Architectural speculations 2&tectonics alina voinescu by Alina Voinescu

ARCHITECTURAL SPECULATIONS PART 2

Alina Voinescu 13183750 Scar_City Birmingham School of Architecture Birmingham City University

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THE PROFITABLE TOPOGRAPHIES OF MOUNT ALMODOVAR

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And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly picked olive leaf... So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. (Genesis 8:11)

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CONTENTS

PART 1 - CONCERNS....................................................................................................................................................................................8 PART 2 - STRATEGY.....................................................................................................................................................................................25 PART 3 - CONCEPT DESIGN.....................................................................................................................................................................33 PART 4 - TECTONICS..................................................................................................................................................................................49 PART 5 - DEVELOPED DESIGN................................................................................................................................................................63

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PART 1

CONCERNS

THEORETICAL APPROACH AN EXPLORATION OF ARCHITECTURAL RESILIENCE

At the South East of Madrid, the silhouette of a mount rises from the middle of an arid plain

Vallecas and Vilcalvaro are tightly connected to this Mount. It has a cultural and religious

which once used to be agricultural land. Mount Almodovar looks above Madrid from its 726

importance.

meters high, on the border between Vilcalvaro and Vallecas, two districts of Madrid. "Mount Almodovar reaches the highest point in the city, it is the place of ritual,gatherings The whole area is a failed landscape, the image of the devastating effect of the recession,

and celebrations. The mount never missed vines and olives.. The locals and their guests

with vast subdivisions carved out of farmland, in some parts completed with paved roads

from the Villa used to eat tortilla at the famous San Marcos's celebration, they used to

and streetlights but only weeds where houses were supposed to be built. This is a symbol of

dine whilst enjoying the sun and the fresh air with lots of joy and harmony. Today, those

the spanish landscape, where the recession and political disfunction has damaged what once

celebrations are lost..." (local's testimony)

used to be a highly important place not only environmentally,economically but also cultural. This is not a particular case where the human devastating effect is visible. This is a The locals say that in spring it looks green, but in summer goes back to its all year round

generalized global issue, where urban activity and expansion steps over environmet and

appearance: arid brown field. Although protected for its geological and botanical importance,

culture. Integrated World Capitalism’s (IWC) purpose seems to be about making more

the Mount is victim of the lack on interest of the people, from their ignorance and garbage

time – but Guattari asks “for what?” (p.82; n.3) , Global Markets destroy “specific value

and subjugated to harsh activities such as motorcycling or fire.

systems.” (p.20) and "all social relations are controlled by military/industrial processes (a double pincer movement). "

The Mount Almodovar has witnessed thousands of years of history. In 2008 various flinth tools have been discovered dating from 30000 years ago as well as the fossils of a giant turtle

"Once-productive landscapes are turned into industrial wastelands, old factories are torn

from the Tertiary. It has been pierced by man from the Paleolithic to the XIX th century to

down or converted to new uses, working-class neighbourhoods get gentrified. Elsewhere,

extract flint which was used to manufacture weapons. All the stories, legends and traditions of

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small farms and peasant holdings are displaced by large-scale industrialised agriculture or by

In the Spanish culture the olive oil, the gastronomy and culture have always been one.

sleek new factories. Business parks, R&D and wholesale warehousing and distribution centres

The cultivation of olive trees has configured an unique landscape and the interest in

sprawl across the land in the midst of suburban tract housing, linked together with clover-

gastronomy is an entire tradition in itself, a defining word for Spanish identity.

leafed highways. Central cities compete with how tall and glamorous their office towers and iconic cultural buildings might be, mega-shopping malls galore proliferate in city and suburb

Also, Spain is the main produces of olive oil globally and one of the main desertification

alike, some even doubling as airports through which hordes of tourists and business executives

problems in Spain is the extensive overcultivation of olives. On the contrary, Israel has

ceaselessly pass in a world gone cosmopolitan by default. Golf courses and gated communities

shown that olive production could be a solution to desertification, by using a correct,

pioneered in the USA can now be seen in China, Chile and India, contrasting with sprawling

unextensive method: "It's a golden measure. Even though it's agriculture, the area

squatter and self-built settlements officially designated as slums, favelas or barrios pobres."

remains intact." (Agricultural Research Organization. Dr. Zohar Kerem)

(Seventeen contradictions and the end of capitalism) "Intensified olive farming is a major cause of one of the biggest environmental problems In his book 'The three Ecologies', Guattari asks "How do we change mentalities, how do

affecting the EU today: the widespread soil erosion and desertification in Spain, Greece,

we reinvent social practices that would give back to humanity - if it ever had it - a sense of

Italy and Portugal. The expansion of irrigated olive production is increasing the over-

responsibility, not only for its own survival, but equally for the future of all life on the planet, for

exploitation of water resources that have already been eroded by other agricultural

animal and vegetable species, likewise for incorporeal species such as music, the arts, cinema, the

sectors.

relation with time, love and compassion for others, the feeling of fusion at the heart of Cosmos?'

