[Mobile_Living_Units]

Prologue

Embarking on this project, we delve into the realms of urban data mining, mobile architecture, and narrative articulation within level design practices. The challenge posed is a call to explore mobile architecture, recognizing the significance of mobility and migration in today's urban landscapes. Our focus centers on developing a design system leveraging behavioral data to strategically position living/habitation units throughout the city of Edinburgh. This project unfolds in two distinct stages: Data Analytics and Design.

Locative Data - Data Citizenship

Within the current urban landscape, dynamics, and mobility, we navigate the intricacies of Autonomous Decentred Systems (ADS) strategy. The ubiquity of smartphones and layered social, political, and cultural networks transforms each citizen into an active agent, with their mobile activities intricately woven into virtual networks. In the initial part of the semester, our exploration revolves around locative social activities, employing APIs to mine data from social networks. Through mapping layers, we aim to reveal hidden footprints, representing the city through the lens of its active citizens.

Following the map layers from social media networks, we extend our exploration to identify potential "gap-sites" in the city using camera gears such as Google Glass or GoPro. This phase involves uncovering leftover lands and spaces suitable for housing units, mapping the tangible realities. The data generated in this step forms the foundation for the subsequent stage – mapping the digitally designed habitation units.

Background

Rooted in the Metabolism movement in architecture, our project draws inspiration from iconic works like the Nagakin Capsule Tower by Kisho Kurokawa (1972). This architectural marvel aimed to "reconnect" citizens with the built environment, encapsulating the essence of mobility, migration, and city dynamics through a pod system of habitation units.

Archigram, a revolutionary force in spatial approach within urban contexts, contributes provocative concepts and stories to our project. In the words of Cj Lim, a luminary in smart cities and architectural narratives, "[…] cities are alive. They breathe, they grow, they spawn, they die, and they dream."

Contemporary approaches to habitation find resonance in architectural competitions like Evolo, emphasizing technological advances, data, and innovative design for the 21st Century. Such platforms invite stories and design proposals envisioning the urban future.

The Narrative

In the latter part of the semester, our focus shifts to designing mood boards, storyboards, and narrative structures. Here, we weave the data from the project's initial phase and the current reality of the city into compelling narratives. Leveraging game design, we overlay an alternative reality onto the city's actual imagery, employing this engaging approach for speculating on real-world issues.