Gemeente Molenpoort –a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
A report on the research already conducted on the site of the Molenpoort shopping mall and the city of Nijmegen. How this research informs the position and aspirations of the project and which research still needs to be conducted it informs the next research of my architectur- al graduation project.
17.12.2020
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Gemeente Molenpoort –a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic is still influencing the way we are or – more specifically – are not interacting with each other in the physical world. The drastic lockdown also shone the light on social injustice in the unequal distribution of goods. While property owners are able to maintain, even increase their net-worth. In Germany, the Schwartz family, owner of the supermarket chain Lidl for example increased their net-worth by 300-million Euros and Amazon tripled its income during the crisis.1 As new measurements in order to condemn the further spread of COVID 19 Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte announced a strict lockdown of the whole country on 14th of December, closing all non-essential businesses.2 This forceful shutdown is not only a reason to question consumerist culture as a whole, but is especially a reason to question what consumerist culture made of our cities. In her book, Naked City Sharon Zukin showed how the integration of consumerist function during the process of gentrification replaced once authentic urban communities with chain stores aimed at the middle class3. At the edge of Nijmegen´s city center lies the Molenpoort, a failed temple of consumption at the brink of deconstruction. The redevelopment of the site is opening up approximately 11.000m2 ready to be filled with dreams and aspirations, yet the current plans are neither dreaming nor aspiring. Looking at the proclaimed functions and renderings created for negotiations between the municipality and the American investor suggests another gentrified and consumerist oriented planning project. The question arises, does Nijmegen need a new shopping street at the same place the Molenpoort failed due to vacancy?4
Figure 1 Current plans for the reconstruction of Molenpoort by the municipality – image from (Studio Bricolage Group 5 2020)
1 (Augustin 2020) 2 (Government of the Netherlands 2020) 3 Zukin referred to American urban planner Robert Moses, “who tried to rebuild the city for middle-class taste and incomes” (Zukin 2010) p. 230 4 (Studio Bricolage Group 5 2020) p. 114f.
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
What is Gemeente Molenpoort?
Gemeente Molenpoort is an ambitious counter project, questioning the likely case of gentrification by imagining a different take on society, acknowledging the landscape of Nijmegen´s social and political activism and striving for emancipation. The name Gemeente Molenpoort not only refers to the failed shopping mall, but it is also referring to the old city gate at Molenstraat, bearing the same name. Until the year 1450, the site was located outside the perimeter of the city walls, as the city grew the new walls ended just outside of what is known today as Tweede Walstraat, resulting in the creation of said Molenpoort. As the site was once placed outside the city of Nijmegen Gemeente Molenpoort strives to position itself outside of the proclaimed neo-liberal city development.5 Zukin introduces the notion of Authenticity as the quality of places. This new idea is expanding on Jane Jacob´s vocabulary that considered density, diversity, character, and liveliness. Together with the look and feel of a place Zukin is appointing “the social connectedness that a place inspires” as one of the most relevant aspects of an authentic place.6 Gemeente Molenpoort is striving for authenticity by creating live/work environments for a socially connected community. This idea of social connectedness brings us to the citizens of Gemeente Molenpoort and the Question, why is Nijmegen the perfect place for an ambitious project like this?
Figure 2 The Molenpoort becomes MolenOrt, relating to the German word for place. Ort is touching on the notion of identity – own image
5 Apart from social housing in the 70´s most of Nijmegens recent reconstruction projects in the city centre feature free market apartments and retail area that is mostly used by big brand names. (Studio Bricolage Group 4 2020) 6 (Zukin 2010) p. 220
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Who are the citizens of Gemeente Molenpoort?
