education

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Informal vendors VS Women in public space

Bhopal, India

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Lauaxeta plaza

Backstage of the city

Kindergarten, space of the 3rd time

Bus Station

Singular space

Projects

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The target of this program was to study the city from marginalized populations point of view. Between smart cities projects and slums, we had to understand different visions of life, to enter in this new culture. After observing the complexity of society for a few weeks, we focused our work on women.

As one of the largest planned commercial areas in the city of Bhopal, Maharana Pratap Nagar (MP Nagar) zone I is of particular importance to the city at large.

Although it consists primarily of commercial space, it also includes shops of informal vendors, green spaces, and apartment buildings. The residents of the area include pavement dwellers, small slums, and those living in apartment buildings. Thus, a number of stakeholders occupy the area and create a mosaic of different users.

At the begining semi-structured interviews and participatory methods were used with informal vendors, to learn about the different levels of informality. The only woman street vendor did not participate, although she showed interest. From the results we gathered it became obvious that in order to reach more stakeholders.

To gather women’s point of view, ethnographic research was conducted by living in a girls hostel in the area. We learned that it is not common for women to roam around the city. When they do use public space they tend to just use them as transit zones to get from a point A to a point B

Through our interactions with hostel residents we realized how important family was and how devoted they are to being obedient and loyal to the family values. Talking with girls in Bhopal, helped us to realize that there is no place for them in this city. Our focus issue then became appropriating public space for women.

Informal vendor area

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Map MP Nagar zone I

Schema, women using public space

Schema, gender relation in informal commercial area

Collage, MP Nagar Zone I

Collage, Walking in MP Nagar Zone I

Girls Hostel

I-Clean Bhopal
First proposal – a placemaking workshop involving local women and I-Clean Bhopal (non-profit organization doing beautification tasks throughout the city) By joining I-Clean Bhopal in their endeavors, women could become more aware of the places in their city and neighborhood. This workshop could be continued in various places for a longer period of time and spread throughout the city with I-Clean Bhopal. This could address not only cleanliness but also perceptions of public spaces and advocate with the messages on their murals. The event lacked local women’s input, but unexpectedly, the vendors became fond of the idea and were happy about such initiative.

Vernasitor Map «Be a Vernacular visitor»
For the second proposal a co-creation of interactive map app of MP Nagar zone I is suggested. Places of interest in MP Nagar zone I could be mapped in collaboration with the local women adding tips and tricks of getting around. With creation of easy to understand and navigate vernacular visitor map – “Vernisitor”, women could start exchanging knowledge, and showing each other recreational potential of MP Nagar zone I and later on the city at large. Such projects could be funded by Smart City Bhopal.

Informal vendor area, MP Nagar Zone I, Bhopal, India

Bolueta, Spain

Site axonometry

Original circulation and flat orientation

New circulation and flat orientation

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Collage, Lauaxeta Plaza

Site section

Evolution of a flat during lifetime

8 typologies which could generate more than 1500 differents typologies, examples of assembly

Collage, Public Space at home

Project section

This housing project is taking place in an old complex building, including 240 identical flats. Neither the public space or flat were convenient, except the one on the top which could enjoy a nice view. I wanted to try to find a solution to make this place more livelihood, adding housing on the top at the same time.

These three axonometrics present a study of a new typology, and possible modification during a lifetime, in function of its use.

According to the building structure and its circulation, it was possible to create 8 primary typologies. Each of them has been imagined to put them together, offering the possibility to develop always different flat and different size. An opportunity to let people decide about how they want to live and take into account lonely people, colocation, shared flat...

The public space, between these building, was completely close to the urban space. Furthermore, no sunlight could enter after the 10th floor. The decision was to make this place more close, intimate. And also reduce the noise, to let people discuss without everybody could listen, or see them.

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Bordeaux, France

Behind the boulevard, we can discover the backstage of the city. The place where buses fall asleep at night. As a fortress, existing buildings are hiding a peaceful place. A place where people could take refuge.

With the stone building and stairs from the boulevard, we are invited to discover this area. Discreet, this project wants to answer to a district scale, hosting accommodations for students, a theatre, a library, a gymnasium, and a party room.

Collage, Beynac Castle at Lescure

Site and project axonometry

View of the project by night

Structural axonometry

Project section

Children are spending their time in family and school. Between these two places, the kindergarten becomes special. It offers moments to play, to learn, to do sport and to socialise.
Designed spaces should correspond to these needs. We should imagine this building as a big playroom.

Concept model

Study models

View from the reading room

View from the terrace

Ground floor

First floor

Second floor

Bordeaux, France

Picture, Belcier, Bordeaux

Arrived on the site

chiharu shiota's key and yarn labyrinth for venice art biennale

Project section

Structural model

Structural model, zoom on the roof

Alice in Wonderland, Movie, Tim Burton

Partition

These two projects are just about space. They are the first I did, and are quite important in the vision I have of the architecture. That reminds me of the notion of scale, monumentality and light. But they talk also about the story. These things I try to don't forget.

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