This typology is based on collective housing for older people. The main objective of this project is to provide quality housing and a good lifestyle for the elderly Korean population currently affected by poverty. Indeed, in the current context of South Korea, there is a problem of poverty which mainly affects the population aged over 60, about 40% of this population lives in very precarious conditions.
This is partly due to the fact that the country has a low retirement age which is usually 60, and it is for this reason that many active seniors find themselves excluded from the labor market and society. As soon as they retire, they experience economic hardship, social isolation and mental health issues that make it hard for them to adjust to retirement. Most of the time, they live alone in poor quality houses and spend their days picking up cardboards in the street to earn some money. And because of these living conditions, they develop a pessimistic vision of their life, and many of them feel that they have lost their value in society and decide to give up. Indeed, in South Korea, lonely death is very common among active seniors aged 60-80 who are strongly affected by poverty. So, I found it interesting to address this topic and propose a typology that offers a certain type of solutions for this group of people.
Regarding the location of the project, it is located in an area currently inhabited by an elderly population, close to the largest market in Daegu, a primary school and a church. It is therefore a fairly dynamic district with good qualities of social life that deserve to be reinforced. Thus, the idea of this typology revives this space around a new sustainable environment that strengthens all the qualities that surround it.
Concerning the morphology, it is a U-shaped building which allows a smooth and continuous
connection between the different spaces while leaving a central courtyard which creates a balance between the built space and the natural space. And regarding the implementation of the building on the site, it is oriented east-west in order to maximize natural light in the interior spaces. As for the dimensions, it was important to have a certain regularity with the existing urbanism, by ensuring an alignment with the existing buildings around, and also ensuring the continuity of the existing vegetation.
On the structural side, the idea is to create a light structure mainly in wood to reinforce the natural aspect and to have transparent walls which allow a direct visual link with the external context while offering luminous spaces inside. For the building material, it would be based on recycled brick from the existing vacant building and recycled wood. The foundation is based on a traditional technique consisting of stone and wooden posts. The structure is detached from the ground by about 1.3m with a functional space below.
The distribution of the program is based on a juxtaposition of collective and private spaces. The ground floor includes several semi-public common areas that serve as a space for social interaction between residents and the surrounding community. There is also a chicken farm for egg production, and also the idea of bringing the animals back to urban life to promote biodiversity and create healthier ecosystems.
Additionally, chicken manure helps improve soil fertility and provides essential nutrients to surrounding food producing plants.
The upper part is mainly private consisting of 10 single rooms. And the roof is a garden to enhance food production not only for residents but also for neighbors. The garden also helps to avoid the summer heat because the plants absorb the heat of the sun while serving as habitats for birds, insects and other small animals, thus contributing to urban biodiversity and ecological balance.
As for the energy production, solar panels are positioned on the southern part of the roof which also provide shade for the heat-sensitive plants. There is also an underground water tank for rainwater harvesting. The reservoir uses the ground as a thermal insulator to stabilize the water temperature throughout the year.
To conclude, the main objective of this project is to provide a typology strongly structured by the vegetation and offer a more natural and pleasant environment for the inhabitants. Create enjoyable daily activities based on gardening and food production so that they can stay physically active but also contribute to the development of a sustainable society.