Commuters’ Village

Authors’ Comment

The architectural ensemble Commuters’ Village was conceptualised as an organic response to the need for a functionally built space that will simultaneously meet a series of multiple demands.
Placed in a natural environment, but frequently found in the mountain landscape, Commuters’ Village brings together the comfort of a house with the specific ambient elements of the building environment. Each function is integrated in its own dedicated module (living space, bedroom and kitchen area). The living area is marked by a frame creating two separated spaces which can be used for leisure activities. The bedroom with its en suite bathroom is the main element offering privacy and intimacy, an area defined by simplicity and utility. The kitchen concept provides for a separate module including a bathroom. Each of the separate modules presents freedom of choice to the beneficiaries: they are flexible, unrestrictive, inviting to choices based on necessity. As such, each module presents the beneficiary with the possibility of choosing its main function: the leisure area can be furnished to serve as game room or a personal library; you might opt for an office space or even a yoga room. The independent modules are structurally based on an A-frame structure. The A-frame comes as a natural choice, inspired directly by the landscape as an imitation of the Christmas trees surrounding the ensemble.
Special attention was given to the landscape of the ensemble, carefully styled to propose a modern relaxation area. This element is accomplished with minimum encroaching on the natural landscape and serves a double purpose: facilitating community harmony and obtaining an outlook on the fluid mobility between the different modules. Access is made from the outside, connecting spaces and space. A lounge area featuring a hot tub is placed in the centre of the exterior space; this, together with the open fireplace, invites to socialising in an environment friendly open space. Commuters’ Village is also focused on the four main elements in Western culture, mirrored in the style choices of the built and decor pieces: water, air, fire and earth. This synergy aims to subtly call onto the collective memory of the community, as a facilitator for a renewed community spirit in a complex natural environment paradoxically created through the simplicity of individual compositions.
Considering the evolution of the current pandemic which has profoundly affected all occupations and industries, the modular concept of the Commuters’ Village proposes a necessary distance without separation from the entire ensemble and with no impact to self-comfort. From a practical standpoint, the ensemble is relying on simplicity, efficiency and fast execution – a new module may always be added if need be. Commuters’ Village aims to bring forth a viable and modern solution for establishing a balance between highly flexible functional choices and conceptual architecture based on mobility, comfort and topographically pertinent structures.