On the other hand, low-input olive farming provides landscape and habitat diversity in many upland areas..."(EU policies for olive farming)

"Now more than ever, nature cannot be separated from culture; in order to comprehend the interactions between eco-systems, the mechanosphere and the social and individual Universes

The projects seeks to marry the cultural experience of olive making with the

of reference, we must learn to think 'transversally'. (pg43)...

gastronomical pleasures it gives. It not only brings together the community through

The Task (of Ecology): should be found to enable the singular, the exceptional and the rare (what

farming, production and recreational events but it seeks to resolve some major

we can call Eco-Art, Eco-Architecture, Eco-Planning, in the sense of existential-art, architecture

environmental concerns through a closed loop system of the entire process.

or planning [oikos – habitat, living]) TO CO-EXIST WITH A STATE (MUNICIPAL; REGIONAL; NATIONAL) STRUCTURE [THAT IS UNDERSTOOD AND OPERATED TO

The idea focuses on a basic principle: what comes from the ground, goes back to the

BE THE LEAST BURDENSOME AS POSSIBLE]. (p.34)

ground. It is a closed cycle. Therefore, the whole concept of the project evolves around the idea of earth, and the attitude towards the user’s behaviour would be of protection

Therefore, this thesis will focus on these three issues:

and harmony with this treasure.

- water scarcity and the danger of desertification as a result of urban expansion and

The challenge of this project would be to find a solution to these issues, by marrying the

poorly managed lands

three: environment, economy and culture into an architectural intervention, a catalyst and a pioneer of change. The main challenge is to change mind sets. Agriculture needs

- economic instability, after the recession “ghost towns” were left behind; the housing

to be seen as an interaction with wider ecosystems – allowing agriculture to be practised

issue and the occupation of space

as a renewable rather than extractive activity. We have the tools and knowledge for smallholder agriculture to play a key role in feeding a growing population in a way that

- the lack of cultural identity, the forgotten traditions under the chaos of an ever

is good for the poor and good for the planet.

moving population

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN WATER SCARCITY AND DESERTIFICATION

“During the 20th century pure climate factors were rarely responsible for desertification in the Mediterranean, because droughts are relatively short. If natural and agricultural ecosystems are affected but not degraded, they will recover easily. Socio-economic disturbances, particularly when they occur combined with climatic fluctuations, should be considered as the main drivers for desertification in the area. They affect water balances and lands degradation ...” (Mendizábel, T., and Puigdefábregas, 2003: 700) “Nature appears today as a source and as a resource: as the source of energies – indispensible, vast, but not unlimited…. The tendency toward the destruction of nature does not flow solely from a brutal technology: it is also precipitated by the economic wish to impose the traits and criteria of interchangeability upon places.” (Lefebvre, 1991: 343). FACT

2/3 os Spain is semi-arid

1/3 of Spain is in immediate danger of desertification

The main reson why Spain is in a moderate to high danger of desertification is the human activity and the incresed urbanisation that has occured before the economical crisis. Thousands of hectares of agricultural land have been developed into housing and infrastructure and lies now empty and dry. Also, principal soil erosion problems are localised in agricultural areas, because of inappropriate farming practices - such as working the soil of marginal areas at the bottom of mountains- over loose material and steep slopes, where European subventions have promoted some crops expansion like olive and almond trees in completely inadequate areas. "About 70% of Spain’s water goes to agriculture, and much of it is wasted through a combination of inefficient irrigation systems and water-thirsty crops unsuitable for the arid climate." (Iceland, 2015) WHY

- the rapid demolition of small holder economy by the industrial farming, tourism and increased

urbanization 88% of the water supply goes into agriculture

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low moderate high not considerable

SITE BACKGROUND

A POST-SPANISH HOUSING-BUBBLE BARRIO

In "The Fall", David Maisel surprizes an "ironically abstract form of landscape documentation". He photographs the outskirts of Madrid, the area Vilcalvaro "where construction was halted after the economic collapse of 2008. The abandoned zones appear like the surreal aftermath of a bombed out city or an alien landing field. This is an interrupted landscape, a geography elaborately and expensively prepared for something that has yet to arrive.â&#x20AC;? (David Maisel, The Fall)

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MADRID

VILCALVARO

MOUNT ALMODOVAR

Due to favorable interest rates and readily available mortgages, Spain experienced a construction boom in the years leading up to 2008. The financial crisis of 2008 caused the real estate bubble to burst, leaving millions of homes and other communities empty.

