Vertical Depot - Reimagine London

What could behind a false facade ? Reimagine London through a "Vertical depot".

Vertical depot
Between 23-24 Leinster Garden in London lies a mysterious false facade, concealing a vacant space traversed by trains. We plan to repurpose this site into a "Vertical Depot," prompting reflections and experiences of living lightly through the storage, exchange, and sharing of items, embracing the concepts of "traveling light" and "living light.”
The "Vertical Depot" comprises three Possession Towers and 17 independent residential spaces. The original facade will replace some windows and doors with acrylic resin, transforming the wall into a gateway leading to a ground- floor public market area. Serving as vertical hubs, the towers include stairs and elevators, with horizontal corridors connecting the three towers and 17 living spaces. These towers symbolize modern societal power structures and spatial control. Above the tracks, the first-floor open public space represents Habermas's notion of the public sphere, metaphorically reflecting inclusivity and sharing in social relationships and power distribution, disrupting the unilateral flow of power and enhancing fluidity and inclusivity in the space.
The "Vertical Depot" not only serves as a residence and activity hub but also creates a dynamic network of memories where items connect with each visitor. It serves as both a departure hall and a home. In this multifaceted, multifunctional space, it provides privacy and storage while encouraging open communication and interaction, blurring the boundaries between control and inclusivity.

Focusing on Health:
- The "Vertical Depot" aims to enhance convenience for residents and visitors, fostering social connections that help alleviate stress and increase happiness.
Planning for Future Generations:
- By repurposing the vacant space above the train tracks while preserving historical memories, the project partly addresses London's housing shortage. This initiative creates sustainable social value and usable space for future generations.
- Exchanging and sharing items for reuse could extend their lifespan, helps reduce waste, and lessens the environmental impact.
Valuing Diversity:
- As a versatile space, the Vertical Depot welcomes diverse activities and people, accommodating residents, offices, and visitors from various cultural backgrounds. It aims to provide the sense of belonging for everyone.
- This space serves as an experimental venue, prompting people to reflect on and understand the delicate balance between control and freedom, privacy and openness, through practical experiences. Our focus extends beyond physical space usage to influencing and exploring social relationships and interaction patterns.