Catalogue 22/Housing Development - M. Beange

Part of Catalogue 22, Catalogue 22 on Google Maps

Designer: Megan Beange
Degree: B. Architecture
School: Carleton University
Year: 2012
Location of Project: Carleton University
Project Status: Unbuilt

The Housing Project was the fourth year studio that gave students a chance to explore housing design. Some studio groups were givent he option of multistorey, multi-use buildings. However, no other studio aimed to address the social problem of housing at such a polemical level as did our group. We worked in groups for this project, collaborating on massive and avant-garde strategies of densifi cation for several Ottawa sites. The design we developped was based on two precedents that we had analyzed early in the semester for inspiration. These projects were Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67 for the Montreal Expo, and Mies Van Der Rohe’s Courtyard Houses. Both precedents spoke different dialects of the same language to our ears. Safdie worked vertically, stacking horizontal “L” shaped units, with a heavy importance placed on outdoor, personal space. Mies also used an “L” shape, among others. However Mies’ approach was more the sprawl of a suburban condition. Mies also laid heavy importance on the outdoor, personal and rather introspective space.