Unit E

Unit E investigates how a city is shaped by the collective culture of its residents, and how the city, in turn, influences the rituals and daily experience of those who inhabit it. We see architecture and urbanism as overlapping disciplines, marking different points on a scale - therefore throughout the year we have developed a continuity from public realm via communal spaces to the hapticity and intimacy of a private room.

Unit E has established themselves as a live research unit with real live clients and outcomes. This format makes our student’s work relevant to existing and current challenges whilst making the learning experience itself more meaningful and real.

Collective Culture

Living Together

This year we were invited by the Community Land trust “CASH” to explore new sites and forms of living together with them in New Cross, a thriving south London neighbourhood known for its diversity and openness to newcomers. We spent the year establishing our own attitude towards living together through an exploration of daily rituals and the act of sharing. We aimed to re-evaluate how we live together, both, as human collectives, and with this planet, establishing collective habitats that are better suited to our current times, culture, needs, and planet.

Tutors

Margit Kraft, Rosie Hervey, Anastasia Glover

Students

Emily Bennett, Elise Blackmore, Joanna Burgess-Smith, Reuben Higgins, Alicja Jaromirska, Connor Keen, Lauren Lu, Daschle Pereira, Gabriel Stoere Rathe, Rodrigo Urquiza Garcia

Visitors

Tom Surman, Matina Theodoropoulou, Herta Gatter, Manon Girault, Louis Lupien, Liza Jane Walling

Our House In The Middle of Our Street

Alicja Jaromirska

On average we spend two-thirds of our lives at homes - that is why the design of the places we live in is important. ‘Our House, in the middle of Our Street’ is a micro-masterplan for Newcross, London which is an oasis for safe, sustainable and sociable co-living for working families.

Bay Study Drawing - Our House In The Middle Of Our Street - Alicja Jaromirska

Sectional Axo Through Master Plan - Our House In The Middle Of Our Street - Alicja Jaromirska

Moving Perspective - Our House In The Middle Of Our Street - Alicja Jaromirska

The Works Shed – New Cross Road

Connor Keen

Combining the idea ‘live and work’ provides an alternative strategy of providing a housing model which effectively embraces daily life. A sense of community was particularly important within the design proposal. Using key principles derived from Cohousing. An interesting intimacy between circulation and common spaces, provides continuous interaction between users. Loss of key Industrial space within the realms of New Cross aided the design decision to propose flexible workshop spaces, as a reflection of the past and providing longevity to the site for CASH as the resident’s cooperative.

The Theatrical Life

Daschle Pereira

Blurring the lines between theatre, film and life; the project consists of a set design workshop-theatre and a co-housing scheme for the workers and theatre crew. Hence, it redefines co-housing while bringing the backstage of London’s theatres to the spotlight.

Workshop View - The Theatrical Life - Daschle Pereira

Kitchen View - The Theatrical Life - Daschle Pereira

Moving Plan - The Theatrical Life - Daschle Pereira

Cohousing For Makers

Elise Blackmore

Section - Cohousing For Makers - Elise Blackmore

Co live Co Work

Emily Bennett

The Sharing Economy

Gabriel Stoere Rathe

Sectional Perspective - The Sharing Economy - Gabriel Stoere Rathe

Self Build For Families

Lauren Lu

Focusing on the idea of interfamily living, this project proposes a self-build housing scheme for those wanting to live sustainably in the urban realm of London.