ADS5: Camping in a High Rise
Taewon Park
After beginning to study a Master degree at RCA, I have given much thought to a generic architecture that transcends function. I am fascinated by the idea of establishing a space with pure and banal elements and rethinking the pre-defined space where we used to. I question every spatial element we know, disassociate from our conventional thinking. I believe that this approach is a bit ambiguous, but it is more close to simple and tranquil architecture by exploring a careful composition and articulation of structure, form, order, and materiality. An architect must suggest a structure in full consideration of our future and communicate with people through space.
Multi-Bang for All Occasions
Bang-culture in Seoul, Korea has expanded and diversified due to a higher demand for housing and Korean gaming culture. Some bangs have appeared just for playing, studying, working or relaxing and sleeping in the commercial space. These places include a PC bang (PC “room”), a Norae bang (karaoke “room”), a Manhwa bang (comic “room”), a DVD bang (DVD “room”), a Goshi bang (study “room”) and a Jjimjil bang (spa “room”).
It is designed for one person as a radical response to the hierarchical social structure of the family flat. It is also a response to lifestyle changes, using digital platforms as a workspace. Due to society and lifestyle changes, bang-culture has been incorporated into high-rise buildings. It’s a temporary inhabitation with contents.
Bang-culture raises fundamental questions of the function of buildings: should their design serve a particular purpose? Their programs here are a bit vague. It can be used in various ways, such as a commercial space and a work space, but in the end, the place can also be used as a dwelling space.
In this case, we can approach the design of a building in a different way.
My proposal for the high-rise is an exploration of generic space in architectural spatial composition. The simple form is based on Mies van der Rohe’s concept of the ‘Concrete Office Building’. There is no rigid choreography, and the grid structure has sufficient flexibility in terms of an economic rationale model. In addition, I develop the idea of inhabiting a space based on a cylinder, which is from ‘Glass House’ by Philp Johnson. The cylinder supports all essential services such as water, sewage, electricity, lifts, and stairs. The cylinder functions as a toilet, a shower room, a kitchen, and a special utility alcove, or in the end a sleeping room.
The project that I am proposing is an architectural investigation of the history of generic cells which could help us to better understand the general and radical habitations in ‘Bang-culture’ today. Bangs are rooms within the commercial sector in Seoul that are used for sleeping as well as for activities such as studying, playing, or relaxing. I propose to bring ‘Bang-culture’ to London in the form of community learning workshops that offer temporary inhabitation. The project aims to demonstrate how a building responds to a vague type of inhabitation within the context of a workshop program.
Atlas 1
Atlas 2
Cylinder
Generic Model
(1) Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Office Building: Simple form
(2) Philp Johnson, Glass House: Occupation based on a cylinder
(3) Angelo Mangiarotti, Birra Poretti Warehouse: Joint meeting between a column and beams
The core design is started from simple form, which is based on Mies ‘Office Building’. I develop the relationship between horizontal facade’s location and beams. I tested various sizes of cylinders and concrete as rough, robust material and long lasting techniques. It makes some heaviness on the cylinders.
The cylinder looks like an overscaled column. Structurally It can be understood to have four main vertical structures under grid structure. Therefore, the diagonal axis can be opened and the cylinder has a space inside. It supports all essential services of building such as water, sewage, electricity, lifts, and stairs. This large cylinder is a dominant element with a generous spatial quality for different uses as an infrastructure.
Plant Bang: Workshop and Sleeping Area
Gallery Space
Hair Bang: Workshop Area
Hair Bang: Massage and Sleeping Area
Temple Bang: Meditation
Art Bang: Cell
Art Bang: Workshop Area
Art Bang: Alcove
Study Bang: Alcove
Study Bang: Cell
Market Bang: Storage and Sleeping Alcove
Local Market
As a community learning initiative of London, I propose a workshop program that involves temporary habitation and is built on the concept of Bang-culture. The program can be organized by creators, artists, or institutions and encourages both children and adults to learn skills and enjoy culture through community learning. People can develop skills and learn from the creators about how to be more productive. The workshop also aims to make a strong local connection between creators and local people with regards to their products and contents. Furthermore, the program provides an opportunity for participants to meet other people working in related areas, to learn about their work, and to present their skills to an interested audience.
Multi-Bang in London
Floor Plans
Typical plan is an open plan concept based on a grid structure with a cylinder, which gives more flexibility. Each end of the circulation area has a shear wall which serves the service as a shaft and makes a transition space. Generous gallery space functions as a place where people can meet spontaneously and communicate with each other.
Order
Form
Outside
Inside
Sleeping
Cylinder
Activity
Inhabitation
The configuration between a facade wall and a column is of utmost importance in this project. A gap between the facade and the column can be considered a potential space. It could either be inside space or outside space in the form of a gallery, for instance. Also, the central feature is the circular column, with some columns taking the form of cylinders that provide key services. In this case, we can speculate about the different modes of occupation.
Form
The horizontal facade originates from Mies’s Concrete Office Building. The facade proportions for the opening are 1:1 (open and close). It is a regular pattern, and there is no interference from other materials on the building’s facade.
Outside
A tent is a form of outdoor gear and, therefore, is a symbol for temporary habitation. The scene introduces a narrative background to the building, which provides essential services such as water, electricity, gas, and rubbish collection.
Inside
The scene is comprised of a tent in the building and, thus, is radically unconventional. The project explores the act of camping or inhabiting a space in the building environment, just as campers do in an outdoor setting. This is a form of urban camping, and the tent reflects the growing nomadic lifestyle in the city as more people travel, live, and work in different places with digital devices.
Sleeping
The image illustrates the relationship between the sleeping area and the working area through the use of a partition wall. This type of inhabiting might seem too open, but a partition would act as a way to designate a temporary place for sleeping overnight according to the position of the columns and beams.
Cylinder
The core component of the building is the cylinder, which acts as a column and supports all essential services. It can function as stairs, a lift, a toilet, a shower room, a kitchen, and a special purpose utility alcove.
Activity
The habitation space occupies one bay between the columns and a concrete balustrade. It is a bright area and, thus, is ideal for various activities such as a dining space and a working space. Also, it provides impressive horizontal opening with heaviness.
Inhabitation
This space is a radical test model for sleeping and working in the open space. The space is designed to manage the privacy by moving partition walls and installing tent based on columns.