mihaela tanase

WHY AND HOW

Why should a person live at the busy intersection of the Strahov Tunnel and Patočkova Street, with an imposing solitary building behind them and, on either side, a clash of values and aesthetics between interwar and modern architecture?

Things are not ideal, and it is necessary to accept certain compromises and approach the situation realistically. The assignment works with a target group of residents with lower incomes than would correspond to the attractiveness of the location, with the aim of providing this group with affordable housing. For this reason, I am seeking a design that offers the most balanced ratio between costs and benefits, both in relation to the needs of the target residents and to the attractiveness of the site.

Housing that we can afford, that we like, that we have an emotional connection to, where we can start a family, or that connects people and offers work opportunities. A place that we can call home for all of these reasons.

I propose a complex of residential buildings in which I place emphasis on meaningful urbanism. I respond to the surrounding noise, the sloping terrain, and the economic potential of the site. People should be able to live here in diverse ways, and at the same time diverse people should be able to live here — from individuals to couples and families, as well as groups who choose to share an apartment.

The ground-floor architecture is open and of high quality, with an emphasis on long-term durability and resilience, so that it can adapt to changing economic interests. I envision not only civic amenities here, such as a café or a grocery store, but also functions that support community interaction, such as a library, and spaces offering employment opportunities, such as offices, workshops, or storage spaces.

The architecture of the upper floors is likewise varied, materially modest, and durable. Due to the already problematic traffic situation and for economic reasons, I choose only above-ground parking, limit its activity in the rear part of the plot, and strengthen connections to public transport. I use vegetation both at ground level and on the upper floors, for sound absorption as well as to improve environmental quality.

The issue of affordable housing is pressing and complex today. We often blame the market and capitalism for the lack of housing, see the solution primarily in the volume of construction, and consciously or unconsciously call for further regulations. But what if the answer lies elsewhere? In places where we try to give a site space to develop its potential, and where we look more broadly than through a single economic criterion. Where housing offers not only a place to sleep, but also a full-fledged place to live, and where architecture strives not only for functionality, but also for aesthetics and a human scale.