P2 presentation graduation project

“

The central premise of USER-CENTERED DESIGN is that the best designed products and services result from understanding the needs of the people who will use them —Design Council

USER-CENTERED DESIGN AS A KEY FOR (RE)DEVELOPMENT p2 presentation 19 | 06 | 2014

explore lab 18 Tsveta Ruseva 4257537

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CONTENT INTRODUCTION TO THE LOCATION 1.1. Bulgaria 1.2. Sofia 1.3. Vuzrajdane - city centre neighbourhood RESEARCH 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Theoretical framework

- Housing market in Sofia

- People’s living preferences

- Policy goals

DESIGN 3.1. Design goals 3.2. Current situation 3.3. Urban design concept 3.4. Architectural idea 3.5. Sustainability goals

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1.0.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LOCATION

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BULGARIA

Eastern Europe Bulgaria

Capital and the largest city: SOFIA Formation: FIRST BULGARIAN EMPIRE 681

MODERN STATE 1878 Area: 2,5 times bigger than The Netherlands Population: 7,3 million

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE BULGARIA

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winter

Bulgaria topography: • 2 major mountains • The Black Sea • The Donau river

autumn

spring

Bulgaria climate: • between continental and Mediterranean climatic zones • average precipitation about 630mm a year • average 0 °C in January and 22 °C in August

summer

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

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Koprivshtica

Plovdiv

Plovdiv

Tryavna

population population

population 16.4 16.4 %%

1.3 1.3million million

1.3 million

= 100000 = 100000 people people

99 %%

1010 %%

primary primary school school never never finished finished diploma diploma primary primary school school

666 %%

ment oyment rate rate

037-014 - 14 % university 15 15 - 64 - 64 degree

Sofia Sofia

16.4 %

S

= 100000 people

housing housingstock stock age

age age education

%

lool te

SOFIA

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43 % high-school graduate

9% primary school diploma

1310 13 %% % never finished 7070 % % primary school

1717 %%

>> 6464 0.4 %

housing stock = 100000 = 100000 units units

0 - 14 13 % dwellings dwellings which which areare 15.6 15.6 %% of the of the whole whole housing housing stock stock 607473 607473 70 %

15 - 64

4040 % of the of the dwellings dwellings areare located located in mass in mass housing housing blocks >%64 17blocks %

607473 dwellings which are 15

40 % of the dwellings are located

illiterate

2.62.6 people people perper dwelling dwelling

ethnic ethnicgroups groups employment 88 %% unemployment unemployment rate rate

9696 %% 72 % of the of the Sofia Sofia economically residents residents activedefine people define

themselves themselves as as Bulgarians Bulgarians

1.5 1.5 %% 66 %

2.6 people per d

ethnic groups 0.6 0.6 %% 1.9 1.9 %% 8%

of the of the Sofia Sofia of the of the Sofia Sofia of the of the Sofia Sofia employment rate residents residents residents residents residents residents unemployment define define define define rate define define themselves themselves as as themselves themselves as as themselves themselves as as Roma Roma Turkish Turkish others others

96.6 96.6 %% 96 %

6363 %% 1.5 % 0.6 % 1.9 % 97.1 97.1 %%

of the of the dwellings dwellings of the of the dwellings dwellings of the of the dwellings dwellings have have of the Sofia of the Sofia of the Sofia have have toilet toilet inside inside have have bathroom bathroom computer computer of the Sofia residents residents residents inside inside & internet & internet connection connection residents define define define define themselves as themselves as themselves as themselves as Roma Turkish others Bulgarians

industry industry

16.7 16.7 %%

of the of the country country industry industry is is located located in Sofia in Sofia

96.6 %

97. of the dwellings have toilet inside

of the dwelling have bathroom inside

industry

16.7 %

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GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE SOFIA Sofia topography: • Vitosha mountain

Sofia climate: • humid continental climate • cold and snowy winters with temperatures down to −15°C • warm and sunny summers with temperatures reaching 35 °C • average precipitation of 587 mm a year; thunderstorms

CITY'S ARCHITECTURE

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1. Former Communist Party House

2. Alexander Nevsky cathedral

6.

1.

2.

4.

3.

6. St Nedelya Church

3. Sv. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia

5.

Heritage buildings 5. National Palace of Culture

Site location 4. Ivan Vazov National Theatre

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A CITY OF CONTRADICTIONS

WHAT'S BEING BUILT NOW?

