ROOMS  I  STUDENT SOCIAL HOUSING - 2nd YEAR DESIGN PROJECT  

Student Housing facility based on a Social Housing Typology

 

On a site that sits between the highly populated Braamfontein and Hillbrow districts, the brief was to design a low cost housing facility for university students. Techtonically, this design bases its brick and concrete aesthetics on the style of architecture that is synonymous with this region of Johannesburg, similar to that of the existing Esselen Street Ladies Residence for the University of the Witwatersrand.

 

Conceptualy, the design primarily focuses on trying to get as much natural light as possible into the building; These spaces would be programmed for social activities and living areas where students are most likely to spend the majority of the day when not at the university. This is achieved by having these spaces at the east end of the building and gradually  reducing the floor areas as the building rises, as well as using a slight incline on the perimeter walls to further increase sun penetration.

 

The design allows students to enjoy an outdoor atmosphere with morning and afternoon light, right in the heart of a region that is populated with medium by buildings.