c o o p
Category
Pedagogics, Placemaking, Spatial Installation
c o o p is a system of architecture kit-of-parts to empower individuals and communities to work together in building their own spatial needs and interventions.
Similar to the idea of modular building toys, the same fun is enlarged into life size architecture modules for the community to configure and construct.
These modular members of progressive sizes are configurable into basic architectural elements such as seats, staircases, platform, roof, flooring, pond, planters, ramp, slides. These basic configurations can be further assembled and reassembled into structures of unlimited functions to adapt to different changing contexts and needs. c o o p is designed to be reusable with materials that are kinder to the environment It is currently made of strand woven bamboo board, bamboo poles, bolts and nuts.
The imperial unit system is used as the main determinant of the progressive sizes in the modules for its direct connection to human anatomy and its inherent and humanistic units to provide affordances for the different operations in our lives.
At the moment, 14 versions of c o o p have been designed, 13 have been built and reconfigured. We have developed different versions of self-sustaining aquaponics pavilions, playscapes and exhibition installations. All c o o p configurations currently are collectively designed and built by a community of students, alumni, staff together with the general public consisting of adults and children. A greater sense of ownership is developed which drives the community to maintain and nurture the space with love.
We intend to build a system of relationships through this project; between human and the reconnection to their innate abilities, human and community, human and the tactility of the spaces, human and their care to their environment. These relationships are grown through conceiving and building a spatial intervention.