There were three programmatic scenarios to choose from for the Atelier area. This involved the urban development and architectural formulation of an existing civil defense facility. The question was how productive self-sufficiency and social inclusion can be brought together.
After conducting a site analysis, my two group members and I chose the scenario "Security through self-sufficiency" and discussed sustainable architecture through self-sufficiency. The elevated island location of the civil defense facility on the edge of Ostermundigen and the remote infrastructure offer a good starting point. The large, existing open spaces on the site can be used for food production. Due to the southern slope, the buildings south of the street have poor sunlight.
So, Hoch Parterre quickly decided to expand the civil defense facility to the north. In addition, new living space and a vertical farm for self-sufficiency are to be built on the site. The public square, which is intended to serve as a workspace, also acts as a connection between the living and the production areas (permaculture garden).
Michèle Christen's project "Cascade" is characterized by small-scale structures at different heights on the civil defense complex, which are created by stacking residential units. Due to the deep floor plan, the access and the living environment are located in the middle and meander through the development in a cascade shape. The "path" leads back to the public square via a viewing point on the Vertical Farm. The vertical slats structure the large building and connect old and new. The staggering of the building reduces its compactness and represents a counter attempt at a "living machine."
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