See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/273831663

Residential design regeneration. A new approach to dwelling process

Conference Paper · October 2014

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3968.2009

CITATION READS

1 938

2 authors:

Pavlina Vodenova Desislava Angelova

University of Forestry University of Forestry
29 PUBLICATIONS   20 CITATIONS    47 PUBLICATIONS   28 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Project „LED Light Up The Balkans”, International Students Workshop View project

Проект BG05M2OP001-2.009-0034 „Подкрепа за развитието на научния капацитет в Лесотехнически университет“. View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Pavlina Vodenova on 22 March 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Residential design regeneration.
A new approach to dwelling process.
P.Vodenova, Angelova D.
Department, of Interior and Furniture Design
Universiry of Forestry
10 Kliment Ochridski Blvd
1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
polyvodenova@gmail.com, d_i_angelova@abv.bg,
!!
Abstract. Dating back to the dawn of the human race, the environmental requirements for buildings but also giving a
man has always sought safety and comfort not only to take second life to old buildings proved to be unnecessary or
rest, but also to raise his family. poor according to the new european requirements.
This is why the prehistoric settlements were built in a This process need to be solved. The society is changing
scheme of groups of houses that people used to share with due to different facts - the need for collaboration of different
one another. cultures, ethnicities and religions, a total change of lifestyle,
These days, due to the social development, we need to most often caused by advances in technology and the rapid
create different spaces and premises with unique functional obsolescence of production processes and buildings.
properties. Some of the most important goals could be:
However, the direction of our society's evolution has shaped - To use a holistic approach regarding the impact or
the living environment in a way that it's always changing limits of all the aspects related to a buildings, its context and
not only its function, but its size as well. its use.
There are, precisely, the aspects of the modern dwellings - To provide a new ways how to organise different
introduced into the actual report. functions in a city.
Keywords: residential design, regeneration, dwelling process - To preserve the architectural identity.
! - To design in accordance with contemporary needs.
- To improve the energy efficiency of the buildings.
1. INTRODUCTION Possible solutions of course depend on the specific prob-
lem, but the most logical approach would be:
As active members of this society, we must act. And to - Creating new collective uses,
act, we must be able to translate knowledge into useful - Providing new private uses.
concrete objects that respond to a set of expectations. - Improve urban design,
Beyond the different states and scales that objects could - New public facilities,
have, the goal is to methodologically address the collapse - Self-sufficiency,
between the theoretical and the practical world, and drive - Renewable energy.
the negotiation process between the conceptual world of
Some of those approaches have already been made,
ideas and the real, experienced and sensory world. The most which allows us to introduce them as a successful examples
valuable tool we have developed to mediate this collapse is for the future.
design.
To improve the quality of urban renovation projects we
2. SOME EXAMPLES
need to promote a more holistic and integral approach
which apart from technical solutions takes into account 2.1. Transformation of old, abandoned public or in-
dustrial buildings into residential
architectural, social and historical aspects. We need to be
aware of the social responsibility in relation to building
projects, as the built environment plays an important role
!In architectural practice we can see some very
for creating a well-functioning society. successful examples about this how a completely
The aim of residential design regeneration takes into unnecessary, inefficient and dull building could be used in
consideration not only the architectural and urban planning new, interesting and new functional way.
aspects but also social factors, and the new demands on Abandoned factories often look to me like abandoned
habitat and sustainability in the urban areas. This castles: grandiose in size, with silos resembling turrets, and
multidisciplinary approach is especially interesting. ominous defensive structures of unspecified purpose left to
The experts, which will take a part in this process must remind us of days long past. Perhaps architect Ricardo
rely on the relationship between social aspects, architectural Bofill shares this idea -- in 1973, he purchased an
issues and technical solutions. The projects may vary - from abandoned turn-of-the-century cement factory in Barcelona
transformation of the houses to possibilities of generating and commenced a two-year renovation to transform it into a
shared spaces for shared uses or generate new uses; spectacular architecture office.
recovery of public spaces between buildings, energy Simply dubbed the Cement Factory, the complex hosts
rehabilitation and so on. Bofill’s architectural offices, archives, a model laboratory,
Under urban regeneration should be understood not only exhibition space, his personal apartment, guest rooms, and
