Has lived in Holmsund 3 years.

(1)

< 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 99

<100

Has lived in Holmsund 3 years.

Currently lives in a corrridor apartment with 8 other guys.

“It’s well situated in the cen- ter, near COOP and also near health center which is import- ant.

Has lived in Holmsund 17 years.

Currently lives in a row house apartment alone.

“I like being able to walk over to my neighbour for a cup of coffee whenever I feel like it.”

Has lived in Holmsund 4 years.

Currently lives in an apart- ment alone.

“Everybody knows every- body.”

Has lived in Holmsund 4.5 years.

Currently lives with spouse, two children and one dog.

“Everything is closeby.”

Works as volunteer at SESAM.

Currently lives in a rowhouse apartment alone.

“There used to be lots of small businesses around her, but Umeå out-conquered them...”

Currently lives in Villa with par- ents, one sibling and two dogs.

“It’s nice to have people around you even if you don’t interact.”

Has lived in Umeå 3,5 years.

Currently lives with a family in a villa.

“It’s difficult to think of the future when it is unsure.”

Works at SESAM.

“When the youths receive permanent residence (PUT) they no longer receive any support from the state.”

Architect at DAAR and proj- ect leader for “Al-Madhafah/

The Living Room” in Boden.

“

Gerd has lived in Holmsund 26 years, the rest have lived there all their lives.

Has lived in Holmsund 3 years.

Currently lives in a corridor apartment with 8 other guys.

“I want to stay in Holmsund, I like it here!”

Nasir - 19

Gerd - 53 Henrik - 21 Lovisa -17 Sofia - 17

Sandi - 46

Tomas - 37 Sif - 66

Shareef - 25 Jafar -

Kjell - 80 Isabelle - 21 Ismail - 17

Gunilla -

Wahidullah - 19

Asylum Process for Unaccompanied Minors (Simplified)

1 .

U M A 3 D a v i d S i n d e l a r Unaccompanied minor arrives to

Sweden.

The Municipality that receives them is called ‘Ankomstkommun’

and places the unaccompanied minor in a temporary housing (HVB) owned by the Swedish migration agency (Migrationsver- ket).

The Swedish migration agency relocates the youth to a new municipality called ‘Anvisningskom- mun’. This municipality receives reimbursement from the state to provide the youth with housing, health care and school.

While the Swedish migration agency investigates the unaccompanied minors’ asylum application, the youths receive a temporary residency (TUT) during the time that they study.

TUT lasts for 3 years and whereby it will be revoked.

If at the age of 18 the youths permanent residence is rejected they no longer receive any support from the municipality and become the Swedish migration office’s responibility.

The Swedish migration office can relocate the youth to a housing apartment in a another municipality owned by them while the asylum process continues.

In some cases they can provide the youth with housing apartment in the city where they are currently living in. However these housing are only available until the youth turns 21. Then they must again find new housing.

Sesam is a network that works under Röda Korset, is funded by Umeå municipality, that helps unaccompanied youths that have turned 18 and need to find new housing.

They find support families in Umeå that can house youths as well as finding school, internship and work.

Youths that feel comfortable living alone live together with other unaccompanied youths at Mäster Erik in Holmsund, corridor rooms that SESAM rent for the youths.

SESAM have contact with 70 youths where 8 are currently living in Holmsund

When the youth receives permanent residence (PUT) they do not receive any financial support from the municipality, the swedish Migration Office provides reimbursement for 30 days.

After this period the youths are no longer the responsibility of the state and must ... themselves.

The youths may stay in the municipalities housing without paying rent until they turn 21, whereupon they must fing their own housing.

The Swedish public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen) help refugees, among others, who have received a permanent residence to further learn the Swedish language, find work and become self supportive.

They aid people in the age group 20 - 65.

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HVB Housing

Support Housing

18 Unaccompanied minor arrives to Sweden.

The Municipality that receives them is called

‘Ankomstkommun’ and places the unac- companied minor in a temporary housing owned by the Swedish migration agency (Migrationsverket).

The Swedish migration agency relocates the youth to a new municipality called

‘Anvisningskommun’. This municipality receives reimbursement from the state to provide the youth with housing, health care and school.

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While the Swedish migration agency investi- gates the unaccompanied minors’ asylum application, the youths receive a temporary residency (TUT) during the time that they study.

TUT lasts for 3 years and whereby it will be revoked.

When the youth receives permanent residence (PUT) they do not receive any financial support from the state or municipali- ty that they are living in.

The Swedish public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen) help refugees, among others, who have received a permanent residence to further learn the Swedish language, find work and become self supportive.

