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Dobrimir Georgiev      2020       

Adaptation as Holistic Housing

Stromness is noticeably split into two sides, the main town position to the east and the ever-growing developments on the over side facing the west. Between each half a high school sits central at the peak of the unsheltered bay. The master plan introduces many new designs that will help improve Stromness immensely, particularly a sports centre, business hubs and affordable housing. These designs are predominantly situated along the shoreline to help create a visible connection between the two sides and to increase the amount of sheltered space within the town. All aspect of this proposal aims to renew the strong sense of community that is so apparent throughout the island of Orkney.

 

The bridge if a fundamental part of the whole master plan as it creates a direct link between both sides. Literally reconnecting the route to complete the community and providing a new direction of access round thru town. The main low road in Stromness connect to the bridge at the point where the old ferry terminal was located; on the west side the bridge join to the new road and provides access to the new ferry terminal and the proposed public sports sports centre. At each end the bridge meets a different functional space. This design aims to encourage and promote a safe, healthier method of transport and a direct route across to the other side of the town. It will also enable easy access for the exportation and importation of products and encourage the expansion and raise the tourist appeal of the island.

 

In order to accommodate for the continuous movement of boats through the bay one section of the bridge will open to create an entrance and help to control the flow of marine traffic. This mechanism will be one of the main focal points and will allow visitors and pedestrians to watch the boat pass through from the restaurant and the viewpoint on the walkway. Splitting diagonally the two raised halves will symbolise the sails of boats once opened and aesthetically will create a significantly stroking feature.

Krasmir Banchev         2020       

Krasmir Banchev         2020       

Krasmir Banchev         2020       

This thesis explores possible future adaptation designs of the existing building in 50 years’ time as a housing units. It will focus on 2 opposite scenarios depending on the future of the city:

 

Scenario 1

Kirkwall continues its development with small stable population growth and to accommodate the growing population a project for Social Housing is initiated

 

Scenario 2

The city has drastically grown in economy, possibly due to becoming tax heaven outlining itself as major world trading point, attracting residents with higher financial capabilities

 

 The benchmark for comparing the rate of success between the two cases would be by placing them on common ground basing them on the holistic ideology, expressed mainly through the interior and planning. Holistic design is a study that takes one step further the design process towards supporting the mental and physical well-being of the user. According to “Holistic housing” by H. Drexler and S. Khouli there are 5 qualities that the field of study aims to improve/achieve - Emotional (users can connect with the space), Functional (low planning complexity), Social prestige, user oriented (Adaptive), Preotection (clear definition of public and private zones)

Adaptation as Holistic Housing

Dobrimir Georgiev      2020       

Adaptation as Holistic Housing

Dobrimir Georgiev      2020       

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