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This advanced studio deals with rethinking and converting vacant buildings . Each student proposes one vacancy in their neighbourhood . These buildings should be transformed into a centre for the building culture of the respective region . Therefore , it will be a place where people can meet and exchange ideas about how to build in the future , especially concerning urban planning . A precise analysis of the building and its context lays the foundation for this project . The material body and the patina of this building serve as a source of knowledge . Not only the material aspect is important , but also the immaterial value of this building plays an important role . The personal stories of former residents about the building enabled a better understanding of this place . This analysis is supplemented by filming the context , which should strengthen the understanding and relationship to the place . Based on the analysis , the existing building should be reinterpreted and upcycled . The spatial programme and the functions arise from the existing material and immaterial qualities of the site . Another important point was the examination of theoretical texts about buildings in existing contexts . For this project , the work Cronocaos preservation tour by Koolhaas ( 2021 ) published by the architecture office OMA is crucial . In his work , the Dutch architect Koolhaas explains a new architectural approach on dealing with and transforming existing buildings . The vacant building is to be converted based on the existing structures . In addition to that , the project is to be redesigned according to the needs and functions of a building culture centre . Changes and extensions on the fabric need to be justified with new qualities . Although the spatial programme can be freely defined , seminar rooms , exhibition spaces and lecture rooms will be fixed elements of the proposal . The building culture centre can be further conceived as a neighbourhood quarter . Furthermore , the theme of building culture needs to be defined . The topic should be related to the building ’ s context . Additionally , the
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project should meet different requirements , like static , social , economic and ecological needs . The inputs from experts in these fields will be also implemented into the project . The building chosen for this project is a vacant shoemaker ‘ s building , also called the Schuhmacher`s building , which is located at Kohlplatz 22 in Eschen . The foundation for this design project consists of an inventory list of the vacant building based on photographic material , old building plans , interviews , videos , physical model and axonometries . The problem of this inventory list was the lack of accurate and complete construction plans . In order to fill this knowledge gap , the plans had to be completed by a survey on site done by hand . The next step is to use the knowledge gained from the analysis to upcycle the building in a logical way . The result should be a public building that serves as a place to meet and exchange ideas about building culture .
The research question of this thesis aims exactly at the core issues of the project . Dealing with stock , upcycling and social aspects plays an important role in this design . Therefore , the research question is : “ How does the vacant building at the Kohlplatz 22 in Eschen have to be transformed while preserving the historical substance and what functions should it fulfil so that it becomes a meeting and exchange place for the building culture and for the regional community ?”
This work is based on different methods and sources . Various approaches are used , especially during the analysis phase . Research methods such as interviewing former residents of the building and neighbours , observing the surroundings over a longer period and working with plans , models , photos and videos were used to sharpen the understanding of the building . Working with models , sketches , plans , collages and axonometries was of great value for the progress of the project .
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The research chapter is about the analysis that took place before the design process . The section “ Rem Koolhaas : Cronocaos ” contains the theory of building in the existing fabric by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas . In the chapter “ Creating a Ruin ”, the task dealing with lost places is implemented . Then follows a chapter regarding the study of the neighbourhood area Kohlplatz . Afterwards , the research on the Schuhmacher ‘ s house will be treated . „ The catalyst “ is the main chapter of this work . The chapter starts off with a definition of a building culture centre and of the new room programme . This is followed by the manifesto , the precise text about the concept and architectural vision of the project . A first translation of the previous manifesto and the final result are introduced in the chapter “ The Transformation ”. A summary of this work and the answer to the research question , which was mentioned above , can be found in the conclusion . |