Nijmegen has a vibrant history with the squatting movement. The cities political orientation, tending towards the left not only earned it the nickname “Havanna an der Waal”7, named after the socialist capital of Cuba, it also created a fertile ground for the squatting movement of the '70s and '80s. Squatting became an easy threshold for a mostly young politically left-oriented audience to take action and become politically active. The pinnacle of Nijmegens squatting history was reached in February 1981, when a massive deployment of armed police forces and even military tanks was mobilized to clear the squatted houses at the Piersonstraat.8 Yet, the squatting movements also brought about many successful examples that later got legalized and are still operating as alternative communities as of today.9 The cheap/free living and working space that squatted buildings provided became the starting point of cultural counter initiatives. To demonstrate how a cultural and societal counter- narrative in a neo-liberal country like the Netherlands can look like I will shortly present the history of two former squats.
De Grote Broek
Figure 3 The facade of De Grote Broek after the renovation – image from (Stichting Volksbelang van 1895 2009)
7 Mattie p. 83, Wido p. 145 (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) 8 (van den Boogaard 2017) 9 A collection of legalized squatted buildings with further information on their functions in the social and cultural field can be found in an archived article by the Nijmeegse Stadskrant http://archief.denijmeegsestadskrant.com/index.php?id=05&url=mrt09#eind (Benschop und van Wel 2009)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
De Grote Broek is probably the most famous squatted building in Nijmegen10. It is located at Van Broeckhuysenstraat 46 and reaches towards the other side of the urban block to Tweede Walstraat 18tm 21. Originally conceived as the headquarter of the Provinciale Geldersche en Nijmegsche Courant in 1901, it was changed to a furniture store later on and shortly after becoming vacant in 1984 squatters moved in. Early on the squatters realized a public bar on ground floor level and used the basement as a concert hall, called “Onderbroek”, hosting alternative music concerts and theatre plays.11 After the owner´s death in 2004, the municipality acquired the house, legalized the squat, and sold it to the social housing agency Standvast Women, which renovated it together with grants from Stichting Volksbelang 1895. Today 15 inhabitants reside in the upper levels, they are tenants of the social housing agency but decide together with the agency in a democratic manner how the building is handled.12 On the ground floor level, many social and political initiatives find affordable office-space like the political Café – De Klinker, Extrapool – a production company for independent artists, music, art and print, Just People – Supporting refugees, Straatmensen – Supporting the homeless to name a few.13 The initiatives and the building is maintained by the inhabitants and voluntary helpers, fully embracing the self-administrated and emancipated ideology of the squatting movement.
De Paraplu fabriek
Figure 4 De Paraplu fabriek – image from (De Paraplu Fabriek 2020)
10 One of the citizens at de grote Broeck for example was political activist and journalist Louis Sévèke. His book De tragiek van een geheime dienst examined the power of the dutch secret service. (van de Griend und Lensink 2005) Together with the laywers of Buro Jansen & Janssen he sued the Dutch government for unlawful activities of the secret service. Sévèke lived at de grote Broeck until he was shot in Nijmegen´s city centre in November 2005. (Spaak 2007) 11 (Stichting Volksbelang van 1895 2009) 12 (Stichting Volksbelang van 1895 2009) 13 (De Grote Broek 2020)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
As a former umbrella factory, de plu offers living space as well as working space to numerous small businesses and artists. The empty property was squatted in 1982 and got legalized soon after in 1984, due to a lease contract with the owner. Early on the squatters took things into their own hands, taking care of the long before neglected building, essentially saving the building. Eleven years after legalization the squatters were able to buy the property and thus became home-owners. Today Arts and Craft studios together with small, ecological businesses like Browsy – a browser extension that helps to plant trees – can be found in the spaces of the former umbrella factory.14
Concluding the characteristics
The potential citizens of Gemeente Molenpoort follow the attitude of the squatters, they strive for an emancipated, self-administrated, and open community. They show creative will and do not shy away from taking things into their own hands. The numerous examples of communities in Nijmegen that follow these ideals prove that there is a base of people, that is willing to create those new kinds of urban spaces. As a characteristic of the capitalist space, Lèfebvré mentioned that it condemns its user to passivity and silence15 if there is no revolution. Nijmegen´s squatters movement proved that there is the will for revolution and the production16 of new space!
