KO-101 – Affordable Heterotopia

Touristification and space scarcity are global issues, excessively present in Split. People are moving to the periphery, living individually, dispersed and unsustainable. The existing housing stock is rigid and inflexible. Housing has been commodified, stripped of all values, especially (re)productive ones. Affordable housing models are nonexistent and cater exclusively to the creditworthy class. Where should vulnerable ones live? Should housing once again be inclusive and contextual? What about density and self-sufficiency? This project offers an answer - a resilient suburban archipelago.

Urban overcrowding and suburban sprawl are interconnected aspects of the global housing crisis. A solution is to create dense, car-independent neighborhoods, removed from expensive city centers but well-connected by public transport—an urban wormhole. This idea shapes Ko-101, named after amateur radio codes, symbolizing collective action: chapter 1, lesson 01—an emergency call for systemic change. At the heart of the project are six greenhouses, referencing local agricultural traditions and acting as catalysts for social cohesion. Alongside vibrant streets and rooftop terraces, they define shared spaces that counter consumerism and foster interaction. Each greenhouse anchors a modular system of standardized spatial frames measuring 8x8 meters. This Mediterranean-inspired concept—a simple frame with adaptable infill—is cost-effective, prefabricated, and transported by train from a nearby factory. Vertical infrastructure, including external stairwells, allows independent vertical segmentation, responding to the local architectural context and evolving social needs. The result is a new typology, blending the family house with the apartment building. Ko-101 envisions housing for all, offering diverse residential models that promote social inclusion. The 200 units are distributed across three categories: cooperative housing, adaptable towers, and emergency shelter, creating 21 apartment types in varying sizes and layouts. Multifunctional pavilions allow the city to shift into crisis mode when needed, ensuring resilience. Ko-101 is a self-sustaining colony, replicable in heterotopic locations—even Antarctica or Mars. Each new settlement, Ko-102, Ko-103, and beyond, follows the same logic, forming a global network of heterotopias - a system of resilience.