Overseas Oasis

Fig: 1 - A view of migrated people living in tents

PEOPLE’S MIGRATION

In 2015, over a billion people migrated: 244 million went abroad and 763 million moved within their home country. In search of a new opportunity, for a better quality of life, to escape violence or an ongoing disaster. 

As the century drew to a close, a broad-based rehabilitation of the central city as the place to work, live and study has dominated the landscape. This has led to an increase in population and a change in demographics. Among them are young adults. Almost 30 per cent of the young adults aged 18-34 in the United States are either foreign-born or of foreign parentage. While Canada saw an 18.5% increase in 2018, international students studying in Amsterdam saw an increase of 8%. 

In pursuit of better opportunities and fulfilment, more people are choosing to travel abroad. This trend is envisioned to grow as the change gets reflected in the urban fabric of the city.

Fig: 2 - Built density of Amsterdam growing over the years Source

URBAN DENSIFICATION

The influx of migrants and refugees has seen the borders of many cities expanding in the last few decades. As of 2017, Amsterdam’s population is anticipated to increase by 23% up to just over a million in 2040, mostly due to migration. 

Over the past century, one of the biggest urban development challenge for the city has been densification. 19th-century buildings are being demolished to accommodate the growing housing crisis. Along with construction on green wedges and land expansion outside the administrative borders has led to the present city fabric. 

Though the city council has proposed housing solutions to integrate the permanent residents. It’s the temporary residents like international students, planning to study in the city who are at loss.

Fig: 3 - 8% increase in population of international students in Amsterdam. Source

FOREIGNER STUDENTS CONDITION

While students are pursuing their education abroad, they encounter numerous issues in social settings. Adjusting to a new way of living can become overwhelming, as it often differs from what one has identified with all their lives. With university and work being the only place to socialize, it becomes difficult to build a network.

They account for 11.5% of the total student body at Amsterdam University,  twice the number 10 years ago. (Source) Due to reported straining of city housing and course availability for Dutch Students, University of Amsterdam now aims to reduce its influx. 

The student housing crisis has also led to high demand for inhabitable rooms and fraudsters taking advantage of the unaware. Many students were forced to live in tents while some had to leave the opportunity to study in the country. Students, who don’t have the avenue to network and find a trustworthy source for an accommodation became vulnerable.

Fig: 4 - Students leaving after a day end at University of Amsterdam. Source

BRIEF OF THE COMPETITION

The world’s 12th-best city in terms of 'quality of life, Amsterdam is known for its cultural inclusivity. Despite government policies formulated for the inclusion of migrants, the internationalization of education has been a point of debate for years. 2018 report by OECD reported that about 51% of the population agrees that foreigners who live in the city are not well integrated. 

Intercommunal interactions must occur for people to adjust. These adjustments are complex, ambiguous and carry a temporal sense of identity. A space, a stepping stone that facilitates the process of inclusion into the city fabric. An avenue that helps students feel belonging to society and helps in preserving their identity.

The brief is to design a community center for 100 international students (ages 19-35). The creation of the space aims to enable international students to find gateways into familiar circles of the city and find an overlap with the locals.

OBJECTIVES

• Glocal: Countless nationalities present design should be diverse and yet belong to the city.
• Productivity: How can humans do more and be enabled to do more.
• Adaptability: The students are the temporary residents of the city. With changing population, how does the design respond to the changing needs? 
• Overlap: Interaction between locals and international students is critical for inclusive development.

The following objectives can be a point of beginning to conceive this design. Participants can assume their own contexts and users before initiating their design process.

SITE

The site is located near Kraaiennest metro station, hotels, malls and sports club. Kraaiennest is an Amsterdam Metro station in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The station was renovated and reopened in September 2013, to a design by Dutch-British Architecture Firm Maccreanor Lavington. The renovations resulted in a Royal Institute of British Architects award in 2014.

Coordinates: 52.317700, 4.982200
Site Area: 6196.43 sqm
Height limit: 24 m 
Ground Coverage: 50% 

SetBack as per CAD Plan