Spontaneous Architecture Kieron Smith January 21, 2008 (First Draft)

Spontaneous Architecture in this thesis, refers to the evolution of the urban community

as built form created and modified by generations of its residents. The thesis will test

the architectural and economic viability of incorporating aspects of the single-family

urban model and the ‘eclectic neighbourhood’ into a high-rise residential development in

downtown Montreal. The intent is to continue the debate relating to high-density

construction and urban blight, particularly, with regards to the flux of high-rise

condominium development in Canadian cities. This brings up a series of issues of

importance including: community participation, economy, and city image. Part of

understanding the subject and local context will require a detailed photo essay

documenting Montreal’s residential communities.

Nominations for supervisor:

1. Howard Davies 2. Tom Balaban 3. Avi Friedman

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Thesis Premise: Spontaneous Architecture and Purpose

Spontaneous Architecture refers to the built form that ‘emerges’ from an anonymous

body of authors. It is inspired by the desire to build things, to modify and to personalize

space, that in turn, embody intimate meaning and purpose. It is a communal social art

that has a unique place in the urban fabric.

So what is Spontaneous Architecture?

On the individual scale (meaning a building) it is the built form that serves to meet the

needs, dreams and desires of its author, and through the intimate process of creation,

brings a special meaning to him. This is work that can be seen everyday, a new

solarium out back, an additional roof dormer, a freshly painted brick façade, a new ‘zen’

garden. It is the evolutionary process that transformation a building into a home, and

the author into a craftsman.

On a broader scale, the interventions of the anonymous builder, in relation to each

other, formulate the outcome of spontaneous architecture, the eclectic neighbourhood.

Characteristics of the eclectic neighbourhood can be seen by strolling through a

downtown residential sector, by looking at stretches of tightly knit buildings and peeking

down alleyways. It is the mix of styles, uses, and building shapes and sizes.

In this sense, the phenomenon of spontaneous architecture is represented in the city at

large. It presents the diversity of intellect and culture, evident by looking at the city

skyline. The premise of this thesis is that Spontaneous Architecture, complete with the

life that it surrounds, provides some of the most meaningful images of the city, moments

that are better experienced than described with words.

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Primary Area of Study: Communal Architecture

Communal architecture has an extended history with ‘the anonymous builder’, as

Bernard Rudofsky refers to him, responding to social and geographical needs with a

myriad of organizational systems and built form. Some of these include: cave dwellings,

hill towns, boat towns, and subterranean dwellings (see Figure 1 and 2). The relevance

in studying this type of architecture and modes of living is that their structure often

revolve around community, so in many ways, they oppose the contemporary North

American ‘design’ for urban planning and high-density living. Some of these ways

include the importance of pedestrian streets, proximity to amenities, and use of local

resources.

Using local resources is a topic of popularity in current thought on sustainability. In

addition to traditional architectural responses to sustainability such as material choice,

methods of construction, etc., organizations such as Slow Food offer interesting food for

thought in introducing alternative programmatic elements into new construction. And

cities with diverse ethnic groups such as Montreal are ideal for operations that promote

a “marketplace of diverse traditional foods” (Slow Food, 24).

In addition to looking a historical models of organization and community, it is also

important investigate modern day architectural thought on this topic. The works of

Herman Hertzberger, Moshe Safdie, and Le Corbusier, emphasize community

interaction. Jane Jacobs also stressed the importance of community and thought of

diversity as a means of providing healthy interaction and safe neighbourhoods.

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Program: The Spontaneous High-Rise

The program will likely be a high-rise residential building that focuses on community

interaction and encourages participation through an open-ended architectural

framework. The idea is to create public space that the inhabitants, or multiple

inhabitants with similar interests, could manipulate (i.e. build). Spaces could be created

to accommodate a range of needs or interests, for example: co-op gardens to office

space, solariums, libraries, etc. These spaces would be encouraged to overlap. For

example garden spaces and markets, libraries and sitting rooms, etc., all of which

promote movement within the building and community interaction. This is not an

attempt to create open-ended spaces that have multiple use, the spaces have a use

and purpose that is an expression of its creator. Manipulation of the building may not

be limited to spaces only seen from inside but the exterior could also evolve so that this

process, or expression, would be represented within the image of the city. The

objective is to celebrate and place priority on the idea of home, individuality, and use of

local resources through architectural expression.