How the idea of the community came about – Group research in fieldwork, reading the site and the city The basis for the formulation of my position is based on collective research, conducted by our group of students at the TU Delft in the Urban architecture Bricolage studio 2020/21. The collective aspect of the research was split up into five groups in order to get a first understanding of Nijmegen as a city and the site in particular.
Looking at the historic development of the site made clear that it was following the structure of Nijmegens urban Fabric until the erection of the Molenpoort shopping mall. A clear definition of the public face towards the street and an open interior block is how most of Nijmegen is still perceived as of today. This can be seen on the historic maps as well as on the analysis conducted on the site´s development over time.17 Starting out as a farm, just outside the city wall, the site became a monastery complex with a church when the city grew around its perimeters. Later the function changed to that of a guesthouse. A photo dating back to 1960 is showing the guesthouse being used as a police station and finally, in the '70s the former guesthouse fell victim to the erection of the Molenpoort shopping mall.18 All the historic functions are conceived for a rather small and secluded audience. The monastery is the most extreme example, usually creating a space for spirituality and contemplation. The guesthouse as well is not a place an ordinary citizen will visit every day, offering a more domestic setting for travelers. The Molenpoort however, being a shopping mall lives from a constant flow of people and aims to attract a large crowd.
14 (De Paraplu Fabriek 2020) 15 (Lefèbvre und Wegener 1977) p. 56 16 See the chapter on Lèfebvré´s theory on the production of space 17 Historic image and Site analysis from (Studio Bricolage Group 1 2020) p. 62; p. 35 18 Research of the functions on site and Timeline taken from (Studio Bricolage Group 1 2020) p. 105
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Figure 5 Development of the site over time – image from (Studio Bricolage Group 1 2020)
The typology of the Molenpoort is not clear, as it shows characteristics of both, a passage and a mall19, which may be caused by the historic development of the site. The urban fabric grew for centuries, establishing main connections that are now competing with the passage like the connection the shopping mall tries to establish with its passage-like connection from Molenstraat to Ziekerstraat.20 Considering those findings it does not surprise that the Molenpoort was frequently referred to as a blind spot in interviews conducted with citizens of Nijmegen21 and the vast vacancy of shops is speaking for itself. What the interviews and visits of the city showed however is that Nijmegen is a city of social initiatives.22 People are conscious of each other. Norbert, one of our interviewees described Nijmegen as “…a city with the mentality of village people. People know each other here, friendly, warm, welcoming.”23 An open attitude was what we found in many people we approached to talk about the city and its inhabitants. Particularly interesting to me was to get in contact with De Klinker collective at de Grote Broeck, a formerly squatted building. Having no particular exposure to the squatting scene before I found it intriguing to learn more about Nijmegen's history with the squatting scene and how it is influencing the city up to this day. Examples of formerly squatted buildings that are now legalized suggest that an alternative attempt of living in a city is possible in Nijmegen, often combining working and living together. Examples like the Paraplufabriek or De Koopvart also prove that cheap working space can function as a catalysator for the creation of an economical business like the company Bosjuweel24, which started out at the Koopvart, grew bigger to the point where it moved into new spaces and is still running up to this date.25
19 In interviews conducted with the remaining shop owners at the Molenpoort both typologies are being referred to. (Studio Bricolage Group 5 2020) interviews, p.82-108 20 Mapped out shopping routes show that the “passage” of the Molenpoort contradicts the established connections and does not connect places in the traditional sense of a passage or street. (Studio Bricolage Group 5 2020) mapped routes, p. 44-49 21 Ursula p. 133, Zain p. 165, Norbert p. 89 (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) 22 (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) p. 175 - 181 23 Norbert p. 89 (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) 24 (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) p. 192 25 (Bosjuweel B.V. 2020)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Figure 6 Historic image, showing Nijmegens urban fabric with more or less closed blocks and open interior. The blocks that were formed around churches are highlighted – image from (Studio Bricolage Group 1 2020)
Lefèbvré´s theory on the production of space Lefèbvré´s understanding of space criticized all previous discourse about space. In his opinion a purely mathematical, philosophical, or aesthetic approach degrades space to a mere vessel without any concern for its content, therefore arguing for a more holistic study of space, also include abstract ideas of political and economical aspects as well as the space that is created by language.26 For Lefèbvre space is the product of society yet it also is the structure of the society that created it in the first place, making one inseparable from the other.27 As an example, Lefèbvre mentions how cities from different epochs represent the societies that built them. The discovery of the perspective during the Renaissance for example subjugated architecture to the concept of vanishing points and parallels - the streets. Facades rarely had setbacks and ornamentation became less plastic as those expansive elements would conflict with the otherwise homogenous picture. On the facades, balconies found their place as a means of seeing and being seen in the overall picture that is created by the idea of the perspective space. 28 By understanding Lefèbvre´s theory and the multitude of properties space can
26 (Lefèbvre und Wegener 1977) p.52 27 (Lefèbvre und Wegener 1977) p.52 28 (Lefèbvre und Wegener 1977) p. 54
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development take on it is possible to point out potential contradictions. In the act of identifying and articulating the so-called contradictory spaces, Lefèbvre sees the potential for the creation of new space29.
