architecture and production - nuria casais mbiarch portfolio
DESCRIPTION
Nuria Casais - MBIArch Urban studies Award 2010-2011TRANSCRIPT
NURIA CASAIS
2010 / 2011BARCELONA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE
PORTFOLIO
0.1. prologue
ARCHITECTURE AND PRODUCTION
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.architecture and production
scenario
It is already widely seen and written that the factual economic downturn has brought cri-sis to the current architectural production. It is easy to survey that the atrocious condition for the profession is that of recession and mass unemployment, and not for a short period. If it is true that the economic crisis and its fru-gality is affecting architecture in its construc-tion, its discursive core has been in a more vital ‘crisis’ for a longer period when following the opposite factor: excess. The market became architecture’s raison d’être: the more incom-prehensible and careless the financial strategies, the more excessive architecture became. This dramatic ideological impasse developed and grew within the last decades, vis-à-vis the different cycles of economic crisis. Named in well-known architectural mottos, those years can be summarized as an acceler-ated process of ‘trial and error’, celebrating the city trapped within the complexity and vari-ability of the global market.Since the late 1960s, most forms of production –including architecture- have been changed, distorting the system of values where the major industries focused mainly on technology and information. Mass production was replaced by a Post-Fordist flexible specialization, where the production of trends occurs as fast as fash-ion. Over excitement about the every-Monday morning discovery and disillusion about its almost immediate inapplicability has and
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Productive cyclecontemporary situation needs
PRODUCTIVE
CYCLE
ARCHITECTURE
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
dominates the production of ideas and build-ings. Architects aimed for kitsch multiplicities, hybridization, ‘hypers’, and whatever was nec-essary to match the continuous economic ups and downs. With the excuse of ‘multi-cultural pluralism’, architecture strictly followed neoliberalism, becoming increasingly su-perfluous where the blurrier the confusion the higher the admiration.When producing the very architecture though, and opposed to the actual serious-ness of the initial dialectical ateliers, the sincerity was very much wrapped by irony, nonsense, and ‘romantic’ eurekas, lacking recognition of any rule or grammar. Archi-tecture theory has become a recording ap-paratus, rather than a reflection arena. The result, a critical paradox in which the search of constant newness resulted in architectural languages and types that are outdated, before even being built.Instead of seeing the coming years as a total recession, it would be vital to push for an ac-tual evolution by rethinking the relationship between economy and architecture, where ar-chitects can ultimately engage and conscious-ly project the city, rather than retroactively continue accepting its incomprehensibility. Balance, economy of means and thinking, inventiveness, historical awareness, knowl-edge, dialogue and consensus, a grammar for the city, can undoubtedly redeem the language of architecture.*
*Evolution in the Age of Crisis by Fernando Donis. Condi-tions Magazine. January 15, 2009.
4
Skyscraper Index*relation between skyscrapers and Dow Jones and Nikkei
Colophon
This reader was published on the occasion of the exhibition Rien ne va Plus / Reading Europe, which took place at NAiM / Bureau Europa, Maastricht, from 12 September to 12 January, 2009. Both the reader and exhibition were edited and curated by Powerhouse Company, and made possible by A10 and NAiM / Bureau Europa.
Concept: Powerhouse CompanyEditor-in-chief: Rieke VosEditors & researchers: Charles Bessard, Nanne de Ru, Hans Ibelings, Rieke Vos, Bjørn Andreassen, Christiaan HarmseProofreading: Kirsten Hannema, Dutton R. HauhartTranslations:Taika Ballargeon, Rieke Vos, Dutton R. Hauhart
Graphic design: Experimental JetsetPrinter: Lenoirschuring
More information: www.powerhouse-company.com / www.a10.euwww.bureau-europa.nl / www.experimentaljetset.nl
Background sources and further reading: In our research forthis publication we used a number of sources we would like tomention explicitly: ‘Bankroet’ by Egbert Kalse and Daan van Lent,‘The New Paradigm for Financial Markets: The Credit Crisis of2008 and What It Means’ by George Soros, ‘The Shock Doctrine’by Naomi Klein, ‘The Culture of New Capitalism’ by RichardSennett. We are also very grateful for the excellent articles and research done by journalists of The New York Times, NRC Handelsblad, Le Monde, The Indepenent, The Economist,The Financial Times, Die Zeit and Le Figaro.
Powerhouse Company would like to thank the authors for sogenerously making their texts available. A very special thanks to Hans Ibelings for believing in this projectwhen we approached him in April, and Guus Beumer and NAiM /Bureau Europa together with A10 for making it possible in agenerous collaboration.
NAiM / Bureau Europa is co-funded by main sponsor Vesteda,Partners 3W Vastgoed and RO Group. NAiM / Bureau Europareceives permanent subsidies from the Municipality of Maastrichtand the Province of Limburg.
Rien ne va PlusPage 35
aio+bureau
europanaim/Rien ne va Plus
Page 34DiagramsPowerhouse Company
*Rien ne va plus. Powerhouse Company in collabora-tion with Hans Ibelings/A10 and NaiM/Bureau Europa.
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
ProductiveFrom the Latin productivus relating to exten-sion of time, creative, generative.Having the quality of producing something, typically through effort or work; that produc-es, esp. some significant amount or result; creative, generative.
That produces or increases wealth or value; that creates profit, as productive labour , productive labourer , productive classes, etc. Also (chiefly in Marxist theory): that contrib-utes to production; esp. in productive forces: the sources and determinants of productiv-ity, as labour power, supply of raw materials, industrial technology, the skills of the indi-vidual worker, etc.
CrisisFrom the Greek. krísis meaning decision (to de-cide, separate, judge). A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, esp. for better or for worse, is determined; turning point; a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.
EvolutionFrom the Latin ēvolūtiōn meaning an unroll-ing, opening. Any process of formation or growth; devel-opment, unfolding, change, progression, metamorphosis.
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Bubbles*mapping crisis
Rien ne va PlusPage 33
DiagramsPowerhouse Company
Rien ne va PlusPage 32
DiagramsPowerhouse Company
*Rien ne va plus. Powerhouse Company in collabora-tion with Hans Ibelings/A10 and NaiM/Bureau Europa.
1.1. theory / design studio
THE NEW URBAN TURN
Winter/Spring Term 2010/11tutor Josep Acebillo
urban mass as strategy of production
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.Alexanderplatz
study frameworkThe definition of urban cluster comes from a neotertiary reinterpretation of the produc-tive industrial cluster defined by A. Marshall in 1890.An urban cluster is an aggregation of enter-prises and actors ultimately relating to the same set of productive processes and charac-terized being situated in the same urban area.An urban cluster is driven by:- Reduction of productive costs- Better access to specialized knowledge and innovation- Better access to business opportunities and capitals. - Better access to global competitivity.