This idea follows in the theory and work of Herman Hertzberger. Some of his ideas that

were brought into fruition included open-ended residential and office prototypes to which

the building spaces where essentially shells to be ‘designed’ by the users. On users

interaction with their environment, Hertzberger theorized that “the more suitable the

area is for their own specific uses, the more they will appropriate it” (Lüchinger, 119),

and thus the “users become the inhabitants” (Lüchinger, 119).

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Site: A Mixed Salad

At this time there are two potential sites that I have selected: 1) L'incinérateur des

Carrières (Incinerator No. 3 at Rue des Carriéres & Rue de Normanville), 2) 1055 Côte

du Beaver-Hall (Cote du Beaver Hall & Rue de la Guachetiere), both in Montréal. The

criteria for selecting a site was that it would already have a diversity of built form and

uses for the project to emerge and merge with.

L'incinérateur des Carrières:

The site is located on the boarder that divides two primarily residential areas,

Rosemount and Plateau. The building, inaugurated in 1970 and closed in 1993, was

considered during its operation of the world’s most advanced garbage burning facilities.

Proud of this title, by location and size, the building is a predominate feature in the area

amongst a mix of uses and building types including: single-detached residential, row

house development (new), single-storey and low rise industrial, retail, and public parks.

The forces that have brought these uncanny elements (i.e. the incinerator itself) into a

relatively small area, and the resulting character, render the site an ideal (see Figure 3).

1055 Côte du Beaver-Hall:

The site hosts an existing four storey brick and concrete clad building of mixed ground

level retail and upper level office use. The site is located on a steep stretch of Côte du

Beaver-Hall (between Viger O and René-Lévesque O), which offers an elevated view

overlooking Place Victoria and Square Victoria. East of the site, is a small park with

stair access to Basilique St-Patrick above. By the small size of the building footprint

and its location, the site presents a challenge for straying from the current model for

high-rise development but for this reason, may be appropriate (see Figure 4).

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Mode of Production: Understanding Residential Montréal

The tools I will use are aimed at documenting the existing residential sectors of

Montréal, and in detail, the existing conditions of my chosen site.

An exercise in the research stage of the thesis will be to photo document Montréal’s

residential sectors. The intent will be to capture the character of community life and the

architecture that surrounds it. The objective is to try to capture the local vernacular, and

understand the essence of community life in Montréal on a macro and micro level, and

to look for indications as to why some neighbourhoods work well while others may not.

As a method of analyzing different neighbourhood types, images will be arranged in a

photo essay that will summarize the characteristics of selected categories (i.e. street

activity, access, building typology, etc.). This will be an ongoing experiment in an

attempt to identify patterns that may differ throughout the seasons.

Once a site is established I will construct two working models. The first model (a

physical model) will be constructed at a scale that includes the extent of the site while

allowing me to work on the building with a degree of detail that shows articulation in the

form. This model will likely be at 1:200 pending on the site chosen and will be built

using cardboard for easy manipulation. The second model will be a virtual 3D model

constructed in AutoCAD showing the site in its surrounding context. This method of

modeling will allow for easy rotation to capture views in and out of the site. It will also

be helpful in generating shadow analysis. This model may be used to generate images

and data for the final presentation of the project.

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Conclusion: An Experiment

This thesis will in many ways be an experiment. It will challenge the current trends in

high-rise living in North America in hopes to incorporate, in my opinion, a more sensible

architecture that emphasizes a myriad of issues including: community, individual

expression, sense of home, use of local resources, and urban vernacular. In some

ways it will be an experiment in my abilities to assess what these issues really mean

and how they interact.

The program raises the question of where does the architect insert him or herself into

the design? In keeping with the spirit of the project, I assume it will be an intuitive call

that will develop in and from the process. However, I have the benefit of looking at

experimental projects in this realm that have been tested in real-life scenarios to help

inform me of what really works.

In working on the project I intend to look closely at its economic impact and viability in

the construction industry. I think it will be an interesting challenge and make the project

a stronger argument in favour of its initiatives.

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Committee and Resources:

The selection for supervisor nominees is based on my experience in the M1 semester

and their expertise in my thesis topic. I have not completely committed to a first,

second, and third choice.

