Multi Story Car Park
In collaboration with Mamie Nishida
2008
In May 2008, students in the IM Masters Programme were asked to consider solutions for the soon to be closed Tippelzone in Eindhoven. Whilst absorbing information relating to the project it became apparent that this is not a problem with a clear solution.
The negativity surrounding the Tippelzone at Woensel West compounds the problem – how does placing drug addicted prostitutes in areas on the edge of society help? Centralising the zone and making it more visible acknowledges the problem of addiction and offers the women something that they have never been given – hope. The system that existed, although not perfect, offered a safe environment for the sex workers to work within, one where the women were protected and given free medical care and counselling. As a caretaker for the zone put it, “If there is no zone, the women will go onto the street. You cannot force the women, you cannot change the women.” This was our starting point.
Our aim was to create a self-sustaining zone for street prostitution - used commercially in the daytime, and for prostitution after dark. This zone creates a positive image for both the workers and the city of Eindhoven, whilst acknowledging that addicts are a part of society and should not be marginalised.
The Multi Story Car Park on Mathildelaan is an ideal location to accommodate a Tippelzone, situated directly in the centre of town, next to the main Police Station. Nivo 6, the roof top level, is large enough to contain all the aspects of the zone, the existing traffic structures allowing easy entrance and exit.
If you compare the image of the Tippelzone, to the images of the car park roof, there are obvious similarities, the design problem being to offer something new whilst maintaining the atmosphere of the original. The visual language of the car park, with its concrete, asphalt, flood lighting, metal grids and stretch metal facade, offer many possibilities for an upgrade, whilst allowing us to explore the possibilities of visibility and anonymity as outlined in our concept. Adding to the strength of our argument is that Novadic Kentron, on behalf of the council, runs a homeless shelter in the basement of the same building, meaning, we can potentially centralise care for problematic social groups within one building in the centre of Eindhoven.