unit-code
The Communal Suture is a proposal that weaves together the empowerment of immigrant weavers as well as tackling islamophobia and fascism in the heart of Walthamstow. This was triggered by Islamophobic marches starting in 2012 in which the community came together to prevent the marches progression.
The proposal focuses on creating a village system to create, produce, and sell weave in a basement market integrated into the terrain. The site morphs around the primary stakeholders of mothers from Islamic backgrounds accommodating children and creating a risen play area. The play area and market serve as social integration spaces to tackle divides by weaving people together. Both the play interaction points, and the market stalls align allowing the integration to happen in a parallax. The spaces are designed with vernacular and morphed surfaces imitating a variety of vernacular forms from different Islamic countries as well as the vernacular of Walthamstow.
The shading elements sit on a ceramic shell atop glulam frames and cross laminated timber (CLT) load bearing walls. The hanging fabric drying rotor sits directly in front of the balcony opening with a good view of the play areas for weavers to view.
A space for an afterschool care space whereby casual arts and crafts, weaving, and sewing activities are performed. The ceramic shell sits on the glulam frames and a CLT floor. The skylight provides the majority of daylight for the single-zone space.
This image displays two connected isolated fragments of the 8 segment Nomadic Home. The CLT wall and floors are integrated with the glulam frames with external reflective louvres.
This section cut goes through a mid-section of the buildings and site. The site exposes the market apace below with its foundation designs connected in dotted lines.
This plan section cut goes through the middle floor of the nomadic home and shows the many interaction points. These include the light interaction point, the village interaction point, and the slide interaction point.