Julia Bourke
director ARCH 405

Links to Collaborators

MUCS

URBAN PLANNING

MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF THE
ENVIRONMENT

introduction

definitions

site & program

work structure

format

schedule

research

design

Mixed-use cooperative housing complex accommodating transient (student) and permanent populations within walking distance of the McGill campus.

Students will develop their own programs and choose from two site options within walking distance of McGill — an empty site favouring new construction and a utopic community vision, or the transformation of an existing low income community with renovations and additions to an existing social housing project — Les Habitations Jeanne Mance.

go to program options

SITE OPTIONS

1.  RENOVATION / ADDITION — Les Habitations Jeanne Mance
Renovations/additions to 60's high and low-rise housing complex: "Repairing the urban fabric"

Program issues:
• Integrating sustainable student housing within an existing social fabric- lessons in transformation and accommodation

Technical issues:
• Recycling of materials (similar to Benny Farm)
• Improve performance of existing structures
• Strategic location of new construction
• Nature of new construction

Site issues:
• How to better integrate into urban fabric
• Introduce private green space
• Reduce parking area

2.  NEW CONSTRUCTION
High and/or low rise urban in-fill: "Re-interpreting the urban block"

Program issues:
• Utopian community

Technical issues:
• Passive solar
• Natural ventilation
• Appropriate materials

Site issues:
• Introduction of semi-public space and shared facilities to urban housing typology

MUCS

"The MUCS project is dedicated to the creation of a sustainable urban residence acting as both a community center and a learning environment for Montreal citizens and McGill students. To address Montreal's housing crisis, MUCS proposes practical and reproducible solutions, founded on co-operative living, ecological sustainability, and the union of diverse communities."

150 - 250 RESIDENTS, WITH 2/3 TRANSIENT (student) AND 1/3 PERMANENT (seniors, families, singles, final mix to be determined)


TWO PROGRAM OPTIONS TO BE DEVELOPED:

1. COMMUNE / CO-OP SMALL SCALE

1.1. Individual and double sleeping / study rooms with shared facilities: living / dining / kitchen / bathrooms / laundry

1.1a. Modules of 10-20 people (limitation is difficulty of a single individual cooking for larger groups, also loss of intimate "residential" scale with larger size, difficulty of scheduling or coordinating larger size group ‚ especially students)

1.1b. Larger modules up to 200 (monolithic)

Larger modules require more organization for cooking, cleaning, with multiple cooks preparing each meal for instance, and commercial equipment. If large enough, size could justify commercial style food service, with paid staff, cafeteria or cafe. Presumably some kitchenettes would be required as alternative option to paid meal. Similar to assisted living for seniors

1.2a. Modules of 10-20 people

Individual and double sleeping/study with bathroom with shared living/dining/kitchen laundry (laundry could be shared by 2-3 modules)

1.2b. Same as 1.1b.

2. CO-HOUSING

2.1. Minimally sized individual studios, 1 BR, 2BR, 3BR units each equipped with small kitchen / bathroom / living / dining but also with shared large kitchen, dining / social hall / guest bedroom / laundry

Module: 20-30 units (limitation is manageability of organisation)

10        studios
101      single BR
10        double BR

Other Shared facilities: library, community center, common eating/party room, exterior space, to be determined

go to site options and top of page