CIARA LEIBEL

CONTEXT

Unlike in the suburbs of cities, community centres are often more scarce in urban neighbourhoods despite having a higher population density. Urban planning sees people living closer than ever in row houses, duplexes, and multi-storey apartment buildings, yet the presence of accessible, community oriented, and well designed spaces are lacking regardless of the need for them. Community centres can be defined as a place where people from a particular community can meet for social, educational, or recreational activities. However, the traditional community centre is most commonly designed as an open hall equipped with a small kitchen and washrooms. The absence of consideration in these spaces is demonstrated in their lack of spatial experience. For this reason, The Common Ground Collective, comprising a Community Library, Social House, and Locally Sourced and Sustainable Retail Market seeks to fill that void. The facility addresses the existing need within the Shaganappi Community to foster engagement alongside the larger scale issue of climate change, by providing meaningful public spaces focused on enhancing the well-being of local residents and promoting sustainable living. With a focus on sustainability, Common Ground seeks to empower people through knowledge and foster human connection.

COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE

The name Common Ground was inspired by the notion of the third place. The third place, a term coined by Ray Oldenburg, refers to spaces people spend time in between home and work where the exchange of ideas, good conversation, and the formation of relationships occurs. Furthermore, the communal nature of these spaces mean they exist as common ground, offer a home away from home environment, and are accessible and accommodate all users.

DESIGN INTENT

The Common Ground Collective exemplifies a contemporary take on the traditional community centre. Without compromising function, the aesthetic of the facility will possess an energy that draws people inward and encourages them to progress through the space. On this basis, a sense of discovery will be achieved through integrated design details that reveal and cascade. As well, The Common Ground Collective seeks to exist as an extension of the home, embodying a warmth and familiarity that is appealing to people of varying ages, genders, and ethnicities. Upon entering the facility, users will experience numerous variations of layered spaces and sightlines. This dynamic visual will be achieved through the combination of open and closed spaces and reveal design details. In alignment with the concept of wandering, continuous elements will further the compelling vistas as well as aid users in the progression through the space by means of touch. Highly textural qualities of the materials will also heighten the haptic experience for users. Acoustic controls in the form of ceiling development, materiality, and background noise will offer variation between loud and quiet spaces. Additionally, this fluctuation of sound will transition from more lively and energetic acoustic parameters to softer and more muted levels as one moves inward and upward through the facility.

CONCEPTUAL DIRECTION

Existing as an extension of the home, Common Ground, embodies a warmth and familiarity through eclectic finishes that are appealing to people of all walks of life. Horizontally layered levels cultivate unsuspecting nooks that foster education, gathering, and sharing by means of integrated design details. The abstraction of nature inspired elements is demonstrated through variation of pattern, texture, and contemporary forms creating a sense of unity across all spaces, artistically gesturing users, and promoting a sense of discovery.