VERTICAL POCKETS - HOUSING DESIGNED FOR SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS

Macau, as a densely populated city, has been facing a prominent challenge in fulfilling the rapidly growing demand for land due to its small geographical size. The limited availability of land exacerbates the conflict between urban development needs and land supply, leading to an imbalance in land resource allocation. This scarcity of land not only hinders the city's ability to meet its growing population's housing needs but also contributes to a lack of social space. The absence of adequate outdoor gathering areas and communal spaces has resulted in the fragmentation of communities and a fading sense of community in the society of Macau.

As the urban environment undergoes relentless development, the social fabric of Macau is undergoing a transformation. Communities are becoming fragmented into smaller groups, and chance encounters and serendipitous social interactions are being neglected or excluded. Social events primarily take place within dedicated indoor spaces that cater to groups, further isolating different segments of the population due to the limited and subpar outdoor gathering space available. This dissertation aims to examine the possibility of developing a new housing prototype that could provoke connections between segregated communities. By introducing a combination of communal spaces and vertical circulation spaces, the design seeks to create opportunities for social interaction and the revitalisation of community bonds that could eventually fit into a hyperdense city.

To achieve this, the dissertation will begin with a comprehensive site analysis of the site, considering both the physical constraints and the potential benefits for social space creation. Furthermore, the study will draw insights from relevant literature and architectural projects that have addressed relevant challenges, exploring effective strategies for fostering community engagement and creating inclusive social spaces. The design process will emphasise the integration of communal spaces that encourage spontaneous interactions and vertical circulation spaces that facilitate movement and connectivity between different community segments.