As previously pointed out Nijmegen – or the “Havanna an der Waal” - is a Firstly, Nijmegen is perceived – as previously pointed out – as a rather left-oriented city, with social housing present at the city center.30 On the other hand, the public space at the city center is dominated by capitalist and consumerist functions in the form of mostly branded chain stores, which can be found in any modern city. Therefore the first contradictory space that can be articulated lies within the contradiction between the idealistic space of politically left ideals and the physical reality of public space.
Secondly, the competition between the various shops creates a contradiction amongst each other. This is especially visible in the case of the Molenpoort. The temple of consumption gets eaten up by the stores following Molenstraat towards the city center, leaving only a few survivors behind. The majority of the Molenpoort now consists of vacant spaces. Lefebvre specifically points out one property of the capitalist space, which is decay. The nature of space is made up of smaller entities such as the site or the parcel of land makes space exchangeable and dividable as a commodity for speculation and profit.31 The Molenpoort makes no difference. It is dividable in the smaller unit of the individual store which is exchangeable and subjugated to the economic pressure created by the competition of stores within and outside the mall.
Thirdly, as pointed out in the previous chapter site´s history does not particularly promote to invite a wide public audience as the program of the mall requires. This is creating a contradiction between the organically grown reality that is the surrounding urban fabric of Nijmegen and the previously conceived aspirations for the mall.
Having those contradictory spaces of the Molenpoort pointed out constitutes the potential for intervention and the creation of a new reality. Following Lefèbvre´s theory of the production of space further Nijmegens politically left and socially conscious environment can also be regarded as a form of space. In fact, numerous politically and socially active organisations in the city have a past that is related to the squatting movement of the '70s ´80s and '90s. Squatting, by definition is the unlawful occupation of a building or plot of land.32 Buildings that are abandoned whether through negligence or due to speculation form a void in the urban landscape. This void space is contradicting with the sheer definition of city space. Merriam Webster´s Learners Dictionary defines a city as “an area where many people live and work”33. Through the act of squatting those places are acquired by people and brought back to life. The void is filled. Nijmegen's squatting history and the successful/legalized squats serve as an example of how the attitude space that brings people to activism enables such a way of imagining new ways of living. The creative will gets manifested in actual, physical city space.
