Sayed Ahmed
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences Dessau, Germany
Title: Challenges and dimensions of collective memory to conserve housing network within an urban context as modern monument: General consideration and the case of siedlung gropius törten estate in dessau’s modern monument with material contradictions
Biography
Biography: Sayed Ahmed
Abstract
As an exceptional case of being modern monument, the concept of social functionalist housing at Siedlung Gropius Torten Estate in Dessau needs some reconsideration due to conserving or replacing materials. For this, evolution of social housing from the 18th century was shortly discoursed with distinguished trends of architecture. The main concern of the study is how to introduce sustainability to a preset composite material design to suit todays need for affordable housing in suburban settings without doing any harm to its initial aesthetics. To deal with the local specifics of Dessau, some possibilities of localization and alternatives of modern installation were suggested. By potential rehabilitation of neglected suburban areas, this housing can also be an income generating organization as monumental heritage. Collective memory is applied in its architectural materials and housing pattern which might affect some strategic themes of social sustainability like social networking, communal identity, civic pride, neighborhood perceptions and community participation. Two main approaches of collective memory were followed: Conservation of materials having collective values and adaptive change of these with contemporary essentials. Experimental suggestions may demonstrate the possible links for sustainable redesigning with confined architectural expression of Bauhaus style. Aim is to reveal the various potential layers of collective memories in the used materials by reviving vitality.