COMMONING METABOLISM: Spatial Resources, Metabolist Infrastructures, and Affordable Housing as a Collective Commons

Commoning Metabolism combines a contemporary interpretation of the metabolist approach with a restructuring of existing forms of property to increase housing affordability and accessibility by defining infrastructure and spatial resources created by these metabolist structures as a commons. In doing so, the project proposes to build open, flexible, expandable, and down sizable structures, financed through public infrastructural funds, and to be occupied with a variety of non-speculative, affordable, prefabricated housing schemes. Using rights will be negotiated between the public authorities, neighborhood communities and non-profit housing developers to ensure enforcement of the commons’ rules, shared management, adequate use, density, and affordability, as well as a circular use of resources and energy. Applied in Koreatown, Commoning Metabolism integrates underutilized parking lots into its commons framework. Since the open structure has a small footprint, the public hand does not have to buy property, but will only exert punctual administrative power to lease the occupied parking lots on a long-term basis. This allows for a direct and effective integration into the existing fabric of Koreatown and will establish the metabolist commons as a responsive and growing network, that contributes to a more inclusive, sustainable, and flexible housing system.