Artopolis : Center for the Awarness and promotion of Street Art

École Nationale d'Architecture et d'Urbanisme (ENAU) Tunis

Project idea

Street Art, the largest art movement since Pop Art, is a movement that brings together several artistic practices that take place on the street: their genetic identity.
Street art practices in Tunisia have emerged since the revolution as a means of expression and protest, which means that these practices remain relatively new to the community.
Street art in Tunisia appears to be exposed to aggression from offenders ... social promiscuity, insecurity and discomfort.
It doesn't escape from a deviant qualification, given its origin as an alternative and protest practice in ‘formal’ public spaces that are not compatible and adaptable for practicing it.
The main goal is then to provide an urban and architectural response that integrates street art in a secure environment, adapted to the Tunisian social context and that enhances and sensitizes the public towards these artistic practices.
To address this, we propose a threefold intervention: Urban, Urbatectural and architectural.
The Urban intervention involves creating a Masterplan for the Banks of the lake of Tunis (ZONE A), incorporating an artistic Boulevard that connects the major axis of Tunis, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, to the lake. This Boulevard will provide flexible spaces for Street Art and interact with 5 socio-cultural hubs, one of which will house the architectural intervention.
Our Architectural intervention revolves around the Roof Promenade, a fluid inhabited ramp offering various artistic activities. This design promotes dialogue between urbanism, architecture, and nature while fostering social interaction and public spaces.

The idea emerges from the need to rethink urban development in Tunisia, which remains in favor of rigid and purely functional urban planning that does not meet the needs of the public nor provide public spaces that promote social interaction.
Rethinking the public and architectural space through Street Art will generate an innovative point of view towards the nature of the designed spaces that leads to a re-definition of the relationship between architecture and urbanism, private and public and interior and exterior, hence the innovation of the quality of spaces all in favor of the creation of the well-being and the improvement of the urban life quality of the citizens.
Ultimately, this project seeks to increase acceptance of Street Art and raise awareness of its true value in enriching Tunisian culture with dynamism and festivity.

Project description

The main urban concept revolves around extending Avenue Habib Bourguiba to the banks of the Lake of Tunis, with a focus on urban sustainability. To prepare for potential effects of global warming on lake levels over the next century, green and entertainment spaces will surround the intervention area. The urbatectural intervention features a pedestrian artistic boulevard, offering secure flexible spaces for artistic creations, as well as places for leisure and a large green park where the axis meets the lake.
To encourage social interaction, a river will flow through the boulevard, lined with bleachers for people to sit, interact, and enjoy artistic performances. This artistic boulevard connects with five sociocultural hubs, filling the city's need for diverse programs. A red organic dynamic artery will unite the boulevard, enhancing visitor well-being.
Among the five sociocultural hubs , the architectural project stands out with its Roof Promenade, which originates from the urban environment of the artistic Boulevard and extends across the river, becoming an architectural attraction. The project's triple-height atrium serves as the main entry and serves a vital role in connecting learning and formation units (conference hall, MEDIALAB, debate spaces, cultural café) with exhibition and performance units (FABLABS for calligraphy, graffiti, augmented reality exhibitions, etc.).
The central atrium fosters a link between exterior event areas and the project, emphasizing its openness to the urban environment. Adorned with Arabic calligraphy, the atrium's curtain walls reflect Tunisian identity and create a vibrant and festive atmosphere inside the project.
By hosting international and national events, this visionary project will establish Tunis as a world-renowned artistic destination, transforming the city into a thriving hub of artistic expression and cultural exchange.

Technical information

The entire project is deeply rooted in the principles of sustainability, with a dual focus on both urban and architectural aspects. Urban sustainability is achieved by strategically creating green and entertainment spaces along the entire periphery of ZONE A, addressing the pressing concern of rising lake levels due to climate change, which could adversely affect constructions along the shores.
On the architectural front, the project prioritizes energy efficiency by implementing state-of-the-art systems such as HVAC, lighting, water management, and air conditioning. These systems are thoughtfully designed to minimize energy consumption, reducing the project's environmental impact.
Inside the project, sustainability continues to be a guiding principle. Movable interior walls, crafted from sustainable materials, offer flexibility in space usage while remaining environmentally conscious. Additionally, the panels for demonstrating calligraphy and graffiti techniques in the artistic boulevard and urban exposition are made from recycled materials, providing street artists with eco-friendly resources to express their creativity.
By embracing sustainability on both urban and architectural levels, this project not only seeks to minimize its ecological footprint but also sets an example for future developments that prioritize the well-being of the environment and the community.

Documentation

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