the construction complies with new energy and extensive gardens. The property was originally comprised
of 30 silos, gigantic engine rooms and many underground
structures. However Bofill’s renovations look as if he
simply shaved away part of the existing structures,
removing certain elements and buildings to reveal
previously unexposed textures beneath.
Fig. 1 Abandoned cement factory, Barcelona, Spain. architect Ricardo
!
Bofill
The factory possessed both Brutalist and Surrealist
elements, which Bofill used as inspiration. The harsh silos
were planted with ivy and transformed into The Cathedral.
The factory’s front lot was planted with beautiful gardens,
which include eucalyptus, palm trees, olive trees and
cypresses.
Bofill embraced the factory’s cavernous rooms, leaving
many of the interiors at their original two and three-story
ceiling heights. Interior structural receptacles, once used to
contain who knows what, hang awkwardly in the vast voids
throughout, creating tension within the space, yet they are
so enormous in scale that one cannot help but feel
disoriented.
The complex’s main building has been renovated into
Bofill’s personal apartment. The interiors throughout have
been kept simple, letting the architecture do the talking.
White slip-covered sofas, canvas sling chairs, oriental
carpets, framed architecture prints, and simple leather
upholstery create a muted palette so that the structural and
architectural elements may sing.
The greenest buildings are those that already exist –
rather than building from scratch, Bofill has transformed an
abandoned industrial ruin into a complex with the magic,
wonder, and grandeur evocative of a historical chateau.
The harsh silos were planted with ivy and transformed
into The Cathedral. The factory’s front lot was planted with
beautiful gardens, which include eucalyptus, palm trees,
olive trees and cypresses.
!
Fig. 2 Oslo's Grünerløkka Studenthus is a Student Housing Complex
Located in a Former Grain Elevator Photos by Weekend Høifødt and Ann
Baekken
In Oslo, HRTB Arkitekter AS transformed an old grain
elevator located along the Akerselva River into a 19-story
student housing complex known as Grünerløkka
Studenthus. Using bright panels of colored glass, the
architects managed to add a bit of whimsy to the concrete,
battleship gray exterior, while leaving most of the original
structure intact.
The unique building has become an architectural icon,
and it won the City of Oslo’s Architecture Prize in 2002.
Fig. 3 Gigantic Coal Gasometers Transformed into Thriving
Communities in Vienna
!
The recent revitalization project led by Jean Nouvel,
Coop Himmelb(l)au, Manfred Wehdorn, and Wilhelm
Holzbauer have transformed these four gigantic gas tanks
into spectacular and thriving communities.
Vienna knew the value of these amazing structures
couldn’t be left to dematerialize before their eyes so in 1992
the city called for new ideas that would revitalize these
monuments. What came were designs by the architects Jean
Nouvel, Coop Himmelblau, Manfred Wehdorn and Wilhelm
Holzbauer, and between 1999 and 2001 the Gasometers
were gutted leaving only the brick exterior and parts of the
roof. The structures were then renovated into 615 new
apartments, a student dormitory, offices, a day care center, a
multiplex, over 70 shops, restaurants, bars and cafes an
events hall, and the Vienna National Archive!
Today the gasometers form a unique city center all their
own, with a strong sense of community given its abundant
housing and diversity of destinations.
2.2. Regeneration of old, abandoned dwelling buildings
Fig. 4 San Antonio "Ghost Buildings" Renovated into Beautiful Mixed-
Use Project by Lake|Flato Architects
!
In San Antonio's River North cultural arts district a
mixed-use apartment building has blossomed from a plot of
run-down vacant buildings. This is a great example of an
urban adaptive reuse project that will end up transforming
hundreds of lives. Designed by San Antonio-based
architecture firm Lake|Flato Architects, the mixed-use
housing project revitalizes a neighborhood just off the San
Antonio Riverwalk.
Vacant since 2004, these heavily vandalized buildings
had become a local “ghost town” full of transients and ripe
with crime. The property was auctioned to new owners
recently and developers AREA Real Estate brought in local
design firms Lake|Flato Architects and OCO Architects to
renovate the buildings into apartments, retail, and office
spaces. This creative design team reimagined the neglected
property and came up with the simple solution of re-
skinning the existing superstructure and connecting the
site’s Broadway Street façade with retail and office use.
This project will serve as an example for many urban
revitalisation projects around the nation.
The new spaces within the project are wonderful
adaptations of an existing superstructure. They retain
industrial qualities, as if to expose the old bones of the
vacant building and say that something great came from
them
2.3. Regeneration and transformation of unusual objects
The passive houses are well known, and also those
buildings, witch have very hight energy efficient value
obtained by sun or geothermal sources.
But there is another way to transform an existing
building into modern energyeficient one - by using another
natural products such as plants.
Vertical gardens on a facades of a buildings and facilities
in the city make it look more beautiful, but also they could
be used as a natural air-condition.

