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Generation Bridge

Basic information

Project Title

Generation Bridge

Full project title

Multigeneration co-housing units infilling remainings of medieval fortifications in Gdansk.

Category

Preserved and transformed cultural heritage

Project Description

Why our architectural heritage is so often neglected and forgotten? How can elderly people be a part of modern society without being left isolated? Generation Bridge is an attempt to connect young and elderly people by pilot co-housing project within the context of forgotten remainings of medieval walls. Old fortifications complemented with habitation units and surrounded by green urban park will become sustainable transformation giving new life to currently neglected cultural heritage. 

Project Region

Stockholm, Poland

EU Programme or fund

No

Description of the project

Summary

Generation Bridge is searching for an answer towards two parallel problems. The preservation of our architectural heritage is a great concern of many European cities. Located in the Old Town of Gdansk, remainings of medieval city walls are currently abandoned and highly neglected elements in a city. Loneliness in the ageing European society is becoming another challenge for a 21st century. The growing generation gap is leaving elderly people isolated and lonely. Generation Bridge is proposing transformation of neglected remainings of middle-aged fortifications, surrounding the Old Town in Gdansk. Newly added structures to the walls are designed with the leading idea of multi-generational integration through co-housing units of elderly and young people. The additional value of the project is rearrangement of currently abandoned spaces around the city medieval walls. The old walls have been redefined from being dividing element into a generator of different activities and interactions for citizens. The new and welcoming urban green park has been designed with intention of connecting the city both in a physical and social dimension. There has been proposed a framework model suggesting a possible financing of a project. The income from lower parts of the walls infilled with public functions such as workshop spaces, cafes, city bikes, exhibitions, may support financially the pilot project of inter-generational co-housing units infilling upper parts of the walls. The specific program defining rules of young and elderly people co-housing has been introduced with the main principle of making it an attractive housing alternative for both age groups. In the broader meaning Generation Bridge intends to manifest modern human relations in more and more individualised society. It aims to recall about values of direct human interactions, mutual help and concern for a common good by identifying with the place we live and with the people we are surrounded by.

Key objectives for sustainability

Generation Bridge is strongly anchored in principles of holistic sustainable approach. Transformation of neglected medieval walls by complementing them with multigenerational co-housing units and surrounding with new green urban park is creating additional value to the city in social, environmental and economical dimensions. First of all, concept of intergenerational community intends to build relations and friendships between people of different ages and promote idea of "sharing and caring". Reinventing neglected spaces around old fortifications into vibrant park is creating a space in the city for social interactions and community building. Secondly, newly added co-housing units are designed with environmentally friendly solutions. Structure of the units is made in timber elements that in the future can be easily disassembled and re-used in other places. Green roofs filled with urban farming gardens are a source of ecological, locally grown vegetables, fruits and herbs for inhabitants. Solar panels installed on the the roofs are producing clean energy. Urban park surrounding old walls works as a big green lugn for the city, enhancing biodiveristy, decreasing carbon dioxide levels and cooling down Gdansk downtown. Last but not least, proposed financial model where ground-floor levels filled with public services are financially supporting pilot co-housing project of young and elderly people is aiming at idea of affordable habitation for everyone. All in all, holistic approach in Generation Bridge project aims at optimizing use of resources, saving energy, reducing waste and creating most of the value and quality in terms of sustainability. 

Key objectives for aesthetics and quality

Generation Bridge project attempts to transform the area around neglected medieval fortifications in a most respectful way to historical and cultural value of a place. Although newly added infillings are designed using modern means of architectural expression the selection of materials in the project intend to find greatest harmony between new architecture and existing historical tissue. The outcome of striving for this harmony is a timber envelope of all facades. From a distant view it creates the impression of a uniform element naturally complementing the wall. The wood on the facade is provided in dark, brick color integrating new structures with the surrounding fortifications. Newly built infillings become in a way a natural extension of existing remainings of medieval walls. The choice of wooden material also refers to the tradition of medieval architecture where all the structures attached to brick walls, such as walkways or watchtowers were built out of wood. Urban green park designed around the fortifications is becoming a city garden filled in with natural landscape, green loans, trees, flowers, water fountains, art installations, sculptures, public pavilions and all kinds of welcoming spaces. It aims to become a green nature area for everyone to find peacefulness and beauty in a romantic context of preserved and exposed leftovers of medieval fortifications. 

Key objectives for inclusion

Generation Bridge is a project that aims at inclusion both in social dimension and physical enviroment. First of all, concept of multigenerational co-housing is a strong attempt of actively keeping elderly people a part of a modern society. Commonly shared living spaces become platform of exchanging ideas and knowledge between generations. For example young people can help elderly with learning technology while old inhabitants can share knowledge and life experience with youngsters. This leads to creation of friendships and relationships making everyone felt needed and included. Secondly, urban green park filled in with diverse recreational facilities is creating a new quality area in the city. This space will encourage interactions between habitants. For example designed workshop pavilions can become a place of integration for local community empowering creation and development of new sustainable ideas and concepts. Last but not least, Generation Bridge project is manifesting inclusion in an urban physical enviroment. Transformation of space around old fortifications is aiming at respectful preservation of cultural heritage by inclusion of old elements in a newly designed space. Both infillings in form of co-housing units and all other facilities designed in a park are intended to stay in a greatest harmony with medieval remainings. 

Innovative character

Generation Bridge project innovative character is represented on many different levels. First of all, concept of multigenerational co-housing is aiming at social innovation. Connecting old and young people by sharing common living space in everyday life is going to build great social value. Friendships will be developed and everyone will feel included and not left apart. Young and elderly people can learn a lot from each other so that great exchange of knowledge and experience will happen. Co-housing concept is also an answer to todays growing loneliness problem both among young and old people. Moreover, transformation of area around medieval fortifications into urban park with co-housing units is an innovation idea itself. It provides not only traditional preservation of cultural heritage but gives an additional value to the city in form of new sustainable green neighbourhood empowering local community. The financial plan where public facilities and services in the green park are supporting affordable social cohousing is an example of economical innovative model that can be studied and replicated in other similar projects. Generation bridge is a hybrid of innovative ideas such as new models of living, new ways of thinking about cultural heritage and sustainable transformation of neglected areas in the city. 

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