Thesis
Un_Box the Nomad: System of ephemeral housing units along the z-axis
Thesis at the National Technical University of Athens
Observing the modern world, one could argue that mobility holds a dominant position. Students, artists, freelancers without a fixed base working remotely via the internet, as well as travelers, represent a new type of nomad—a consequence of a changing society. They travel from city to city, seeking professional recognition, new experiences, information, and sensations. Through the study of examples of temporary housing, from small units to co-living communities, we concluded that modern nomads prefer living spaces with essential amenities in the smallest possible area (14 sq.m.). This is because, within the framework of their transient stays and wanderings, they spend most of their time in the city for work and social interactions. The time they actually spend in their temporary residence is minimal, primarily for rest. Additionally, some of them reject the additional needs imposed by consumerist society and adopt a minimalist lifestyle, limiting their possessions to only the essentials. As a result, they favor small, practical, and ergonomic private spaces.
However, where can these modern nomads be accommodated in contemporary metropolises? Taking Athens as the most immediate example, the city has very few vacant public spaces, while at the same time, the blank partition walls of apartment buildings stand out—an element that we see as a potential space for intervention along the vertical axis (Z). More specifically, the partition walls surrounding vacant lots could be used as blank spaces for the possible construction of housing for modern nomads, thus preserving horizontal space, which the city urgently needs.
As a pilot area for implementation, Exarchia was chosen, as its multicultural and tolerant character makes it an ideal neighborhood to welcome the diversity of modern nomads. Additional selection criteria included the presence of universities, offices, and companies, accessibility to public transport and major road arteries, as well as proximity to public services and commercial markets—amenities that facilitate their integration into a new urban environment.
Our design proposal for accommodating nomads is a modular, disassemblable, and transportable construction system with minimal footprint and cost. This metal structure is positioned parallel to the firewall with the optimal orientation, the smallest possible width, and it develops vertically. It consists of a basic frame onto which two types of residential units are assembled. On the second partition wall of the vacant lot, another modular vertical green wall is built, contributing to the improvement of the microclimate and the aesthetic upgrade of the neighborhood.
The horizontal and vertical circulation spaces are located at the rear of the structure, parallel to the partition wall. These consist of an outdoor corridor with a metal floor, allowing for cross-ventilation and natural light penetration to the lower levels. The ground floor hosts shared functions and a central courtyard, oriented toward the open space, designed for communal use by both the residents and the neighborhood. The upper floors house the private living spaces.
The common areas include a kitchen, a dining area, a living room, a fully equipped workspace, and a sanitary facility. The upper floors accommodate the private spaces of the residents, where each unit meets the fundamental needs of a modern nomad within a compact area (11 sq.m.). Each unit is designed for a maximum of one to two people and includes a sleeping area, a bathroom, a small kitchen, a compact living space, and storage for the minimal belongings a modern nomad carries. These functions are organized around a linear piece of furniture that runs through the space.
Each community has a capacity of approximately 20 people. However, this number can be maximized depending on needs, such as in cases of natural disasters or social crises that require the rapid housing of a large number of people. Under normal circumstances, certain gaps are intentionally left in the grid, allowing for better ventilation and lighting while adding variety to the facade of the structure.
Regarding the final surfaces of this system, we wanted the residential units to be distinct from the shared ground-floor spaces. Thus, the housing units feature a uniform wooden cladding made of iroko wood, while the common areas are clad in titanium zinc with a greenish hue. The rooftops of both the units and common areas incorporate green roofs with extensive vegetation, while the circulation areas utilize perforated metal flooring.
The structural framework consists of columns made of hollow structural sections (HSS SHS) measuring 200×200 mm and HEA200 beams, forming a grid of 4.40×4.40 meters, derived from the minimum required dimensions of the units. The corridor grid has a width of 2.6 meters. The height of the ground floor is 3 meters, while the upper floors are 3.95 meters high. The staircase is composed of linear stairs, with 2 cm thick steel plates supporting the steps, which are metal frames attached to the stringers.
The structural joints are standardized depending on the number of elements connecting at each point. The secondary framework, built onto the primary structure, supports the residential units, mezzanines, and their cladding. While the primary and secondary structures remain constant, the outermost layer can be adjusted according to user preference. For example, a temporary housing unit can be added or removed, altering the external cladding each time. Thus, it is evident that all construction elements—framework and cladding—are fully disassemblable, following a unified construction and compositional logic.
As an example of the application of the construction system, two adjacent plots at the intersection of Didotou and Mavromichali streets are presented. The constructions adopt the morphology of the neighboring buildings and follow the logic of the penthouses of apartment buildings. In the floor plans, we can see how the courtyards, entrances, and communal spaces are defined at the boundaries of the construction.
