Jennice Lee, Co-Street Living [×]
Hundreds of years ago, many people immigrated from other countries to Melbourne. Today, people are attracted to the city again for specific activities, such as developed institutions, hospitality and transportation. Undoubtedly, Melbourne is inclusive of people from different parts of world. Some of these people now live together in residential spaces as multi-generational families. Yet, we witness the city being incessantly demolished and brimming with construction every day. As a result, the cost of living booms and many families are forced to move to the surrounding suburbs to find a cheaper alternative.
However, the city is full of unutilized space. By utilizing these unique volumes and spaces in the streets of the city, people can reside in a more adaptive environment.
By exploring the laneways of Melbourne, it is clear that the tiny space would limit and squeeze out many parts so that people could share their private space. Thus, my intention is to investigate ‘how can transformative and adaptable techniques facilitate shared space for multigenerational families in the context of a small-scale residential design?’ In order to create a comfortable shared space, the function of the interior can be changed by simply transforming the objects in the house. By utilizing the volume of the street, the kitchen is used as a connecting co-space where people can be lead through and interact with each other. The exterior of building is activated to allow recreational activities. Undoubtedly, the project smears out the boundary of living in a private and public space in compact cities.
By using transformative techniques, residents not only can transform a private space into a public area at different times, it can also connect two spaces together by using the techniques of folding and [un]packing. I experimented with research in my own living space, an apartment, to understand the notion of activating the interior of residential spaces in new ways. Some techniques I have engaged with include [un]packing, stacking, arranging and folding.
In the future, tiny volumes and spaces have the potential to be explored through these techniques to produce new residential spaces. This major project investigates the possibilities of dwelling in these tiny volumes and spaces, helping to reimagine new concepts of living in cities.