Physical sketch model

Demographics

Ecentrici Senex

Life Extension science

 There is a growing demand to look more youthful in today's society, and it is gradually being 

noticed more and more how we are starting to 

become an ageless race if a person has the money to invest in themselves. It has become apparent more and more that age doesnt pay so much of a factor in reationships now, with older men often dating younger women (some times for money) and the idea of Kougar Women, who specifically have an interedt in younger men. 

Life extension science is the study of slowing down or reversing the process of aging, to extend the maximum and average lifespan. Researchers, life extensionists and longevists velieve that 

future breakthroughs in tissue rejuvination with stem cells, molecular repair, and organ 

replacement (such as artificial organs or 

xenotransplantations) will eventually allow humans to have an indefinite lifespan through the process of complete rejuvenation to a healthy youthful condition. 

The US market in the sale of anti aging products is in the range of $50 billion of revenue each year. 

When we age, an organism accumulates damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues and its organs. The accumulated damage is the reslult of 

oxidation damage to the cell. The maximum 

lifespan for a human can be currently maximized at approximately 120 years, whilst the maximum lifespan of a mouse, which is commonly used as a model in reserch on aging, is about 4 years. Genetic differences in humans and mice obviously cause this diverse difference. These differences include the efficiency of DNA repair, types and quantities of antioxidant enzymes and different rates of free radical (molecule) production. 

 Average lifespan in a population is also affected by infant and child mortality, which are often linked to infectious diseases or nutritional 

problems. When we get older the vulnerability changes from this to accidents and age-related chronic disease such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases. A way to help extend the lifespan of an individual is through improved medical care, 

vaccinations, healthy diet, exercise and avoidance of hazards such as smoking or drugs.

Some of the current anti-aging strategies that are in place include:

Improvement of diet and additional supplements

Hormone Treatments

Anti-aging nutritional supplementation and 

medicine

Proposed strategies of life extension:

Nanotechnology

Cloning and body part replacement

Cryonics

Strategies for engineered negligible senescence (SENS)

Genetic modification

Fooling genes

The Symposium

The Symposium (Συμπόσιον) is a philosphical text written by Plato. The book orientates around the idea of genesis, purpose and neture of love, as well as being changed in more recent 

interpretations as the origin of the concept of Platonic love.

In the Symposium, the idea of Love is examined in a sequence of speaches by men attending the symposium. A symposium is very much like a social event, or a drinking party. Each man that attends must deliver a encomium, which is a speach in praise or Eros; Love. This party takes place in the house of the Tragedian Agathorn in Athens.

When the speaches were conducted, Socrates 

explained that the highest purpose of love is to become a philosopher, to become a lover of 

wisdom as an example of the kind of 

discussions that were being made. The Plato 

society has become a way that many historians can get an underlying idea of what has happened in the social life of anchient athens, in partucular the sexual behaviour and the institution. 

A Greek symposium was classed as a key social institution, similar to that of victorian gentlemen's clubs. It was classed as a forum of men of good family to debate, plot and boast and revel with others. They were also often held to celebrate the introduction of young men into aristocratic

 society. Symposia were also held by aristocrats to celebrate other special occasions, such as

 victories in athletic and poetic contests.

A Symposia in general would be held in the men's quaters of the household. The participants, or symposiasts would recline on pillowed couches arrayed against the three walls of the room away from the door. There would be between 7 and 9 couches, which would limit the total number of participants between 14 and 27. 

If any young men took part in the event, they were not allowed to recline but had to sit up. This is because there was a lot of respect for the knowledge and wisdom of the elderly or older generation in the event. As you become classed bore knowledgable and show a deeper and greater understanding, you will be allowed to recline. 

Food and wine would be served with entertainent provided, which could include anything from games, songs, flute-girls or boys, slaves performing 

various acts of hired entertainment. 

The most famous symposium of all, described in Plato's dialogue of that name (and rather 

differently in Xenophon's) was hosted by the poet Agathon on the occasion of his first victory at the theater contest of the 416 BC Dionysia. According to Plato's account, the celebration was upstaged by the unexpected entrance of the toast of the town, the young Alcibiades, dropping in drunken and nearly naked, having just left another 

symposium.

The men apart of the symposium would discuss a multitude of topics from philosophy to the 

differences between gender and love.

Personal Direction Currently

A personal exploration into what could be classed as the next entrepreneur's of our generation: The elderly. The project will look into an analysis of how, as more and more people 

retire at a younger age to set up their own companies, this will affect the social, and economic needs of London. With the advances in technology it is becoming more and more possible to be what can be classed as an ageless person; somebody who can alter themselves in such a way that they will 

otherwise look older, more mature or younger, disguising their age. 

On one side of the argument, there is the wealthy retired 

subject who can afford to start their own companies and 

develop their own ideas. To contrast with this there are the less affluent elderly who have an abundence of skills that they can offer to help educate the youth of today.

The project revolves around the idea of how you can 

reintegrate the elderly into the ever fast moving pace of 

London society, and use their existing skills that were 

developed which have been lost in the modern, technology based London. 

