Urban Yard
Raúl Jakob Biehrer
Urban Yard
Raúl Jakob Biehrer
The project is located in a very dense and low neighborhood, which is characterized by workshops. These make for a characteristic and very active streetscape.
However, throughout the city - especially near my property - entire neighborhoods are being demolished and replaced by apartment blocks. As I strongly oppose this trend, my project serves, among other things, to illustrate the benefits of small-scale, dense, and people-friendly typologies, thereby equally reinforcing the existing urban fabric. The construction of my proposal is therefore a simple yet high-quality timber building that can be inserted into the existing context in a relatively simple way. Existing structures such as the street network or emotional ties and contacts of the residents will be preserved.
The access to my project is through a former workshop along the street. This not only serves as an entrance but also remains in use as a shop, which is closely linked to the inner courtyard. Through this, one reaches a wooden platform which - similar to a Japanese engawa - encloses the inner courtyard. Since the inner garden is intended to absorb rainwater, this engawa allows you to stay in the garden even when it is partially flooded due to heavy rain. It also allows easy access to the three buildings that frame the garden. These buildings are all in public use on the ground floor, either as a café, studio, or storage space. The studio extends to the second floor, while the other two buildings serve as living space on the higher floors.
Structurally, the buildings consist of a simple timber frame construction, which is insulated with wood fiber. The façade consists of ventilated wooden slats, which are picked up again in the balustrades of the balconies. The result is a simple yet elegant aesthetic that is inspired by historical Korean temples in a broader sense.
All buildings are elevated and anchored in the ground by foundations made of recycled concrete. This ensures minimal impact on the soil and allows, for example, lush vegetation and the infiltration of rainwater and grey water directly on the property. As a supplement to the building services, two silos are provided, which receive food waste, human excrement, and green waste from the garden. The so-called ‚humanure composting‘ produces nutrient-rich soil, which can either be used directly in the garden or sold in the shop. Since composting also generates heat, the silos could also contribute to the heat balance of the buildings.
In general, the project aims to show that it is possible to create high-quality spaces within an existing urban fabric. In my eyes, this is a much more resource-efficient way of building, preserves existing structures and acquaintances, and illustrates the relevance of the proximity of the earth in our built environment.