Trait d’union

The metaphor

From an old abandoned building, through the analysis of the meaning of “leftover,” trait d’union is the metaphor and critical key to interpreting the design and approach to the building itself. It means to connect two contradictory elements, that without this “trait d’union” would not be combined.
The building is a temporary residence for people in difficulty. It has a shared terrace with the function of being an attraction to connect the structure to Milan.

The Interior

The temporary residence consists of five rooms, which have a maximum size of 30sqm. Each apartment has a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Because the area is small and needs to be fully functional, the spaces are designed to be temporary and flexible for any situation. There is a micro-space within each apartment, an area aesthetically and conceptually different from other parts of the house based on the comfort research.

Comfort research

The purpose of this research is to study some comfortable and uncomfortable positions to create more modular blocks. The user can approach them in different ways, putting themselves in various postures, depending on how long they will have to use the space.

The public space

The public space is a rooftop occupied by an artificial garden created by four hundred blue pinwheels. Starting from the metaphor “Trait d’union,” this is a space where people can meet.
This place is also the material concretization of the wind. The wind becomes noticeable with the movement of the pinwheels. The transition from the invisible to the visible is one of the essential purposes of the trait d’union.

Collaboration with:
Laura Polvara