Co-Town

Co-Town is a concept design and collaborative entry with Found Order to The Davidson Prize ‘Co-Living - A New Future’ competition.

The modern landscape of urban planning and housing supply is constrained by centuries-old prevailing land ownership laws. Arbitrary lines have been drawn across 2D space throughout history, from parcelling up British villages to colonial empires dividing swathes of continents with the swipe of a pen. Viewing space in a two-dimensional nature with binary approaches to public and private has led to a shortage of suitable homes, affordability strain, homelessness, loneliness, and inequality.

Co-Town challenges this model by questioning town planning principles. Through the use of a 3D Co-Living grid, modular volumes of living, civic, amenity and commercial space are configured and moved around to create an alternative framework of shared Co-Living in both the X and Y axis that replace privately held 2D plots and the constraints of an infinity of air rights.

Co-Town is therefore a physical and metaphorical framework consisting of Metabolist-esque units. Shown here, small, medium and large customisable living cubes suitable for individuals, couples, families and the elderly compliment a range of Co-House modules including Co-Kitchens, Co-Lounges, Co-Dining, Co-Working and Co-Crèches. The structural framework doubles up as servicing, whilst certain modules are left blank for rooftop allotments, stair access, public realm, Co-Commercial and light industrial Co-Modules.