A precise set off actors defines the urban cluster typology in system terms:- The dimensional scale- The degree of concentration (or urban inten-sity)- The degree of productive specialization.- The degree of urban integration- The degree of complexity- The strategic relevance*
*New Urban Turn theory course. Josep Acebillo.**Ref. Matteo Casoli. I Cluster Urbani, 2004
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0 15,000 m
Berlin: Alexanderplatzterritory
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.Alexanderplatzarchipelago model
The archipelago model is in relation with concepts such as polycentrism, hierarchic and differentiated identities. In an identifiable territory, formed by an ag-gregate of urban systems with diffused ur-banization and/or mature cities, the model proposes insertion of urban clusters, with in-dependent programmatic and morphologi-cal identity, strategically situated in order to interact.
In a polycentrism system, a geography of centralities is essential for its functionality.- Centralities hierarchy.- Centralities markets dimension.- Centralities distance and geographic distri-bution.This differentiation and hierarchy of centrali-ties constitutes the source of their unitary an sustainable polycentrism archipelago.
Alexanderplatz is a cluster developed in 1990, after the Fall of the Berlin Wall. It is lo-cated in the center of Berlin in relation to ex-isting parts of the city.In the same period, the city of Berlin devel-oped different areas with the same cluster strategy, and with specific identities.
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Berlin: Urban Development Areas since 1990archipelago model and infrastructural relation
0 15,000 m
Tegelairport
Wasserstadt Berlin-Oberhavelhousing, commercial
Alter Schlachthofhousing, commercial Biesdorf-Süd
housing, commercial
Johannisthal/AdlershofUniversity, housing, commercial
Rummelsburger Buchthousing, commercial
Technische Universität Berlinuniversity
Freie Universitat Berlinuniversity
Alexanderplatzurban cluster
Tempelhofairport
BERLIN: Urban Development Areas since 1990 1/6
0 15,000 m
Tegelairport
Wasserstadt Berlin-Oberhavelhousing, commercial
Alter Schlachthofhousing, commercial Biesdorf-Süd
housing, commercial
Johannisthal/AdlershofUniversity, housing, commercial
Rummelsburger Buchthousing, commercial
Technische Universität Berlinuniversity
Freie Universitat Berlinuniversity
Alexanderplatzurban cluster
Tempelhofairport
BERLIN: Urban Development Areas since 1990 1/6
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.Alexanderplatz
programmatic hybridityIn the contemporary urban culture it is nec-essary to increase the programs complexity too, overlapping different functional pro-grams in the same building, or in this case, in the same cluster.
Functional hybridity is therefore one of the key elements of the urbanistic culture of the globalization era.
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Alexanderplatz mass planprogram
0 500 m
411,000 sqm, surface area 156,553 sqm, built surface area-38% urban cluster occupation
Residential buildings
Galeria KaufhofDepartment Store
Berolinahausretailing and o�ce space Alexanderhaus
Landesbank Berlin and Berliner Sparkasse
Park inn-HotelHotel and retail
Gruner & JahrPublishing house
ALEXAShopping and leisure center
Cinema CubixLeisure and Retail
House of travelingClubs
Police Headquarters
0 500 m
411,000 sqm, surface area 156,553 sqm, built surface area-38% urban cluster occupation
Residential buildings
Galeria KaufhofDepartment Store
Berolinahausretailing and o�ce space Alexanderhaus
Landesbank Berlin and Berliner Sparkasse
Park inn-HotelHotel and retail
Gruner & JahrPublishing house
ALEXAShopping and leisure center
Cinema CubixLeisure and Retail
House of travelingClubs
Police Headquarters
0 500 m
411,000 sqm, surface area 156,553 sqm, built surface area-38% urban cluster occupation
Residential buildings
Galeria KaufhofDepartment Store
Berolinahausretailing and o�ce space Alexanderhaus
Landesbank Berlin and Berliner Sparkasse
Park inn-HotelHotel and retail
Gruner & JahrPublishing house
ALEXAShopping and leisure center
Cinema CubixLeisure and Retail
House of travelingClubs
Police Headquarters
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
4.Alexanderplatz
developmentThe architectural project gives the possibility of a blockwise realization depending on the temporary fluctuations of interest and need of the real state market.
Process of development:1994: Senate of Berlin concluded the bind-ing land-use plan I-b4.1995: Senate Department for Urban Devel-opment takes the responsibility for B-Plan I-B4 Alexanderplatz.1997: Senate Department of Urban Devel-opment decided for the division of B-Plan I-B4 into three parts in order to not disturb the dynamism of the main projects investors
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BERLIN: Alexanderplatz, First Prize Competition (1993). 3/6
*Possibility of a blockwise realisation depending on the temporary �uctuations of interest and need of the market of real state.
Architects Hans Kollho� and Helga Timmermann
Berlin: Alexanderplatz, First Prize Competition (1993)Architects Hans Kollhoff and Helga Timmermann
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
5.Alexanderplatz
public space“The urban public space is the operative um-brella that manages diversity. It acts as the knowledge space based on the technological part by the ITs and on the ideological part by the multicultural effects. Furthermore, the pub-lic urban space is also the platform where the fluxes set the urban metabolism. In any case, the plural public space needs to be the plat-form where contradictions stemming from the diversity are dissolved, and where the slogan “think global, act local” is reinterpreted.”*
*Josep Acebillo. BIArch. The Urban Turn II.
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Berlin: Alexanderplatz, production of public spacepublic space and icons
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.urban mega cluster
project frameworkThe depletion of socio-economic models of transition towards the Tertiary especially acute after the 2008 economic crisis, requires to re-think our urban model and generate new al-ternatives to the urban transformation that is taking place in this new world-wide context, socioeconomic, environmental and gover-nance that the current process of globalization encompasses.*
The conceptualization of the Urban Mega Cluster highlights the theoretical concepts discussed previously.The project check the possibilities of a new Urban Cluster, radical in its dimensional, pro-grammatic and environmental conditions.There are specific dimensional parameters required to the project. The main ones are :- 2.000.000 sqm- number of residents: 20.000- labor force: 53% of residents- 5 sqm of public space per resident- facilities: soccer field, baths, tennis courts...- 100.000sqm of shopping mall
The project starts by understanding what 2.000.000sqm means in relation with the volume and the different possibilities and their spacial, functional and energetic con-sequences.
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2.000.000sqm volume and spatial configuration study
500x500x32m 400x400x50m 300x300x90m 250x250x130m 200x200x200m 150x150x350m 100x100x800m
HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION3-DIMENSIONAL DISTRIBUTION
2 000 000 SQ.M. VOLUMES
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.urban mega cluster
compactnessIn order to objectively understand the mor-phological reality of an urban fabric, we have therefore to complete the density parameter with the concept of compactness. This per-mits to establish a qualitative relationship between the degree of activity and the sur-face in which such activity takes place.The study of compactness will, in urbanistic terms, permit the control of distance as well as the sponge-ness of a territory.
The project starts with a cube with a side of 200m. It is developed in order to be able to introduce light inside the volume.
The final dimension is 384 x 384m with a height of 24 floors. These distances establish a pedestrian relation along the cluster that help to optimize the efficiency of energetic issues.
