observations of squares and urban plot with ephemeral architecture

Université Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, Mostaganem

Project idea

Where does this desire for ephemeral construction come from?
Public space is one of the most characteristic components of contemporary cities, and through its quality it can involve all city dwellers by promoting living together.
Today, people are used to thinking that urban space is defined by buildings, all of which are permanent things, and it is in these spaces that the fleeting drama of the city occurs.
Our research theme concerns the unbuilt space which is “public squares and squares”, without neglecting their relationship with the urban space. The public square is a common good. It is the area over which every individual has a right of access and movement. It has functional and formal aspects.
Our project focuses on a particular form of development for these spaces: ephemeral developments that seem to contradict the concept of sustainable development.

Project description

Ephemeral architecture has long been a strongly artistic activity related to temporary constructions destined to fade with the event that gave rise to them. However, the technological development of construction processes and ecological and civic awareness have raised this type of architecture to the rank of trend, affecting the desire for sustainability, mobility and urban dynamics.
Our objective is to present, beyond a specific typology of architecture, a solution for the development of public spaces.
The places concerned are squares, squares, esplanades and other poorly exploited urban spaces, causing nuisance, informal activities, urban violence or simply neglect.
Our solution is presented as a surface and volumetric modular system, offering a standardized layout by a dimensional grid adaptable to all shapes and all reliefs.
The modules are in the form of:
• Floors that can be added and declined in circulation/promenade spaces, green spaces, green spaces.
• Volumes that can be added and declined in single kiosks, kiosks that can be multiplied horizontally and vertically, sheltered spaces, vertical circulation modules.
• Specific eco-responsible operating modules: autonomous energy blocks, solar panels, filtration of recovered water.

The entire layout must be able to meet the following requirements:
• Being autonomous and eco-responsible, exploiting natural resources and recycling its own resources with the least recourse to the contribution of urban networks
• Adapt to the seasonality of uses of urban space, be able to offer changing and adaptive functions. Propose specific functions (festival, emergency health center, summer trade, seasonal trade).
• Give an ideal constructive solution for the speed of installation, ease of transport and storage.
The operation of the project may be subject to several types of economic design: municipal management, start-up, crowdfunding, participatory management.
Innovative project?
Such a development process represents a confluence of processes related to the urban:
• Link users to the space in a sustainable way: avoid off-peak periods and the vacancy of urban spaces.
• Bring a dimension of urban design and regeneration through a landscape approach.
• Exploit the land in an optimal way, plan the occupation and activities of each space of the city, fight against informal activities.

Technical information

Design:
• Design modular projects.
• Use a construction system with uniform components.
• Separate the layers (structure, services, partitions, layout).
• Use a structural grid.
• Use a prefabrication system.
Materials :
• Use recycled or recyclable materials.
• Minimize the number and type of materials.
• Avoid toxic materials and composite materials.
Assembly :
• Use mono-material assemblies.
• Use a minimum of connectors.
• Adopt connections that facilitate disassembly/assembly.