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-1Urbano model - office building, AEDES architectural studio, completed 05/2013

-2-

-3-

Red apple - residential building,

Hotel Sense - hotel building

AEDES architectural studio, completed 05/2013

architect Lazzarini Pickering, completed 11/2013

CITY'S GREENERY

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Site location

3.

1.

2.

1.

2.

1. Borisova gradina

2. South park

3. West park

CONNECTIONS IN THE CITY

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Main road network in the city

Public transport network of the city centre

Cental Station

Bus Tram Highways Main roads Train track

Trolleybus Train track Train stop

Train stop

Metro line

Sofia airport

Metro stop

Site location

Site location

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2.0.

RESEARCH

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PROBLEM STATEMENT

Last century a period of poverty and housing shortage

Refugees have taken residence

poor quality buildings and a lack of communal spaces.

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QUALITY OF THE BUILDINGS

Poor maintenance and obvious neglection

Demolished buildings

Squatters

Abandoned properties

Potentially dangerous buildings

People are moving out

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PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS top city centre location

+ well developed public transport infrastructure

Bus stop Tram stop Trolleybus stop Metro stop Pedestrian zone Parking Site location

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PUBLIC AMENITIES large range of educational services

+ many public amenities

2.

3.

4.

4.

4.

4.

1.

4.

4.

Educational buildings

Religious buildings Commerciaal buildings Other public buildings

Residential buildings Site location

1. Mall Sofia - shopping centre 2. Billa - supermarket 3. Everyday market 4. Small retail in the plinth level

ARCHITECTURE OF THE SURROUNDINGS

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1. High school 2. Orthodox church “Sveti Nikolay Sofijski" 3. High school 4. Sofia synagogue 5. Banya Bashi Mosque Sofia

1 2

3

4 Site location 7 5

8 9

6

6. Shopping centre TZUM 7. Shopping centre Halite - old refurbished building 8. Sofia Catholic Cathedral 9. The first modern shopping Mall in Sofia built 2000

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RESEARCH QUESTION

How do policy goals and dweller’s preferences overlap?

How this can be used as base to define a strategy for redevelopment of a neglected city centre neighbourhood?

RESEARCH SUB-QUESTION

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•

What are the living preferences of the city centre dweller?

What are people’s motivations behind choosing to live in the city centre?

•

How does the Housing Market in Sofia answer to the needs and lifestyle of the people?

•

What are the municipality of Sofia’s plans for the city centre?

RESEARCH PROJECT GOAL

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•

Insight in living preferences, the municipality policies and the housing market

•

Understanding of the changing needs and lifestyle of the people

•

Urban and architectural strategy for redevelopment of a neglected city centre neighbourhood

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research question

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

How do policy goals and dweller’s preferences overlap?

How this can be use as base to define a strategy for redevelopment of a neglected city centre neighbourhood?

municipality policy goals

research goal

housing market in Sofia

• past city centre urban concepts

• general meaning of home

• general characteristics

• future urban ideas

• preferences for the city centre as a residential environment

• demand for city properties

• building laws and regulations

research methodology

dweller’s living preferences

• living preferences

• price range

literature study

literature study

literature study

interviews with experts

interviews with dwellers

interviews with experts

Paper on dweller’s housing preferences based on relevant literature and interview analyses which results in conclusions on the meaning of these preferences for a residential architectural design.

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Literature Study • collect and analyse articles, books and publications

Interviews • qualitative research

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INTERVIEWS WITH DWELLERS

Selection criteria 1. Location 2. From different target groups 3. Financial means

Interview questions • General information • Previous dwelling and living environment • Current dwelling • Dwelling and living environment preferences – expectations of homes

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INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS

Selection 1. Real estate agent 2. University professor 3. The municipality architect 4. Developer

Interview questions 1. Characteristics of the Housing market 2. Urban historical development of the neighbourhood 3. Current municipality urban plans

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2.2.

