ZABALA, Nicole P.

Subject: Housing
BS Architecture 4-1 Professor: Ar. Melodia Ramos-Sampan

Essay #2: Write an essay on the architectural design concepts of NEMAUSUS by Jean
Nouvel. Write your arguments if this social housing design may be applicable here in the
Philippine setting. Why and why not?

Nemausus 1 is a socialized housing project designed by Jean Nouvel and described as

the ‘housing of the simplest kind’. It is his goal to offer a new approach to socialized housing
by canceling out the empty feeling of the usual, virtually identical designs. With this, he
produced a design that offers wide space and a low-cost house for society. Additionally, as
Nouvel designs and approaches projects differently, Nemausus 1 was given an identity that
fits the users, the environment, and the constraints of the site.

Jean Nouvel designed Nemausus 1 by reviving the simplest of principles applied in

housing. For him, it is still important to offer quality socialized housing that still meets the
demands of the people and society. In Nemausus 1, he applied the concept of light and
ventilation through the features such as big, movable doors than can offer light and ventilation,
wide air space, an open-air carpark, wide exterior walkways, and many more. Its form,
responding to the weather of the Mediterranean region, calls for an effective and comfortable
space. Moreover, Jean Nouvel also applied the concept of industrialism through the integrated
idea of the ‘assembly line’ in the design. He used bare concrete walls, perforated steels, and
reused materials. Nemausus 1 also integrates social architecture, which is evident in the
spaces designed for the occupant’s interaction with one another. The ground floor space near
the carpark provides a space for leisure and the wide, exterior walkways act as sidewalks for
pedestrians and even bicycles and skateboards. It is also notable that the project was aiming
in producing a design offering more space than the usual socialized housing by expanding it
to 30 to 40% larger. Nouvel broke the idea that a bigger space means a costlier home. He
made the idea possible by maximizing the spaces by replacing the hallways in the exterior
façade like cantilevers and making the space left part of the units.

Philippine housing has been known to have problems regarding effective development
and affordability. These are usually of limited space and designed only to provide a shelter
instead of a home that can be altered based on the occupants. Local housing projects usually
focus on providing a great number of units that respond to the housing backlogs in the country.
With this, the idea of recreating a Nemausus 1 in the Philippines can somehow be unlikely.
The economic status of the Filipino people and the ever-rising value of lands all point to the
fact that Nemausus is such a dream to have if it were not for those constraints. Housing units
with bigger space come at a higher price and are therefore not affordable and made for those
who need an economical home choice. However, the concepts applied in Nemausus 1 are
undeniably applicable to our weather. The heat during summer, the typical Filipino open-plan
houses, and socially designed spaces, all reflect us. Although it is common to think that when
designing for the Filipino, social architecture is expected, it is still restrained due to different
factors. Thus, reintegrating space design specifically for the occupants shall now be practiced
for creating an identity within the built environment that can result in forming culture enriching
community.

Reference:
Kien Truc Tre - HAU. (2013). [ARTE] Architecture Collection - Episode 04: Jean Nouvel -
Nemausus 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhq0SOADAMo
Criteria Rating Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor Score
(%)

Content 50% The answer is The answer is The content relates Content partially Content unrelated to
appropriate to the appropriate to the peripherally to the question; related to the the question
question. Content is question. Content may contains significant factual question
factually correct have one or two factual errors.
errors

Organization 20% A clear sense of order. A clear sense of order. The logic of the argument is There is a Lacks clear
Begins with a thesis or Begins with a thesis or minimally perceivable. distortion in the organizational plan.
topic sentence. topic sentence. Points are presented in a organization of The reader is
Supporting points are Supporting points are seemingly random fashion, information confused.
presented in a logical presented in a logical but all support argument.
progression. progression.

Development 20% Develops each point Develops each point with Sparse details or evidence. Statements are
with many specific many specific details. The question only partially unsupported by any
details. Answers Answers question answered detail or explanation.
question completely. completely. Repetitious,
incoherent, illogical
development.

Use of 10% Uses technical or Uses technical or Ordinary word choice; use of Limited vocabulary;
Semantics scientific terminology scientific terminology scientific terminology errors impair
appropriately and appropriately and avoided. Some serious communication
correctly. No major correctly. No major errors (but they don’t impair
grammatical or spelling grammatical or spelling communication).
errors. errors.

TOTAL