THE LIVING COMMUNITY

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The site of the former Kew lunatic asylum is very disconnected and isolated from the community of Kew. The Living Community sorts to bring life back to the site through a series of architectural design moves. The first major design move was to puncture the site to allow people to freely access and move throughout. This can be seen in the masterplan design where the surrounding streets have been projected into the site as circulation paths, as such the site becomes an extension of the surrounding urban fabric. As well as the major circulation paths, a network of minor paths have been designed - both taking reference from the veins and capillaries of the human body which transport oxygen (life) around the body. 

 

The major projection paths inform the demolition of the existing building to create more porosity throughout the site. It is in the locations of demolition that new growth occurs in the form of new buildings. These buildings take the form of an amalgamation of capsules which are supported by a super structure. The super structure allows for continual growth and change over time.

 

The design of each capsule allows for full adaptability, this adaptability aims ensure the site can grow, develop, and change overtime depending on the demand of its community. The capsule design adopts and subverts the architectural elements from the former asylum building. The capsules are lightweight, plug-in, and the façade has been designed so that it can adapt to the program within.

Link to folio