Design for future livable cities

Collaboration with the Belgium business center "De Winkelhaak | House of C". The goal of this brief was to envision on how the Shopping Hook in Antwerp as well as the neighborhood will look in the year 2030.

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Description of proposed solution:

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A wise man once said: “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” – Arthur C. Clarke.

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What do we actually know about the future? Very little. However, that doesn’t stop us from imagining what will happen in the upcoming decades. One thing is certain, we better be prepared for possible future events. Having this mindset, we envision that in 2030 the Winkelhaak in Antwerp will transform into a Training Center. Not only to prepare citizens for uncertain future events on planet Earth, but also in outer space.

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We want people to be ahead of time and prepared, both physically and mentally, so they learn how to be resilient, courageous and self-aware. Locals and visitors from surrounding areas will have the opportunity to take part in various activities and challenges. They could be having a spacewalk in the pressure pool, take a seat in the multi-axis trainer, do a VR simulation or find themselves in the vacuum chamber which will imitate the feeling of what it is really like to be in space, while being supervised and lectured by retired astronauts. Passers-by will stop and take a moment to grasp what is happening inside, because of the big windows. For those who are intrigued and motivated, we offer the chance to experience a month in our space domes on the rooftop. These domes are limited with food, water and no contact with the outside world and are a representation of being inside a spacecraft. Furthermore, the Winkelhaak will have a designated floor to help citizens develop resilience to outbreaks such as diseases and viruses. Another floor will teach them how to grow plants under harsh conditions.

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In conclusion, with this facility we are one step ahead of being ready for almost any future event.