LA DEHESA

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LOS BERROCALES

LA DEHESA

LOS BERROCALES

PROYECTO DE URBANIZACIÃ&#x201C;N DEL U.Z.P. 2.04 "DESARROLLO DEL ESTE-LOS BERROCALES Urban Plan adopted on 17 April 1997 Total area coverage: 7.81 0.077 m2. No housing approximately: 22,287 The workes freezed after the economical crisis.

Tolsa Sepiolite Mine

The Mount from South-East

From these pictures can be seen the poor situation of the Mount Almodovar, being left for decay. It is a desolate landscape, a battlefield between nature and man. The paths which can be seen all across the mountain are the motorcycle routes, one of the factors which affect the situation of the Mount.

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Pine Forrest at the foot of the Mount

Civil war remains, observatory ruin

Views towards Madrid

Views towards Vallecas

The top of the Mount

View towards Vilcalvaro

SITE BACKGROUND

MOUNT ALMODOVAR'S ASSETS

The locals say that in spring it looks green, but in summer

The reason for choosing this site was its landscape potential, the

goes back to its all year round appearance: arid brown field.

environmental and economical challenges it faces.

Although protected for its geological and botanical importance,

The general striking aspect of the area is the aridity and lack of vegetation, the dead soil which lies empty.

the Mount is victim of the lack on interest of the people, from

This is a symbol of the spanish landscape, where the recession and

their ignorance and garbage and subjugated to harsh activities

political disfunction has damaged what once used to be a highly

The site is highly valuable for Madrid historically, geologically

such as motorcycling or fire.

important place not only environmentally, economically but also

and environmentally.

cultural. The whole area is a failed spanish urban landscape, the image of the devastating effect of the crippling recession, with vast

The challenge of this project would be to find a solution to these issues,

subdivisions carved out of farmland, in some parts completed

by marrying the three: environment, economy and culture into an

with paved roads and streetlights but only weeds where houses

architectural intervention, a catalyst and a pioneer of change.

were supposed to be built.

Asset 5 CULTURAL/RELIGIOUS VALUE Rituals and piligrimage for the Virgin which was Asset 1 LOCATION

discovered inside one of its caves

Station transportation accessible in Vilcalvaro. (10 mins) A3 Motorway from Madrid Asset 4 HISTORICAL VALUE Trances from the Paleolithic, flinth tools have been discovered dating from 30000 years Asset 2 GEOLOGICAL VALUE Mineral mine present on site (sepiolite)

agoy fossils of a giant turtle Bunkers from the Civil War

Asset 3 AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND Asset 2 LAND FORM Background Hill Good landscape value

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Olive tree cultivation in the past

SITE BACKGROUND GEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

Spain is the main worldwide producer of sepiolite and the biggest deposits are located on Mount Almodovar. This natural inert clay with the chemical composition of a hydrated magnesium silicate is reasonably rare. Sepiolite has absorbant proprieties due to its porous particle structure, which gives it a high specific surface area. This translates as an enormous capacity to absorb liquids (up to 250% in water) and it also absorbs odours. One of the main purposes is as animal beds. The mineral, which is mined selectively, undergoes crushing, drying and screening before being packaged in various different formats depending on the product's final destination. Recent studies have shown that sepiolite could be used in agriculture taking advantage of its sorptive proprieteies and its ability of forming stable suspensions. It can be used in soil conditioning, fluid carrier for pregerminated seeds, seed coating, fertilizer suspension. Sepiolite can be easily homogenized with soil and may provide the soil with the required porosity in order to retain water, ions, nutrients, fertilizers etc. Themineral,whichisminedselectively,undergoescrushing,dryingandscreeningbeforebeingpackagedinvariousdifferentformatsdependingontheproduct'sfinaldestination.

