Conclusion

WHAT HAS BEEN EXPLORED AND HOW IT MIGHT INFLUENCE DESIGN IN THE FUTURE

The story of the micro-community is shown through the layout of this publication. From a busy public building at the south to the secluded intimate garden to the north, the increase of privacy and protection increases the deeper the visitor enters, creating a safe space within the city.

The attitude towards rainwater harvesting, utilising the sun’s energy and growing crops allows the community to be very self sustaining, ensuring it acts as a discreet insertion into the Blackness area of Dundee with little impact on existing services in the surrounding area. The opportunities which the site allows for residents and also visitors is important, from providing a space to relax, to work, to learn and teach, individuals are nurtured into their best selves and their lives are improved greatly. Being directly in touch with nature has many benefits from personal mental health to city air quality, the impact on general well-being of the city’s residents are improved ever so slightly, only increasing the more of these projects are introduced.

The introduction of this project into an area like Blackness, Dundee, sets a precedent for future development within and out with the city. The hope is that it creates a domino effect, where more of these communities will quietly appear, improving the quality of life for more and more individuals.

By repairing urban fabric instead of increasing it, cities can evolve with its residents. Adding to the urban environment another layer of history, with the understanding that this is not the end, there is more to be learnt from this project - but we cannot learn unless it is tested.

So lets start testing our ideas instead of avoiding them. We need stop expanding just because we don’t know what to do with what we have. Work with what is there, so we can create rich, meaningful environments which change and adapt with the people that are using them everyday.

149 |150