Ben Fraser

Architecture RIBA Part 2 MArch (Hons)

The Elephant's Heart - A Collective Response to Genuinely Affordable Housing in One of London's Developing Financial Nodes

About

Ben Fraser

Imagine a city boldly redefining urban life, committed to fostering equity and celebrating diversity. Within this dynamic landscape, sustainable communities flourish, their very essence encourages social engagement and a sense of belonging, orchestrated by the architecture. A transformative strategy emerges, leveraging the power of architecture to confront economic disparity head-on. This strategy ingeniously converts capital investment into the bedrock of genuinely affordable housing, thereby redistributing wealth through architecture and establishing dignified living as an inalienable human right. Furthermore, this forward-thinking city passionately champions environmental sustainability, with every principle meticulously crafted to achieve net zero emissions by the critical milestone of 2050.

Now, zoom into Elephant and Castle of London, where a vibrant communal space pulsates at its heart, serving as a beacon for affordable housing and nurturing social interaction. Here, hybrid programs seamlessly intertwine, fostering collective engagement and resilience against the tide of individualism that often plagues modern societies. The Elephant's Heart is not merely a structure but a testament to conscious design, actively working to heal the fractures of social division. By employing the sustainable construction material mass-timber, this design blazes a trail towards a future where urban equity and diversity reign supreme, setting a visionary precedent for cities worldwide.

Perspective Section of Proposal

Perspective section of proposal which shows the site bound by public infrastructure routes and the public realm full of activity within as housing trusses soar above.

The perspective section demonstrates the integration of the proposal into its context. It showcases the relationship between the housing community and inclusive public realm in a city landscape which has become known to otherwise discriminate.

The Concourse

Human view at the concourse level showing a train departing a station, people engaging in social activities, and the housing floating above the station concourse.

In the midst of the lively concourse, hybridisation of programmatic use working in harmony is evident. The commuter, the shopper, the resident, the worker, all engaging in shared experiences and social interaction. These events are made possible by the architectural response, which provides the stage for these collective affairs to ensue.

The Market

A modular market situated underneath the housing trusses showing multiple people travelling through and engaging in social activities.

The modular market arrangement provides flexible and adaptable spaces for local businesses to thrive while allow for permeable pedestrian flow to occur. The market is a collective environment between the private sphere of the housing community that floats above and the public sphere of wider society below.

If you would like to learn more about my project, or get in touch with me, please visit the Instagram link above and drop me a message.

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