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Compactnessmodification of the volume in order to reach the needs for life
200m200m
50 fl.
A. MONOLITH EQUIVALENT
384m
384m
24 fl.
B. ALLOW FOR SUBTRACTION BOUNDARY ESTABLISHMENT
monolith equivalent
allow for subtraction boundary established
384m
384m
24 fl.
C. GRID OF ACTION: 8x8m
grid 8x8m
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.urban mega cluster
archipelago modelIn a polycentrism system, positional revenue must be equalized by different compounds of urban qualities. The main drivers are:- Agglomeration- Accessibility- Spatial interaction
An intervention in peripheral areas can profit from the notion of urban clusters, in order to optimize intervention. Some variations and partial actualization can be envisioned:
-Construction of Compact Urban ClustersUrban built complexes (mega-structures) characterized by a high urban intensity (compact and hybrid) and by the connection with enough urban infrastructures to be au-tonomous.
-Structuring of Urban Corridors Enactment of synergies among clusters, as well as tunnel effects and operative affinities.
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Archipelago modelrelation between different centralities
and creation of urban corridors
sportsmuseum
sports
airport sportscultural
ARCHIPIELAGO MODEL
administrationhospital
INTERMODAL AB
C
B
B
CONNECTIONS SYSTEM
direct - fast
indirect/interstitial - slow
CONNECTION DIAGRAMS: TERRITORIAL + INTERNAL SCALE
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
4.urban mega cluster
programmatic hybridity/intermodalityProgrammatic hybridity implies important morphological consequences and therefore also ecological and social consequences too (i.e. reduction of the un-necessary transport systems, general upgrade of accessibility, increase of the synergies between different social groups).
The intermodal centre is a place where differ-ent modalities encounter, intersecting each other and eventually exchanging their flows. An urban space, where such confluence of flows is given, is obviously frequented by a huge number of people and therefore im-plies a higher urban activity.The consequent identification of intermo-dality and intense urban activity permits to project and establish new urban centralities. Exploiting therefore intermodality as the base for a new urban project, such as a gen-eration of urban centralities offers its condi-tion and an effective way to re-map the ter-ritory.
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Programmatic hybridityhierarchy, intermodality, interstitiality
CULTURAL
NEOTERTIARY
MALL
SPORTS
INTERMODAL
NEOTERTIARY
NEOTERTIARY
HOUSING
HOUSING
HOUSING
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAM
residential2[689 000m ]
neo-tertiary2[397 500m ]
2mall (shopping, cinema, entertainment) [100 000m ]
public services + activities (sports, recreational, cultural)2[250 000m ]
parking2 2[240 000m / 2 = 120 000m ]
infrastructure2[150 000m ]
public open space2[180 000m ]
residents: =20 000
2 245m apartments: 8 200 [369 000m ]
=12 300
2 2100m apartments: 3 200 [320 000m ]
=7 680
=11 400
=3 975
[labor force = 10 600]
outsiders: =2 650[total labor force = 13 250]
34.5%
20.0%
5.0%
11.5%
7.5%
12.5%
9.0%
PROGRAM: SIZING OF BUILT AREAS
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
5.urban mega cluster
cluster locationThe Urban Mega Cluster is located in a neutral suburban context, with no relevant landscape, or topography, probably occupied by a certain fabric of low density, sprawl, of no special rel-evance.
Answering to the archipelago model, the cluster establishes a relation with the main mobility structures, as well as public trans-port.
The orientation north-south of the cluster, takes the direction of the diagonal, in order to reach more sunlight in the façades.
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Infrastructure connectionaccessibility, mobility and connection
highway
trainline
access loop
secondary axis
primary axis
CLUSTER LOCATION - NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
highway
trainline
access loop
secondary axis
primary axis
CLUSTER LOCATION - NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
highway
trainline
access loop
secondary axis
primary axis
CLUSTER LOCATION - NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
6.urban mega cluster
programThe organization of the program responds to different parameters such as orientation, ac-cessibility or publicness.
The cluster is organized around a main square located in the center that works as catalyser of the cluster. It is connected with the Intermodal point in order to bring the program to the void and establish a corridor between the two poles.
In the groundfloor we find the intermodal center and the main services and facilities. We find here also the access to the parkings, which means one of doors to access to the residential area. Housing is located on the top of the cluster along fourteen floors. It is organized in a grid in two directions, in or-der to improve the necessary conditions in terms of natural light and ventilation. Between the public program of the ground-floor, and the more private one of housing on the top, we find the spaces for neotertiary activity.
In this organization appears a change be-tween housing and office, moving the hous-ing to the offices space with south façade and vice versa.
30
Program configurationstratification and organization of the program
intermodal center, public services, facilities
neotertiary, parking
housing, retail
housing
soccer field
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
7.urban mega cluster
public spaceThe public space is organized following the concept of interstitiality and hierarchy.
The public space acts as well as space for mobility since the distances of the cluster are pedestrian distances.
The interstitiality of the network of public spaces increases the accessibility in order to reach more itineraries. Since nowadays the movements are more and more random, this capillarity of the public space introduces at-tractiveness in mobility.
The public space is organized according to a hierarchy that organizes them in relation to di-mension as well as publicness.
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Public spacehierarchy and interstitiality
XL void: territorial scale
L void: (sub) cluster scale
M void: neighborhood scale
S void: unit scale
XL void: territorial scale
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
8.urban mega cluster
metabolic efficiencyThe main energetic issues of the cluster are concentrated in a metabolic center of about 10.000sqm.
It works horizontally with a double ring sys-tem that connects the metabolic center as a cycle, and vertically using the specifically de-signed spaces for the communications and shafts.
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Metabolic efficiencydouble ring system
METABOLIC CENTER10 000 sq.m.
HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION: RINGS IN GROUND FLOORVERTICAL DISTRIBUTION: THROUGH CIRCULATION SHAFTS
WATER COLLECTION AND RECYCLING
METABOLIC CENTER
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
9.urban mega cluster
planThe cluster has 20.000 inhabitants.
The apartments are divided in two typolo-gies, one of 100 sqm and other of 45 sqm.
The housing is organized in the last part of the cluster in two levels of 24 m of height each one. In this part the grid system it can be read as a oriented bars system. Each bar is height 24 m and large 16m, taken 2 modules of the main grid.In each level the orientation of the bars change 90 degrees in order to let the natural light and the air arrive to the apartments.Each bar is separated from the other 24m, the same distance as the height of each volume, so the shadows in the spaces in be-tween are controlled.
The intersection of the volumes of the two levels resolves all the vertical communica-tion, circulation and shafts.
