How can students feel settled within student accommodation? This project characterises existing typologies as Junkspace, a transitional space where identities are lost due to the effects of supermodernity and capitalism, where students are seen as characterless commodities with high turnover. The proposal draws from the theories of ‘unfinished architecture’ and ‘activist architecture’ to challenge the existing perspective of students as consumers into students as producers. By shifting the power to students, enabling them to spatially manipulate the building to their needs and positioning student accommodation as a political tool, the new typology aims to build a culture of empowering students. Adopting the temporal nature of student living and modular construction, the design methodology of [re]construction influenced the project’s architectural design, ensuring the building components are made for safe assembly and disassembly. During the project, I have truly enjoyed utilising video production as a communicative tool to imagine the potential spatial experience and adaptation by students as they attempt to settle within spaces designed for temporality. Ultimately, if cities were to implement the framework of inhabitants as producers and recognise buildings as unfinished active structures, how would this new culture improve the overall experience towards feeling more settled within communities?
Amanda Jia Yun Chua https://issuu.com/amandachua77/docs/brochure