EcoStructure by Alberto Giacopelli

ECOSTRUCTURE

MF3A Franz Bittenbinder Mattia Di Carlo Alberto Giacopelli Andrea Govi Antonio La Marca Project developed with

Politecnico di Milano School of Architecture and Society M.Sc. Architecture Town Planning design Workshop

Prof. Stefano Boeri / Prof. Michele Brunello February 2015

contacts:

MF3A architecture Via Pacini 48 / Milan / Italy www.mf3a.eu info@mf3a.eu

INDEX 8 Introduction 10 Concept 12 Path 22 Analysis 24 Structure 30 Biodiversity 34 Masterplan 36 Focus areas 42 Views 44 Installation

INTRODUCTION

“Architecture should have little to do with problem solving - rather it should create desiderable conditions and opportunities hitherto thought impossible.” Cedric Price

In the history of our cities we can find a lot of different scenarios, which reveal the schizofrenic relationship of our built environment with nature: On the one hand cities are created to include nature employing the benefits of green spaces and using animals for our purposes, whereas on the other hand we need distance from it to be safe from its dangers and threats. Important personalities of the 20th century devoted themselves to this ambiguious topic thinking about possible scenarios: The Florentine artist Giacomo Costa, for instance, is convinced that nature always wins out over the artiificial world conquering it ultimately. This is depicted in compositions like “Private Garden”.

“L’inferno dei viventi non è qualcosa che sarà; se ce n’è uno, è quello che è già qui, l’inferno che abitiamo tutti i giorni, che formiamo stando insieme. Due modi ci sono per non soffrirne. Il primo riesce facile a molti: accettare l’inferno e diventarne parte fino al punto di non vederlo più. Il secondo è rischioso ed esige attenzione e apprendimento continui: cercare e saper riconoscere chi e cosa, in mezzo all’inferno, non è inferno, e farlo durare, e dargli spazio.” The hell of the living is not something that will be: if there is one, it is what is already here, the hell where we live every day, that we form by being together. There are two ways to escape suffering it. The first is easy for many: accept the hell and become such a part of it that you can no longer see it. The second is risky and demands constant vigilance and learning: seek and be able to recognize who and what, in the midst of the hell, are not hell, then make them endure, give them space.

The writer Italo Calvino on the other hand sees human

Italo Calvino “The invisible cities”, 1972

kind able to choose about its ultimate fate: In his opinion we can choose to become a part of the surrounding hell we live in or to give more space to the things that we regard as worthy for ourselves. The Ecostructure takes up this thought stating that biodiversity is one of these non-hell-things which needs to be fostered in our cities. By implementing a new superimposed structure to the city of Milan the project enriches the biodiversity serving both men and animals likewise.

right image - Giacomo Costa “Private Garden”

CONCEPT The proposal for the Ecostructure is based on the believe that coexistence of men and nature can be achieved by the balance act between expedient proximity and indispensable distance by means of the superposition principle: human activities on the lower levels and habitats for animals on the upper ones where both spheres fade into each other. The Ecostructure growes along a predetermined axis through Milan adapting to the given circumstances in the

Different layers of the city

urban fabric, which can result in detachment but also in direct physical connection with existing buildings and

The proposal comprises apart from the

public places. For this reason we employed the metaphor

general rules for the parasite structure a series

of the parasite that conqueres the space providing niches

of spatial solutions for significant “foci” f.e.

for biodiversity and human interaction. The mentioned

Piazza Duomo, Torre Galfa, Viale Luciano Gioa

axis which presets the route of the Ecostructure is

etc. along the new axis, that connects two

derived from the idea to create an opposing system to

important ecosystems of Milan - the Naviglio

the existing axis of Sempione, which represents a series

della Martesana and Naviglio Grande.

of spaces and buildings in Milan that are related to the political past and the cultural presence of the city.

These foci are the result of an extensive analysis which was conducted using indicators

Placing the Ecostructure perpendicularily to Semprione

for antropocentric and biodiversity aspects in

axis, the project urges, in contrast to the cultural axis,

order to determine the qualities and deficits

for a new idea of the city, which includes not only

as well as the urge of intervention along the

antropocentric considerations but also the aspect of

Ecostructure.

biodiversity. Yona Friedman, Sketch of Superstructure right image - Francois Roche “Parasite composition”

PATH

The mentioned analysis is based on an parametric

ANALYSIS INDICATORS

ANALYSIS features of the context as possible. The outcome is used subsequently as a guideline, but by no means as an unquestioned modell of the development of the Ecostructure. It rather helps to understand the necessities and the level of urge along the given axis for intervention. The idea is to define parameters for antropocentric and biodiversity matters that can be recorded in a quantitative way. Drawn along the axis these parameters serve the

DIMENSION OF INTERVENTION

approach in order to take into account as many signifant

A ANTROPOCENTRIC INDICATORS A1. TRAFFIC A2. PUBLIC ACTIVITIES A3. BUILDING HEIGHTS A4. INTERSPACE A5. POINTS OF REFERENCE A6. UNDERGROUND LEVELS A7. EXISTING PARKING SPACE A8. EXISTING PEDESTRIAN AREA A9. EXISTING BICYCLE LANES Â a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a8 a9 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 5 2 0

3 3 0

-3

Weighted values (e.g. a1x 5)

Horizontal spread

behavior: horizontal spread, vertical elevation, number of levels and degree of connectivity.