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Housing organizationventilation, natural light and public space
TENTH FLOOR PLAN__LEVEL +36.001:1000
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/201138
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.2 design studio
VERTICALSCAPE
Spring Term 2011tutor Iñaki Ábalos
the object as strategy of production
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.clime-scape
project frameworkWhat is a VERTICALSCAPE? An hybrid entity, which, due to inertia, we momentarily contin-ue to call vertical construction or “architecture”. [...] It not only generates a different spatial mo-dality that can be manipulated to construct hybrid architecture programmes for culture, leisure and production, it also generates self-sufficient entities, energy parks that use wind, water, light or the earth as active materials in construction, capable of generating and stor-ing energy, and at the same time serving as public and economic resources. In the urban context, the verticalscape aims to be a catalyst that renders the historic or modern fabric con-temporary, in both the formal and the social or cultural realms.
1. Meeting point betweern architecture, land-scape and environment.
2. New concept of combined programming and materiality.
3. Verticality as a resource for optimizing en-ergy.
4. New proportion and arrangement.
5. New public dimension
6. New design techniques
7. The spatial protagonism of the verticalscape.
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SOCIAL INTERACTION
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
sink
VERTICALSCAPE
ENERGYPRODUCTION
SERVER FARM
RESEARCH LAB
KNOWLEDGE
INFORMATION TO KNOWLEDGE
PRODUCTION
INFRASTRUCTURE OF INFORMATION
ARCHITECTURE
LANDSCAPE
ENVIRONMENT
CONTEMPORARYCONDITION
PRODUCTION
[ MORE PRODUCTION ] [ LESS CONSUMPTION ]
PRODUCTION OF
extrem climate condition
VERTICALSCAPE
CITY
“Energy savings”
Tourist experience
humidity
PUBLIC ACTIVITY
light
temperaturealtitudewind
Production meeting point between architecture,
landscape and environment
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.clime-scapemeeting point
The project exaggerates the microclimatic conditions consequent to the concentration of high‐rises in cities. The verticalscape is un-derstood as an entity which by its presence in the site has a local microclimatic effect. Thus, taking this as an initial point, the proj-ect responds to it by explicitly amplifying these effects in the verticalscape itself, giv-ing a new public dimension through this new multi‐climatic situation. In thermody-namic terms, it takes advantage of all differ-ent states of energy by actively distributing a wide range of temperature and humidity. The building becomes a publicly accessible geography, compact in space and time. It is an artificial landscape which accommodates a research centre studying the public inter-action within these generated climates.
46
SOCIAL INTERACTION
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
sink
VERTICALSCAPE
ENERGYPRODUCTION
SERVER FARM
RESEARCH LAB
KNOWLEDGE
INFORMATION TO KNOWLEDGE
PRODUCTION
INFRASTRUCTURE OF INFORMATION
ARCHITECTURE
LANDSCAPE
ENVIRONMENT
CONTEMPORARYCONDITION
PRODUCTION
[ MORE PRODUCTION ] [ LESS CONSUMPTION ]
PRODUCTION OF
extrem climate condition
VERTICALSCAPE
CITY
“Energy savings”
Tourist experience
humidity
PUBLIC ACTIVITY
light
temperaturealtitudewind
Interaction Verticalscape-City social interaction, research lab, server farm
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.clime-scape
building thermodynamicThe project explores the thermodynamic consequences that the location and the building itself bring.
The mechanisms:- thermodynamic field: the field vs. the ob-ject.
- thermodynamic attributes: wind, humid-ity and temperature works thermodynami-cally through convection, conduction and radiation.
- thermodynamic control skin: it works as an active skin profitting from the orientation of the verticalscape and the energy of the sun.
- microclimate: it define two polarities, hot and cold, and it defines spatial arrangement.
48
FIELD
temperature
humidity
wind
conduction
convection
radiation
thermodynamic control skin
hot polarity
cold polarity
climatic conditions
thermodynamic field
SKIN
ATTRIBUTES
MICROCLIMATE
lake michigan
extra hot
heat
sun energy
comfortzone
heat discharge electricity
cold
hotzone
coldzone
hotextracold
extra hot
extracold
hotsink
cold
Building thermodynamicmicroclimate
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
4.clime-scape
body thermodynamics The public space is designed for people.
The human body has a mechanism to react to the exterior conditions.Daylight, temperature, social interaction, sleeping and eating are inputs for the hu-man body that passing through the retine arrive to the suprachiasmatic nucleus that process the information. It sends this infor-mation to the peripheral oscilators (pireal gland, lungs, liver, kidneys...) that transform it into outputs as melatonin, cortisol, stimu-lus or the core temperature.
*Inputs and outputs of the clock.Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 6, 965-971 (Decem-ber 2005)Circadian clocks — the fall and rise of physiology.Till Roenneberg & Martha Merrow.http://www.nature.com/nrm/journal/v6/n12/fig_tab/nrm1766_F3.html
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Input (Zeitgebers)
Output
Retina (Circadian Photoreceptor)
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
DaylightTemperatureSocial InteractionSleepingEating
Peripheral oscilators
MelatoninCortisolStimulus
Physical Input
Core temperature...
Sensory Neural Stimulus Processing
Neuroendocrine Signal
Noon12.00
14.30
15.30
17.00
18.00
18.30
19.00
21.00
22.3000.00
02.00
04.30
06.00
06.45
07.30
08.30
09.00
10.00Best coordination
Melatonin secretion stops
Bowel movement likelyHighest testosterone secretion
High alertness
Fastest reaction time
Greatest cardiovascular efficiency and muscle strength
Highest blood pressure
Highest body temperature
Melatonin secretion starts
Bowel movements suppressed
Midnight
Deepest sleep
Lowest body temperature
Sharpest rise in blood pressure
Inputs and outputs of the clock.Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 6, 965-971 (December 2005)Circadian clocks — the fall and rise of physiology.Till Roenneberg & Martha Merrow.http://www.nature.com/nrm/journal/v6/n12/fig_tab/nrm1766_F3.html
Human circadian biological clockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythmhttp://www.bmedreport.com/archives/19397
Kidneys...
Liver
Lungs
Pireal gland
CIRCULATION THROUGH CLIMATES
Body thermodynamicshuman body*
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
5.clime-scape
body thermodynamicsThe human body works in relation with the circadian clock. It is specific for each human and shows how certain moments of the day are better for different activities.
The human body will experience the build-ing through different atmospheric condi-tions, therefore with different reactions.
*Human circadian biological clockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythmhttp://www.bmedreport.com/archives/19397
52
Input (Zeitgebers)
Output
Retina (Circadian Photoreceptor)
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
DaylightTemperatureSocial InteractionSleepingEating
Peripheral oscilators
MelatoninCortisolStimulus
Physical Input
Core temperature...
Sensory Neural Stimulus Processing
Neuroendocrine Signal
Noon12.00
14.30
15.30
17.00
18.00
18.30
19.00
21.00
22.3000.00
02.00
04.30
06.00
06.45
07.30
08.30
09.00
10.00Best coordination
Melatonin secretion stops
Bowel movement likelyHighest testosterone secretion
High alertness
Fastest reaction time
Greatest cardiovascular efficiency and muscle strength
Highest blood pressure
Highest body temperature
Melatonin secretion starts
Bowel movements suppressed
Midnight
Deepest sleep
Lowest body temperature
Sharpest rise in blood pressure
Inputs and outputs of the clock.Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 6, 965-971 (December 2005)Circadian clocks — the fall and rise of physiology.Till Roenneberg & Martha Merrow.http://www.nature.com/nrm/journal/v6/n12/fig_tab/nrm1766_F3.html
Human circadian biological clockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythmhttp://www.bmedreport.com/archives/19397
Kidneys...
