Yonglin Wu

In an era where excessive demand for private property has accelerated rapid real estate expansion, this design explores the possibility of collective housing that truly celebrates communal living.

The project emphasizes the notion of shared space through landscape, gallery access typologies, and communal facilities. The angled gaps formed by the rotation of the four buildings create a visually dynamic landscape space, offering residents a safe and comfortable social environment that lies between openness and privacy. This design facilitates interaction among residents and encourages the use of public areas. On each floor, the corridor partially recedes through the use of screens, giving half of its space back to residents for personal activities. This allows private life and personal belongings to subtly extend into the shared areas, fostering a sense of connection among residents. Each building’s communal platform area is visually distinguished by a vertical steel mesh, and within these zones, indoor reading rooms and outdoor activity spaces are provided. These spaces encourage active engagement with the shared environment and further promote the concept of co-living.

At the same time, the design investigates the potential of mass timber construction in promoting sustainability and flexible design. Prefabricated CLT panels and glulam structural elements form a framework that supports modular room configurations, allowing the spaces to adapt to different typological needs and functions. The central row of modular blocks accommodates services and functional areas—such as kitchens and bathrooms—enabling centralized maintenance and management. This modular system enhances adaptability while minimizing environmental impact throughout the building’s lifecycle.

Together, these strategies aim to create housing model that facilitate community and flexibility, and interrogate the notions of individuality and collectivity, as well as the determined and the undetermined.