INTERMEDIATE ZONES
intermediate - adj situated or coming between in time, space, degree, etc.
zones - n 1 belt, band or stripe going round, and distinguished by colour, appearance, etc. 2 one of the
five parts into which the earth's surface is divided by imaginary lines parallel to the equator 3 area with
particular features, purpose or use
The intermediate zone does not necessarily have a physical dimension. Intermediate zones exist in
time, in space, in thought and feeling. At the moment we appear to be on the verge of some major
changes: the old polarities crumble away, leaving a void in human thought. Gaps appear on every
level. Thinking can no longer be restrained to the boundaries of the existing framework, if we want to
solve any of the problems we face today.
Intermediate zones exist in thinking and language: contradictions which have formed the backbone to
architectural discourse for ages seem to have lost their validity. Opposed categories like private and
public, or interior and exterior, become a continuous fluidum, changing gradually and resisting
categorization.
Intermediate zones exist in space: who can identify a clear boundary, defining where urbanity stops?
And would it be untrue to say that every era is an intermediate zone, a certain phase in a process; and
in that case is not every design an intermediate zone, no matter its stage of development, somewhere
between the initiative and a continually developing product, its built form.
(cursive script implies a shortcoming of existing language)
relation to the theme
The individualism and so-called pluralism of nowadays society is in fact a very shallow one. We do
have the freedom to choose what colour we want our hair and our car(s) - or bicycles, at its best. This
apparent freedom is a chimera. The belief in pluriformity mystifies the capitalist condition. Most of our
society has turned into a mere representation of capitalist values, which do not relate to every-day life.
In this consumerist society people tend to conformism on a different level.
The outskirts are to be interpreted from a viewpoint different from the one from wich we see the cities
and their centres. They normally do not have a focal point; they contain no orientation system. The
outskirts are both the former border, and possible centres of new activity. They have their own special
qualities, they are a zone of communication, superposition and transition of seemingly contradictory
characteristics.
The existing concepts of progress and development are gaining new meaning. Growth is no longer
interpreted as a quantitative, but as a qualitative process, which results in strategies improving the
quality of cities by internal developments.
Both urban and rural structures are to be identified through the different networks which constitute
them. These networks all have their relevancy on different scales and for different functions. Apart
from that, these networks are more individual than the easy discernable urban structures which still
define a lot of thinking on human settlements. Every individual life is constituted by different networks;
identities are based upon individual experiences. Abstraction and generalization do not give room to
what exists.
There are no clear opposites to be defined, but some of the old contradictions still exist. One cannot
completely ignore the fact the not every individual gets equal access to opportunities in life. The
concept of 'outskirts' finds its origin in dialectic thinking; today we cannot use this kind of schematic
abstractions anymore.
The Vivegnis site can be interpreted as a metaphor for outskirts in general: a site bordered on one
side by a hill - a 'natural' landscape - and on the other sides by a fairly dense urban fabric. In areas of
this kind the old contradictions form a new synthesis. Different conditions exist simultaneously, and
distinctions between them can no longer be made. A new vocabulary is needed, and a new
interpretation of the use of vocabularies.
Although architecture cannot shape a society, it can surely offer a contribution; it can create
possibilities. With the bankruptcy of most modern ideals, people tend to acceptation. Within
architecture this is mostly expressed by architects 'representing' facets of nowadays society in their
work, without attempting to start a change or improve anything to the standards.
Fixed plans reduce the question of space to a problem of form, thus directing attention to the purely
visual which is such a dominant feature of capitalism.
diversity
People from diverse cultural backgrounds constitute the population of the Quartier du Nord. It is an
area of multi-ethnicity, but in a segregated manner. Not only cultural differences, but also a large
variation in the composition of households require different housing types, sizes and relations.
Integration and identity - or identification - are important issues, avoiding polarisation and reaching a
coexistence and appreciation of different cultures and interpretations. The diversity we have tried to
achieve is not an exterior appearance - the differences do not lie in different looks, but in different
characteristics and relationships - in its essence. Diversity is not a goal in itself (although we can not
deny a certain dislike of functionalist monotony, nor the role it can play in inhabitants' identification with
their neighbourhood), but an existing social condition. Each open zone has its own character, the
grade of privacy changing. Every housing type has its own connections with the exterior spaces and
with the work spaces. In order to fit in the neighbourhood - to give these new developments a chance
to be integrated - a certain comparibility of character of the population is essential.
Multifunctionality improves the life chances of the site and gives the site its backbone to support
possible future changes.
Housing types vary: hostel-like rooms with central amenities, independent units which can be
connected by four or eight, larger houses with a central space which can be either shared or divided
and individual houses in different sizes, some directly linked to a workshop space.
flexibility
Both housing and work spaces are organised in a flexible manner, so people can make adjustments
according to their own and maybe changing needs. Within each housing unit a specific flexibility has
been achieved; in most housing types different connections between units can be created. For the
work spaces service cores and building envelopes have been defined. Between housing and
workshops different connections can be established. For most housing units these links have been
concentrated in the different intermediate zones, creating flexibility in the connection with other
housing units, with workshops and with exterior spaces. The intermediate zones again create almost
infinite possibilities for the height and length spans of the connecting bridges and stairs. Intermediate
zones offer a specific quality and unique possibilities.
