Page 4 - AIT0317_TheLoft

SERIEN STUDENTENARBEIT • STUDENT WORK

Die Herangehensweise, ein Konzept mittels zwei fiktiver Personen zu entwi ckeln, war
Hochschule Kaiserslautern eine völlig neue und interessante Erfahrung für mich. Ich ging noch freier und fan-
tasievoller an den Entwurf heran als gewöhnlich. Das Thema Homosexualität in der
www.hs-kl.de Architektur spielte – zumindest im alltäglichen Leben im privaten Wohnungsbau –
Gründung im 19. Jahrhundert doch nicht so eine große Rolle, wie ich zunächst angenommen hatte. Dennoch sind
rund 600 Studierende in fünf Fachbereichen verschiedene Aspekte, wie die Abgrenzung von Privaträumen unter Umständen von
großer Wichtigkeit. Das soziale Umfeld der Bewohner ist hier maßgebend. In meinem
Entwurf habe ich auf das private Leben mehr Wert gelegt und ungewöhnliche
Verbindungen geschaffen, wie beispielsweise die offene Badgestaltung, die die
Räumlich keiten des hinteren privaten Teils optisch verbindet, oder die davor liegen-
den Drehtüren, die keinen Hinweis darauf geben, was sich dahinter verbirgt. Denn
Räume, in denen es sich ohne jegliche Ängste leben lässt und die uns fern von den
festgefahrenen Strukturen der Gesellschaft halten, sind vor allem im privaten
Wohnungsbau essentiell. Weiterhin will ich mit dem Entwurf zeigen, dass zwei
Menschen mit so unterschiedlichem Charakter auch auf einer relativ kleinen Fläche
ohne Einschränkungen zusammenleben können.

L ast winter term, I decided to take on a design task under the supervision of
Professor Jens Wendland. The task was to convert an already existing loft in the
old London district of Shoreditch into an apartment for two persons. The future resi-
dents – a couple – are over sixty and open to anything. The loft itself is in the style of
“shabby chic” and is currently mainly used as a photo studio. In the course of the con-
version, a completely new style was also to be created. In a first step, I analysed the
district of Shoreditch: Which are the features that stand out and what is its essence?
My research showed that Shoreditch with its typical brick façades of a former workers’
district is today a place full of contrasts. Due to shady pub areas and houses formerly
destroyed by the war, it at first looks undemonstrative and derelict. On the other hand,
in the course of the past years a large spectrum of artists have spread out and charac-
terized the district with artful graffiti, high-quality renovated design offices and unusual
fashion stores. Thanks to the growing popularity of Shoreditch, an increasing number
of major firms are moving in and demonstrations against the gentrification are today
no longer rare. The old Shoreditch is contrasted with a new and gaudy dynamism. In
Perspektivische Darstellung des Arbeitszimmers • Foreshortened representation of the study the next step, I focused on the topic of age. How does the daily routine of an already
retired person look? What does he do all day once making money no longer plays a
major role? I decided that – as soon as one has left the stressful daily working life and
the money worries behind – one can concentrate on what is passionately fun and for
what perhaps in younger years there had hardly been any time.

The loft is characterized by contrasts

I quickly realized that, for this design, the boundaries towards the outside world as
well as inside the loft were to play an important role. For this purpose, I divided the
loft into two zones with two design vocabularies. These areas are connected with
level, almost invisible revolving doors. The design vocabulary in the entrance area is
characterized by mirrored folding surfaces. The space looks open, free and quite sur-
real – a deliberate boundary against the outside. The element runs through the space,
forms a cloak room and continues into the adjacent first study. Here lively and socia-
ble Michael can pursue his current interests and activities and leave the loft for his
daily rounds of jogging and walks without disturbing his partner. The adjacent open
living area is characterized by strict rectilinearity. A simple design communicates
structure and a feeling of stability and order. The open kitchen island offers the pos-
sibility of cooking together and also sitting down with guests. A sitting area in the liv-
ing room invites to cosy get-togethers. Through the shared living space, one gets to
the private section at the back. An oak wall panel takes up the folded shape of the
entrance area and runs from the second study intended for Robert to the shared
space for retreating and sleeping. In the area of the second study, it conceals the win-
dows so that individual beams of light only penetrate the room through circular open-
ings in the panel. In the centre, a seating unit with a work surface and high outer
walls forms an oasis in the midst of the books. Here introverted and down-to-earth
Robert is able to retreat and dedicate himself completely to his books. The dressing
area on the left site of the private section keeps out eyes prying through the windows
thanks to its subdivision into individual elements. Above the bed is an element con-
sisting of an acrylic-glass cube filled with dried grasses. The sleeping area and the
study are visually connected by the private bathroom with a shower which is open
Schnitt und Grundriss • Cross-section and layout towards the bedroom and glazed towards the working area.

054 • AIT 3.2017