29 (Lefèbvre und Wegener 1977) p. 56 30 To name an example the area close to the Waalfront around Grotestraat features social housing within the perimeters of the medieval city centre (Studio Bricolage Group 4 2020). Another example is located at tweede walstraat, just on the other side of the Molenpoort. 31 (Lefèbvre und Wegener 1977) p. 55 32 (Oxford Learner´s Dictionary 2020) 33 (Merriam-Webster Learners Dictionary 2020)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Figure 7 The contradictory space of the Molenpoort, own illustration
An Architectural approach on appropriation
Demolishing the Molenpoort opens up the potential for architectural and urban intervention in the city center of Nijmegen. Since the shopping mall as a building is not particularly useful for a community based live/work environment a new urban concept is conceived that relates more closely to the sites past and the surrounding urban fabric, proclaiming a more public façade and a sequence of courtyards on the inside, around which the community can form. Those chosen Urban principles closely relate to the characteristics of the open city that Richard Sennet defined in his essay with the same title. Relying on Jane Jacob's research Sennet mentions the following three elements of the open city: passage territories; incomplete form; development narratives.34
34 (Sennett 2006)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
On passage territories Organizing the urban plan for Gemeente Molenpoort on a sequence of courtyards creates distinctly different spaces. The aim is to allow for defined connections and interactions between the public street and the semi-private courtyards. Having a defined visual and spatial boundary but no strict cut between those urban fabrics creates what Sennet calls the “porous wall”, comparing it to the semi- permeable membrane of a cell35
On the incompleteness of form Sennet´s idea on the incompleteness of form does not mean an incomplete project per se, it is rather a call for the creative credo and the potential effect a building has on its surrounding.36 With the aim of being different Gemeente Molenpoort has the potential to create a new kind of urban space, to radiate its ideals and aspirations to the surrounding urban fabric. Its architecture strives to be adaptable, it strives to be incomplete and therefore become appropriated and not only inhabited.
On the Narratives of Development The idea of appropriation brings us to Sennet's third idea. Appropriation is closely tied to the user. It is connected with the narrative and story that is unfolding at any moment in the building, in the city. On the social level, Nijmegen´s squatting history allows forming a strong narrative, on the urban level the conception of Gemeente Molenpoort is starting with one architectural project conceived as the catalyst for an organic process, or in Sennet´s words “we try to understand what should happen first, what then are the consequences of this initial move.”37
35 (Sennett 2006) 36 (Sennett 2006) 37 (Sennett 2006)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Figure 8 The idea of a new urban plan, organized around courtyards – own image
A Utopic project with practical approaches Further research will inform this specific architectural project, both to articulate the challenges and potential solutions. In their publication, Hier Entsteht Jesko Fezer and Mathias Heyden wanted to find strategies for participative architecture and spatial appropriation. They are taking a look back at the architecture of both the ´70s and ´80s to connect to the social aspirations of those times before a neo- liberal approach of planning pushed the social housing sector of many European countries into privatization. The principles Feezer and Heyden accumulated which are applicable to Gemeente Molenpoort touch on the following:
Flexibility The most extreme positions towards flexible space can be found in the theories of Yona Friedmann, Nicolaas John Habraken, and the avant-garde architectural group Archigram. Habraken´s book titled Supports. An alternative to Mass Housing (1972) formulated the idea of an open structure, the supports, which then can be filled by the inhabitants with prefabricated elements according to their own wishes.38 In 1963 the Dutch minister for reconstruction determined that new apartment buildings are necessary to combat the housing shortage, leading to the formation of the SAR (Stichting Architecten Research). Habraken led the research as the director, taking the Supports concept and researching its feasibility with a great amount of industrial prefabrication of modular pieces.39 Flexibility promotes adaptability and emancipation over space. Friedman mentioned that architecture
38 Interview with Nicolaas John Habraken in August 2002 (Fezer und Heyden 2004) p. 101-103 39 Interview with Nicolaas John Habraken in August 2002 (Fezer und Heyden 2004) p. 106
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development that allows for easy adaption will be adapted by the users.40 Adaptability and flexibility are a first hint at the studio theme of bricolage.