!
Fig. 5 Old Public Bus Salvaged to Create Affordable Housing in Israel

Sometimes very unusual and original solutions appears.

Two women from Israel saw opportunity where most other
would only see scrap metal. Instead of letting a
decommissioned public bus end up gathering rust in a
scrapyard, they decided to turn it into an affordable and
surprisingly luxurious living space for those who really
need it. Housing access is a big issue in Israel, so the pair
may have stumbled upon an opportunity to create affordable
housing while also diverting waste from landfills.
Tali Shaul, a psychotherapist, and Hagit Morevski, an
ecological pond water treatment specialist, became friends
after their two sons started playing together. Sharing similar
views, the two spent a long time looking for a creative
project or joint business idea they could work on together.
Inspiration finally came from an article about alternate
housing solutions in a woman’s style magazine.
That same week, Shaul and Morevski went to a
scrapyard and bought an old public transportation bus. To
give the home a more original feel, they decided to design
the interior around the original layout of the bus, as opposed
to turning it into a hollowed out container. This was made
easier after recruiting the help of friend and designer Vered
Sofer Drori.
Adapting their design ideas to fit around the existing
windows, doors and the large, interior wheel arches, the
team was able to preserve the bus’ unique character while
also integrating a bathroom, rear bedroom, storage !
Fig. 6 Cross-section, Bosco Verticale, architect Stefano Boeri, Milan

This residential building created by architect Stefano

throughout, a full kitchen and even hot-weather luxuries
like air-conditioning. Now all that’s left is to find a local
buyer who isn’t able to afford their own home, but would
jump at the chance to live in this one-of-a-kind motorized
home.
!2.4. Regeneration of existing residential buildings under
the new energy efficiency requirements
! size trees, 250 small size trees, and 11,000 ground cover
Nowadays we more often pay attention on different
ways to lower the consumption of natural resourses, and in
the same moment to live in one harmless and ecological
conditions.
Boeri features the first urban vertical forest, Bosco Verticale
in Milan.
The pair of apartment skyscrapers are built to sustain the
equivalent of 2.5 acres of forest extending towards the sky.
The soon-to-be-completed towers feature cantilevered
balconies, wind and solar systems, and grey water recycling
systems that irrigate the 5,000 shrubs, 480 big and medium
plants chosen for the project.
!
A similar approach could also be applied in the interior
design. French designer Benjamin Pawlica has fused design
and horticulture to create a plantable concrete wall tile for
interior and exterior green walls. The triangular Deltaflore
modular system can be put together in any number of
combinations depending on the desired shape and size of
your wall. Plants are nurtured by an integrated irrigation
system and grow from organic shaped holes in the tiles.

