" Around a Roof " - Community Center in Nepal
Finalist - Archsharing Competition
«Around a roof» is the pure expression of the need for man to have a roof.
It is a shelter for every member of the community and its visitors. In an environment where climate disasters are a permanent concern for the inhabitants, it represents the protective and unifying space.
The roof becomes the landmark element in the landscape as the historic temples that represent an aesthetic durability in the Nepali spirit.
Settling on the traditional Nepalese terraces, the cover is supported by a solid stone base. Reusing the materials of the previous earthquakes, he tries to erase the idea of a new disaster by an implementation designed to resist and protect. Taking the shape of a square, it is the most resistant geometric form combining security and functionality.
This rational geometry forms the strong foundations for the light structure at the top. The dialogue between these two essential building elements of the project generates a diversity of postures and functions. With a great constructive simplicity, the project highlights the estetics of the shelter, taking as a starting point the singular relationship of a roof and four walls. It authorizes the appropriation and gives the possibility of the evolution of spaces and uses
The square is a thick programmatic outline containing important community amenities such as an atelier, a cultural access room and a kitchen. Each of them are connected themselves by serving spaces forming annexed squares, bracing of the buildings.
These spaces constituting the contour of the buildings, draw a large central space of approximately 70 m2.
This space is the heart of this community center. First space appreciated by the visitor, it is a covered space, a shelter for all, multi-functional which adapts to the temporality and the necessity of the people who occupy it. It is the main flow area with mountains as a backdrop. It can become a marketplace, offering vegetables from the garden on the terraces around the community center, but also a playground for children, shelters for travelers, an auditorium for music, shows, protecting every day of the year against the strong sun or rains.
Naturally ventilated and covering an important tanker of water recuperation, it is the founding space for the community. It is indicated by this ample roof during the day, and it acts like a lantern in the night, letting out the light through these openings.
These openings also allow to appreciate the landscape by the attic part of the project. overlooking the central space, it functions as an appropriation space permanently accessible.
Very appropriable it is the space of tranquility for the children, and can even become a tribune looking on the central space.
