Week Seven : Emerging Architectural Idea

Collaboration has thus far been somewhat of a catchphrase for the direction of my work this semester. It underpins what I predict will come to serve as a model for a more advanced and abundant society.  In applying this notion to behaviour and actions however one must consider its effect on current lifestyle practises. I would suggest it will manifest in three essential forms; a trading of skills, expertise and goods; a sharing of resources and a free exchange of ideas and design

In researching ideas from this seed, I noted the rise of coworking. Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared environment and couples both independent and collaborative activity. It is the social gathering of a group of people who are still working individually, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space. It allows for self sufficiency whilst also contributing to overall growth. The below video from Turnstone illustrates its uprising.

It has essentially turned disparate activity into a movement through new technology and shifting social paradigms and contests conventional  forms of trade and exchange. It is subsequently a notion which I think marries well with the emergence I want to foster in this future scenario. Not only does it play to the strengths of social and cultural animation but it also allows for local interactivity.

The challenge of this idea I believe is to create a space with the capacity to expand and contract with ongoing and divergent activities and requirements. To act in a sense as a living entity which lives and breathes the animation of its community. Emerging then is the notion of a marketplace. A modern community agora whereby people come together to collate, create and exchange. It would be underpinned on a local scale with local materials, open source production and home grown produce, representing a shirt back to boutique and artisanry practises. A combination of workshops and markets could play host to multiple activities and as a community centre shared functions could perpetuate learning and knowledge transfer. The below diagram considers both the target users of such a entity and its transaction on both local and regional scales.