Chaim Becker

Department: Social Design
Website: www.chaimbecker.nl

Urban Nesting:

Self-made nests within the city

As a person and as a designer, how we live
within urban environments is of interest to
me. This thesis is an investigation into how
different modes of living affect our day-today
well-being.

In today´s society, the average person has
to make do with a small living space at
a high price, in a highly populated area.
This leaves little opportunity for taking
a moment to be ‘alone’ in a comfortable
and enjoyable environment.

In the lack of having such a physical place
of retreat, we often escape to our ‘online
homes’ and use this virtual place
of residence to represent our identities to
a larger degree than our traditional homes.
When the hustle and bustle of the city gets
too intense and we have a natural reaction
to have a ‘time out’, where do we go when
our place of familiarity is half virtual and half ‘real’? Is it possible to physically create your own feeling of ‘home’ within a city - a place where you can take the time to see yourself reflected in your surroundings, offering a moment for contemplation?

I have created a proposal for ‘urban nests’
that respond to the perhaps unrecognised
wishes, needs and longings of city dwellers.
Bridging the gap between our virtual and
physical homes, I am providing people with
their own personal place of retreat without
having to leave the city - a moment of peace
amidst the noise.

Video