-3 -5

7 6 5 4 3 2

a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a8 a9 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

0 -3

-5

design process to define the key aspect of the parasite

a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a8 a9 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

-2

e1 e2 e3 e4 e5 e6 e7 e8 e9 e10 e11 e12 e13 e14 e15 e16 e17 e18 e19 e20 e21 e22

indiCators alonGe X

B BIODIVERSITY INDICATORS B1. GREEN SPACES B2. TREES SIZE B3. PRESENCE OF WATER B4. FLORA DIVERSITY B5. PRESENCE OF MAMMALS B6. PRESENCE OF INSECTS B7. PRESENCE OF BIRDS

-2 -4

-5

-4

Weighted values (e.g. a1x 5)

VertiCal eleVation

5 3 0 -2

0 -2

-1 -3

-3

a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 a8 a9 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

-2

-3 -5

-5

Weighted values (e.g. a1x 5)

nUMBer oF leVels

deGree oF ConneCtiVitY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

GIOIA 2

APPIANII

SANTA MARGHERITA

COLONNE

NAVIGLIO GRANDE 2

23 BIODIVERSITY

PRESENCE BIRDS

PRESENCE INSECTS

PRESENCE MAMMALS

FLORA DIVERSITY

PRESENCE OF WATER

TREES SIZE

GREEN SPACES

URGE INTERVENTION

EX BYCICLE LANE

EX PEDESTRIAN AREA

EX PARKING

UNDERGROUND LVS

POINTS OF REFERENCE

INTERSPACE

BUILDING HEIGHT

PUBLIC ACTIVITIES

TRAFFIC

BIODIVERSITY

PRESENCE BIRDS

PRESENCE INSECTS

PRESENCE MAMMALS

FLORA DIVERSITY

PRESENCE OF WATER

TREES SIZE

GREEN SPACES

URGE INTERVENTION

EX BYCICLE LANE

EX PEDESTRIAN AREA

EX PARKING

UNDERGROUND LVS

POINTS OF REFERENCE

INTERSPACE

BUILDING HEIGHT

PUBLIC ACTIVITIES

TRAFFIC

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

NAVIGLIO MARTESANA

GIOIA 1

GALVANI

DUCA D’AOSTA

VIA PISANI

GALILEO

MONTECATINI / TURATI

MANZONI

SCALA

TORINO DUOMO

TICINESE

VIGEVANO XXIV MAGGIO

NAVIGLIO GRANDE 1

GENOVA

STRUCTURE The structure is based on one of the inherent systems of nature which although not ultimately explored serves as essence of natural growth - the fractale behavior. To be found in many organism on our planet a fractale is an object whose parts, at infinitely many levels of magnification, appear geometrically similar to the whole. To give an example the connection between fractals and leaves, for instance, is currently being used to determine how much carbon is contained in trees. Employing this principle of nature the Ecostructure is based on a repetitive system of steel frames and rigid nodes that follows the analogy of a tree to produce a system that dissolves skywards with branches that split according to the specific ratio of the Fibonacci series. In terms of featured functions the ecostructure hosts a broad range of activities serving animals, as well as men by means of four spatial modules, that are embedded into the general construction described above. These modules are: horizontal boards providing a ground to move, rest, sit etc.; shells to collect and contain water and soil; boxes giving shelter and protecting from the weather and finally the tube as a formal variant of the box allowing a better surface-volume ratio. Paul Klee

Fractal Behavior

Piet Mondrian â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trees Paintingsâ&#x20AC;?

Walk area Bike Lane Sport activies

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Indoor Sports Relax Urban Agricolture Bird watching Open air cinema Party / Disco Theatre Dog area Art workshop Art exposition Workshops Co-working

Walk area Bike Lane Sport activies

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Indoor Sports Ice skating Snow activities Bird watching Christmas market Dog area Art workshop Art exposition Workshops Co-working View from below the structure

POLLUTION TREES WITH AIR POLLUTION ADSORBING CAPACITY HIGH

MEDIUM

LOW

Fraxinus excelsior

Malus sp.

Acer pseudoplatanus

Fraxinus mandschurica

Prunus sp.