There is a trail of thought that believes that the way to move forward, is to move backwards. Britain's construction industry used to be one of the strongest in the world, but this was lost to make way for a banking and technologically advanced country. Reinstating the old could be costly, but using the skills already known by the older generation could lead to a new burst of life. 

Gentlemen's clubs are originally something the began in the eighteenth century, with the most famous being White's, Brooke's and Boodle's. The clubs became a resort for groups of 

people to discuss similar interests which could be anything from polotics to the arts. They were highly aristocratic in 

flavour, and provided a private environment in which to carry out gambling, which was still illegal outside members-only establishments.

These clubs were used as a base where young gentlemen from outside London could live and work until they had enough money to fund themselves to purchasing their own

accomodation. This could be years. The idea of the 

Gentlemen's club has changed since this time and there has now been the equivalent institutions for women, The main one that is still exclusive to women is The University Women's Club. The idea that these institutions provided a place of sanctuary is somthing that can work with the elderly.

Obviously there has to be a two way help. There is a growing amount of Kougar women in society who aim to form 

relationships with younger men, these women have the 

potential to be able to provide something that can benefit the society as well as being able to gain from this. 

One of the key aims of the proposal is to play with the duality of this idea. Giving information, or creating a knowledge bank will have a kind of underlying message. The project will need sponsorship. This could come from Banks, drinks companies or other high tech firms that want to be associated with this kind of programme, 

Who will use it? Will the project be a laboratory or social hub? Or a gentlemen's club for those who want a bit of 

excitement? The idea of people mentors could be something that is offered, bearing in mind that there is a large 

Bengali community in the area mixed with a community of trendy farts. The space could allow for the older generation to do business from here, and not to sit at work and die. Why sit at home and die? 

50+ entrepreneurs need:

to be close to the city

have a working environment

accomodation

disability/ different ability (specialised gym/drug clinic)

Elderly like to be together but need to be on the internet

Would this create a new form OAP? could skills such as seling how to bookeep and provide economic advice and trade skills help to regenerate this area of London in a different way?

Introduction

The project gives the opportunity to propose, interrogate and respond to a personal design proposition. An existing building is selected in Greater London nd a scheme is proposed for the reuse, rehabilitation or extension of this. The structure of the building and site will be analysed to make a proposition for intervention. The proposition must be ambitioius, complex and of a conceptual nature, integrating a series of opposing and complementary requirements. 

The resolution should incorporate the professional and 

academic skills gained on the course, an articulation of the seudent's design philosophy and view of the relationship of 

interior/ architectural design society.

The project begins with research around prototype projects in a 

personal field of interest and then proceed to the selection of an appropriate site and initial proposal. The outcome will be a 

comprehensive design proposal. 

The project considers the re-use/rehabilitation and extension of existing space and in context of a comprehensive design 

project, the preferred location needing approval by tutors.

Referring to key precidents is essential in order to understand the potential for remodeling and intervention. The selection of an appropriate existing building is dependent upon how

well it can accommodate your proposed activities. Likewise, the building and the surrounding social and economic context should suggest the activities & facilities required. A buildings fabric, structure and dimensions also inform what is possible

The commercial aspect of the scheme should create a synergy and support the social context. The project should question 

existing models of habitation and use. Encouragement is given to consider broader contemporary social & economic 

phenomena and how your proposal might act as a microcosm for new.

The selected building and site must be safely accessible in accordance with the health and safety guidelines. All relevant permissions regarding ownership, access, health and safety must be aquired and compiled with in full. All site visits are to be accompanied by a site-supervising officer. Prior notice is to be given of all visits, including time, location and duration

The history of the site should be researched with evidence documented in chronological order. Local history and existing social conditions and needs are to be considered and 

evidenced. The building's structure should also be investigated and evidenced by survey and analysis- drawn or modelled evidence is to be provided. Existing services are to be sirveyed and documented

The project should allow for spaces to accomodate: 

Gatherings and large public groupd

Specific function space

Intimate/private space

Hybrid spaces involving the interaction of the social and 

commercial 

The concept must integrate a series of opposing and 

complimentary requirements. The concept must consider the legal and building legislative framework and the DDA (Building Regulations Part M). The concept must consider the long-term use of the project. The concept must consider flexibility and adaptability with reference to obsolescence and the nomadic

nature of society.

Identify space use and configuration within the existing 

building and produce reasoned propositions for the 

restructuring and the extension of the project building.

Consider the effective working time of the project and its 

impact on the environment and the project.

The decision as to the use of the building will be a result of the analysis of your own personal interest and social and commercial realities. The identification of anticipated users will include personal, psychological, employment, fiscal and 

demographic consideration in order to create a comprehensive profile of user types.

Existing examples of your selected project are to be r

esearched, collated and analysed. If no such prototype 

exists, similar building types and uses are to be considered and evidenced.

Consider the business model, which will underpin the 

project and enable the re-working of an existing structure to be feasible and economically viable. It is not required but it also underpins the ethos of the project.

The potential impact of the project overall has to be considered as to how it could affect the environment. 

Consideration is to be made into the impact of the project environmentally.

The Buildings, and the kind of demographics to incorporate

The Warehouse, Shoreditch

This blog is an expansion of SomeThinkFunky, based on the work and research for Christopher Hall's final major project for IDEAs at Ravensbourne 2012.