- Systemic changes
In this project I am making an attempt to bridge the gap between existing substrate of Edge Cities (as defined by Joel Garreau), and the architectural utopias of the past so that the result can approximate reality. This concept was intended to introduce new type of urban fabric and explore how the city can be made radically different without being a utopia or dystopia in its essence.
My concept is centered around the issues of evolution and growth, so essentially this project is a study of how and where the future city can begin.
Heterotopia is a concept used by philosopher Michel Foucault to describe places functioning in nonhegemonic conditions and that are simultaneously physical and mental. By his definition a heterotopia is a physical approximation of imaginary utopia or a parallel space that makes utopia possible somewhere else. In this project I am imagining an architectural heterotopia and the new type of city.
Because the concept in itself opposes masterplaning, the best way to explore it appeared to be through visual reflections on the aspects of the city I was designing.
This diagram shows the possible vertical hierarchy and overlay of the functions. The buildings and structures at the ground level are kept intact and continue functioning.
These are parts of the graphical research of how some of the heterotopian city aspects could function.
These are conceptual graphic explorations on different aspects of heterotopian city (tree and existing building integration, public space concept)
The multi-layered concept required adequate means of representation. Thus, I have built a makeshift hologram projection machine was built to show that. The idea also comes from Foucault’s heterotopia concept as a space behind the mirror.
