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The Hub

Part 1 Project 2011
Arisa Ishibashi
 University of Bath | UK
Facebook, Twitter, Google, You-tube,,, due to the emergence of such online services
and social networks, the modern world has become increasingly separated from “Nature”
in both its inner and outer attributes, changing our notion of human relationship,
appreciation towards physical environment and perception of our identities. A general
brief given to the students, “Garden City” refers to a spiritual alienation from the nature
as the mind & body problem suggests and questions how architecture could contribute
to induce a “reconciling city”.
“The Hub” takes on one of the most enduring public space as consequences of
digitalization of data and shrinking public realm; libraries. Without physical archives, it
has the potential to re-define its social role and possess flexibility that corresponds to
the future unknowns. My intention is to redefine this public space in which users can
reconcile with nature, reintegrate human culture and rediscover their own truths
through a simple chain of reaction: input, process and output. Input of information by
the others stimulates realization of individuality within the nature as well as reconnection
between the individuals and the community. Process encourages the
understanding of ideas, information and skills by the others leading the users to discover
their own opinions. The output refers to an act of expression by producing their own
information/opinions/works in any forms, which will feed back into the input, hence,
reconciliation with their individual identities.
The architecture is developed based on simple architectural principles that respond to
their context through light, material and function. It consists of series of simple
platforms that provide public spaces of various sizes, flexibility and environmental
conditions, such as rentable studios that expand and contract, 3 stories-high steps that
are convertible to auditorium and exhibition spaces for commercial and local
communities. Its flexible environment is designed to be dominated by the users and
reflected on its internal and external aesthetics, pursuing the ultimate transparency as a
flexible public space.

Tutor(s)
Mr Martin Gledhill
2011
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