RESEARCH

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA

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Economy data Bulgaria

Sofia

Unemployment rate 11,8% 5,9% much lower than the national average Average monthly salary for 2013

790 BGN/404 euro

980 BGN/500 euro (above the national average monthly income)

Population growth -0,81% The considerable immigration from the poorer regions of the countryside to the capital have caused a population growth of Sofia

Homeownership situation

96 %

96%

of the population lives in an owned home

47%

of the dwellings are overpopulated

50% houses 50% apartments

53% of the young

people between 25 and 34-year old still live with their parents

fia s

s as

HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA

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Quality of thestock existing housing stock housing 13 % 70 % 17 %

= 100000 units

607473 dwellings which are 15.6 % of the whole housing stock

40 % of the dwellings are located in mass housing blocks

40 % 60 % new old

OLD vs NEW

2.6 people per dwelling

1.9 %

63 %

96.6 % 97.1 %

of the Sofia residents define themselves as others

of the dwellings have toilet inside

of the dwellings have bathroom inside

of the dwellings have computer & internet connection

industry 16.7 %

of the country industry is located in Sofia

100% of the mass housing blocks need urgent renovation

Some of the old buildings in the city centre are even dangerous * 90% of the existing old building stock awaits either demolition or urgent renovation

HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA

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Current profile of the buyers, mortgage loans and type of dwelling on demand Age for getting mortgage loan

Preffered types of apartments

7%

10 % 12 %

37 %

18 % one-room apartment

before 30 years before 40 years

two-room apartment

35 %

three-room apartment

before 50 years

four- and more-room apartment

after 50 years

40 %

41 %

Young couple or young families are dominating the market as first-home buyers.

Preffered mortgage loans

5%

Preffered area of the dwellings 10 %

20 % up to 10000 euro

25 %

12 %

37 %

up to 25000 euro

up to 90m² up to 120m²

up to 50000 euro

over 120m²

above 50000 euro

50 %

up to 60m²

41 %

Focus on extra green space, good surrounding infrastructure, enough parking spaces

HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA

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Construction rates - number of newly built dwellings

New buildings built in Sofia 350

291

300

261

250

235

200

199

186

181

174 164

150

132

100

76 50

0 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

The number of residential buildings has declined with 30% but the living area as sq meters is reduced only by 7,8%.

HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA

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Demand & Supply on the housing market

Newly built dwellings according to the number of rooms 4000 3500 3000 2500

six and more-rooms five-rooms four-rooms three-rooms two-rooms one-room

2000 1500 1000 500 0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

The two-room and three-room apartments with an area of 60m² to 120m² are dominating the housing market.

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HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA Socialist mass housing blocks - quality of the living space • separate kitchen • separate toilet • short span construction

• repeating layout • grid floor plan layout • tall buildings

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HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA Newly built residential blocks - quality of the living space • open plan of the main living space • longer span construction • diversity in floor plans and apartment types • more apartments per level

HOUSING MARKET IN SOFIA

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Prices on the market

Average prices per m² in BGN of the dwellings in Sofia 2500

2000

1500

1000

500

1 Bulgarian lev = 0.51 Euros 0

• increased demand in the mid price range homes – up to €70 00 • housing quality gaining in importance • metro access increases property value

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PEOPLE'S LIVING PREFERENCES Profile of the interviewees 10 Interviews • covering most of the target groups • either young or old • highly educated • currently employed • average monthly income

Current living situation

• currently live or own a property in the neighbourhood • some live there since being born • want to change the current dwelling • most common reason for the change - the quality of the dwelling

PEOPLE'S LIVING PREFERENCES

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Living spaces 1. Preferences for the main living space • main living area large enough to host guests “We prefer to have one open living space as big as possible, so while cooking we can still have fun with our guests.”

• mixed preferences for open plan or separate rooms “I like the kitchen to be closely connected to the living room, but still a separate space, because of all the smells from cooking.”

2. Preferences for the working space • no one has a separate working room • working space is seen as very important “I’ve graduated a year ago and I’m starting my own business, therefore I can’t afford an office place. Working from home is practical for me, but I have no other place to work then my own bedroom, where I have a desk with a computer. I spend my whole day in that room, working, eating and sleeping. I would prefer a separate working room, a cabinet for example. “

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PEOPLE'S LIVING PREFERENCES Storage & utility needs Present experience and future expectations of the storage and utility space 1. Current storage experience • storage facilities do not meet needs • alternate storage options are explored “I really appreciate the fact that this place has a separate storeroom, so I can put away all the things I don’t use daily.

It’s incredibly practical for my sports equipment, the suitcases and all my tools.”

2. Expectations of storage and utility • everyone wants a separate storage room “It will be perfect if I can have a walk-in closet, so I can organize my clothes and especially all my shoes in a way that I can see them all.”

3. Recycling and rubbish • everyone wants to recycle, but doesn't “I can’t rely on the municipality to arrange separate trash bins in a close proximity to my home therefore I would appreciate if it can be facilitated by my residential building. It would make it so much easier.”

4. Washing and drying clothes • solution for washing machine noise • drying outside “Sometimes when we turn on the washing machine in the evening the sound is so noisy that we can barely watch television and this taking into account that the washing machine is kind of new.”