Liver
Lungs
Pireal gland
CIRCULATION THROUGH CLIMATES
Body thermodynamicshuman circadian rithm
Input (Zeitgebers)
Output
Retina (Circadian Photoreceptor)
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
DaylightTemperatureSocial InteractionSleepingEating
Peripheral oscilators
MelatoninCortisolStimulus
Physical Input
Core temperature...
Sensory Neural Stimulus Processing
Neuroendocrine Signal
Noon12.00
14.30
15.30
17.00
18.00
18.30
19.00
21.00
22.3000.00
02.00
04.30
06.00
06.45
07.30
08.30
09.00
10.00Best coordination
Melatonin secretion stops
Bowel movement likelyHighest testosterone secretion
High alertness
Fastest reaction time
Greatest cardiovascular efficiency and muscle strength
Highest blood pressure
Highest body temperature
Melatonin secretion starts
Bowel movements suppressed
Midnight
Deepest sleep
Lowest body temperature
Sharpest rise in blood pressure
Inputs and outputs of the clock.Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 6, 965-971 (December 2005)Circadian clocks — the fall and rise of physiology.Till Roenneberg & Martha Merrow.http://www.nature.com/nrm/journal/v6/n12/fig_tab/nrm1766_F3.html
Human circadian biological clockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythmhttp://www.bmedreport.com/archives/19397
Kidneys...
Liver
Lungs
Pireal gland
CIRCULATION THROUGH CLIMATEScirculation through climates
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
6.clime-scape
sythesisThe building defines two poles with the ex-treme climatic conditions. The hot pole is orientated to south and the cold one to the north.
Each of the poles relates storage of cold and hot water working as storage of energy and energetic resource for the building.
In between the two poles is the comfort con-dition as a research center.
54
Leslie Holdridge's Life Zone Classification systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lifezones_Pengo.svg
rainforest
desert
desert
annual precipitation (mm
)
62.5
125
250
500
1000
2000
4000
8000
1600
0
0.125
0.25
0.5
1
2
4
8
16
32
pote
ntia
l eva
potr
ansp
iratio
n ra
tio
humidity provinces
super-humid
per-humid
humidsub-humid
semi-arid
aridperaridsuper-arid
polar
subpolar
boreal
warm temperate
subtropical
tropical
cool temperate
1.5 °C
3 °C
6 °C
24 °C
12 °C
latitudinalregions
bio
temp
erature
alvar
alpine
subalpine
lower montane
premontane
montane
altitudinalbelts
RESEARCHCENTER
RESEARCHCENTER
hot water cold water
CLIMATES
CLIMATES
lake michigan
Clime-scape synthesisbuilding diagram
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
7.clime-scape
scenarioThe project is located is Chicago. The loca-tion contributes to the project with its cli-matic conditions that are relevant for the program of the verticalscape.Chicago has humid continental climate, with extreme conditions in each season, hot sum-mers and cold winters.
The plot is located in the coast of the Lake Michigan, in the specific plot in which the Spiral of the architect Calatrava should be built. This position is in between the two main touristic points in the city, in one side the Navy Pier and in the other the Millenium Park.
Navy Pier is considered the 11th most visited tourist place in U.S.A. with 8.6 million tourist each year.
The project reconsiders the tourist in a ther-modynamic sense. It transforms the already relative destination in something extreme, as well as the recre-ation of the experience in short time and short distance.
56
Navy PierChicago touristic attraction
Lake Point Tower197m
Military areaRestricted access
Millenium Park
Lake Shore DriveHighway 41
Lake Shore Drive BridgeHighway 41
Grant Park
Milton Olive Park
Navy Pier Park
North Pier Apts.177m
2010, Chicago (U.S.A.)in between touristic polarities
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
8.clime-scape
locationThe clima-scape establishes a relation with the existing conditions.
58
2010, Chicago (U.S.A.)Clime-scape in relation with the surroundings
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
9.clime-scape
verticalscape/objectThe idea of production in architectural mean-ing.
The project uses as formal mechanism the concept of aggregation of the same ele-ment.This helps to control the specific situations that happen inside.
A simple form can be the container of the different attributes of the climates and the different programs.
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Clime-scape aggregation as formal mechanism
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
10.clime-scape
circulationThe building has three kinds of circulation.
- direct and fast through the comfort zone.
- slow and promenade circulation. The cen-tral public ramp in the comfort zone and the diagonal ramp that goes from one extreme to the other.
- off-ramp of public circulation.
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Clime-scapecirculation
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
11.clime-scape
plansThe project uses as formal mechanism that is the concept of aggregation of the same element.This helps to control the specific situations that happen inside.
These formal elements change height in re-lation to the questions that they answer in their interior and exterior.
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Clime scapeplans
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
12.clime-scape
sectionIn the plot exists the foundations of the pre-vious project, the clime scape incorporates to the building.
66
Clime-scapesection
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
13.clime-scapeenergy system
The energy system works with the seasonal cycle, more related to the passive control system, and daily cycle with the active con-trol system.
The sun is the main energy resource.
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Clime-scapeenergy system
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.3 design studio
MONTCADA
Spring Term 2011tutor Stan Allen
volumetric line as strategy of production
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.active wall
project frameworkLandscape between architecture and urban-ism.
“Architects can still control the void, what still is not built.”
“Urban infrastructure sows the seeds of future possibility, staging the ground for both uncer-tainty and promise. The preparation of surfac-es for future appropriation differs from merely formal interest in single surface construction. It is more strategic, emphasizing means over ends, and operational logic over composition-al design.”*
The project is focuses in Montcada, in the regional area of Barcelona and a tradition-ally industrial enclave located in one of the densest infrastructural corridors. The project needs to deal with conditions and contradic-tions generated between a complex infra-structural network at metropolitan scale and the remnants of the agricultural fields within a disrupted ecosystem.
The point of departure is the cemetery wall itself, that it will evolve enhancing its topo-graphic and programmatic potential. The cemetery uses the wall as formal mecha-nism, understanding the wall as an element that connects and separates at the same time. *James Corner
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Montcada, Active wallfrom infrastructure to architecture
from urbanism to landscape
public space
cemetery
“active wall”
+
infrastructure
exterior
urbanism
architecture
interior
landscape
connecting wall
taking benefit of the site
reference point
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.active wallinfrastructure
The wall works in a metropolitan scale, since the place where it is located is one of the most important infrastructure corridors of Barcelona.
The main access to the area, even if the sur-roundings, are made of highways, is through the Ecoparc 2 located in the area.