They aid people in the age group 20 - 65.

The Swedish public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen) help refugees, among others, who have received a permanent residence to further learn the Swedish language, find work and become self supportive.

They aid people in the age group 20 - 65.

A prolonged temporary residence is possible in two different ways. For youths in the age group 17 - 24 you may get a prolonged TUT for the remaining study time which varies from person to person.

Prolonged temporary residence is possible if the person is able to support themselves financially.

When your studies have ended you can apply for a permanent residence so long as you can support yourself financially.

At the age of 18 the youths no longer receive any support from the municipality and must therefore find new housing.

The Swedish migration office can relocate the youth to a housing apartment in a another municipality owned by them while the asylum process continues.

In some cases they can provide the youth with housing apartment in the city where they are currently living in. However these housing are only available until the youth turns 21. Then they must again find new housing.

Sesam is a network that works under Röda Korset, is funded by Umeå munici- pality, that helps unaccompanied youths that have turned 18 and need to find new housing.

They find support families in Umeå that can house youths as well as finding school, internship and work.

Youths that feel comfortable living alone live together with other unac- companied youths at Mäster Erik in Holmsund, corridor rooms that SESAM rent for the youths.

SESAM have contact with 70 youths where 8 are currently living in Holmsund Unaccompanied minor arrives to

Sweden.

The Municipality that receives them is called ‘Ankomstkom-

mun’ and places the unaccom-

panied minor in a temporary housing owned by the Swedish migration agency (Migra- tionsverket).

The Swedish migration agency relocates the youth to a new municipality called ‘Anvisnings- kommun’. This municipality receives reimbursement from the state to provide the youth with housing, health care and school.

While the Swedish migration agency investigates the unac- companied minors’ asylum application, the youths receive a temporary residency (TUT) during the time that they study.

TUT lasts for 3 years and whereby it will be revoked.

When the youth receives perma- nent residence (PUT) they do not receive any financial support from the state or municipality that they are living in.

The Swedish public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen) help refugees, among others, who have received a permanent residence to further learn the Swedish language, find work and become self supportive.

They aid people in the age group 20 - 65.

A prolonged temporary residence is possible in two different ways. For youths in the age group 17 - 24 you may get a prolonged TUT for the remaining study time which varies from person to person.

Prolonged temporary residence is possible if the person is able to support themselves financially.

When your studies have ended you can apply for a permanent residence so long as you can support yourself financially.

At the age of 18 the youths no longer receive any support from the municipality and must therefore find new housing.

The Swedish migration office can relocate the youth to a housing apartment in a another munici- pality owned by them while the asylum process continues.

In some cases they can provide the youth with housing apart- ment in the city where they are currently living in. However these housing are only available until the youth turns 21. Then they must again find new housing.

Sesam is a network that works under Röda Korset, is funded by Umeå municipality, that helps unaccompanied youths that have turned 18 and need to find new housing.

They find support families in Umeå that can house youths as well as finding school, internship and work.

Youths that feel comfortable living alone live together with other unaccompanied youths at Mäster Erik in Holmsund, corridor rooms that SESAM rent for the youths.

SESAM have contact with 70

youths where 8 are currently

living in Holmsund

When the youth receives perma- nent residence (PUT) they do not receive any financial support from the state or municipality that they are living in.

The Swedish public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen) help refugees, among others, who have received a permanent residence to further learn the Swedish language, find work and become self supportive.

They aid people in the age group 20 - 65.

Due to the new school law (Nya Gymnasielagen, NGL) unaccompanied youths at the age of 18 may receive TUT for 13 months so that they can continue with their studies.

The youths can apply for a prolonged TUT a second time which lasts 13 months.

However, if the youth applies for a prolonged TUT a third time it lasts only 6 months.

When your studies have ended you can apply for a permanent residence so long as you can support yourself financially.

Social Agents

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Contrary to this straight line, the process is a long and arduous process that takes several years during which the youths are in constant unknowing of when or if they will receive permanent residence.

Once the youths do receive permanent residence, trying to adapt to a new country and culture and building up a social network is not a clear path either.

Perhaps seeing what we can learn from them rather than the opposite there can be a mutual ground for understanding and cooperation ?

(2)

Diagram - Centrality

The primary central node of Holsmund was the COOP store which the majority of the residents were heavily dependant upon as it is the only grocery store in Holmsund, the other nearest grocery store situated around 10 km outside of the city.

Diagram - Traffic

The traffic in Holmsund is minimal due to its suburbian characteristic, situated in close proximity to Umeå near the coast. There are two main roads passing through Holmsund ....

and ... The former is used mainly for trans- porting goods to and from the industrial area while the latter is used by passengers arriving from Vasa by the ferry.

