The Bund

Description

The Bund questions our fascination with the »new« and the tendency to overlook the value of what already exists. As social structures, living arrangements and everyday needs continue to change, housing remains largely shaped by outdated models that no longer reflect contemporary realities.

Inspired by the life in Shanghai’s longtang, the project draws on informal neighborhood structures, collective use of space and the ability of residents to adapt their environment according to their own needs. Rather than proposing a new housing typology, it explores how domestic space can become more flexible, negotiable and participatory.

Through a system of movable boundaries, lighting and furniture, private space can temporarily expand into shared space and retract when needed. The project proposes a bottom-up approach to living in transition, rooted in existing places, objects and relationships rather than constant replacement and growth.