Draw and architecture in domestic space rehabilitation. Case studies from public initiatives in Lisbon and Oeiras. Extended summary ANA PATRÍCIA DE MATOS MENDES MAYMONE Octobre 2012
EXTENDED SUMMARY The present work, inserted in the field of Architecture, investigates the tendencies of the design and the evolution of the domestic space, using, as basis, case studies related to the Youth Housing Programs, situated in Lisbon and Oeiras, in a scenario of rehabilitation of historical centers. The selection of this study field, based on the Youth Housing Programs of EPUL ( Lisboa a Cores ) and Oeiras City Council (Youth Housing in the historical core of Oeiras), comes from the penchant for studying the architectonic evolution of the habitation space, and for the pertinence and modernity of another topic related to it, rehabilitation. By electing the youth as a recipient, it was found the possibility of integrating, in this analysis, a debate between the architecture and the social dynamic of this target population, theoretically more favorable to innovation and experiencing new things. If, on one hand, it is considered stimulating to approach cases related to public initiatives, that have taken into account the matter of youth housing and historical centers rehabilitation simultaneously and in an integrated manner, on the other hand it seems rather interesting to question and analyze them on certain specific architectural points of view, like the morphology and space perception, framed in the context of human and functional demands, being ascertained, through the bibliographic research done, that it is a poor studied theme, when associated to issues of the nature of the rehabilitation, domestic space and youth. Starting from the analysis of the case studies made available, more precisely the two projects of EPUL Jovem, in Alfama and Lapa/Campo de Ourique, and seven of the Oeiras City Council, in Oeiras and Paço de Arcos, this dissertation is based on an essay of framing and an investigation of concepts associated with the perception of space and its morphology, namely the ones mentioned in the book Arquitectura: Forma, espaço e ordem from Francis D. K. Ching, knowing, beforehand, that alongside them run other themes in the scope of habitation and rehabilitation, like the functions and demands of the housing spaces, explored by Nuno Portas, in the 1969 LNEC s article, Funções e exigências das áreas de habitação, and constructive aspects, that would serve more as a stimulus and background than as the main subject of the investigation. This work is divided in three parts: the first characterizes and analyses the case studies from its observation in loco, through the rigorous drawings and the descriptive memories, synthesizing its most relevant aspects; the second, more theoretical, investigates about the concepts of space perception and morphology, in the bibliography searched, aiming to compile them; and the third, more practical, assumes as reference the book of Francis Ching, basing itself on the categories that the author establishes in its approach to architecture and to space, as motto for an essay and an investigation about form. The case studies are described and analyzed about what concerns their urban insertion, in what way they relate to surroundings; about their previous situation, the shape they are in, or were at the time this work was developed, the reason for their rehabilitation and what their most relevant typologies and characteristics are; and about their alteration project, referring to the proposed modifications for the exterior 1
and interior, like the new typologies and apartments distribution, the relationship promoted, or not, between new and old, the project s most relevant morphologic options, among others. Case AF1: Stairs of Santo Estevão Situated in Alfama, from the medieval-renaissance period, this case study is considered, by EPUL and the Lisbon City Council as an historical-cultural heritage, as much by its placement as its architecture. So, the city council demands the recovery of its surface although, due to bad preservation, little is left of it, and of the interior. The typologies proposed in the alteration project are two T2, duplex, in which the private areas are separated from the common ones by floor and the kitchen is independent from the living room. Case LP1: Domingos Sequeira Street Bordering Lapa and Campo de Ourique, although inserted in Lapa, the LP1 consists on a building from the 19th century, built at the same time as Campo de Ourique grew. The implantation of this building is in a triangular shape, with a wider front end and thinner rear end. Due to the good preservation state of the building, the reconversion proposed by the architect does not demand great alterations to the interior. Keeping the distribution of one apartment by floor, its only demands are the demolition of part of the walls and building up others, aiming to typologically redefine, changing from T4 to T3. The kitchen is independent from the dining and living rooms, as from the rooms. Case OE1: Alcássimas Street Inserted in the urban net of the Oeiras historical center (OHC), the city council considered the OE1 complex as an interest for rehabilitation, due to the existence, in situ, of roman mosaics. Trying to turn it into a museum, the city council proposes, besides projecting youth housing, the creation of a museum about the history of Oeiras, integrating the mosaics in its spoils. For this complex of volumes perched on each other, the architect proposes the recovery of its surface, with the exception of n. º 32, which is cut, and the public areas. The new part of the construction will be built on a more contemporary language, distinguishing between new and pre-existing. The proposed typologies vary between T0 and T1, and the kitchens are, generally, independent, except the new part, where kitchenettes were implemented. Caso OE2: Cândido dos Reis Street From the 18th century, a period in Portuguese history referred to as pombalino, inserted in the OHC, the city council considered this project as of great rehabilitation relevance, keeping, because of it, the surface, although its bad preservation state leaded to the demolition of its interior. The city council attached 2