Diagram - Buss stops

Buss and car are the primary mediums for transportation to and from Holmsund, where- as the primary means of transportation in Holmsund is by foot or occasionally by bike.

There are several stops distributed throughout the center of Holmsund and as new housing projects are in development it is safe to assume that the buss route to and from Umeå will be improved.

Neighbourhood 1 :2000 Potential Plots

Points of Interest

COOP Store -

Grocery store in Holm -

sund frequently visited by the locals. The other food strore available lies in Umeå 15 min away by car.

Pingstkyrkan-

Church includes a café working as a meeting point for local resi

-

dents.

Municipal Office

Mäster Erik -

An old hotel that is currently used as housing for workers on the second level, and housing for unaccompanied youths over the age of 18.

Youth Housing -

Housing for youths who need housing for various reasons.

Residential Building Skärgårdskaféet -

A café juxtaposed to Mäster Erik. There is an adjacent bakery where the café bakes their products.

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Urban Strategy

N N

2 .

U M A 3 D a v i d S i n d e l a r

Pizzeria

- Frequently visited by residents of Holmsund and employees at the health

-

center

Health center

Holmsund Regions 1 : 10 000

Urban Strategy

In order to determine an appropriate plot upon which the project could be intro- duced to, different regions in Holmsund were identified through previous semester’s research and mappings. Certain characteristics and morphology were defined for each region, whereupon the region most suited for the project was evident. A cen- tral region, in close proximity to foodstores, recreational facilities and access to buss transport.

Programs

Harbour Industry

Residential Coast Forest Church

Residential

New Development

Workshops

Residential Villas

School Residential

Row houses Center

(3)

Site Strategy

Further investigations required a zoom-in into the specific neighbourhood and a deep- er understanding of the various programs, social nodes, boundaries and landmarks already exisiting and defining the area.

Following the criterias from the urban strate- gy new more specific plots were discovered and investigated in different aspects. One such aspect was social activities and/or nodes; programmed spaces such as cafés, church, or local stores as well as non-pro- gramed spaces of gathering such as a cor- ner spot, backyards, open square etc.

Plot 4 - Mäster Erik

Potential: Active site, pre-existing businesses, Central, Visible Difficulties: Small plot, many activities,

N N

Site Strategy 1 : 1000

Plot 3 - Municipal Office

Potential: Central, Visible, Surounding context Difficulties: Small plot, Too surrounded

- Grass

- Tiled Surface

- Curb edge - Parking plot

Plot 2 - COOP Store

Plot 1 - Residential Area

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Site Analysis

Site Sequence of Spaces

I. View of busstop and COOP store II. View towards Mäster Erik from busstop III. View in to the parking lot by Mäster Erik IV. View in to the Courtyard and second entrance to Skärgårdskaféet

3 .

4 .

Plot 5 - Järnvägsgatan, Centralgatan and Sågverksgatan

Potential: Large area, Open, Non-programed, In-between space Difficulties: Traffic, little nearby context, Invisible, Outside

IV III

II I

- Sequence of space direction

(4)

Plot 1 - Residential Area

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Conceptual Design Process and References

Model I - Level Topography

The first conceptual model played on different level heights and rooms in relation to each other depending on how private or public the rooms were. By breaking levels and creating a topography a notion of flow and happenings was achieved as well as increasing the amount of sunlight reaching the ground floor.

By lifting the enitre structure there was potential to connect the student housing level with the pre-existing balcony of Mäster Erik, while simultaneously offering sheltered space underneath the structure to be used by the public.

Model II - Volumetric Translation

The second model explored the first model further by translating each surface into a solid volume. This began to give shape to the overall project as well as define the spaces and the relation between the ground and upper floor more clearly.

However this rough and literal translation exposed many flaws such as the harsh seperation between the housing units (Upper volumes) and the public facilities (lower volumes).

Model III - Additional Levels

In order to add complexity to the project and restore the ideas from the first model, a sixth housing unit was added and placed on a third level while one of the previous units were placed on the bottom floor. The new sloped shape not only blended the previously distinct seperation between housing units and public facilities but also improved the amount of sunlight for each housing unit.

The ground floor and top floor units were too isolated from the four middle units that were more intimately positioned.

Model IV - Merging Units

The idea behind the fourth model was to place each housing unit one meter above the other, starting on the ground floor and reaching the balcony entrance to Mäster Erik. By merging the units with each other the entire building would function as one large staircase.

A more complex shape was realised through this experiment and a more intimate relation between each student collective.

