"The contradiction of the capitalist production-realisation cycle'' according to David Harvey’s Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism (2014) orchestrates an impossible work-life balance that excludes lower-income workers by paying minimum (or less) wages and placing them within a money-orientated society and houses them in a property market which they cannot afford. Single mother care home workers represent the disparity between low wages and contribution to society in the form of care for the elderly and impacts their child’s access to education and healthcare (Manchester Poverty Strategy 2017-2022).
This proposal will suggest this contradiction would not occur if production (any form of work) was operated in the use economy, instead of the exchange economy where its realisation of value was measured in its competency to address the needs of those workers.
By only producing what addresses the social, cultural, and health needs of the actors works towards a De-growth Economy. Therefore the master plan will connect a new school, care home, a GP within a social market, wellness centre, theatre/cinema and a children’s centre. To set out the sites de-growth agenda, before initial development, a series of 6 structures will be created in collaboration with the local community, commonly owned, the structures will foster equal access to educational, care and health facilities.
The efficiency of this process is formed by a polyphonic strategy that listens to the needs of single mothers care home workers, their children, and elderly people where both economically and non-economically active ‘workers’ can fulfil their needs (childcare, elderly care) in an intergenerational approach as a health care strategy.
The proposed master plan at the former Manchester Abattoir takes advantage of the existing industrial scale of the former lairage, slaughterhouse and market so these caring facilities can allow freedom for individual wandering within the safety of architectural boundaries."
PRODUCTION GROUP - DESIGN TEAM
Athena Pantazis
Jack Francis
Megan Pledger
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