperdown are not permanent residents. Many of the owners are from out of town or are older and using this as a place to retire. This means that there will be a lot of transitions in ownership through the course of the projects lifespan and the units will be able to adapt and change based on the desires of a very wealthy customer base.
Again, I feel as though NEXT21 and Camperdown are two projects that set forth a goal and method of operation that is honest about the user groups and what their capabilities are. A millionaire might want to be able to redesign their entire apartment unit where someone of lower to middle income might be more concerned about pay their bills and buy groceries on a monthly basis than the layout and flexibility in their dwelling.
Camperdown, Greenville, SC
NEXT21, Osaka, Japan
Comments
Post a Comment