Taking this point as one of the starting ones to arrive to the cemetery, the project estab-lishes a relation with the Ecoparc.
How to deal with the Ecoparc? How to take profit from it? These are questions that the cemetery tries to give and answer to.
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barcelona metropolitan
waste
recyclable
organic compost
waste landfill
incinerator
cemetery
Infrastructureexiting infrastructure: Ecoparc02
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.active wall
siteThe mapping of the main elements of the site, as well as the study of the topography and existing paths give some keys to locate the wall.
78
Active Wallrelation with the main elements of the site:
access, Ecoparc02, quarries, green clusters, paths and topography
ecoparc02
ecoparc02
green cluster
quarry
quarry
quarry
ecoparc02
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
4.active wall
valuesThe proposal enhances and promotes, through landscape urbanism techniques, the maintenance of the values of the current landscape and its ecology.
The project finds special conditions in the site, in order to highlight them, and intro-duce them in the new scale.
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Montcada, natural elementsrealtion of the wall with existing elements
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
6.active wall
locationThe wall connects the two sides of the site, and uses them as the two main accesses to the cemetery.
The wall uses one existing path from the ag-riculture fields as structure for its develop-ment.
The cemetery, therefore the wall, is under-stood as an element that will evolve during the time.
The internal organization of the wall is driven by a pattern as a sub-mechanism. It will ap-pear since the beginning, giving the rules for the evolution of the wall.
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Cemetery, location evolution
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
7.active wall
cemetery/territoryThe wall crosses the site establishing differ-ent relations with the territory and the to-pography. Through the monumentality that we can find in the entrance until the ground level of the mausoleum, we pass through dif-ferent atmospheres.
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Wall and territorydifferent relations along the wall
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
8.active wall
volumetric lineThe pattern works as cuts that break the wall and establish connections between the inte-rior and the exterior space.
The pattern, and element mainly used as a system that creates a surface, in this case it works through a linear structure.
86
Volumetric linelinear pattern
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
N
Cemetery plan
Cemetery section
88
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Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/201192
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1.4. research / design studio
PRODUCTIVE LAND PROGRAM
January 2011tutor Joan Roig
territorial stain as strategy of production
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.datascapes
PrioratPriorat is a region in Catalonia and it produc-es the famous and prestigious wine of the Qualified Designation of Origin Priorat and Designation of Origin of Montsant. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north there is the region is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m.
98
Prioratre-order
VOLUME
10 Ha.75.000-85.000 plants
SURFACE: 300 Ha.
INVESTIMENTSPROFIT
1998
2013
2008 CRISIS
2003
2018
VOLUME
10 Ha.75.000-85.000 plants
SURFACE: 300 Ha.
INVESTIMENTSPROFIT
1998
2013
2008 CRISIS
2003
2018
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.datascape
MonzónMonzon is a city located in the river Ebro de-pression in Aragón where a poplar culture exists.
According to official data, in 1996 Aragon dedicated around 15.000ha to poplar culti-vation. That is approximately the 15% of the area of Spanish poplar culture.Poplar culture reaches 80 to 100,000m3 per year. The wood consummation in Aragon is very low, just from 5 to 10.000m3 /year.
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Monzónlong term economy
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.datascape
LleidaLleida is a city in the west of Catalonia. It is the capital city of the province with the same name, as well as the largest city in that province and it had 137,387 inhabitants as of 2010. Lleida is served by the Spanish state railway’s Madrid-Barcelona high-speed rail line, serv-ing also Barcelona, Zaragoza, Calatayud, Guadalajara, and Madrid. Lleida has a new airport that opened in January 2010, and a minor airfield located in Alfès.
The design project of the studio will take place in this city.
102
Lleidasystem
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.productive lineproject framework
The social framework within which we are going to operate is determined by the actual financial and political crisis, -i.e. economic de-flation, breakdown of public protectionism, the revision of the concept of private engagement, and the urge to find economies for subsistence. As a response to the current economic and po-litical context, we will avoid design strategies that take into account activities supported, promoted or directed by governmental poli-cies. To successfully fulfill the target, the work will be in places where the land still keeps a po-tential for production. Therefore, we will skip both highly urbanized as well as rural areas, and we will concentrate in mildly dense sites capable of accommodating urban leisure. The project should find the pertinent resources to produce self-sufficient sustainable energy on site, and to disregard design interventions that consider the use of external power sources. The method to face the entanglement between land profits and public use will combine scien-tific analytical rigor and empirical knowledge, and will promote the insightful negotiation among the manifold agents involved in the definition of territory.*
*PLP brief.
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Strategyrelation between the area and the surroundings
a1=%a
b1=%b b
a
potential for new system
area
city
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.productive line
productive cycleThe project defines a cycle of production organized around 3 layers: advanced agri-cultural and energy production, use of the existing resources and leisure.
The project works with the resources of Llei-da as inputs in the cycle of production:- inputs of the location- regional and local condition of the market and products- social conditions and maintenance of the place: territory- social conditions and maintenance of the place: university, tourism and industry.
As outputs the project defines three strate-gies:S1: strategy of land managementS2: strategy of advanced energy productionS3: strategy of landscape content disposi-tion
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Lleidasystem
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.productive line
plotThe plot is the entity that acts as unit into the system.
To define the number and organization of potential entities that can create conditions necessary to study the pattern that organizes the agriculture fields, since the new system is dependent on this existing pattern.
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Plotone plot as constitutive element of the system
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
4.productive line
timeImpact of the time on development of the productive line. Evolution from the line to the “potential wave”.Dependence from involment of entities: pri-vate properties.
110
Timeimpact of time in the productive line
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
5.productive line
entitiesThe productive line is sensitive on involve-ment of entities with rural division of the ter-ritory.
The area of each entity that enters inside the system is studied case by case relative to each plots condition.
112
a1=%a
b1=%b b
a
Productive lineentities inside the system
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
6.productive lineeconomic strategy
The economic strategy is developed under the concepts of Risk and Diversification.
Agreement between the government and the owners of the productive parcels.
Incentives from the government or local community to alter the production.
Introduction of the knowledge/faculty with reputation and experimental knowledge.
Development of the entities.
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RESEARCH
$$$
PROFITAB
ILITY
PRINCIPLE:
FIELD
UNIVERSITY
COMPANYRESEARCH
PROFIT RISK AND
DIVERSIFICATION
RESEARCH
$$$
PROFITAB
ILITY
PRINCIPLE:
FIELD
UNIVERSITY
COMPANYRESEARCH
PROFIT RISK AND
DIVERSIFICATION
Productive linerisk and diversification
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
7.productive line
casesDivision of the cases of production in rela-tion with the three strategies, the location of the plot and the possibilities of each entity.
Activation of the fringes to reach a better productiveness.
116
Productive linedivision in cases of production
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
8.productive line
productsEach product and each plot establish a spe-cific relation studying the geometry of the entity and the surface necessary for each case to be productive.
118
algae
indicators
lab
Productive lineproducts
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
9.productive line
entitiesPlots inside the systems and its defined sur-face inside the productive line.
