D
Inspiration
Ijburg, Amsterdam
The Ijburg district of Amsterdam has complete floating neighbourhoods, with jetties instead of paved footpaths and city plazas. There are certain qualities when it comes to floating neighbourhoods, for example, it fosters a feeling of liberty and of closeness to nature, rising sea levels and increased precipitation will make it necessary to dedicate ever larger areas of land to water storage basins and peak overflow zones, and within a dense part of the city, it is imperative to use any and all initiatives possible to bring affordable, sustainable living to a new development where possible.
House of Vans, London
House of Vans, located underneath Waterloo Station, has taken unused underground tube tunnels, awkward in shape and location, and turned it into a coveted site which includes a skate park, exhibition centre, cinema, music venue, offices, cafes and bars. This stuck out to us as possible inspiration for Silo D which similarly is awkward in shape.
Studio Macola, Venice
Looking abroad, the third site for inspiration was the regeneration project in Venice, Studio Macola, a residential development located in Venice, was constructed within the shell of an old factory, a 3,950-square-metre housing complex located as part of a wider plan to revitalise a former industrial site on Murano – an island to the north of Venice. A quote from studio founder Giorgio Macola encompasses the aim for the development, "The project for the residential units speaks to the area's existing urban fabric".