SITE BACKGROUND

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE

The Mount Almodovar has witnessed thousands of years of history. In 2008 various

It is no news that a religious image, the Virgin de la Torre (not without reason has

flinth tools have been discovered dating from 30000 years ago as well as the fossils of a

come to be the patron of Villa Vallecas), be adduced as the root cause of rivalries by

giant turtle from the Tertiary. It has been pierced by man from the Paleolithic to the XIX

the two neighbours, and that also has taken the side of one of them.

th century to extract flint which was used to manufacture weapons. Ruins from the the Civil war are located on one of its slopes.

According to a legend, a shepherd, trying to shelter from a storm in a cave on Mount Almodóvar, found a hidden sculpture of the Virgin, which was called

All the stories, legends and traditions of Vallecas and Vilcalvaro are tightly connected to

"from the Tower" . As the place where it was found was located between Vicálvaro

this Mount. It has a cultural and religious importance.

and Vallecas, the two villages started a fight over the sculpture and to come to an end, they decided to make a fire (on the border between the two villages, on top

"Almodovar hill reaches the highest point in the city, it is the place of ritual,gatherings

of the hill. The place to where the smoke will go will loose the virgin and that was

and celebrations. The hill never missed vines and olives.. The locals and their guests

Vilcalvaro. Since then, the villagers were called "the ahumaos" which means the

from the Villa used to eat tortilla at the famous San Marcos's celebration, they used

smoky ones.

to dine whilst enjoying the sun and the fresh air with lots of joy and harmony. Today,

In return, the villagers from Vilcarvaro called the vallecans "Hijos del caballo

those celebrations have been transformed into some very small school parties with little

blanco" which means "children of the white horse".

participation from parents, struggling to give it a more family oriented feel, just like back in the days. ...()

Vallecas used to have farmers and bakers. Vallecas was devoted to bread. The legend says that there was a beautiful woman travelling to Madrid, climbing

We blame the war - but the war ended long time ago. we blame the authorities and

Mount Almodovar with her bags full of bread on a white horse. The bad gossipers

their lack of interest. Today, we are a Barrio with almost no tradition to share with the

from Vallecas, envying the horse and her beauty started the roumor that she

new residents. To have some entertainement, they have to go up to the capital because

understands and loves the horse and they began to call the Vicálvaro locals, "

the cinemas and theaters that we used to have are gone, the district was reduced to a

children of the White Horse".

dormant place.(one of the local’s testimony) But the field, as a symbol of vallecan identity is still far from being erased, and its main exponent is the cult of the Virgin de la Torre, with two pilgrimages, held in May and September, which start from the rural chapel to Church of St. Peter, being also a good pretext to hold a food celebration close to the woodland grounds today. Nothing pictures better the strenght of the tradition than the traffic being stopped on the A3 Motorway. Another feature of the rural character of Vallecas are their confrontations with neighbours, especially the nearest, Vicálvaro, which has generated a number of nicknames and legends.

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Birth of Vallecas

Virgen de la Torre

Nino de Vallecas

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ROMERIA DE LA VIRGEN DE LA TORRE

According to a legend, a shepherd, trying to shelter from a storm in a cave on Mount Almodรณvar, found a hidden sculpture of the Virgin, which was called "from the Tower" .

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PART 2

STRATEGY

LANDSCAPE PROGRAMME IRRIGATION TECHNICS

The design adopts a strategic approach towards the issue of desertification by embracing the assets this site holds such as landform, the presence of a sepiolite mine, the availability of underground water. Irrigation has been practiced since ancient times, and some of the most popular and simple techniques are the use of water channels, water catchment, terracing. This project links theories of landscape architecture and site ecology with hydrology . It builts on the historic and cultural landscapes and cultural form and practices.

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terraces

rain water accumulation pond

irrigation channels

olive plantation

sepiolite mine

OVERALL LANDSCAPE STRATEGY

Mount Almodovar and the surrounding abandoned neighbourhoods at present

Potential future development of Mount Almodovar and the surrounding neighbourhoods with olive plantations and irrigation strategies

LANDSCAPE PHASING DIAGRAM

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THE CLOSED LOOP PROCESS OF OLIVE CULTIVATION THE START OF A RESILIENT COMMUNITY

The project proposes the establishment of a self sufficient community where the main resources would be based on cultivating agriculture and productive landscape.

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The projects seeks to mary the cultural experience of olive making with the gastronomical pleasures it gives. It not only brings together the community through farming, production and recreational events but it seeks to resolve some major environmental concerns through a closed loop system of the entire process. The idea focuses on a basic principle: what comes from the ground, goes back to the ground. It is a closed cycle. Therefore, the whole concept of the project evolves around the idea of earth, and the attitude towards the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behaviour would be of protection and harmony with this treasure.

