FLUENTLY LIVING

LOCATION: HANDELSDOKKAAI, GHENT

CONTEXT: FIRST YEAR BACHELOR INTERIOR DESIGN

EVALUATION: 16/20

The second assignment was to design a full-fledged house within a limited living area of 54m². This design is located on a fictitious raft on the water. The shape of the living unit could be determined by the arrangement of 6 cubic modules.

Besides ergonomics, this design focuses on openness and the perception of the environment. The functions are oriented towards the sun, taking into account the view of the nearby residential unit. The outdoor space is oriented towards the view over the canal and towards Dok Noord. The daytime functions enjoy the southwestern sun and are rather closed off to the northeast, where the other residential units are located. Sleeping, in turn, is oriented towards the morning sun.

A smooth circulation is provided. The kitchen is located at the entrance: it also functions as a meeting space. The necessary functions for entering are also present there. The seating area is an end point of the circulation: thus, the required rest for this function is provided. The night functions are again isolated on the first level to provide this rest.

Materialisation was not yet part of the assignment, but the design does contain a reference to the history of the old harbour, in the form of weathering steel.