The first year graduate students of the MARCH School presented their concepts on the Shelter + theme, in which they tried to find an answer to the question - where to live and how to integrate refugees arriving in Europe into public life. In parallel with them, under the guidance of Felix Wettstein and Lodovica Molo, students of the Swiss Higher School of Lucerne were developing this topic. Until March 11, the projects of Russians and Swiss are presented at an exhibition in Villa Saroli in Lugano - the city to which these projects are dedicated.
Olga Aleksakova, architectural studio Buromoscow, head of the studio of the MARCH school:
“The project was carried out in the framework of MARSH cooperation with the Lucerne Graduate School in Switzerland. This was not the first such experience. Last year, our students have already worked together with the Swiss on the School + high school concept. Joint workshops, meetings and discussions were held. In the final, a general exhibition was organized. I must say that our students then coped with the task no worse than the Swiss ones. The only differences were in approaches. At MARCH it is more conceptual, while at the Graduate School of Lucerne it is more technical.
The theme of the new project was suggested by our Swiss colleagues. The issue of resettlement and integration of refugees for Switzerland has been relevant for a very long time. But, starting work last May, we did not think that this topic would become so acute over the summer. As a design site, we were offered an area on the outskirts of Lugano, built up mainly with social housing. On its basis, it was proposed to accommodate half a thousand refugees. Students were asked to decide on their own about the preservation or demolition of existing facilities on the site. It should be borne in mind that, in addition to social housing of the early 1970s, there are such buildings as the buildings of the architect Dolph Schneble and the architectural monument of the 1930s, designed by Rino Tami. All buildings today are in an extremely worn out and even emergency condition and require at least repairs."
Julia Burdova, architectural studio Buromoscow, head of the studio of the MARCH school:
“The educational process for us began with a trip to Switzerland. At that time, the students of the Lucerne Graduate School, who had started work a month earlier, had already prepared quite complete concepts and proposals, and we could get acquainted with their ideas. In addition, the travel experience itself, acquaintance with Swiss architecture and their approach to teaching and design was, in my opinion, very useful. On our return for two weeks we were engaged in an in-depth study of the topic and the proposed site. no understanding of the problem, no coherent state policy for its solution.
But, despite all the difficulties, most of our students eventually came up with rather interesting and correct ideas, interpreted the topic in different ways. At first, we thought mainly about temporary structures and structures, but quickly realized that there is nothing temporary in Switzerland. For Lugano, it was necessary to design good social housing, which would later be used by the city. Many students tried to solve, first of all, the issue of integration and adaptation of refugees. Others wondered how to preserve and modernize existing buildings. Still others tried to find possible points of contact between refugees and the local population."
We publish selected projects of students of the MARCH School and the Graduate School of Lucerne on the topic of Shelter +
Artyom Polsky (MARSH School)
The project attempts to make up for the losses experienced by each refugee by means of architecture. This is achieved by combining characteristic Swiss architecture with traditional Islamic architecture. On the territory of the Swiss city of Lugano, in one of its remote areas, the author proposes to build five closed residential areas. They will take the place of two extended Rino Tami buildings that are to be demolished. Only the existing social housing of a later period and the fire station are preserved. The facades facing the city reproduce the ordinary minimalist architecture of Lugano, in the courtyard part, traditional techniques for the cities of the Middle East, familiar and familiar to most refugees, are actively used: colonnades and open galleries along the perimeter of the floors, a large courtyard, decorative elements. The gaps between the quarters are small, which is also characteristic of the urban fabric of Islamic settlements. As for the typologies of apartments, here the author refers to the standard layouts of social housing.
According to Artyom's idea, the space created in this way will help refugees adapt more quickly and easily to a new place, and will reduce the level of stress and aggression. Another goal of the project is to bring two completely different cultures closer together. It is solved by organizing a trade area or a market for national products in each courtyard. To create a safe and comfortable space inside the courtyard, the entire contour of the residential area was made permeable at the ground floor level.
