Master project | 2010
instructor: dr. Jacob Voorthuis
The Culture Shock project was established in order to learn about ones own country, by the experience of culture shock in another country. Therefore a study trip to Mexico was implemented, where a building block had to be 'colonised', in such manner that the Dutch colonisation could become a positive impulse to the city.
An investigation into the use of space in the Mexican commercial daily life has played an important part in the design process. Using greenhouse dwellings, the coloniser will be able to exploit the large amount of energy provided by the Mexican sun within the confines of a city block. This way farmland can be brought into the city, which currently is can be seen as a concrete jungle.
A strong relationship between dweling and farming is established; the greenhouse filters the busy city life. The 'urban' fruit and vegetables will be sold at street level, in the shop hidden by the currently present Mexican façade.