AGORA

The vision and the mission of AGORA

The vision of this project is to create a central area in the community and at the same time to help and support local small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the larger ones.

We want to give the community opportunity to arrange various events, like exhibitions, lectures, theater and movie shows, political meetings and speeches, etc., but also more private ones like weddings, big parties and so on.

It is also important for us that businesses of all kinds will get a space where they can show off their products and projects, in surroundings that is both spacious and pleasing and modern to be in and look at.

In this project there will be room both for farmers to sell their harvest and artisans to show and sell their goods, as well as the possibility for small entrepreneurs to do business with meetings and offices, artists to entertain at the stage and people in general to meet and exchange ideas. Private citizens can trade their various items and thereby help recycling increase.

On the top floor small businesses and so on can rent their own work spaces and find room for their business meetings.

Characteristic of the main building is the highly organic form, that is deliberate chosen to create separate rooms. All walls consists of glass and wood that can moved around and closed to protect from heat or cold, or opened widely to create one coherent open space. Windows in the ceiling opens to natural light for all the interior.

The purpose of the materials and building technique is to save energy as well as make the whole project as flexible as possible.

The whole roof of the main building is covered with solar cells to make sustainable energy for the whole project.

 PROJECT:

 ABOUT:

The purpose of this project is create a public space for vendors and consumers, designed for them to develop and thrive close to each others, close to each others where their daily needs are. By this the project aims to integrate the informal economy in the daily life, include a larger part of the workforce and regenerate a environment that has stagnated.

The design encourages the urban informal economy by welcoming the users but also creates a stage for public use that goes beyond buying and selling. Indeed this building will add the opportunity for the public to also host performances, exhibitions and  similar events.

CONCEPT:

The concept is to combine a large open space and a secluded space in same unique construction. It therefor consists of a number of separate parts.

This is a building that can evolve with the needs of its users. The shape provides the vendor to decide on the position, location and size of each persons sales area, beside of giving space for exhibitions and shows, etc.

THE OPEN SPACE contains a large area to exhibitions plus an open-air theater and the entrance to the parking space.

THE CLOSED SPACE consists of two floors: ground floor and first floor.

In order to create a natural light the walls of this building mostly consists of windows. These can be opened, for example during the summer.

The ground floor is a public space for sales and exhibitions. Here the users will be able to place themselves as they prefer to, allowing the facility to evolve according to needs. Sellers will be able to sell all kinds of products, fruits, vegetables, clothes, jewellery, etc. This is also the floor for events such as performances, speeches and so on.

First floor is more private with space for administration, meeting room and separate functions such as toilet and kitchenette. The roof of this space has an in-build skylight window to make more light on the first floor.

BASEMENTS:The building also contains two basements. The first one will be a parking area for workers and exhibitors, and will also contain functions such as: administration, medical center, central small kitchen, laundry, electric/ mechanical installation room, reused water tank, toilets, storage rooms and big kitchens for the events.  The second basement will be exclusively a public parking area for the guests.

THE ROOF:The wave-shaped roof is designed to cover the entire site to protect vendors and consumers from the weather. It is possible to open the roof when the weather is fine. Large skylights have been inserted to let in the natural light from outside.

The composition of the roof is as follows:

- Wooden beam,

- Thick solid retractable fabric,

- Concrete slab.

MATERIAL:

The materials that will be used in this project are mainly glass, wood and steel.

The building has been designed taking into account reusable energy and water reuse. On the roof solar panels are integrated to produce clean electricity. In addition a water reuse system has been designed. The system is located on the R-2.