Machines over manual labor
Industrialization brought about a revolutionary change in society through the medium of mass production. Mechanized manufacturing processes extended the reach of products tenfold, and the possibilities of producing a new variety of products were explored.
Products have now become an irreplaceable part of our everyday lives. The economy flourished with this intervention and demands rose, which were matched by the prowess of mass production. But it is ironic that the revolution which was supposed to make our lives easier has actually played a huge role in aggravating environmental degradation.
It’s not an unpleasant surprise, but more of an ignored by-product of industrialization. The process involves massive resources and energy with pollutants released and wastage produced. Pollution is caused not just by the release of chemicals but also by the high amount of discarded products. Landfills around the world are a testament to wastage overwhelming our cities.
How was life before the industrial revolution?
Promoting the crafts
The Industrial Revolution replaced artisans with machinery for the production of goods. Before, there was a time when society depended on artists and craftsmen to provide products of all kinds. They made handmade products in limited numbers, showcasing skills in manual labor and technique.
The products were made available through local markets that gave them the opportunity to showcase their craft and uphold the tradition and cultural values of their communities by passing down skills and knowledge through generations. After suffering from the ill effects of standardized mass production, the trend of artisanal products is making a comeback.
Artisan markets provide an accessible and affordable platform for artists to set up shop and reach their customers. These marketplaces are organic and they run for a limited time. They are set up in hotspots of cities to attract huge crowds. The need for authentic and non-virtual immersive experiences has been on the rise, and artisan markets are part of this contemporary trend.
Brief of the Competition
Due to commercialization and the emergence of big brand stores, artisans are unable to compete with them with their small-scale (individual) setup. Markets can help the artisans come together to network and promote their business.
Brief: The challenge is to design a setting for an artisanal marketplace that functions only for a limited amount of time at regular intervals.
The market must be built to accommodate local artisans. The market setup will be temporary so the impact on site must be minimal. Artisan’s market breathes new life into the public realm and so its design must have a connection with surroundings while having unique features. The culture of the city can be used for inspiration.
A model market design has to be well-organized, easy to navigate, and self-sustaining. Comfort must be achieved in the open or semi-open setup. The site can be used for public gatherings by providing space for events and artists viewing.
Design Objectives
- Agile: The design must not be a permanent installation but rather a transformative one (or temporary), which would allow for the use of space at other times, for a variety of activities.
- Adaptable: The design must have the potential to be operated or built upon by individuals, part of the community, as and when the need should arise.
- Upgradable: The design must have the capacity to adapt or accommodate new scenarios. The future needs of the market must also be anticipated and taken under consideration, in design.
- Context: The design must respond to the (existing) site conditions. The wider socio-cultural, economic and environmental settings are to be considered in the design approach.
Site
The site is located in Sydney, Australia. The cultural life of Sydney is dynamic, contemporary yet grounded in ethnic, lingual, and religious communities. It is a major global city with a vibrant scene of artistic activity. Artisans’ markets are common in Sydney and gaining traction due to the economic move towards the use and promotion of sustainable products.
The site is a part of Belmore Park. It is adjacent to Eddy Avenue, behind the bus stand. The site enjoys prime locational advantages owing to easy access, popular pedestrian destinations as well as the vicinity of a historically significant landmark. (Central Station).
- Site area = 1074 sq.m
- Height restriction = 5 metres
- Maximum Built Up Area = 1074 sq.m
- Coordinates = 33°52'54.8"S 151°12'25.7"E
(These are the only regulations you require to follow for this challenge. Participants can refer to other development control rules but that is entirely up to them)
Program Outline
The market must be built to accommodate 50 artisans (business outlets). The setup must be built in a way that the market is able to operate on a weekly or monthly basis for a defined time duration so that the functions of the public park are not disrupted. The interval of setup must be delegated by the participant.
The marketplace will be a social center for the city neighborhood. Crowding must be avoided at bottleneck areas in the layout.
Spaces for interaction must be embedded into the layout of the design so that the navigation is engaging yet functional. Arrangements for viewing the craft and technique of artisans in a live setting must also be made to engage the consumers and promote local artistry.
Artisans of all backgrounds must be able to promote themselves and their craft at this public forum. A performance stage can be set up so that the ambiance is enriched with local music and other art forms displays.
Originally published at https://uni.xyz.