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PART 3

CONCEPT DESIGN

CONCEPT SKETCHES

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Harvest

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Wash

Grind

Press

Storage

PRECEDENTS

A visit to the biggest olive oil factory in Europe helped me understand the process of olive making. Oliveira da Serra Mill was designed to answer not only the functional production needs of Oliveira da Serra but also to reflect the brand’s attitude and make its way into becoming an Icon for the brand’s cultural and environmental values. The mill was designed in a way that it is as close to the olive trees as possible; it is easy to recognize two different horizontal layers It is both a symbolic and functional building that represents the pinnacle of technology in the service of olive oil quality and design as a way to honour the Portuguese olive grove. The Mill stands as a representation of the Sovena Group’s brands – Oliveira da Serra and Andorinha – with special emphasis on Oliveira da Serra, which is a contemporary brand that believes in creating new ideas from tradition and in the importance of creativity as a means to discover a prosperous future.

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Materiality and appearance

Rammed Earth as a catalyst between the architectural object and the landscape, using the available materials on site and from the surroundings

Desert Living Center Rammed Earth Wall (Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada)

WORKING CONCEPT DESIGN

All the process are separated into main stages and the corresponding spaces. The use of the slope through a continuous succession of stages on a vertical axis which facilitates the gravitational process which results in less energy consumption. The idea responds to the fragmentation of the process and the connection with the landscape and the environment. The views axis separates and orientate the volumes towards the best parts of Madrid. The geometry will allow to read the process, to separate into production stages , beyond the agro-industrial shell. The design will be the result of

- the process

- the separative axes

- the proximity to the different resources

- the features of the terrain

Finding the best orientation protects from the effects of the sun in the production space( such as oil oxidation effect under temperature > 25 Â° ) and that turn allow a coherent connection with the landscape. This will introduce an hermetic character for the industrial areas, especially for the storage facilities where temperature control is highly important. The spaces suggested for storage use where the hidden caves and bunkers inside the mount. The design axis will be the hierarchy and showing of production through fragmented volumes that project into the landscape.

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PART 4

TECTONICS

RAMMED EARTH EXPERIMENT

Rammed earth is an ancient technology that recently has undergone a revival and has become very popular and accessible in many regions. It is specific to hot and arid climates due to its weakness to rain. In Spain is known as tapial. One of the main benefits of rammed earth is the not noctious climates within our buildings and the dramatical improved health environment. It is a natural and sustainable building method which uses natural raw material such as earth, chalk, lime or gravel. The reason for picking this material was to make the building part of the landscape and to intervene within the environment as little as possible. By building within the hill a considerably high quantity of soil would be excavated and by using rammed earth the building would put back the earth and also will give the feeling of a natural geological formation eroded by time.

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS 1. Lay foundation 2. Create mix 3. Place frame and clamps in position 4. Pour mix 5. Ram mix down 6. Repeat 7. Remove clamps

PROS AND CONS - pest proof - noise reduction - fire proof - load bearing - good thermal mass - low cost - healthy and environmentally friendly -recyclable - strong and durable

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TOOLS

tamper

framework

materials

EXPERIMENT 1

EXPERIMENT 1 The first block contained one part sand, two parts gravel and crushed clay and lime. The result was initialy a pomising one as the colour was very light and pleasing. After a longer period of drying it became too dry and started to break easily. The second block contained one part sand, two parts gravel and about 20% cement. The quantity of water was supposed to be as much as to form a compacted ball of the mix but this did not seem to be enough as this second block seemed quite dry too. Despite this, it was more solid than the previous. Also, one of the mistakes I did was using vaseline on the former similar to the plaster process as I was afraid of sticking it to the timebr. This didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t s eem to be an issue and even more, the vaseline gave a very ugly colour to the block. Ultimately, the third block was smaller so the impact of the tamperer was higher which made it more compact than the first two. The conclusions I had from this experiment was that the quantity of water didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sem to be enough and that in combination with the pressure I was applying made it brittle and not very compact. For the next experiment the vaseline would not be used, the size wil be reduced (the width) in order for the the pressure to be higher.

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EXPERIMENT 2

The second experiment was meant to be part of the final model but unfortunately could not resist the moving and collapsed. It was a much better mixture, the texture was a very pleasing one, right what I was trying to achieve. The fact that it had one meter high and 120mm width and no reinforcement made it extremely fragile . In comparison to the previous ones it was much more compacted as the pressure was better but the quantity of cement and water could probably helped to be higher.