The disposition of the content is through the landscape depending of the developed pro-ductiveness.
The productive line and its geometry and disposition establish a connection of the productive landscape with the city.
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Productive lineentities
1.61 ha
6.24 ha
3.94 ha4.8 ha
1.08 ha1.7 ha
2.38 ha
0.44 ha
0.7 ha
1.26 ha
2.48 ha0.77 ha 1.86 ha
2.34 ha0.98 ha
1.6 ha0.8 ha 0.65 ha 0.41 ha
a
j j jj
s
a j aj
s
j jj
i
j
jj
a a
aa
a
s
jj i
j
jj j l
a j a l a j j jj
a
ab
b
b
b b
bb
0.82 ha
n=23 d. of existing speciesn=22 d. of new species
3.94 ha
b
j
j
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
10.productive line
entitiesAfter the study of each plot and the qualities that it can bring to the system, it takes the decision of the type of product will be more appropriate.
As conclusion the productive line has:22 plots with development of new species23 plots with development of existing spe-cies
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Productive lineclasification of entities and production
P:1.61 ha
P:6.24 ha P:3.94 haP:4.8 ha
P:1.08 ha
P:1.7 ha
P:2.38 ha
P:0.44 ha
P:0.7 ha
P:1.26 ha
P:2.48 ha
P:0.77 ha
P:1.86 ha
P:2.34 ha
P:0.98 ha
P:1.6 ha
P:0.8 ha
P:0.65 ha
P:0.41 ha
a
l
l
P:0.82 ha
development of existing species green house; lab microalgae barleyindicator plants
n=2 n=13 n=7n=5n=23
n=23 d. of existing speciesn=22 d. of new species
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
11.productive line
sectionThe line uses the existing path between the agriculture fields changing the relation be-tween both spaces.
The plots in the most of the cases will acquire a new three dimension.
124
Productive linerelation between entities and line
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
12.productive line
timeThe line can evolve in relation to the produc-tiveness of the system creating subsystems with the same “rules” until it creates a terri-torial stain.
126
1 2
3 4
Productive line. Timefrom the line to the territorial stain
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.1. seminar
POLITICS OF THE CITY
Winter Term 2010tutor Pier Vittorio Aureli
Ildefonso Cerdà. Teoría General de la Urbanización.“Urbanización: Well-being and government”
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.Urbanización: Well-being and government
review
Cerdà in front of the conditions of the city decided to act. He exposed his interest for the process of urbanización in a territorial scale, his will of defining a rule of occupation of the land that permitted to embrace and include into it the existing city. He proposed for that a rational methodology to manage his obsession of equality into the urbe. Also to achieve balance between buildings and free/public space, that permits improvement of well-being of the population.In words of Carl Schmitt: «Non esistono idee politiche senza uno spazio a cui siano rifer-ibili, ne spazi o principi spaziali a cui non cor-rispondano idee politiche.» With Cerdà and his teoría we are in front of clear spatial principles, and probably, direct-ly or not, in front of political ideas.[…]In Barcelona, as in the rest of Europe, society becomes the object of science in the early nineteenth century. The hygienist theory advances hypothesis and solutions to one of the causes of the great urban mortality: the epidemic crisis.[…]Cerdà wrapped in this environment and real-ity, had the ambition of founding a science of “urbanización” and engage “[…] al estudio de una materia completamente nueva, in-tacta, virgen […] palabras que he tenido que buscar e inventar”.[…]The Teoría General de la Urbanización of
134
I. Cerdà. Teoría General de la Urbanizaciónpublished in 1867
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
Cerdà was published in 1867, but one should not overlook other of his previous studies and that sometimes he published, before the Teoría came out.Monografía Estadística de la Clase Obrera de Barcelona en 1856 is attached to the draft document of the Project of the Ensanche of Barcelona. It is in first place the revolutionary impact of a methodological approach which later the project of the Ensanche would nat-urally unfold. Cerdà reflected on the living conditions of the inhabitants inside the city walls. The dramatic conclusions clearly ex-plained how the industries and the working population were concentrated in very pre-carious unsanitary circumstances and there-fore his proposal for a new and large city, where industrialization could be developed without suffering these conditions could be understood. With this study, for the first time in the his-tory of architecture, architectural design of a city had as one of its defining the conditions the population through statistical tools that is those techniques to study their dynamics.[…]Sven-Olov Wallenstein referred himself to that revolution: “Architecture, we could say, started to withdraw from the model in the sense of a representation of order, so as to itself become a tool for the ordering, regi-mentation, and administering of space in his totality. [...] In Cerdà’s Teoría [...] architecture and urbanism assumed the role of a para-digm for governing and producing social space”. It is far away from looking like the main idea of Cerdà was the power to govern. Thinking
136
I. Cerdà. Teoría General de la UrbanizaciónBarcelona and its surroundings before Cerdà’s Ensanche
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
about that he was obsessively searching, innocently or not, for equality in the new industrial city. However, indirectly, the con-sequence of both order and organization of space, and therefore of the order of popula-tion, is the paradigm of governing. The Teoría starts from the idea that to act in the city it is necessary to have a pre-theoret-ical formulation to ensure that the project will be properly framed and it will answer the essential questions of the reality where it will be applicable. The theory was transform-ing the architecture and the place that it oc-cupied until then, and to place it within the humanities. The Teoría can be understood as “el primer planteamiento sociológico del ur-banismo” and a mechanism that confronts the problem of a population in relation to the constructed forms. Continuing with this idea of government and according to the words of Michel Fou-cault, “a partire dal XVIII secolo ogni trattato che consideri la política come arte di gov-ernare gli uomini dovrà contenere neces-sariamente uno o piú capitoli sull’urbanismo (urbanisme), sulle attrezzature collettive, sull’igiene e sull’architecttura privata”. Read-ing this statement of Foucault, it seems that the Theory is nothing else than a political treaty, with the objective of “governare gli uomini”, possibly with the least intention of such from the author. It is said that Cerdà did not seek direct pow-er, but with the changes that were neces-sary to realize his objective with his spatial principles, he took into account the popula-tion’s possible reactions. Given this possibil-ity he launches advice to potential leaders:
138
I. Cerdà. Teoría General de la UrbanizaciónStudies about the “vía” and the “intervías”
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
“La primera tarea es hacer comprender a esa misma humanidad que se trata de librarla de males, y de proporcionarle bienes legítimos de que al presente se ve privada […]. Una vez logrado esto, el camino se allana, y los gobiernos se ven empujados a marchar por él, y no tienen que temer ya ningún tropiezo. […] La humanidad acostumbra a ser hasta generosa con los que trabajan en su mejo-ramiento”. […]The methodology to carry out all these ideas is based, in order, the study of existing con-ditions, the regulation, the urbanization and the building construction. All these steps conclude in the management of growth. It could said that the experience of Barcelo-na is the materialization of his ideas and his methodology. The geometry chosen for this Ensanche is the grid. It is important to clarify that to talk about the expansion of Barcelo-na is not only to speak of the grid, but also numbers and statistics. It is not Cerdà who invented the city grid, but who makes that first numerical approach to the city. When thinking about the geometric realization it is appropriate to refer to possible influences that the engineer had.Firstly, we have his Teoría de la construc-ción de las Ciudades that is like a memory of Proyecto de Ensanche y Reforma de Barce-lona in 1859. The grid is the geometry used in most Spanish colonization processes in South America, and has often been noted as an influence, as well as its policy instrument, the Leyes de Indias should be taken into ac-count. Similarly, it seems difficult to believe that Cerdà had no influence from North
140
I. Cerdà. Teoría General de la UrbanizaciónCaracas plan, 1578
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
American grids, of which he did know. In this North America case, we can refer to Savan-nah, which, as Carlos Martí Arís points can be perceived some similarities between its urban model and the one of Cerdà, such as “homogeneidad, regularidad, esponjamien-to o nucleridad”. In a settlement, there is the control of the government by settlers in new territory, and the idea of grid space permit-ted this. The same objective can be said to exist in the foundations, to build a orderly controllable community. Although at first glance Barcelona is not understood as a city of new plan, its plan of Reforma y Ensanche was not the simple expansion of a popula-tion, it was really a new urbe and a step from walled control to an extensive urbe.Cerdá decided to act with a reformist and innovative project in front of the situation that Barcelona was living. He used rational and mathematical common-sense to sug-gest the solution towards well-being of the population. To arrive to the point that he was looking for he saw himself forced to invent a new science. The Teoría de la urbanización was created like a treaty for this new science, based on numbers and statistics, with the obsessive objective of hygiene and equality in the city. The new science covers every aspect of the urbe, movement and communication, col-lective spaces and private architecture. He looks for the rules that order all the elements organizing the population with a spatial idea.Cerdà created a paradigm of governing while he was just trying to improve the well-being of the society without looking for the power.
