Still Born

Our design serves as a catalogue of strategies aimed at bridging the nuclear family apartment and cooperative housing typology, alleviating the stress of domestic labour by redistributing responsibilities among community members. This approach reimagines living arrangements to foster interconnectedness and support among neighbours.

In Still Born, Guadalupe Nettel explores the lives of two friends, Alina and Laura, who unexpectedly find themselves navigating familial dynamics after years of opposing the idea of parenthood. Alina's journey involves inviting a nanny into her home, revealing the complexities of adapting a nuclear family space to accommodate additional caregivers. Meanwhile, Laura’s experience unfolds across two separate apartments, emphasising how shared walls and corridors facilitate interconnectivity in their lives. These narratives illuminate how societal pressures and norms influence child-rearing dynamics, demonstrating the benefits of having multiple adult figures involved in a child’s upbringing.

Our intervention addresses the inadequacies of existing apartments in Zurich, which often lack designated spaces that promote communal care and respite for adults. By rethinking how neighbours can live as co-inhabitants rather than merely adjacent residents, we aim to foster trust and proximity, encouraging a communal approach to childcare. Involving the non-parental population—approximately two-thirds of Zurich’s residents—creates opportunities for diverse forms of collective care, ultimately relieving stress on parents.

The proposal includes strategic additions and connections between existing apartment buildings, utilising voids and transitional spaces. Minor interventions within these structures aim to enhance intimacy among neighbours by optimising shared areas and facilities. Our strategies promote community living and trust at varying levels of privacy, enabling simultaneous or phased implementation based on residents' needs and the potential of the respective site. This flexible design ensures that the evolving dynamics of community life can be effectively accommodated over time.

Project by: Micki Soriano, Trisha Karthik, Varvara Sulema

Teaching team: Anna Puigjaner, Dafni Retzepi, Ethel Baraona Pohl, Jo Baan, Lisa Maillard, Luis Úrculo, Pol Esteve Castelló, He Shen

Spring 2024