The assignment of the competition was to address the housing and climate crisis in Colorado and to imagine the potential of legalizing point access housing in the U.S. while creating high quality living spaces, ensuring a diverse residential community and considering the environmental impact of the building.
The oiko-s- system is a six–story residential building that could accommodate various types of households in a unique environment that blends privacy with social interaction in the form of a new age vertical neighborhood arrangement. The focal point of the proposal is a blending between the archetype of the ancient Athenian house and the modernists’ type of a multistory residential building.
main facade
The plots that are usually available in a city are rectangular with their small side towards the road. This leaves the large side façade of the building usually unused and with little or no windows, hindering the aesthetics and functionality of the rooms it serves. Depending on the plot, it would be to the apartments’ benefit to take advantage of the larger side of the building and design it in equal terms to the main façade, upgrading the quality of the spaces internally even if this leads to regulation alterations concerning the side interior setbacks.
environment
The original plot (5.600ft²) could potentially consist of greenery. Conventional buildings remove from this possibility of the plot a significant percentage. The proposal attempts to give back to nature the square feet that it theoretically takes away from it. By adding indoor gardens and patios to each apartment, scenic views are created where they did not previously exist, upgrading air quality, lighting and aesthetics. At the same time, the microclimate of the neighborhood is enhanced.
privacy
As the dwellings created are not located in the suburban nature but in an urban
environment, the large openings would leave the residents exposed. For
this reason, free standing walls are placed on the exterior facades of the building
instead of typical guardrails. This way each apartment has protected views
in private gardens along with efficient light and air circulation.
