Urban woods

Abstract

“Urban woods” is a project that investigates the problems of the segregation and social exclusion in the cities today. Urban environments become more and more diverse, which often leads to lack of social cohesion on the neighborhood scale. This master thesis focuses on the target group of expats and answers the questions of creating inclusive urban surroundings for a diverse group of residents. It investigates the theme of collective living and social responsibility for the inhabited spaces. Design focus lies in providing spaces that enhance social interactions between the residents and spaces for their individual appropriation. Since designing for diverse cultures does not refer to one dwelling system, the building offers maximum flexibility in order to provide appropriate apartments for future tenants. This strategy is based on the concept of open building introduced by John Habraken. The concept of responsibility for the inhabited spaces is also reflected in the integration of architecture and nature. The building provides biodiversity and aims to put focus on the current issues of the climate change. Architecture of the building integrates with nature and creates a healthy and sustainable living environment not only for people, but also several animal species.