HOMENESS-the whole world is our home

A support centre for the homeless and socially excluded, to be built in Manchester-UK. GROUND FLOOR Office/reception Bakery Bar-Internet Caffe Workshop Art-Gallery Kitchen/Canteen Toilets FIRST FLOOR 12 individual rooms Library Living room Bathrooms TOP FLOOR Urban farm Solar energy production Water collection The main aim of this project is to plan and design a self-sufficient building which could inspire independence and encourage alternatives, providing some options for those who have none. After testing a few models, searching for a conceptual basis, finally found a simple shape as a reference to the irregular or non-linear situation experienced by its users?as allowing the creation of ambiguous spaces above and bellow(in/out? private/common?) open for free further exploration from anyone outside as from inside. The choice of materials, determined by the site analysis, using brick, the predominant material in our surroundings, to achieve a sense of integration, and balance it with glass to make it distinct and modern and as a way to minimise electricity consumption. The top floor becomes the basis of our economic system where an urban farm produces most of vegetables needed?adding to water collection and production of energy generated by 12 m2 of photovoltaic panels. Integrating a bakery to complement our free natural resources (light, electricity ,water and vegetables) we?ll be able to cover all our internal needs in terms of food, as to sell part of production through the bar, also open to public. Based and informed by a self -sufficient building, the support centre also functions as an economic sustainable scheme offering conditions for the people to suffice their basic needs, from growing vegetable, cooking their own food, learning new skills and explore alternative activities, all together contributing to generate a sense of commitment and responsibility that fuels all the efforts needed to keep it running.