
Competition for the New Sustainable Market Square in Casablanca, Marokko. I worked in a team of 4 members: Alexei Kuzmin, Andrew Shevchenko, Kateryna Galchanska and Daria Patlai. The architecture of this new Structure should reflect contemporary design tendencies. The proposal must not only attend to the specific function but the design should also take into consideration the urban insertion and its impact.
Due to competition brief we had done a study of project area
Study give us an opportunity to resolve the spatial problem of market square, overall functional structure of possible concept. In next step we start morphology process, what was derived from present neighbourhood and our concept.
Market square got shape. Then we elaborated carefully functional zoning and design details what had enhanced our proposal.
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Ground level |
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Ground level alt. usage of market square |
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1 level |
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2level |
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Visual connections |
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Water point arrangement |
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Market zones arrangement |
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Used materials |
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Main section. |
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1 level - public square |
Core concept
We tried reconsider overall image of the market square and turn this ordinary place into something new, something what have a face, emotion, character. For greater impact in neighbourhood we need to create a land mark, recognizable place for gathering, communicating, and making a business. In our proposal we have some allusion to powerful and dynamic character what can be interpreted in different ways. We leave a space for free understanding and interpretation of market square building like an object of art.
Spatial organization
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Multifunctional space interior |
At the Ground level situated city market – open space with the minimum of walls and columns, which provides good visibility through the market – it makes easy to find goods that you need, also it makes market through-crossing which is good for overcrowded places. It is covered by light transmitting concrete(Litracon®) slab with skylight slits in it. This solution provides good weather protection and acceptable level of luminosity.
Also at the Ground level situated Newspaper kiosk and Information desk, which is located near the square entrance at the main pedestrian route.
First level is a public square. Arranged above the market it could be reached through stairs or at the lift. Here people can meet, communicate with each other and enjoy their time spending. Functionally square has several zones – open public zone for the big events and a few quitter public zones for meetings.
At the Second level situated cafeteria and multifunctional auditorium which could be used as one single space of night club.
Under the market square at the west border situated public toilets provided with individual cabins for disabled people. Also there located 20 630 liters water cistern, which storage water for reuse.
Total project area - 1712 m2
Multifunctionality
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Market at the ground level |
Market square provided with folding tables for commerce which is mounting in two minutes if needed. Such decision was made after the sellers study – lots of them drive to market with cart, which replace them tables. Another “+” of folding tables – they could be folded when market finish it work, providing free place for training and competitions for rollers, bmx and bike. Also it could host temporary exhibitions, performances and public meetings.
Public square is a large space with seating areas and open circulation zone. It is a good place for open air concerts, meetings, fairs, masquerade, etc. At the particular days square provide place for meeting, open air games, also on the tribunes at the center of the square clothing market could be organized. Seating areas and brightly colored walls, fencing and some construction elements enhance the welcoming effect.
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Alternative usage of the ground level space |
Second floor provide two spaces – cafeteria and multi functional hall. It could be transform into cinema hall, hobby club, children playroom and in the night all second floor could be transformed into disco club. For the time of big events, disco zone could expand to the public square at the first floor.
Ecological sustainability provides through:
Double roof - we propose to use Tensile fabric structure at the roof which will help to mitigates the heat-island effect by reflecting solar heat. For the same reason we use operable wooden carved sunshading panels at the East façade of the building that helps to control sun exposure in the summer. Although tightly constrained on all sides, the site is elongated from east to west, making it well oriented for daylighting. This orientation floods the building with natural light. Nevertheless in particular month the light is too bright and hot so we use this sunshading panels to protect indoor spaces from overheating. They can spin around one of the edges providing different level of sun protection and visual isolation from adjacent square. On the west side we use green façade, which protect inhabitants of neighborhood buildings from permanent visual contact with people at the square and cafeteria and gives unique view to the vertical green valley in front of their windows, it works as an obstacle for street dust and absorb it. Also rising café and multifunctional spaces over the street level we get better air quality without street dust and other pollutants; enhance passive air flow through the building.
Water harvesting system: Low-flow fixtures and captured storm water reduce the building's indoor potable water needs. Rainwater from the roof and public plaza, used water from the market go to water storage for 20630 m3 at the underground floor and after cleaning filtering it could be used to flush toilets, water the green façade and clean the market plaza for public toilets at the underground level for market plaza cleaning at the end of the day.
Materials used in the construction could be recycled or reused in a future after the end of building lifecycle. e.g. steel constructions, wooden panels, wooden tables at the square, tiles at the public plaza.