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Investigation about man's conception in the Space. 'Shaping in Paramillos', Mendoza.

Part 2 Project 2003
Sebastián Villarreal
Carlos Dos Santos
 University of Mendoza | Argentina
This work explores new ways of doing architecture, in an attempt to meet today’s spatial needs caused by man’s changed conception in the space. A new conception calls for new methods of projecting. Thus, the main contribution of this work is the creation of tools that replace the current ones which have become limited or useless. The design experimentation is an exercise, a tool that investigates forms, uses, materials and essences. These new tools are called: Gestualización (form); Virtualización (space); Arquetipación (materials); Conceptualización (uses), which enabled us to find new ways of seeing (Poiesis), thinking (Methodology), making (Projection) and living architecture (Interpretation).


The present work has been nominated because it deals with practice and theory. It investigates external and internal goals of architecture, incorporating notions of other “loggias” (Poetry, Philosophy). It also contributes to “Design Investigations” and “Form Generation”, exploring on new virtual and traditional tools. Concerning practice, the project skilfully combines the “spirit of time” and the “spirit of place” of an abandoned place in mountain (3000m.). In this way, the project provides a good synthesis of the “practice of thinking” and the “logic of doing” and it reaches the equilibrium of Vitruvian triangle: Firmitas (materials), utilitas (uses) y venustas (form).
Tutor(s)
Dr Alexandra Stara
2003
‘THEORY & PRACTICE’ This work is divided chronologically in: Theory (Poiesis & Methodology) & Practice (Project & Interpretation) Our aim is to look for new ways of seeing, thinking, making & living architecture according to man’s conception in space
‘POIESIS’ Poiesis is a subjective production tool, which helps us in the way we do architecture depending on the way we watch. The site is resumed in a skyline supported by photographs according to our imagination, perceptions & sensations of it
‘SENSORAMA 1’ It is an architectural essay made in a traditional and intuitive way. Its uses have to do with man’s perception, imagination of space, and all sensations that the site can make us feel. It is situated at the top of a100-meters-high risk.
‘METHODOLOGY-1’ This architectural essay was made to experiment new ways of doing architecture by the creation of new tools. Gestualización explores the structure of the form traditionally. Virtualización looks for the architectural space (mass-space)
‘METHODOLOGY-2’ Arquetipación explores materials & archetypes of the site to create new typologies, which are applied to the essay according to Conceptualización, which explores uses & new ways of living a space, defining the materials for each use.
‘SENSORAMA 2’ It’s the architectural result after using the tools. Imaginary refers to immensity (habitable concrete mass) Perceptual loses human scale (rocks labyrinth) Palpable recovers human scale (warm-wood) & Near-Far refers to site’s sensations.
‘PARAMILLOS’ Satellite scale & element scale of the site refer to ‘miniature & immensity’ concept of Bachelard. Both scales are joined to create 2Dimension landscape drawings in the site. This approximation is the beginning of the architectural project
‘LANDSCAPE’ These 2Dimension drawings were extruded or transformed into spaces such as alleys, natural balconies, meeting places and gardens, where characteristic species of the site were used to materialise this ‘Journey to Darwin’s petrified forest’
‘GOBERNADOR MINE’ Gobernador Mine is hidden at 3000 meters above the sea. There're four groups of abandoned ruins, which has much history on its walls, where time and weather had eroded them. Spirit of time & spirit of place are the essence of the site
‘TERRACES’ Terraces are bond between landscape & architecture. They’re a combination of virtual scanning of the site elements according to the uses proposed by the ruins (meeting, living, knowledge, working) creating mix spaces for walking & staying.
‘1º INTERVENTION’ The proposed architecture intervenes the existing ruins materialising the uses according to 3 intentions: white (respect of ruins) light grey (bond between old-new architecture) dark grey (new architecture) by traditional-rational way
‘METHODOLOGY APLICATION’ Gestualización: Virtual Screens of Lateral & Plan Views are used to create architectural masses. Virtualización: Intersection between 1º intervention and these masses create 2º intervention. Arquetipación: defines archetypes
‘2º INTERVENTION’ The uses are finally defined as Themenos (meeting), Visitors’ Village (living), Library (knowledge) & Workshops (experimenting), creating new spaces for living in a desert mountain, according to today’s spatial needs on a virtual way.
‘PROJECT STAGES’ Project stages are compared to show the drawings’ growth through the different interventions & methodology applications, and the evolution of project elements. This transformation looks for an authentic architectural mountain identity
‘DETAILS’ Scaffolding is an external structure that protects ruins from time & weather erosion. Terraces are made of materials taken from the site (rocks-concrete-land). Landscape brings human habitability in a desert mountain by new landscape concepts
‘PLAN - PROJECT AREA’ The whole project attempts to form students in investigation. At Themenos reflections are shared. Library seeks the generation of knowledge. At Workshops students learn to create. Visitors’ Village brings habitability & permanence
‘LIBRARY’ The ruin is the gate to the buried Library where books are exposed inside the excavated walls according to the subjects. It’s like looking for knowledge inside the earth. Natural light’ access develops spatial relations between lecture rooms
‘THEMENOS’ Themenos is a versatile meeting space, whose uses are modified according to the different activities of free chats or traditional disposition of the audience. All around it, flexible spaces are proposed for free exposition of students’ works
‘VILLAGE & WORKSHOPS’ Both buildings bring a variety of spaces that are chosen by the users according to the way they live or the experimentation they want to do providing traditional-virtual-individual-group workshops or houses, to improve creativity
‘AFTERWARD LECTURE’ It's a continuous re-interpretation of the logic of doing that generates theories, improving the practice of thinking in order to find new ways of doing and living architecture spaces. It's also the beginning of other investigations
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