Sorbus commixta

Acer platanoides

Ulmus macrocarpa

Sorbus aria

Acer rubrum

Tilia spp

Quercus robur

Acer saccharum

Alnus incana

Quercus rubra

Betula pendula

Populus beroline Populus simoniii

Green acustic screen

LEAVES ADSORBS POLLUTION

HOXYGEN

CO2 AIR POLLUTION

PURE AIR

direct pollution absorption

Undirect pollution deviation

PM10

CO2

SMOG

BIODIVERSITY As an important feature of the project there is of course together of plants, animals and humans. In terms of plants the idea is to use exclusively endemic

LEVEL 3 H < 12 M

the aspect of biodiversity, which marks the coming

plants that can generate an authentic environment

Juniperus communis

for the arriving animals. Furthermore this approach is

Ligistrium lucidum

Malva sylvestris

Prunus padus

implemented to foster the conscience of humans towards

The various levels and scales allow animals to choose among a big range of different habitats according to their size and prefered environment. Humans on the other hand have by nature a necessity for larger spaces and

LEVEL 2 12 > H > 18 M

their surroundings in Lombardy region.

more elaborate accesses to ensure security etc. Latter are placed therefore more on the lower levels of the

Acer campestre

Carpinus betulus

Juniperus communis

Prunus avium

Taxus baccata

Acer platanoides

Betula verrucosa

Fagus silvatica

Fraxinus excelsior

Picea abies

Pinus silvestris

Populus tremula

Quercus robur

Salix alba

Sorbus aucuparia

structure which are connected with stairs, elevators and ramps to the street level. Since nature determines the functions and activities in the project it is designed to offer sufficient possibilities in the warm as well in the cold

LEVEL 1 H > 18 M

seasons.

TREE SPECIES

Acer campestre

Fraxinus excelsiurs

Acer platanoides

Fraxinus ornus

Acer pseudoplatanus

Ilex aquifolium

Alnus glutionosa

Ostrja carpinifolia

Betula alba

Carpinus betulus

Castanea sativa

Populus alba

Populus canescen

Populus tremula

Corylus avellana

Crataegus monogyna

Daphne mezereum

Prunus spinoza

Phamnus catharticus

Celtis australis

Prunus avium

Fagus silvatica

Prunus padus

SHRUB SPECIES

Berberis vulgaris

Cornonilla emenus

Juniperus communis

Ligustrum vulgarae

Sambucus nigra

Viburnum opulus

Cornus mas

Lonicera caprifolium

Cornus sanguinea

Prunus padus

Rubus idaeus

Hedera helix

Salix caprea

HippophaĂŤ rhamnoides

Salix cinerea

BIRDS Ardea cinerea

Carduelis carduelis

Cygnus olor

Turdus merula

Passer italiae

Pelophylax sinklepton

Hyla intermedia

Bufo viridis

Natrix natrix

Hierophis viridiflavus

Cornus sanguinea

Podarcis muralis

Eptesicus serotinus

Pipistrellus strellus

Erithacus rubecula

Columba palumbus

Corvus cornix

Fulica atra

Gallinula chloropus

Columba livia

Hirundo rustica

Apus apus

Falco tinnunculus

Vulpes vulpes

Microtus arvalis

Apodemus sylvaticus

Papilio machaon

Blatta orientalis

Anas platyrhynchos

AMPHIBIA

REPTILES

MAMMALS Canis familiaris

Felis catus

INSECTS Apis mellifera

Coccinella septempunct

Musca domestica

Monomorium pharaonis

Rattus norvegicus

MASTERPLAN

GIOIA

DUOMO

APPIANI

GALFA

HUMAN’S VIEW

BIRD’S VIEW

INSTALLATION

MODULES STRUCTURE BIRDS

CORRIDOR

In the installation for the exhibition at the Museum of Natural History we decided to focus on one of the most important finding in the course of the design process of the Ecostructure: There are not only a big diversity of

HABITAT HUMAN SCALE MEN‘S PERSPECTIVE

dimensions to be found in the project but also different perceptions of one and the same element. All depends on the point of view: wheather it is an insect, a bird or a

BIRDS TOPVIEW

STAIRCASE

human - the same element can represent a 1:1, a 1:20 or a 1:200 scale. To show that in the given installation we created a system of frames that imply the general idea of the Ecostructure, how it grows similar to a parasite according to the surrounding context. In the structure you find a variety AXIS VIDEO ANIMALS‘ SCALE SUPERPOSITION MODEL SCALE

of images and objects which demonstrate the transition between the scales. Finally the object employs the spatial situation of the staircase, where you first see the 1:1 scale with birds in the cantilevering structure when you go up the stairs. Getting closer and seeing it from the other side of the balustrade you realize the variety of

PIAZZA DUOMO PLAN SECTION RENDERING

embedded scales to be discovered by moving around the object and looking at it from different heights and angles.

CORRIDOR

RENDERINGS MASTERPLAN INSIDE