PEOPLE'S LIVING PREFERENCES

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Comfort & wellbeing 1. Windows and light • balance between high daylight penetration and privacy “There is this guy who is always smoking on the window just opposite my window and sometimes it is the case that we stare into each other’s eyes, it’s so obnoxious.”

2. Noise • willing to compromise with outdoor noise • good sound insulation between dwellings “The noise from the boulevard I can switch off, but that noise coming from the neighbours is just too much. I don’t want to know every time when they’re visiting the toilet.”

4. Energy efficiency • energy efficiency is seen as important • poor experience with district heating systems • residents want control over heating system “I can see a huge change in both the climate comfort and the bills after the renovation we made to the house in 2011.”

5. Security • security is an important issue

PEOPLE'S LIVING PREFERENCES

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Outdoor space 1. Living space and transition to the outdoor space • used to communal entrance • limited amount of dwellings connected to communal entrance 2. Private outdoor space • extention of the living space • also required for domestic tasks “I have a really big terrace now where I have all my plants and enough space to relax. This is something I would also want to have in my future dwelling so I can move there all my beloved plants, drink my coffee in the morning and relax under the sun.”

3. Communal outdoor space • unused to communal outdoor space • willing to try

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PEOPLE'S LIVING PREFERENCES Living environment 1. City centre as a chosen residential environment “All cinemas and theaters are in the city centre as well as the best schools for my children. I also believe that the people who live in the city centre are more intelectual, the old citizens of Sofia”

2. Pros and cons of the neighbourhood • proximity to centre • good public transport • poorly maintained buildings and squatters • feeling of unsecurity • neighbourhood has bad reputation “There are too many super cheap second hand shops in this area with too many strange people sticking around. All this looks suspicious to the residents. I assume a new development will automatically make them disappear.”

3. Expectations of the living environment • parking solution important • promotion of slow traffic • more sun, air and greenery desired

POLICY GOALS THEN & NOW

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Sudden rapid urban growth • the state gave this city area to refugees • the land was divided in small plots • right to built according to the needs and financial resources > size, height and architecture of the buildings are different

Age of the buildings

1900 - 1920 1920 - 1930 1960 - 1970 After 2000

still in construction Site location

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POLICY GOALS THEN & NOW First Urban planning dates from 1938 as part of the “Mussman” city planning • Uncontrolled and unhygienic urban expansion •Redesign by prof.arch Adolf Mussman.

Mussman urban planning from 1938

POLICY GOALS THEN & NOW

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Defining an urban axis • 1947 state competition for reconstruction of the central urban area • the result is an axis through the city

An axis through the city Site location Camera position View direction

POLICY GOALS

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Unrealized policy ideas 1. High-rise city centre • 10 years (1964 -1974) work on a bold new urban concept of the city.

• An idea of high-rise office buildings along the city centre part of the boulevard 2. Traffic problems • In search for a concept to reduce the traffic of the main boulevard

Ideas from 1974

POLICY GOALS NOW

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Private initiatives • last 12 years only one proposal for a change, initiated by one of the owners • it was renounced, because of lack of consent from all interested parties

Proposal for a new detailed urban plan

residential commercial office

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POLICY GOALS NOW Current lack of municipality goals “We don’t have any particular idea about the area, we’re totally uninterested. Therefore I encourage all private initiatives.

The redevelopment of the neighbourhood is in the hands of its owners.”

The regulations from 1961 still apply!

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3.0.

DESIGN

DESIGN GOAL

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• To define a theoretical basis for an architectural design of a residential building located in the city centre • To design various dwelling types based on the preferences of future inhabitants and the way they wish to express their identities with their homes.

•

The design should be developed consistent with the current building regulations

CURRENT SITUATION

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empty plot empty building

apartment building

single family house

auxiliary building

-1-2-

Silhouette street view -2-

Silhouette street view -1-

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1st STEP - DEMOLITION good location in the centre of the city nice view to the mountain from south

noisy and busy boulevard which separates the city in two parts no green space not enough parking space too many small plots

D

U BO

L

AR V E

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2nd STEP - PARKING + COMMERCE

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3rd STEP - PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN DECK

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RAISED SEMI-PUBLIC DECK

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RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

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URBAN CONCEPT

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SOLAR STUDY Summer

summer

Overlap of summer shadows at 8:00; 10:00; 12:00; 16:00 and 18:00 winter

summer

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SOLAR STUDY Autumn

summer

Overlap of autumn shadows at 8:00; 10:00; 12:00; 16:00 and 18:00 winter

autumn

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SOLAR STUDY Winter

summer

Overlap of winter shadows at 8:00; 10:00; 12:00; 16:00 and 18:00 winter

winter

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3.4.