another building to it, uncharacteristically, practically all demolished, where it installed the vertical accesses and entrance patios, exterior and private. The proposed typology, T1, includes kitchenette, overlapping the tasks of leisure, meals and their confection. Case OE7: Cândido dos Reis Street The interest of rehabilitating this complex resides in the fact that it is a working villa forming a patio, a rare exemplar in OHC. The alteration project contemplates the preservation of the concave surface and its tiles. The bad state of preservation of the whole complex demands a full demolition of the interior, allowing for a new division of the apartments, more rational according to actual standards, seeking to guarantee more than the minimal living conditions. The typologies proposed vary between T0 and T1, being that some of the apartments are thought for young people with mobility problems, and the kitchen is integrated in the living room (kitchenette). Case OE8: Costa Street This case consists of only two small houses, integrated in the program for being well preserved, only demanding a light painting and some maintenance. The first house is a T2 and the second a T0, both with kitchenette. Case PA1: Patrão Joaquim Lopes Avenue The PA1 building was considered for rehabilitation because it forms an urban complex with the rest of the edifications. Due to a well preserved state, only a restructuring of the interior space was needed, seeking a more rational configuration of the apartments. The T0 apartments have kitchenette, overlapping the tasks of leisure, meals and their confection. Apart from other cases, PA1 has private parking spots, i.e., a garage. Case PA2: Costa Pinto Street The interest in rehabilitating PA2 is based on, according to the city council, its architectonic quality and its cultural and historical significance. The alteration project proposed maintains the front end of the building, except for the tiles on the ground floor that disappear and the added windows on the ceiling of the last floor. In the rear end of the building, the marquises are turned to balconies. The public area is recovered as a green space, which will favor the restaurant in the ground floor, amplified to the side, by the annexation of an apartment, because of which is proposed the reduction of the number of apartments from seven to six. 3
The stairs, between the first floors, are straight, and then they proceed in a U shape. The proposed typologies vary between T0 and T2, with a more rational and coherent organization. Aiming to make good use of the space, the project contemplates incorporating a kitchenette, except for the attic, where the kitchen is independent from the living room, but overlaps the bedroom and dining room. Case PA4. Costa Pinto Street Being an important reference and historical presence in the center where it is inserted, the city council decided to rehabilitate this case study. However, the bad state of preservation of the building allows only for the recovery of the surfaces and tiles, but demands the full substitution of the inner walls, with more rationalization of the space. The alteration project contemplates the rising of the number of apartments, from three to five, their typologies varying from T0 to T2. In most apartments is proposed the use of kitchenettes. The configuration of the roof is modified, being curve in a certain part. In the concepts discussion, it is studied the manner in which the different elements of the architecture, its spatial perception and its morphology (such as: the surface, the plan, the vertical elements, the rhythm, the proportion, the color, etc.) have evolved along the years, and how they express themselves and influence, or not, an architectural project. From the bibliographic research, a book stand out, Arquitectura: Forma, espaço e ordem from Francis D. K. Ching, that, although based in examples of new constructions, compiles some of these concepts, among which: the profile, or silhouette; the transformation of the form, by dimensional processing, whether it subtracts or adds; the articulation of the form and surface; the unity of contraries; the base plan, or pavement, whether elevated or lowered; the elevated plan, or the ceiling; the vertical linear elements; the isolated and vertical surface, in pair, forming and L or parallel, in triples, forming a U or in quadruples, enclosing the space; the openings; the organization and the spatial relations; among others, previously mentioned, such as the light, the proportion, the scale, the order, the symmetry, the hierarchy, the rhythm and the repetition. The silhouette consists of the perimetral edge of a surface, or of a volume, that allows us to identify its shape. Our perception of that shape depends on the degree of visual contrast between the object and the background. About the processes of transformation of the form, starting from the manipulation of the platonic solids, three can be described: the dimensional, the one that subtracts and the one that adds. The dimensional transformation consists on the modification of the dimensions of a form, without it losing its identity, as belonging to a certain geometric family. The transformation that subtracts implies the decrease of a part of the original form, keeping, or not, its geometric family. This process can be used in architecture as a way of creating openings (windows or doors), light entrances or private patios, because the subtractive form is more loose, seeking to express in the exterior 4
