'The Community Garden'

True community through co-operation

Atelier d’architecture autogere (aaa)

Atelier d’architecture autogere (aaa), or ‘studio of self-managed architecture’ is a non-profit, interdisciplinary organisation comprising of architects, artists, landscape designers, urban planners, sociologists, students and residents focussing on the urban regeneration of La Chapelle, in

the North of Paris. Their most expansive project: ECObox (Pictured below) started as a community garden, developing through cooperation into a series of gardens, and cooking, media and workshop stations which act as venues for cultural, social and economic activities.

The process of production is transparent and shows a fascinating insight into the potentials of a participative approach to the creation of space where the user is the author and centre of the process. When a resident (user) realises the need for a new programme of space they organise a team, including experts of their choice if decided necessary. They are given assistance, information and expertise in order to facilitate their desires. ECObox is entirely adaptable, even down to kitchen size. Manuals created detailing how to construct and adapt cheaply are distributed, allowing for future projects to build off knowledge already attained. This ability for the spaces to continuously be adapted and reinvented is perhaps the key to the success and longevity of the project. ECObox became a space for activism, protesting the decision to build a new office building without the consultation of the community. In this instance it became a space for the community to congregate, learn and discuss consultation results and the possibilities of continuing their opposition.

True spaces for the community, and for the people are hard to create. Recently several examples of community gardens have been realised, creating bases for discussion, action and most importantly collaboration. Through analysis of these projects undertaken for my Humanities unit I will calculate a programme for my project that can facilitate my intentions illustrated on the previous page.

Another aaa project which encompases the ideas of sustainable low-cost living is ‘Passage 56’ (Pictured below) which appropriates a disused space between two buildings, turning it into a community Garden and thus creating green space. As part of this project training programmes in eco-construction were created, thereby informing and creating a knowledge transfer between users.

Diagram of different spatial elements of ECObox and how it functions. [click for source]

Above, photo-collage of ECObox [click for source]

ECObox + Passage 56

MUF

Tillbury Park

Muf (male unspoken female) are an all female practice based in London who coproduce space through the involvement of users. They propose frameworks for action rather than determining specific outcomes when responding to briefs given by a client. Their creation of a community park in Tillbury was most interesting. Muf faced an already contested site. This meant there was no standard user, but varying different users with different interests and desires. The bleak open flat wind space was used by children, dogs, and joyriders dumping cars and sometimes torching them. The project aimed to create distinct separate areas as a solution to this contestation.

Prinzessinnengarten

Diagram of environmental strategies involved in Passage 56 [click for source]

Photograph of Passage 56 [click for source]

Pamphlet produced after the completion of Tilbury community park where residents were asked to give feedback. [click for source]

Lower: Moritzplatz Berlin 2006 and 2012. Showing the development of the originally disused space [click for source]

Prinzesinnengarten is an urban garden, situated in Moritzplatz Berlin. Moritzplatz is a deprived and diverse neighbourhood with social issues. The aim of the proposal was to transform a long vacant site into a space for community, using urban gardening as a catalyst for conversation and collaboration within the community, creating a space where residents can interact and learn. Set up in 2009 the project quickly transformed and now has a garden kitchen and restaurant as well as facilitating a range of activities. As well as learning about gardening a great deal of knowledge is transferred regarding sustainable solutions, biodiversity and climate adaptation in the city.

Upper: photograph of Prinzessinnengarten [click for source]

The Dakakker

Part of Luchtsingel, or 'Test SIte', a community driven project aiming to reconnect the North of Rotterdam to the centre, revitalising the forgotten area. Dakakker is the largest roof top farm in Europe, sitting on top of the Schieblock office building, functioning as a test site to experiment with different ways of farming in the context of the city.

Visiting the site gave an insight into how cohesion through co-production would work in the real, as opposed to just the abstract.

Luchtsingel, Rotterdam [click for more information]

Consumption and conversation

Local farming reduces the carbon footprint attached to food consumption

The further from the earth's surface the higher the temperature. Higher temperature means greater biodiversity. Turning roofs into gardens is an efficient way of maximising green space

Leisure and tourism

Occupation and co-operation

Soil: compost + volcanic rocks

Filtration layer

Water buffer

Roof matt

Seal

Existing roof

One of the key features of Dakkaker is its 'smartroof'. A weather controlled roof able to store far larger amounts of water than an average greenroof. This is used at Dakkaker to provide the farm with all the water it needs, however has potential for other uses such as grey water.

'Smartroof'

Heavy rain fills a series of sealed pools

When needed mechanical buoys are raised releasing stored water

Stretford Future Living Centre