Figure 9 One of many sketches by Yona Friedman, depicting his theory of the flexible structure on an urban scale – image from Arch Daily, article by (Arellano 2019)
Self – build principle
Producing space with your own hand creates identification. Identification strengthens the community and creates care for the building. Being able to create by yourself emancipates and keeps costs low.41 For the project of Gemeente Molenpoort, the idea of architecture that is partially self-created resonates with the ideology of the squatting movement. Assessing the materials at hand and the associated building techniques is necessary to formulate a believable and thorough project that is truly appropriable by the residents. Materials that are at hand also include remnants of the Molenpoort shopping mall and elements that can be scavenged from its corpse. A second hint at the studio theme of bricolage
Work/live, a contradiction? For Decades now working and living are divided. Bringing those functions back together creates tension and friction. Yet, workspaces also can be used as an enabler for the self-build principle and a more autonomous approach towards living. Working also means producing, whether it is in the physical reality of things, culture, or space in an abstract form Lèfebvré is relating to. Giving the residents of Geemente Molenpoort the possibility of combining working and living is giving them the possibility of producing their own living space - a third hint at the studio theme of bricolage.
40 Interview with Yona Friedmann in January 2004 (Fezer und Heyden 2004) p. 145 41 Martin Stengel is an inhabitant of the ecological village Sieben Linden. In an interview with Fezer und Heyden from Juli 2003 the Diploma Engineer for Energy technology is talking about his experiences when constructing the village together with his fellow villagers.
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
The idea of Bricolage In Never Modern Architecture Critic, writer, and studio name-giver42 Irénée Scalbert touches on the idea of the Architect Bricoleur. He wrote “It (bricolage) has no theory, no agenda, no preferred scale, no intellectual and formal tradition. But it leads to (…) many forms in the world of things(…).”43 Perhaps it is this lack of theory and the practical, hands-on nature of Bricolage that roots the studio theme firmly in the practical aspirations of my architectural project rather than the social and theoretical trajectory. Bricolage seems to be more of an attitude towards doing things than a theory that tries to explain our world. Traces of Bricolage can be found in the ideals of the squatters movement as well, the squatters acted ad-hoc, occupying the Grote Broek and Paraplufabriek, using what is at hand to make the space liveable. Bricolage offers hands-on experience, which informs a feeling of social connectedness with a place, therefore relating to the idea of authentic places as Zukin described.44 Bricolage is the physical ally of Lèfebvé´s theory on the production of space. The core idea of Gemeente Molenpoort, bringing all kinds of people together unified by the same aspiration of living in an alternative way, under their own control, in a local community no matter the background is the advent of a social Bricolage in itself.
The challenges.
The above principles need to be evaluated according to contemporary requirements. An alternative way of approaching society does not mean climate issues can be ignored. Flexibility has to keep in mind the building´s arteries and guts, tubing ventilation, and electricity. Self-building needs to be within a framework that also allows interventions by a non-professional worker, while still meeting climate requirements. Working and appropriating might create noise and emissions, those different needs need to be balanced towards each other. Those issues and the architectural ideas proposed to lead to the following research questions:
Theory-related In which way can the production of an architectural work/live community influence the production of a different social and political space around it?
Practical related How can a work/live architectural project be created, with the focus on community building, while bearing in mind issues of flexibility, user involvement by self-building, and noise emission?
42 At least his intellectual influence on the naming process and trajectory of the studio can not be denied 43 (Scalbert 2013) p. 141 44 Ad mentioned in the introduction Zukin mentiones “the social connectedness a place inspires” as a quality of authenticity (Zukin 2010) p. 220
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Figure 10 Research Diagramme, showing the process of the research and how previous research informed positioning and future research ovf the project
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Methodology Having the challenges of the project pointed out further research is necessary for further development of the architectural project. With the appointed challenges and aspirations in mind, the following Methodological approaches addressing specific questions are formulated.
Learning – Case studies
Looking at examples and challenges of different projects in the following fields, evaluating aspects in the tension field of Flexibility, User Participation, Realization background (how was the project financed, is it owned/administrated by the inhabitants?). Case studies will include social, community- driven projects from the ´70s and ´80s, continuing on Feezer and Heyden's research, as well as contemporary examples of community-driven projects around Europe. A reconstruction of the stories and analysis of legalized squats in Nijmegen will give insight into the appropriation of space and the influence those places have on the wider urban environment. With case-studies at hand, I am aiming to evaluate the aspirations and ideals of the project in a realistic way, guiding me through the process of the design.
