Master’s thesis design -
At LANTIS
• Concept design
• Illustration
• UI/UX
As the final design of my master’s thesis, I came up with a pandemic-safe community concept, “AT LANTIS”. It aims to provide a comfortable and sustainable living environment for both normal or pandemics situation.
Instead of squeezing into the crowded cities, AT LANTIS provides another option of the decentralizing living. It is a self-sustained, sharing community that provides urban residents a safe living space in pandemics.
Background
As of 16 June 2020, more than 7.69 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 428,000 deaths. The virus primarily spread during close contact between individuals by coughing, sneezing, and talking. Besides, the onset of symptoms is from two days up to fourteen days or even without any symptoms.
Therefore without timely measures, the virus would get spread very fast in a densely populated and strongly connected urban setting. For example, the outbreak in some big cities like Milan, Paris, Hamburg, New York City, is much faster and the overall situation is more severe than other smaller cities. Cities became the best hotbed for pandemics. Urban plan needs to design through the health lens.
Community Plan
Small family units and center units make up the whole community. Around 300 family units plus two center units form one community unit.
Each community unit is the smallest administrative unit. It is localized and self-sustained by itself but also could build connections with the other communities. More community units connecting can expend to a bigger community group.
For each family unit, the land shape is organic, and the edge is decided by the boundary of the family farm or garden.
Except for the houses and the narrow path for residents to walk through, the community is filled with greenness - farm and garden.
Without cars, wide roads, and parking lots, the community aims to utilize the entire space for farming, gardening, and social activities to a maximum level.
House A:
1-2 people family
Floor space: 100 m2; Land space: 300 m2
House B:
3-5 people family
Floor space: 185 m2; Land space: 600-700 m2
Two House Types
THREE PRINCIPLES
AT LANTIS is a self-sustained, sharing community that provides urban residents a safe living space in pandemics.
Sustainable & Localized
All the families grow their food in the yard and participate in community farming to get credits. By planting local food in both the family yard and community farm, AT LANTIS builds an independent food system.
Healthy & Safe
In the average time, people can mainly have local food and consider outside food as an optional choice. However, when a severe public crisis happens, like the pandemic, the self-sustained food system guarantees to provide healthy foods to all the residents. Through cutting the food connection from the outside world, the residents in AT LANTIS can stay safe and healthy from the virus outside.
Active & Connected
By working in the community farm and exchanging food from the family farm, people connect intimately with the other residents. At AT LANTIS, the residents could be pretty much rooted in the community. They not only exchange foods but also share tools and skills, helping each other with daily errands.
Sharing Community
The residents are connected based on AT LANTIS physical community, including lots of social activities in the big public spaces. Besides, they are also linked by the community app. The digital platform allows residents to connect instantly and remotely.