an architectonic intentionality that in the interior all functional demands are met, like light entrance, continuity and circulation. A transformation that adds, on the other hand, comprises the junction of elements to the original volume, conserving the new form in its geometric family, or not. Being this process a result of the visual relationship or physical union of one or more secondary forms to a main volume, this added up form is defined as pleasant and full of movement, allowing for the organization of the space according to its classification and volumetric hierarchy. To what concerns the articulation of the form and the surfaces, the articulation is related to the way that the surfaces of a form unite to define its volume and contour, and that that articulation can develop, on one hand, to express the visual individuality of the surfaces: through the differentiation of the adjoining surfaces, by changing the material, color, texture or modeling, the use of apexes as differentiating element of the independent character of the surfaces, the elimination of the apexes that physically separate continuous surfaces or the illumination of the form intending to create, in the corners, distinct light and shadow matrixes; or, on the other hand, by a continuity of the surfaces, extending, beyond the limits of the form, a material, color, texture or drawing, decreasing or eliminating its individuality, highlighting the volume of the form. In a relationship between interior and exterior, there can be defined the following spaces: the positive exterior, limited by an outer wall and the walls of the construction; the patio or interior atrium, surrounded by the construction; the private interior and exterior, merged in one and delimited by walls, the private exterior space that surrounds the construction, delimited by walls; the public exterior dominated by a distinct form, highlighted and what can be distinguished through a long front end, that defines it; and the public exterior without a form. The horizontal plan can be of two kinds: it is either a base surface, or pavement, or an elevated surface or ceiling. The base surface can stand out from the evolving surface by a change of color or texture, or by formal contrast (circle or rounded square/rectangle), highlighting, for example, a trajectory, or circulation, of a living room. The elevated base surface, as much as the lowered one, interrupt, or not, the spatial flow that crosses them, depending, the degree of discontinuity, on its height, as much as the privacy and the level of refuge and protection that it allows. The elevated surface delimits spaces, for under itself, forms, fields and environments are visually adjusted. If it is a roof, it varies according to the materials, the dimension and geometry of its constructive system, if it s a ceiling, it changes, and also, because of the form, the color, the texture and its modeling, that can fulfill acoustic requirements. To modify the proportion of an environment, highlight the circulation, direction or orientation, or to allow the entrance of light, the ceilings can be elevated or lowered, according to what is convenient. 5
The vertical linear elements articulate the surrounding space and create a series of relationships with the closure, or not, of the internal space, besides dividing it centrally, in equal parts, or unevenly, with hierarchically distinct fields by size, shape or situation. The vertical plan can appear loose, in pairs, forming an L or parallel, in groups of three, shaping a U, or with four, enclosing the space. The color, the texture and the kind of surface influence the perception of its visual value, its proportion and its dimensions. The various conjugations and dispositions of the vertical plans are going to influence the reading and degree of closure, privacy and protection of a space and the highlight, or not, of a certain direction or circulation, mainly in the case of the parallel plans or L-shaped. In any construction is convenient the existence of openings in its surfaces, whether it s doors or windows. These openings decrease the degree of closure of the space, but allow its access and circulation, the views, the light entrance and natural ventilation. Some basic modalities of openings are: the ones that stay inside the plans (centered, not centered, grouped, and inbuilt or skylights), the ones in the corners (on an edge, between edges, skirting the corner, grouped or skylights) and the ones between plans (vertical, horizontal, opening at ¾, glassed windows or skylights). Associated to the study of openings is the investigation of light. Light transmits to surfaces and to forms the changes of color and disposition that happen in the sky and weather. The light that illuminates the interior surfaces of a house brightens its colors and its textures and the variations between light and shadow, that the own light comprises, making illumination a reviving factor of the space, articulating the forms contained in it. Studying the intensity and its distribution