Olga Aleksakova about the project:
“Artyom Polsky proposed the idea of a new closed quarter - Swiss on the outside and Muslim on the inside. When designing, he relied on his own impressions. So, having visited Milan, he realized that he was very comfortable in this city precisely because it was somewhat similar to Moscow. Then a bold idea appeared to combine traditional Muslim architecture with Swiss minimalism. In the courtyard, Artyom placed a shopping area, which could become both a place of employment for refugees and a good occasion for interaction with the local population. The result is a convincing multicultural image."
Anna Panova (MARSH School)
The project proposes to build a new building for refugees on the site of the old social housing in Lugano. The building will occupy the central part of the site, adjacent to the existing fire station and the residential building of Dolph Schneble. The main idea of the project is to saturate the new space with those functions that will help refugees quickly adapt to Lugano. For this, a one-story extended block is located along the street, containing a language school, a kindergarten with a playground, shops and cafes. On its exploited roof, according to the author, it is possible to organize a comfortable public space that can unite refugees and townspeople. A large residential complex with an enclosed courtyard rises directly above the one-story volume. The main part of the building is a gallery-type dwelling with small apartments designed to accommodate single people. The block section, located inland, accommodates more comfortable apartments for families with children. All apartments comply with modern Swiss standards, which will allow them to be used even after solving the problem with refugees.
Julia Burdova about the project:
“Anna Panova, in addition to housing presented in several typologies, provided for a whole range of integration functions - language schools, kindergartens, supermarkets. In her project, the concept of the further use of the buildings was also thought out. Rooms for single people, and among refugees, there are more than 70% of them, can be used as a student hostel, and apartments for families - as social housing."
Julia Dugintseva (MARSH School)
A new type of housing that can accommodate up to 500 refugees, the project proposes to build on the site of the existing buildings of Rino Tami. At the same time, the plan of the new buildings accurately reproduces the plan of the houses designated for demolition: this is how the issue of succession is resolved. The resulting rather dense development - six volumes, combined by three and placed opposite each other - nevertheless, is rather gently built into the environment.
The main idea of the project is to separate women, men and families with children. Each category has a separate floor. So the author of the project is trying to reproduce the way of life traditional for Islamic countries and at the same time to solve the problem of aggressive behavior of men towards women. In addition to housing, the necessary social infrastructure is also provided: a kindergarten, primary, secondary and language schools, a conference room, as well as a majlis, where residents of Lugano will be able to join the culture of the East.
Julia Burdova about the project:
“Yulia Dugintseva, in her concept, has preserved only the memory of the place, adding new and higher buildings to the existing building spots. In her residential buildings, women, men and families live on different floors to avoid conflict situations. The result is a multifunctional complex that is quite commensurate with its surroundings, which, in addition to housing, includes all the necessary social infrastructure facilities."
Paul Philippe Sonne-Frederiksen (MARCH School)
The aim of this project is to understand how architecture can influence overcoming the complex process of refugee assistance. The architect offers a kind of universal method of space development, applicable not only in Switzerland. For this, three main strategies have been developed. The first is integration: adaptation and renovation of an existing building. At the same time, the boundaries between the new and the old are blurred. The second method is compaction. In this case, all transformations concern only the inner space. The author of the project is sure that competent redevelopment will increase the density of apartments. The third strategy is "occupation". Here, attention is focused on finding any unused areas in the city: roofs, spaces between houses, etc.
The early integration of refugees, according to Paul, will be facilitated by the active involvement of the townspeople. For this, it is proposed to organize all kinds of activities on the territory of the "refuge" - creative workshops, art galleries, dance studios or theaters.
Olga Aleksakova about the project:
“Paul's idea was to preserve all existing buildings. He developed three strategies: integration, compaction and occupation. He added three additional floors above Rino Tami's house. He carefully changed the layouts, connected the new and old dwellings with terraces. In the second building, he implemented a consolidation strategy: he completely changed the layouts, increasing the number of apartments. In the latter case, Paul placed a kind of parasite building on the roof of the former fire station. All solutions fit well into the environment. It turned out to be a very caring architectural project”.
Michael Hurny (Lucerne Graduate School)
Patrick Herger (Lucerne Graduate School)