The starting point of this project was designing the facade, for which the material of choice is copper. In itself, it requires almost no maintenance, as it naturally produces a protective layer due to exposure to weather and other external influences - a laver more commonly known as patina. Regarding ecology and sustainability, copper mining and processing are rather harmful to the environment. However, copper recycling isn't - copper, in any stage of use or patina development can be recycled and reshaped an infinite number of times without losing its performance properties. Copper is a sure choice of material for the specific location of this project, as it is very loud, busy and polluted. Considering this, the first impression was to protect this corner that we'd be placing residential spaces in, and shield it from the negative influences of the street below. By combining the material of choice and initial impression, I've reached the conclusion of wanting this facade to be a sort of armor. The medieval technique of placing armor shingles on a horizontal substructure can easily be translated into architecture. Through trial and error, it has turned into a facade consisting of rows of copper panels, some moveable some fixed, with the former ones being suspended and held in place by cables wound using a simple pulley system. In this way, holes in the armor can be opened and closed freely. The maintenance and repair of this system are preset to be performed by people of different skill levels and in different places, on-site or in the workshop on the second floor of the building - on the maintenance floor. The program of the building is defined directly by the facade and it's maintenance requirements. In addition to residence, the first and second floors are equipped with workspaces meant for anything from artistic creation to building element repairs. The residential floors, covered by copper on both sides of the building, are based on the balance of personal/collective - rooms are facing the street, so each tenant can develop their own personal relationship with it, while the common corridor is facing the inside courtyard, strengthening the idea of communal living and neighborly interaction. All spaces are designed and materialized in such a way that it makes them easy to clean. Each apartment has a designated space for storage of maintenance supplies, and the maintenance of common areas is expected to be organized and performed by tenants themselves, further deepening the sense of togetherness. While the facade is a complex system requiring unique maintenance, keeping up the inside was made as simple as possible, as only by caring together can this space keep its qualities.
