Evolutionary Interval

Westpart Apartments in Philadelphia, as a typical project of high-rise public housing, has long being criticized for its in segregated or transitional neighborhoods, now is disparaged for its density and a lack of “defensible space”. Researching the local urban fabric of residential block in Philadelphia, the regular box-shape housing cluster with neglected interval space between it has been extracted as the basic morphology. Combining it with individual housing self-expansion typology, which reveal the willing of self-determination of people in neighborhood, a strategy of insulting new renovation unit cluster has been introduced to revitalize the site while implanting the characteristic of community. Demolishing partially of existing building, then insulting the new renovation units cluster, in which the interval space existed between every single unit. This interval space is totally modified by the resident’s individual preference, as no matter public or private appropriation to foster meaningful relationship between residents and community to express and maintain their self-determination. Meanwhile the hardware store and fabrication lab serve as other public common space inside building, not only give residents opportunity to easily get access to the materials and tools they want, but also enhance meaningful relationship between residents.