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Microcosmic City

Part 2 Project 2007
Alexander Flint
Gareth Bansor
 University of Liverpool | UK
Within Liverpool the Paradise street development is nearing completion. It has caused a shift in the city's commercial centre, systimaticaly stripped the existing fabtic of its site and aims itself only at a demographic with a disposable income and not at Liverpool's less affluent majority.
In response, we have inserted a new program which is responsive to all the city's population and urban fabric. The program strives for a public and civic presence and provides services for those wishing to better themselves and for those who are unable, to heal them so as they can, in effect creating a microcosim of a city.


Gareth and Alex, working in collaboration, produced some extraordinary work in 2006-7. Creative, analytical and insightful, the work was particularly distinguished through its exquisitely crafted drawings and montages. Their thesis project was a response to the present developer-led regeneration of Liverpool City Centre, which they contended, was problematic. Refuting current myopic tendencies towards more shopping and gentrified housing as the panacea, their witty proposal addresses the holistic city, retaining the notion of healing at the heart of the development (a hospice for today’s ailing, stressed and fatigued consumers). Educational and training facilities - and housing - complete the alternative approach to city centre regeneration.
2007
thesis catalyst - the reichstag. the project was based around a field trip to berlin in early october. the brief which we set ourselves, like our thesis, revolved around healing and recovery
instead of the reichstag functioning as a symbol of recovery (parliment) the building is given a new program of educating, healing and housing for the people of the city. this project formed the basis of the ideas explored in the thesis which followed
the thesis revolves around the creation of a microcosmic city which facilitates the demographic of liverpools population whom require help - they are accepted within a community, remaining visible and work within this community
city population analysis - liverpools unemployed, long term ill and homeless
the existing fabric of liverpool is bieng lost due to new developments. in response to this we examined the effect of our new program on the citys urban fabric and established a set of rules which determined its visual and physical effect
as a microcosmic city, the new community under development required a public front, and because of its status required a civic presence. this came in the form of a tower and town hall
as a microcity for both work and rest, the program became entangled with the creation of a minature utopia where the workers could find peace away from the busy city surrounding them
the program of the microcosmic city consists of healing, working and recovery. the existing listed buildings of the site are incorporated into this program and given a new status as gp's, hospices,factories,workshops and communes.
the civic presence of the microcosmic city is indicated by a tower eminating from its centre surrounded by exisitng facades and listed buildings facilitated by a new program of recovery
the program of the microcosmic city includes working, living and leaning facilities which are provided beheind the facade of the previous littlewoods flagship store. the plan of this is illustrated showing shadow of the tower, which is used as a sundial
the illustrated, exploded isometric explores the relationship between the existing city fabric and the proposed program
the microcosmic city includes a town hall and with it archives storing information on all the current inhabitants. this exploded isometric illustrates this facility
the new program sits within the buffer zone of the grade one listed bluecoat gallery which placed restrictions on the existing facades. in order to bypass these restrictions transient expandable accommodation had to be used
the healing process which the residents of the city under-go begins in the hospice. here inward facing wards look upon a tranquil courtyard and provide relief to the patients
as with all idealistic notions of utopia, healing and recovery within a pre-defined programed society, the collapse of its principles and its eventual decay are inevitable, and it is through this decay that a new society is born!
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