Figure 11 The squatters communities often live in clusters, allowing for a different approach in housing plan like this example by Duplex Architekten for an apartment complex in Zurich – project by Duplex Architecten, image found at (Premio di Architettura Baffa Rivolta 2017)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Collecting – The Material aspect Hand in hand with the evaluation of structures and materialization of built projects I want to create an inventory of the Molenpoort as a source of potentially “free” material in the form of a Catalogue of materials and elements. The catalogue will consider Materials and elements in two categories. Firstly, individual elements that can be seen considered as an object. This includes removable parts like windows, structural beams, or pipes. Secondly, Materials that must be broken down. Concrete or flooring tiles for example can not be re-used as single elements. Looking into current recycling techniques will help to assess the potential of those materials. Ressourced materials can be recomposed into Terrazzo-like amalgams, creating a peculiar aesthetic that still bears some of Molenpoorts spirit. The techniques and machines necessary for those recycling processes will be evaluated and documented in terms of the next research aspect, the DIY character and the feasibility as a resident. The civil engineering faculty at TU-Delft for example is doing research into recycling concrete, consulting fellow students of our university participating in this research seems to be a promising starting point to evaluate the elements of the Molenpoort in a more holistic way. As a starting point for this aspect of the project, the scheduled workshop with ROTOR will give insight from a designer´s perspective.
Figure 12 an example of terazzo created from recycled materials, by Dutch Designer Dave Hakkens image from Dave Hakkens (Hakkens 2020)
Making – Build it yourself The catalogue of elements will be completed with research and instruction into building and recycling techniques that can be conceived by the inhabitant, without a background in the building profession. A certain amount of motivation and aspiration was provided. Case studies and the creation of IKEA like assemble plans will help to understand potential do it yourself aspects and expand the Catalogue of materials with the communication of know-how on building as some sort of user manual. To participate with the user the communication has to be simple, understandable, and clear.45 An Ikea- like assemble plan for different aspects of the building will be conceived as a guidance for the inhabitants, especially assessing various levels of professionality / skill required. That Ikea-like
45 Yona Friedmann used simple sketches with stick figures to communicate ideas easily. He mentioned that “even children are understanding the language of graphics” (Fezer und Heyden 2004) p. 142 f.
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development assembly instructions do not only follow the ideals of the commercial was demonstrated by Marwan Kaabour´s series of illustrations titled Disobedient Objects, where Ikea-like instructions communicate the construction of objects helpful in protesting against the political establishment. In Kaabour´s illustrations every-day objects are repurposed for the political action.46 An attitude shared between those Bricolages of resistance and the counter-project nature of Gemeente Molenpoort.
Figure 13 An example of Kaabour´s illustration for the Book Bloc Shield (Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2016)
46 (Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2016)
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
Asking – What makes a good collective, a user´s perspective
Tapping into the pool of Nijmegenaars I got in contact with while conducting interviews during the group-research phase I want to keep in contact with the community at the formerly squatted places. Keeping up that contact will allow to consult them for their first-hand living experience in work/live communities. Letting them assess my project development will challenge me to articulate the plans in a way that non-architects can easily understand and will help me to question my decisions. (How/ in what form this will happen of course is also tied a bit to future developments of the Covid 19- Pandemic) the places I am in contact with are the collective at De Grote Broeck47 and the Paraplu Fabriek48 in Nijmegen. Drawing those stories – if possible considering the worsening COVID-19 situation – collectively with the inhabitants will yield results in a graphic way. Inspiration for this ethnographic approach is the Works of Momoyo Kaijima and other architects that were exhibited at the 2018 Biennale in Venice at the Japanese Pavilion under the title Architectural Ethnography.
47 More detailed information at (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) p. 184 48 More detailed information at (Studio Bricolage Group3 2020) p. 185
AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
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AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020 Gemeente Molenpoort – a self-regulated and emancipated take on urban development
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AR3A010 Research Plan – Robert Bichlmaier 5093139 – Studio Bricolage – 17.12.2020