However, this new arrangement proved to work against the initial aim of the project; creating housing for smaller groups of student in order to promote a more social and intimate dynamic between the students.

Model V - Adding Ramps

Since each unit was only one meter above the other and the notion of topography had been key since the first model, it seemed natural to add ramps within the complex. This not only created a more open and airy buildsing, defining the boundaries between the student collectives but also offered several light shafts to the ground floor.

Despite creating a more porous building the ramps were awk- wardly placed between the units acting solely as transit route seperating the units harshly. The height differences made the ramps too steep for wheelchairs.

Model I - First Solid Volume

Process Models

Conceptual Models

Model II - Permeable Volumes Model III - Permeable lower Volume and Private

upper Volume Model IV - Private lower Volume and Perme-

able upper Volume Model V - Permeable Lower Volumes, Private

middle Volume and Permeable top Volumes Al Madhafah “The Living Room”, Sandi Hilal - Boden, Sweden

The project focused on the everyday interaction between refugees and local residents through the act of ‘hosting’. Sandi Hilal came in contact with a young couple living in Boden who showed how the act of hosting gave them agency and empowerment in an otherwise non-social and often victimized environment.

Thoughts on how to avoid victimizing the unaccompanied youths that would be the users of ‘Breaking Levels’ originates from this initial case study. Furthermore Al-Madhafah also spurred thoughts on how everyday interactions could be incorporated into the project.

Rosengården Bokaler, Kenji Miyazu - Malmö, Sweden

Kenji Miyazu revitalised the traditional housing dynamic between work and home in

Rosengården where a street of residential houses were built upon to enable the residents to open up shops towards the street.

The idea of creating a space that worked as a membrane between the public and private was incorporated in the project by introducing flexible groundfloor facilities open to both residents and the public. ‘Breaking Levels’ utilizes the large void underneath the housing projects to house different spaces and activities.

Orphanage, Aldo van Eyck - Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Orphanage by Aldo van Eyck was a critique on the post war architecture seeing that there was a lack of human element. Through repetition and carefully designed programs, Aldo van Eyck manages to create a large almost urban complex of spaces shaped and complemented by one another.

Understanding the different programs and spaces within the building as well as how they shaped exterior spaces was used as inspiration when designing ‘Breaking Levels’. The idea of housing units that together shape common spaces as well as spaces for gather- ings and spontaneous interactions was inspired by the Amsterdam Orphanage.

Reference Projects

4 .

Section Exploring Levels and Heights Plan and Section of Housing Unit Student Room Plan Wire Axonometric View of Collectives Merging Refined dimensions, Ramps and Terraces

Process Sketches

(5)

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Context and Intervention

N N

Contextual Map

5 .

Context

One of the core ideas for the project was to adapt to the surround- ing environment and factors such as points of entrances, transits, gathering spaces and sunlight.

Through these factors many elements of the building was realised such as the large opening through the building leading residents from the west in to the courtyard and café.

By balancing different points of circulation and entrances, new

places of everyday interactions were made and thereby creating

a more socially engaging environment for the students and resi-

dents of Holmsund.

(6)

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Architectural Drawings and Program

Residential

Public Facilities

Residential Facilities Private Facilities

Residential

Public Facilities

Residential Facilities Private Facilities

Residential

Public Facilities

Residential Facilities Private Facilities

Residential

Public Facilities

Residential Facilities Private Facilities Residential

Public Facilities

Residential Facilities Private Facilities

Plan 2 - Middle Floor 1 : 200 Plan 3 - Top Floor 1 : 200

Logistics - Private

Ramps Elevators Stairs

Auditorium Gallery/Workshop Café

Foyer Yarn Store Health center

Apartments

Student Collectives

Laundry room

Bakery Storage

Functional - Collective Dwellings - Private

Facilities and Stores - Common / Public Circulation diagram

6 .

West facade Exterior Perspective View

N N

Sun study diagram

(7)

– B R E A K I N G L E V E L S –

Structural Elements, Details and Materiality

8 .

Structural Axonometric View 1 : 100 Structural Section Detail 1 : 20

Hollow Brick -

For the project to blend and relate visually with the pre-existing context, brick was chosen as the main facade and structure. However, in order to avoid unneccessarily thick and heavy walls for places where brick is solely used for visual context rather than structural, a different type of bricks were used for the facade called “Porotherm Hollow Brick”

Hollow bricks as the name suggests are perforated hollow bricks that enable the material to be light weight and thereby more cost-effective by reducing the amount of mortar used for construction.

By having air pockets in the bricks, the material has natural insulation which improves both thermal and sound insulation which ... .