Fig.9 The ‘Ammophila’ designed by Murtada Alkaabi - concept

!
Fig.7 Bosco Verticale, architect Stefano Boeri, Milan !
explanation

The ‘Ammophila’ is a wind farm that can also be used

for habitation. The volume consists of demountable panels,
making it possible to use the building for different purposes,
while a moving façade creates a continuous curtain affect
throughout the day. The project is based on combining
processes for generating sustainable energy with viable
options for living – envisioning a future where the two are
seamlessly integrated. The concept differentiates itself from
other wind power design as it has the potential to serve as
an architectural landmark as well, using the one structure to
! serve multiple purposes.

!Fig. 8 Plantable concrete wall tiles, design Benjamin Pawlica, LCDA

Warm-blooded design aficionados can create a more

tropical environment with various ferns, carnivorous plants,
and other exotic plants and vines.
If cared for properly, the plants will thrive and flow from
Deltaflore’s openings, cultivating interesting plays of light
and shadow to provide, in the designer’s words, “a poetic
atmosphere.” The unique modular system creates an
atmosphere that resembles European houses covered with
beautiful ivy or Virginia creepers. For those living in
warmer climes, it is possible to create a more tropical
environment with various ferns, carnivorous plants, and
other exotic plants and vines.
Pawlica’s tiles were designed for LCDA, a company that
specialises in contemporary furniture and interior design Fig.10 The ‘Ammophila’ designed by Murtada Alkaabi - technical
using composite materials. Made with durable concrete and
offered in a variety of different colours, the range of !
explanation

possibilities for your very own green wall is limited only by

your imagination.
!
2.5. New residential buildings
!
It is affirmative approach no longer needed buildings to
be renovated and to give them a second life, but equally
important is that new ones must be the designed with
implementation of the possibility of transformation,
embedded in their future use. A brilliant example of this
way of thinking and working is Murtada Alkaabi's
Ammophila system for habitable wind farms.
CONCLUSIONS
!
However, the direction of our society's evolution has
shaped the living environment in a way that it's always
changing not only its function, but its size as well.
These days, due to the social development, we need to
create different spaces and premises with unique functional
properties.
The modern dwellings can be created not only as a new
and modern ones. It is always a clever idea to use an
existing facilities and to bring them a second chance to be
useful.
Nowadays we must focus on the limited resources
intrinsic to the provision of social and humanitarian
architecture and the impact of such scarcity in whole world,
and in big sites as well.
The experts, which will take a part in this process must
rely on the relationship between social aspects, architectural
issues and technical solutions.
As such, it is very important to provide humanitarian
building projects, in order to capture and disseminate good
practice in both a EU and overseas context.
!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
!
This document was supported by the grant No
BG051PO001-3.3.06-0056, financed by the Human
Resources Development Operational Programme (2007 –
2013) and co-financed jointly by the ESF of the EU and the
Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science.
!!
References
1. Н.Д. Пенева, Архитектура и начин на живот, Техника,
София, 1984, 5-9.
2. Bosco Verticale in Milan Will Be the World's First Vertical Forest, by
Diane Pham, 10/16/11, available: http://www.inhabitat.com.
3. Concrete Indoor-Outdoor Modular Green Wall Tiles From France,
available: http://www.urbangardensweb.com/
4. Gigantic Coal Gasometers Transformed into Thriving Communities
in Vienna, by Diane Pham, 01/11/13, available: http://www.inhabi-
tat.com.
5. murtada alkaabi invents ammophila system for habitable wind farms,
available: http://www.designboom.com
6. Old Public Bus Salvaged to Create Affordable Housing in Israel, by
Ross Brooks, 02/09/14, available: http://www.inhabitat.com.
7. Oslo's Grünerløkka Studenthus is a Student Housing Complex Locat-
ed in a Former Grain Elevator, by Mark Boyer, 03/19/13, available:
http://www.inhabitat.com
8. Ricardo Bofill Transforms Cement Factory Ruins Into Castle-Like
Architecture Headquarters, available: http://www.inhabitat.com
9. San Antonio "Ghost Buildings" Renovated into Beautiful Mixed-Use
Project by Lake|Flato Architects, by Andrew Goodwin, 03/08/13,

!! available: http://www.inhabitat.com.

View publication stats