I have chosen Howard as a potential supervisor because of his experience in multi-unit

residential design and from my experience with him during desk reviews and project

presentations in the M1 semester. I am partial to Howard’s style of critique and

interaction with students. I find his feedback informative in presenting unique and

interesting ways to look at the issues at hand.

I have also selected Tom Balaban as a potential supervisor based on our final critique

last semester that he was a part of. Tom seemed to be very enthusiastic about the

projects and his comments were detailed and insightful. I think Tom’s experience in

different medium and craft would bring and interesting angle to my project.

Finally, I have selected Avi Friedman also for his extensive expertise in housing, both in

single dwelling multi-unit complexes.

I also will be in touch with local contractors and designers that specialize in residential

construction. This will be helpful in informing myself of recent trends in the industry,

making my project relevant today.

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List of Primary Sources:

Lüchinger, Arnulf. 1987. Herman Hertzberger – Buildings and Projects, 1959-1986. Zurich: Offset + Buchdruck AG. Herman Hertzberger is a Dutch architect that worked extensively on multi-unit housing. His projects of particular relevance are: Studentenhaus (Student Residence, Amsterdam, 1959) and De Drie Hoven (Home for the Elderly, Amsterdam, 1965), Diagoon Delft (Multi-Unit Residential, Delft 1967) and Centraal Beheer Apeldoorn (Office Complex, Apeldoorn, 1967). In these projects, Hertzberger employed some of his conceptual ideas on user participation, half-opening doors, and indoor streets, all of which promoted social interaction amongst users. Hertzberger’s theory on participation is built on the argument that “users and the form react to and play on each other” (p.9). Also arguing that un-built form is a potential “vehicle for significance” (p.9).

Rudofsky, Bernard. 1977. The Prodigious Builders. Library of Congress Cataloging

in Publication Data. This book investigates the architectural history of the non-architect, who Rudofsky calls ‘the anonymous builder’. In this he looks at vernacular architecture as created by ‘quasi-instinctive’ reactions to the world outside. The outcome is what he refers to as spontaneous architecture, that is, built form that emerges from its surrounding landscape. These ideas and case studies are relevant in my study of the modern day anonymous builders and their impact on the urban fabric. It is also relevant in that it deals with small-scale community operations that use local resources to respond to their built-environment.

Rybczynski, Witold. 1989. The Most Beautiful House in the World. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc.

Witold Rybczynski looks carefully into the nuances of process, context, and

inhabitation that give a home meaning. The book focuses on the relationships that are formed through “infusing a particular site with our presence” (p.171). In this relationship he considers architecture to be a setting for human activity and a “celebration of everyday life” (p.185). The book takes us through his process of designing a boathouse that in the end, as a product of his imagination, brings forth meaning that is special to him. This idea of the intimate bond that exists within the mind is shared in one of my favorite books ‘The Little Prince’.

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List of Secondary Sources:

BIG (Bjarke Ingles Group). 2008. http://www.big.dk Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 2008. 2004-2008 Research Theme

Framework. http://www.cmhc.ca Davis, Sam. 1977. The Form of Housing. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold

Company. Henriquez, Richard. 2006. Richard Henriquez – Selected Works 1964-2005.

Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. Jacobs, Jane. 1961. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House. Koolhaas, Rem. 1978. Delirious New York – A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan.

New York: Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data. Morrell, Paul. 2006. The Value of Everything. The Architectural Review, May, 38-75. OFIS. 2008. http://www.ofis-a.si Paredes, Cristina. 2007. Highrises - Social Living. Barcelona: LOFT Publication. Singer, Peter. 1980. Marx. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Safdie, Moshe. 1974. For Everyone a Garden. The MIT Press Media Department. Sbriglio, Jacques. 2004. Le Corbusier: L’Unité d`habitation de Marseille. Basel:

Birkhauser – Publishers for Architecture. Simona Malatesta, Michèle Mesmain, Sarah Weiner, Winnie Yang. 2005. The Slow

Food Companion. http://www.slowfood.com; http://www.slowfood.ca Yeang, Ken. 1999. The Green Skyscraper. New York: Prestel Verla

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Appendix: Figures

Figure 1. Cave Dwellings – Cappadocia, Turkey

Figure 2. Hill Town – Taxco, Mexico

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Figure 3. L'incinérateur des Carrières – Montréal

Figure 4. 1055 Côte du Beaver-Hall - Montréal