142
I. Cerdà. Teoría General de la Urbanizacióndiagram of Cerdà’s Ensanche of Barcelona
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
CONCLUSION:
PRODUCTION
as strategy for the project
3. Addenda
3.1. design studio
RE-REC
Spring Term 2011tutor David Adjaye
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.re-rec
project frameworkThe Rec is an obsolete industrial neighborhood in Igualada, a Catalan middle-size city. The exercise (RE_REC) consists in the development of an industrial facility within the selected area that will depart from the traditional and old landscape of the REC to engage in the new context of the flourishing local industries.*
The project starts with an economic analysis of Igualada, and the strategies that the city uses in each moment. The analysis establish-es a relation between the economic cycles and the evolution of the urban fabric.
150
PASSEIG DE MOSSEN JACINT VERDAGUER
?
???
?
?
??
?
?
AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIAL BOOM ECONOMY /INDUSTRIAL CRISIS POP-UP
€ XPTAS.
INDUSTRIAL ANTHROPOLOGYCarlos Cabrera, Nuria Casais, Aaron Tregent, Ala’ Zreigat
“LES COMES” INDUSTRIAL AREA
REC
ANOIA
Economic analysiseconomy evolution and its relation with the urban fabric
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.re-rec
urban strategyRE_REC is an exercise that aims to RE-activate, RE-industrialize, and Re-program the current urban situation by engaging in the local reali-ties and contingencies.
The project finds the voids into the urban fabric that it is possible to activate in order to help the city to evolve.
152
Urban fabricmapping of the voids for activation
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
3.re-rec
void activationThe strategy of the voids is applied to an spe-cific spot, given the rules that can drive the whole activation of the city in similar circum-stances.
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exist
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plot #6specific activation of a void
3.2. seminar
ANARCHITECTURE
Winter Term 2010tutor Gloria Moure
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.anarchitecture
conceptAnarchitecture Notes:
Energy, margins (understood as the experience of the limit) and collectivity.Challenging the established rules beyond the architectural limits, colonizing artist and ethics and moral spheres.Dissolve boundaries. Promote mixture and ambiguity.Anarchitecture entails the creation of space without building it.Anarchitecture understands space not as a container, but as a live-generator.Anarchitecture is space detached from func-tionalism.Anarchitecture is an attitude against econom-ic speculation and repressive politics of archi-tecture.City and architecture: metaphor and reality of human condition.Get closer to the city from an interactive point of view: construction and deconstruction.City: unstable and polymorphic. It oscillates constantly between entropy and order. (Chaos is in the origin of every order.Anarchitecture underscores the intimate link between politics, criticism and art for a revis-ited modernity.Criteria of selection: recognizable social form.
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Anarchitecturestudy of the two cities
3.3. theory
BUILDING STRUCTURE
Winter Term 2010tutor Agustí Obiol
Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
1.long span building
conceptThe configuration of the volumes took place thinking about the possibility of working with cantilevers, and the reduc-tion that they can produce on the bending moments of the spans.
Therefore, both in the big volume and in the small one, the configuration has some controlled cantilevers, that help reduce the quantity of material.
On the other hand, there are elements in the structure working with compression and tension.
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4 supports
Beams in the big volume
Tensors holding the smalls volumesFinal structure
Bending moment diagrams
Structure scheme
Strucurecase of 4 supports
CONTENTS
0.1 PrologueArchitecture and production
1.1 Theory/Design studio. Winter+Spring Term. 2009/2010New Urban Turntutor Josep Acebillo. Visiting professor Elia Zenghelis 1.1.1 Research. Winter Term 2010 Alexanderplatz 1.1.2 Desing studio. Spring Term 2011 Urban Mega Cluster *in collaboration with M. Aalaii and G. Kallis
1.2 Design core studio. Spring Term. 2011Verticalscapes. Clime-scapetutor Iñaki Ábalos*in collaboration with S. Ghasemizadeh and G. Kallis
1.3 Design studio. Spring Term. 2011Montcada. Active Walltutor Stan Allen. Visiting professor Michael Jakob*in collaboration with S. Ghasemizadeh and G. Kallis
1.4 Research/design studio. Jan. 2011Productive Land Program. Productive Linetutor Joan Roig. Visiting professor Maria Buhigas and Anna Viader 1.4.1 Research Datascapes 1.4.2 Desing studio Productive Line *in collaboration with A. Badnjar and I. Petkovic
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Barcelona Institute of Architecture Portfolio: Nuria Casais 2010/2011
2.1 Seminar. Winter Term. 2010Politics of the Citytutor Pier Vittorio Aureli
Conclusion
3 Addenda3.1 Design studio. Spring Term. 2011Re-Rectutor David Adjaye*in collaboration with C. Cabrera, A. Tregent and A. Zreigat
3.2 Seminar. Winter Term. 2010Anarchitecturetutor Gloria Moure*in collaboration with M. Prutschi and C. Sookaree
3.3 Theory. Winter Term. 2010Long Span Buildingstutor Agustí Obiol*in collaboration with M. Prutschi and A. Kapic
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