Type: Public

Location: Leon, Mexico

Year: 2020

Routine lifestyles seem to drain out the freshness of life. One needs to be at peace with themselves taking a break from the pace that has gotten a hold of us. We only realize the importance of fruitful recreation when we are locked away and feel the urge to experience everything around us.

The worldwide lockdown has forced every individual to stay indoors and bring a pit stop to their daily lives. This sudden change in lifestyle makes us realize how space dominates our psyche as some of us find it comfortable staying indoors while some feel the urge to step outside in the open. We also realize how personal space/ “me time” plays an important role in giving our mental selves the freedom of thought.

Understanding that such personal spaces can be subjective depending on the character of the user, the participants are supposed to design a space that poses to be an experience to the designer himself, which becomes an escape and mainly a haven for us amidst the havoc in the outside world.

PROJECT

Built / Semi Built space that caters to a minimum of 20 - 25 people in an urban context. The design should be an innovative public space amidst the bustling core of your cities that seem to have limited open spaces. It could be anything that is recreational in function, a place for people to spend their alone time or simply hang out with their folks and spatially explore feelings of comfort, solitude and solace.

SITE

The area to be designed is approximately 150 square meters, extendable to 200 square meters maximum.

The location is flexible and it is up to the participant to decide the context and other factors influencing the design

PROGRAM

The design requirements are: 

1. The Facility Area – 150 Sq.mt (expandable to 200 Sq. Mt)

2. Plot size (variable): Not more than 200 Sq. Mt

3. Innovative use of Material, naturally ventilated design.

CHALLENGES

Urban areas are generally associated with high population density due to less area. This lack of area means that there are fewer public spaces or open spaces in an urban context. 

Most of the open spaces in an urban area are converted to concrete forests. Generally, these open spaces are converted into residential, commercial, or industrial occupancies.

AIM

The design should be an innovative public space amidst the bustling core of your cities that seem to have limited open spaces. 

It could be anything that is recreational in function, a place for people to spend their alone time or simply hang out with their folks and spatially explore feelings of comfort, solitude and solace.

CONCEPT

The idea is to create a public space that adapts to the needs of its users. 

The proposal is to create small movable modules (units) that can be arranged in several ways to meet the demand of the user. 

It can be a gathering space or shelter during floods.