The extraordinary site -located on the edge of a proposed
community park where two clearly different urban systems
(north: gridded residential area; south:
derelict industrial area) merge together- makes the
project react differently on each side. While the
structure's northern side maintains the urban grid
through its use of a columnar screen, its park side
is quite open. The columnar screen acts as a filter,
defining the border of the park and at the same time
allowing easy access into it.
Given the program which requires the recycling of
decayed area with design strategies that envision
dwelling, work and leisure as an integrated experience,
the scheme comes up with "floating apartments,
open park and underground light-
industry."
These are separated sectionally, but are integrated
for the inhabitants who are supposed to live and work
at the same place.
Armed with metal plates on northern elevation which
is reminiscent of a discarded silo across the Gawanus
canal, the building has several openings to the ground
sporadically to take advantage of the floatness. Some
of the openings are on the corridor,
some others are inside of the units. The hanging bedrooms
which offer panoramic views to the park, are the climax
of the living in the air experience.
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