DESA1002 'Continuous City' <Melinda Lam>

Abstract

This project emerged from an awareness of a need in Paris for architecture that caters for children of the community, rather than for tourism needs. The program seeks to create a safe and fun environment for these children to interact and engage with each other as they discover, create or play, forming important social skills at a young age. Simultaneously, it is a place where parents can gather on a regular basis and take part in their children’s learning. The site I was allocated allowed me immense freedom in the arrangement of my buildings and in building my concept. Having been given a site with an open courtyard, I chose to take advantage of this as an outdoor playground space. A separate building for services (reception and food court) and activities and play (craft areas, mini-sports) placed opposite each other allowed me to claim this area. In order to retain the connection to nature, my design features extensive use of glass, allowing observers to look on from inside out, outside in. The beehive structure that encloses my two buildings features an arrangement of transparent, semi-transparent and opaque material that casts a patterned shadow corresponding to the functions of the spaces below. Resting spaces are sheltered; play spaces are well lit. The design also features various interactive spaces – pods, hives and other areas – that children will enjoy. The intriguing structure of this design subverts the uniformity of the context in which it has been placed, and makes a statement about its function. The symbol of the beehive conveys the social interaction and team work involved in creating it, and this is an important part in the development of a child’s maturity.