ARCHITECTURE AND IDENTITY: Destination Madrid: Pascale Atsma_ Eva Candela

1.0 Program

We started thinking about our project with a second entrance for the ESDM. This would be located next to the existing building, on one side of the patio. We didn’t want to create only a marquee that would join the new entrance to the building of Santiago and the existing school but a space with a utility and a program.

To begin we studied the shadows and possible routes to know where our project could work the best, taking into account the users and the existing building.

The idea that we have now for the project is a two floors structure, the lower part where a footbridge links the new entrance to the building and which, in turn, would serve as a space for presentations, exhibitions and a runway.

On the top floor will be a library. The two plants are linked, apart from the structure, by some mechanism whereby we want to reflect the change that occurs in the library, either by leaving a book or taking one, on the ground floor. This means, we would have a lower structure that change depending on the weight of the books and how users handle them, the structure works thanks to the existence of the library and his maintenance.

1.1 Calendar

15 April_ Structure and Construction:Define final application of the structure.

22 April_ Structures and drawing: technical drawings of the structure and 3D modelling.
Model: Final definition of the lower structure.

26 April_ Total definition of the structure of both floors. Drawings: tecnical drawings of the

structure.

29 April _ Drawing: Applications of the structure. Define the skin / facade of the structure.
Technical catalogue (explaining the structure and materials)

3 May_ Conceptual influence on the user's relation with the building.

13 May _ Drawing: explaining the project: plans, sections; diagrams

17 - 23 May _ Model: 3d model. 3D rhino modelling, laser cut help and the model as a verification of the project.

2.0 Game

The main idea of the game was to create human structures that resist by getting support from the team.

It's making a reference to the battleship game that the purpose is to sink the boats of the opponents, in Spister getting to use the players arms and legs as pieces that help to make the structure.
Advancing more, teams lose pieces (legs and arms) that determine the need of a support that helps keeping the structure.

As a result, we found out that human structures can be possible and they can resist without having all the pieces (ex: one without an arm, one without legs).
Using a structure as a main piece of the project, the purpose of the game was to make a reference to the legs of Santiagos's spider and to see if it's possible to use arms (hanging the structure) or legs (support in the ground).

2.1 Drawing the game

Pascale Atsma

Eva Candela

Andreea-Diana Drăgnescu

2.2 Game model

This model may be understood both as a continuation in the line of the game and start in physical attainment of the project.

On one hand, it implements the principles of the human structures as active, changeable forces according to the needs of the human conditions. Therefore, the translation into the physical model is conformed as a game of weights, where the variation in certain spots causes an effect and a transformation in a different part of the structure.

The main of the model is to start testing this king of active, movable structures that will lately be the main potential of the physical project.

3.0 Paper models

Structure1: Tensile spiral

Paper arches holt by fixed supports on both ends to the platform and by the tensions of the ropes that connect them all and make the single elements work as a whole.

Project use:

Concept structure: build a whole by a single elements.

The library weight can produce the needed tension for the ropes or wires.

Structure 2: Diaphragm

Extensile structure where geometry allows movement. It needs a force to be moved.

The model changes in three directions entailing a height variation.

Changeable shapes.

Possible uses: ceiling facade modulation.

Structure 3: Spring into Action

Structure working under compression that allows controlled deformation under tensile forces.

Shape: Corridor formation but it is needed to enlarge the central hole in order to take profit of the inner space.

Concept: structure turns into a mechanism for library.

Structure 4: Ron Resch pattern

Extensible structure in one direction in the 2D plane, where geometry allows movements. It needs a force to be moved.

Changeable shapes. Facade modulation that allows voids creation depending on the needs of the users.

4.0 Human Structures

https://issuu.com/ecandela/docs/human_structures_booklet3.indd/1

We continue the development of human structures that resist by getting support from the team.

The booklet contains structures of 2, 3 and 4 people and links between them, obtaining continuity between the structures - structures of 6 or more people.

Also, this exercise is focusing the attention on how these structures work by having joints and fixed elements.

4.1 Applying human structures to our project

As a conclusion of the exercise with the human structures and the appliance into our project, we took elements that are found in the booklet, structures that will have continuity in the next steps for the development of the project.

As a first step, human structures are proving useful in creating the passage that connects the two entrances of the school.

The main ideea of the project is to create a passage containing mobile structures. Thus, the route is divided into several stages, each of which contains a structure that repeats the process of the movement, creating diffrent spaces and sensations for the passerby.

We create 9 structures (18 legs) starting with a fixed one at the new entrance, followed by 2 that will increase the width, another fixed, 2 that will increase the hight, one fixed, one that will increase the width and ending the passage with a fixed structure.

4.2 Drawing the structure

The first step was to see the connection between the bookshelf and the structure from the grownd floor.

We develop 4 movements of the bookshelf that will generate and allow the lower structure to exist: A, B, C and D.

The next step was to create connection between the points of movement, as we describe in the drawings (A-A', A-B', A-C', A-D', B-B', B-C', C-C') and also a game that will create diffrent spaces and ways to pass between the bookshelfs.

4.3 Drawing the articulation system and first proposal facade model

4.4 Structure calculation and Shadow study

5.0 Covering the lower structure

The lower structure is composed of four profiles that are joined by node. Our proposal is to treat each part differently. Each movement changes the way that the pieces of the pillar are resulting 4 diffrent pillars.

The first profile of the pillar allows the light to enter and also permites the facade to be closed for the exibitions, or open with horizontal shelves.

5.1 Details of construction

The second important part of the structure is the change that will create a place to sit.

6.0 Movements of the floor

The changes in the lower structure will define the way that the floor will look like.

The floor is divided into plans that are between the pillars axes. Each part of floor can be found in three positions: horizontal, inclined from left to right or in the other way. Each plan will be made with bars that will provide a good connection between the pillas - the bars will extend when it s neccesary.