inside a house, it becomes evident that light can clarify spatial forms or, on the contrary, deform them, as much as it can create a pleasant environment, or a secluded and somber one. In what pertains the organization of the space, it can be defined the space inside another; the connected spaces, when they have a shared area; the continuous spaces; and the spaces tied by another, shared by both. Although scale refers to the size of an object, compared to another, the proportion relates to the tight and harmonious relationship of the parts with the whole, or with other parts. Among the ordaining principles of the form, it can be found the axis, the symmetry, the hierarchy, the rhythm, the repetition and the transformation, not directly approached in this work. The research also broached, to a lesser extent, the subject of the evolution of the functional demands and human needs in the domestic space, not as a focal point of this study, but merely highlighting the interdependence of this aspect in a housing project. Lastly, focusing on the design issues and based, as mentioned, on the book of Francis Ching, the author of this work resorts to drawing and written essays to investigate and discourse about the different project options that arise through the study of the form (with no intention, whatsoever, of putting in check 6
the project options discovered by its architects, nor intending for the proposed alternatives to be seen as better), trying to demonstrate its applicability, in a spatial and architectonic context, assaying, for that purpose, a myriad of alternative formal suggestions in the conditioned context of the rehabilitation of youthdestined domestic space, aiming to demonstrate that neither one of these conditions presents itself as antagonistic to the exercise of imagination, on the contrary. As example of the presented alternatives, it is referred: 1. The subtraction of the interior and the front end of the building situated next to the museum of OE1, closing the volume by the original building high, through vertical elements; 2. In LP1, the prolongation of the balconies in a triangular shape, enclosing them through isolated and mobile panels, assuring privacy and flexibility in the use of the balconies; 3. The use of seedbeds as a way of maneuvering the contours of the openings, as in PA1, and articulating the various surface plans, giving the rear end of the building a wider reading of horizontality; 7
4. Or the differentiation of the interior pavements through unevenness. Lastly, it must be mentioned the conclusions taken from the critical analysis of the case studies and the conclusions taken along the investigation process itself. From the analysis of the case studies, it is concluded that, in general, the architects seek to adopt in their projects an articulate compositive approach, not only with numerous urban, architectonic and constructive norms, since then established, but also with new principles f rationality and cohesion in the division, compartmenting and organization of the apartments, more in line with our time, in order to make a better utilization of the areas and a maximization of the use of the spaces. In light of what was observed, it is perceived that the architects, when working for young people, with low typologies and limited areas, tend to consider the condensation of tasks and activities in the same compartments, namely overlapping the living room, with the kitchen and dining room and, sometimes, even the bedroom. 8
This tendency, also observed in private initiatives and second houses, is fully assumed in a context of promotion of public initiative, not discarding the liberty of innovating architectonic solutions, in a scenario of lodging policies directed to young people or young couples starting their housing autonomy. In relation to the essays about forms, the projects showed, overall, that strategies and concepts approached by Francis Ching (1982), in his book, are explicit, or implicitly, present in some of the project decisions and the compositive approach of its authors, focusing, mainly: on the kitchenettes, with the delimitation of the food confection area, the dining room and living room, through the differentiation of the pavement material; on the work on the silhouette of the buildings, seeking a clear distinction between new and old; on the separation of the living room from the dining room through vertical elements; and on the use of color to distinguish aim and function. On the other hand, the added formal architectonic investigation (in chapter 4.0), the present work aims to demonstrate, or better, to confirm and conclude, even in a context of hard conditioning elements of all king that can be found in a rehabilitation project, like historical and patrimonial, sociologic, related to recipients, technological, related to the construction and programmatic, related to functional demands, there is always a base of strict conformation and architectonic composition on the option taken, as there is always room for other options of the same architectonic formal nature to be taken; resulting, in parallel, in a confirmation of the singular and broad role of architecture. Along the conception of this work, it was possible to describe and exemplify how, in the case studies and essayed alternatives, there can be articulated the different compromises and degrees of liberty, inside the problematic of youth housing design in historical areas. It would be in this manner, through the deepening of the architectonic compromise and freedom subjects, that this study would meet natural fields for development. 9