Fasten Your City Belts | Haiko Cornelissen Architecten

Fasten Your City Belts Haiko Cornelissen Architecten

I start with a quote from the architects. ‘Fasten Your City Belt is an urban strategy that transforms lifeless office districts into lively areas through a combination of strategic interventions and incentives.’ This Europan 11 competition entry by Haiko Cornelissen Architecten of Amsterdam and New York, strives to re-imagine the possibilities of future urbanism through multi-functioning and encouraging density. To live in an ‘only-home’ amongst many other ‘only-homes’, miles or kilometers from the closest shop, is to live isolated where even movement is stagnated: sitting in a car. FYCB first combines functions to create inherent vitality. In this way, a building begins to answer some of its own questions. Where do I get groceries? Downstairs.

In conjuncture with program is form. Belts are created around building plots that respond to surrounding context. They may be pushed in or up for pedestrian/ occupant movement and lighting conditions. And perhaps they twist up to allow cars underneath to the parking garages below? Programs within the belts are moved up to, in conjuncture with the parking moved down, create new possibilities for the ground level. These alterations in the scope of infrastructure allow plot sizes to scale up as an incentive to owners to redevelop their plots into welcoming, vibrant private/public neighborhoods.

Architects: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten and Wemake3d
Photographs: Haiko Cornelissen Architecten and Wemake3d