Interchangeable Habitation by Jonas Ersson
It is becoming apparent in today’s world that existing and living are two disparate yet related concepts. To exist is to be satisfied in the here and now. To live, it might be said that one must have a contingency plan. Something to ensure that tomorrow is just as comfortable. Interchangeable Habitat strives to provide this in several dimensions. Reminiscent of Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67 in Montreal, it is a self-similar building of scales. The module, present in the large scale structural framing of the project, is scaled down to provide individual living units. These units have the ability of being slotted/ coupled in and out, combined or rearranged to satisfy any present or future programmatic needs. In addition, and this is where the ‘living’ ideal comes in, the modules have the capacity for technological installations such as solar cells, diesel-producing algae farms, water purification and wind turbine. Because of the modularity of the units, these future directed features can be installed in any range of configurations, where they would be most effective based on exposure to prevailing winds and access to direct sunlight.
© Jonas Ersson
One does not live in a vacuum and as such, the core and lower levels of Interchangeable Habitat can be adapted for office and/or leisure spaces such as hanging gardens. The main structure sits two stories above grade, supported by pylons that double as ventilation shafts for an underground shopping center. It is here as well as street level that the Habitat reintegrates with the commercial center of downtown Malmö, Sweden.