The site will grow and be changed over time, thus developing an own character, with which inhabitants
can identify.
Because of changing housing/work relationships, new uses evolve and functions are in a process of
being redefined. Different cultural backgrounds have different wishes. Possible use is decisive: within
houses different functions are not specified.
Fixing a final result is not acceptable any more - people's needs and wishes change and differ too
much, and, more importantly, the interpretation of the architect or planner as a visionary, forcing his
views upon future users, cannot be held. (The architect cannot shape a society, but can offer a
contribution.) Built structures need to be able to be adapted to many different uses, and not just
because of ecological and economical reasons. Certain transformations need to take place in society,
one of them being a new division of responsibilities and an active participation of citizens in
community, giving people the responsibility over their lives again.
layers
City planning and city design have for a long time been based on formal schemes. These schemes
can not longer be validated, while there is no absolute theory apt to legitimize such decisions. What we
can do is develop structures and superimpose them, while each structure or layer answers to
questions which spring from different scales, functions and relations between them. The layers are
thus both division and intergration. The layers integrate by superposition characteristics which seem to
be incompatible and which come together at the site.
Layers are not necessarily physical.
The result offers the diversity looked for; at the same time every layer in itself and, as a result, also the
total structure gives full attention to every-day reality. These structures form the basis for the resulting heterarchic - fabric, while unique urban circumstances can be created through them.
The intermediate zones are zones for communication or connection, and for development. They show
the direction of the processes. The intermediate zones link the different layers: they concentrate the
facility cores and staircases. Intermediate zones create a space for dialogue.
zones
A structure of alternating zones of exterior space and built structure has been developed. The 'natural'
landscape enters the site and city through the open zones, the city expands through others.
Landscape and urbanity behave similarly within this structure. The 'urban' zones connect the site with
the city: these more formal zones give access to both houses and work spaces. The 'green' zones
form semi-public exterior spaces connected to clusters of housing. At the same time they form the
access to and connection with the hill side. These zones each have a different grade of privacy: the
urban zones gradually differ from streets or squares with a public character to access spaces more
related to specific houses or workshops; the 'green' zones are in some cases accessible from the Rue
Vivegnis or the hill side, and sometimes they only have a visual relation with the surrounding.
From the Rue Vivegnis the site shows its essence and character. This creates a strong connection
between the existing and the newly built. Natural and urban space are no longer opposing concepts,
but a gradually shifting set of characteristics.
Intermediate zones exist at different levels in the plan: the site itself, the semi-private spaces, between
the layers (connections to work spaces), between housing units and within the housing units
themselves.
housing/work relationships
Housing/work relationships are changing at a high rate. Part-time jobs, home work and tele-working
are changing our society influentially. Businesses get a more global character - communication and
organisation are brought into effect by means of telephone, facsimile and computer networks and are
thus no longer related to a specific location. A large part of working activities (work is no longer the
neatly defined activity it used to be) can be done at close distances from the home. Local and global
no longer exist as a pair of opposites. Part-time work by both partners makes proximity to the house
even necessary - or at least very convenient.
Proximity is also a necessity from an ecological point of view. At the same time it can increase social
mobility, with a reduced importance of physical mobility.
Housing and workspaces have first been strictly divided in two layers; this horizontal division then
gives a possibility to create all different connections, to intertwine the formerly divided functions.
Within this plan a great diversity in housing/work relationships has been achieved. Some housing is
directly connected to a workshop. Some houses have shared workshops with small groups of four or
eight. There are some larger work spaces with no direct or specific connection to houses. The foyer is
a group housing project, best comparable to a youth hostel, in which young people can stay while they
are learning a skill with an artist or artisan.
In order to ensure a strong relationship with the surrouding area the site needs to bring new urban
functions, while it at the same time needs the existing. The site also needs enough self-supportiveness
in order to survive.
semi-private
Modern European towns have a total lack of semi-private and public space. Frontiers between streets
and interiors are harsh and straight; there is no undefined space in which anything could happen. In
city centres people rush to work and shops under the watching eye of closed circuit camera systems.
Outside the centres people park their cars in front of their doorsteps and rush into their houses.
Within the site different grades of privacy are created. Streets or alleys with an urban character form
the commercial and work/crafts areas and the entrance to both workshops and housing. The central
street has a slope, resembling the Liègeois Montagne de Bueren. Green areas combine exterior semiprivate space with a connection to the hill bordering the site. The spaces create a possibility for
unforeseen uses.
In order for people to identify with a certain space the scale needs to be brought down to a perceivable
size, and a connection with a cluster of housing needs to be created and felt.