DESIGN

ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT

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GROUND LEVEL

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SECTION

BUILDING -A-

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Option 1

Option 2

BUILDING -B-

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Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

POSSIBLE DWELLING TYPOLOGIES

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TYPE -1-

TYPE -2-

TYPE -3-

1 floor double orientation

1 floor triple orientation

2 floors double orientation

TYPE -42 floors double orientation

FLOOR PLAN

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Building -AOption 1

Building -BOption 1

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

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• • • • • • • • • •

Promotion of slow traffic Passive thermal gain Solar oriented layout Solar hot water system/collector Rainwater harvesting & storage Domestic waste system Low temperature heating Green roofs Highly insulated Sustainable construction materials

•

External solar shading

MATERIALIZATION GOALS

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• • •

Related to traditional construction Low maintenance Low CO2 footprint & non-toxic

Example • Cross-laminated timber construction • Timber cladding • Local natural stone •

Green/garden roof

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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1. Articles about the Housing market in Sofia (in Bulgarian) 2. Stephen Finlay, Isabella Pereira, Ella Fryer-Smith, Anne Charlton, Rebecca Roberts-Hughes, The way we live now: what people need and expect of their homes (Ipsos MORI & RIBA, London 2013) 3. Paul A. Bell, Thomas Greene, Jeffrey Fisher and Andrew S. Baum: Environmental Psychology, Taylor & Francis, 2005 4. Ch.Alexander, S.Ishikawa, M.Silverstein: A pattern Language, Towns Buildings Construction, New York, Oxford University Press, 1977 5. Janine Meesters: The meaning of activities in the dwelling and residential environment, A structural approach in people-environment relations, IOS Press BV, 2009 6. Irene Cieraad: At Home, An Anthropology of Domestic Space, Syracuse University Press, 1999 7. Julienne Hanson: Decoding Homes and Houses, Cambridge University press, 1998 8. Kevin Lynch: The Image of the City, The MIT Press, 1992 9. Stappers, Pieter, Szita, Jane: Designing for, with, and from user experience, StudioLab Press, 2010

Sources of the images: Silhouette street view -1- : https://www.google.com/maps Silhouette street view -2- : https://www.google.com/maps 1. High school with intensive study of herbrew: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.701496,23.308551,3a,50.9y,326.71h,94.79t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1syLsROAJl24dNL8DsToab5A!2e0 2. Orthodox church “Sveti Nikolay Sofijski": http://4coolpics.com/pics/0405/232770405948.jpg 3. High school with intensive study of asian languages: http://i.frognews.bg/images/18_sou.jpg 4. Sofia synagogue: http://www.faktor.bg/uploads/images/Sofia-sinegoga.jpg 5. Banya Bashi Mosque Sofia: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Banya_Bashi_Mosque_Sofia.jpg 6. Shopping centre CUM: http://www.prodes.bg/_upload/sgrada1.jpg 7. Shopping centre Halite: http://www.andrey-andreev.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/64.jpg - halite 8. Sofia Catholic Cathedral: http://api.ning.com/files/QhSpIHPIrnlVGmxiZxa4h2kH1ZH8i2RT9tbgmN9yl6Fu9dGQx9AGUYQjTLZg5n0p9ochDhctyhQO54V4sU0lSw-GxNLM24*y/file.. jpg?width=721 9. The first modern shopping Mall in Sofia: http://www.mirela.bg/dynamic/i/articles/php/622/26622/3_3.jpg Portzamparc sketches of an open-block theory: http://www.arthitectural.com/atelier-christian-de-portzamparc-quartier-massena/ Urban plan Atelier Christian de Portzamparc | Quartier Massena: http://www.arthitectural.com/atelier-christian-de-portzamparc-quartier-massena/ Impressions from the neighbourhood: http://www.arthitectural.com/atelier-christian-de-portzamparc-quartier-massena/

design mentor: Robert Nottrot research mentor: Andre Mulder BT mentor: Ype Cuperus

USER-CENTERED DESIGN AS A KEY FOR (RE)DEVELOPMENT p2 presentation 19 | 06 | 2014

explore lab 18 Tsveta Ruseva | tsvetaruseva@gmail.com 4257537