| ARCH 201 Spring 2009 Gutierrez |
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Case Studies in Architectural Design | Instructor: Paz Gutierrez The design of buildings or communities of advanced complexity. Each section deals with a specific topic such as housing, public and institutional buildings, and local or international community development. Studio work is supplemented by lectures, discussions, readings, and field trips. Subterra - Submillimiter Array Studying spectral energy distributions between submillimeter and far-infrared wavelengths has been a central astronomic aspiration for the development of understanding cool universe matter. Relic radiation of the Big Bang, cool matter, primarily consists of molecular gas and dust that constitute the stars, planetary systems, and galaxies. This matter has a thermal range registered only at submillimiter wavelengths. But SUBMILLIMETER ASTRONOMY remains a largely unexplored boundary due to the complexity of the required instrumentation and the atmospheric conditions necessary for its implementation which demands high levels of transparency for microwave light. Atacama Desert possessing unique atmospheric transparency makes possible the application of submillimeter (optical and radio) “visualization” technique. Recent technological advances and international collaboration combined to Atacama’s singular atmospheric transparency will constitute by 2011 an unprecedented astronomic observatory regarding scale and technology: ALMA. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) (see note 1 below), located on the Chajnantor plain of San Pedro de Atacama will be conformed of 64 high-precision antennas (10 mm-350 microns/39’ radius) that will have reconfigurable base lines. These antennas will orbit creating an array that will occupy a field ranging between 500 feet to 10 miles creating innumerous conformations. The multiple arrangements of these orbits will create unique territorial and programmatic conditions. This studio’s premise is based on the principal that the discipline of Architectural Design cannot be reduced to a singular specialty or scale of investigation, and as such, it is ideally suited to provide a conceptual framework for the diverse and vast disciplinary criteria that must be accommodated in the design of ecologically compatible systems.
Early integration of performance criteria into the design process is essential for catalyzing technological innovation that can effectively address ecological complexity in order to significantly shift methods of functional models. In order to pursue comprehensive and experimental research we will embrace the challenge of integrative strategies. By defying normative environmental control systems models that behave interdependently but are typically designed independently we aim at formulating integrative and multiple problem sets explored at multiple scales. By addressing a migratory program (orbits) co-dependently to its climatic extremities (cold and arid) we propose to assess how tectonic morphologies and material strategies can work symbiotically with adverse natural systems. By probing into broadscalar data visualization and scripting as research grammar of material, climatic and morphological interdependencies the studio will frame design problem at multiple scalar sets. The studio will propose a dwelling and educational/exhibit complex for ALMA (10,000 sf) developed in two phases. Design inquiries will center on BIO-RESPONSIVE NETWORKS (membrane-structure) as means of capitalizing scarce water resources, extreme low humidity conditions and strong winds. Students will explore responsive membranes utilizing minimal surfaces as de-materialization strategy for the constitution of the entire center focusing on minimizing energy/matter use. FLEXIBLE MEMBRANES will be explored regarding their potential adaptation for the changing arrays created by the transitory orbits and bio-climatic shifts.
Jeff Gaines
Matthew Noakes
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