Architecture brings together the ideas of comfort, environment, sociology, science and technology, economics and several other fields. This is one of the reasons, in recent years it has been a trend to see Architecture as a component for community oriented development. Housed in Chicago, Urban works has been producing works that has bonded communities, built neighborhoods by Architecture that influences the same.
Design solutions should be societal solutions_ Patricia Natke
The firm's founding partner Patricia Natke, has a strong belief in listening to the communities and neighborhoods before proposing the need for it. This has helped them in producing successful Architectural and planning projects primarily in and around Chicago. In her ted talk she discusses about La Casa student housing that was proposed and built for the Pilsen community. Based on statistics they understood that communal living allowed for students to perform better and that became the concept for the housing center. Their goal was to make this communal as efficient and affordable as possible that allowed not only the students from the neighborhood use it, but also students from various universities in Chicago; while understanding the transportation and green space access in Pilsen.
From this project she moves onto the El Paseo project in Pilsen again where she explains the existing conditions of the river line and the abandoned railroad tracks and the ways these could be redeveloped. By listening to the community more and understanding their needs, the firm is proposing river walks and trails that will rejuvenate the neighborhood that is bordered with Industrial sites. Through these projects it is apparent that the firm is considering Architecture as a main ingredient for boding communities together.
Pat questions "Why one should be designing thinking about the community?" I believe the more we ask ourselves the question, the more we can build for community restoration and resurrection understanding the societal problems.
One of the projects Pat explained when our studio visited her firm is the Galewood elementary school where she was expressing her satisfaction towards the use of the informal seating spaces in the schools' double height space. It is one feeling to propose and build something, but it is an enhanced satisfactory feeling one can have when the space he/she designed is being used for the intended purpose. It was clear that the firm includes and pays attention to all the small details however wide their scope of interest is.
References
Architecture & Design: Renewing the Social Agenda | Patricia Saldaña Natke |
TEDxUChicago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkVGIy7zNIo
Comentarios