THE REMAINING STONES FROM EXPERIMENT 2

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FINAL MODEL

The model firstly explores the textures and the materiality of the building and secondly it looks at one of the most interesting aspects of the design: the roof structure with the skylights which run all across the lenght of the building creating an interesting play of shadows and breaking the hermetic aspect of the rammed walls. In order to resist the loads of the glulam joists the rammed earth wall would have to be reinforced by integrating steel columns which could not be achieved in this model as the sizes were not enough to be able to ram around the columns. To give the required strength a higher quantity of cement was used at a ration of 1 cement/2 sands/1 aggregate and the content was highly more moist than the previous two tests.

STRUCTURE - 600 mm reinforced rammed earth - The roof structure is as follows: - 50mm gravel - 60mm insulation - sealant layer - 19mm plywood panel - 76mm/1.5mm sheet corrugated metal - 60mm insulation - vapour barrier - 90/260 mm wood beam - 300/800mm glulam beam @ 1200 centers

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ROOF STRUCTURE AND SKYLIGHT

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LIGHT STUDY

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PART 5

DEVELOPED DESIGN

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SITE PLAN

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All the process are separated into main stages and the corresponding spaces. The use of the slope through a

Legend

continuous succession of stages on a vertical axis which facilitates the gravitational process which results in less energy consumption.

1.Olive Reception: selection, wash 2. Grinding /Mashing/Pressing 3. Tank storing 4. Bottleling 5. Olive waste storage 6. Back of house facilities 7. Dining Hall 8. Arrival Plaza/Forum 9. Cave entrance/ water fountain and ritual

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SECTION BB

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SECTION CC

Housing Pods The community housing is formed by individual pods, able to accommodate a family of two. It is a modest accommodation formed of a room and a bathroom, a fully glazed space which has a tight connection to the landscape. The pods are spread in a satellite arrangement within the landscape.

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Balcony

Dining

Bathroom

Sleeping Area Entrance

Floor Plan

Exploded axonometry. Timber frame construction

Interior View

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Interior View

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Outside view of housing pods

THE SACRED JOURNEY AND THE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN TWO BARRIOS La Romeria de la Virgen de la Torre” is a journey between Vallecas“ and Vilcalvaro. It is a celebration of the holly statue found in the Mount Almodovar and a harmonious compromise between the .two barrios

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MOUNT ALMODOVAR RITUAL PHASES Mount Almodovar lies half way through the distance between the two churches and is the place where the statues was found. It is the resting point between the two locations and a sacred place. the second destination of this pilgrimage, it should be celebrated at its full potential

Legend - The five phases of the Ritual 1.Arrival 2. Ritual 3. Recovery 4. Discovery 5. Descending to the Ermita

1. ARRIVAL The pilgrim enters El Torre Almodovar from the superior side of the hill, he descend to the forum where the first part of the ritual begins. Everyone gathers in the forum and the priests would start the ceremony.

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2.RITUAL Pilgrims will then make their way to the entrance of the cave and rest the statue of the Virgin on its stones. They will perform prayers and meditate at the sound of water. They will be anointed with olive oil. In seek for further silence they will enter the cave and will let themselves swallowed by darkness and peace. The limited rays of light which penetrate the hermetically enclosed space will bring hope and enlightenment.

3. RECOVERY After the rituals are performed, the pilgrims will have the opportunity to recover their strength. The Mount’s community prepares a meal as a symbol of gratitude towards the pilgrims efforts and they will serve olives and bread and the famous “perrunillas de Tejeda” and ponche. Food will be served inside the dining hall or outside in the sun.

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4. DISCOVERY Entering the world of olive oil , discovering how this magical liquid has led man through history, first mentioned in the Bible as Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peace symbol to the wealth connotation of the greek mythology. A tour of the olive oil factory will be a celebration and an interesting experience.

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5. DESCENDING TO THE ERMITA As soon as the sun sets, pilgrims will continue their journey to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Torre located in Vilcalvaro where they will leave the statue of the virgin until the first Sunday of September when they will return to perform the rituals and move the virgin back to Vallecas. They will descend through the infinite stairs, another important part of this refectory journey.

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Factory Interior

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Interior views from the dining hall, the meeting place where the community eats and plan their day, celebrates and socialize. The olive oil tasting takes place at the entrance.

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PHYSICAL MODEL

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