A case of space programming in the former residential house
The building of the future culture centre is located in Middle East region. The house was used by several generations of one family and underwent some crucial refurbishments. Now the building is abandoned, although it is culturally significant for the region. Its new life as a cultural institution will preserve the building for the future generations.
We have started our work with research of similar institutions. Project’s connection with region’s traditions was the key aspect for our client, so at first we have chosen historical typologies of cultural and educational communities built around architectural structures.
Comparison of their programs and experiences and definition of their strongest features are the key to function and program of future institution: a writers’ residency and social club.
The greatest challenge of this project was the combination of different typologies in one structure. Each of them has a different level of accessibility: writers’ residency requires secluded spaces for thoughtful work, social club is a friendly meeting place, while the building itself is the cultural heritage that should be available for all.
We came up with a new functional program of the building and suggested to regulate access of different user groups with event program.
All parts of research are united with one visual element. We see a perfect community as a gradient between two social opposites — private and public. This image was used in building’s functional scheme: the density of color illustrates the number of visitors in this particular space.
We have also used this image in typology research and in chapter dedicated to future institution’s aims and visitor’s portrait.
The result is the album in which we have analyzed projects with similar model, determined aims and values of new institution and prepared its cultural and functional program.
