Studio Remoteness The New Hermit
Remoteness The New Hermit
MA_Arch Studio remoteness Studio Master Thesis 2014 - 2015 Prof. Arch. Joris Fach Assistant Prof. Arch. Ignacio B贸scolo Prof. Arch. Roger Bundschuh Student: Anna Trentin
Studio abstract By Joris Fach
Every now and then, we all need a break. To unwind from the bustling city, people flock towards weekend homes, seaside cabins, cottages, or alpine refuges. And while the urban and prosperous parts of the European continent keep being densified and suburbanized, some of its rather remote regions are returning to the wild. This studio sets out to design recreational places within these abandoned and forgotten places. However, other than simply building new retreats in untouched landscapes, we will identify existing and neglected architectures as anchors for our projects. We will measure them and analyze the specific materials, as well as architectural details that characterize them. Equally important will be their setting. Especially in Europe, scarcely populated regions are often natural reserves of one kind or another. We will evaluate the sensitivity of these environments and define touristic potentials and compatible programs accordingly. With little industry, oftentimes crumbling infrastructure, and the young moving away, many remote regions turn to tourism as an important source of income. We will thus – on a larger scale - look into the economics of various forms of tourism and their repercussion with the preservation of natural environments. We will explore appropriate modes of access, required levels of comfort, and degrees of maintenance. We will also think through the difficult logistics of building in remote locations, from the sourcing and delivery of materials to their assembly on site. 4
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The new hermit By Anna Trentin
In the globalized society of today we are full of commitments and obligations and we are always connected with the surrounding world.. we live in a time in which it is harder and harder to carve out our own space. but what would happen if we made a step back? What would happen if we focus on ourselves, on what is essential? With the advent of industrialization many and many people were forced to move to the nearby cities looking for a job. This caused a continuous depopulation of the countryside. In the case of my intervention, in fact, I decided to analyse the village of Piola Valley located on the mountain chain of the Apennines in central Italy, more precisely in Abruzzo region. Because of its isolated position in fact, Piola valley was one of the many centers that were affected by this migration, taking it to a complete state of abandonment around the second half of the 900th. Not only this village but the entire surrounding area is characterized by a low population density and by a strong presence of a vast forest. It is actually for the same reason that caused the turn off of Piola valley in the past, because of its unfavourable position, that is going to be interesting for the purposes of my thesis. With my intervention I aim to bring back to life this center through the establishment of several facilities for tourism purposes. Located in the middle of the Apennines, the site offers the possibility of direct contact with nature. My goal is to create a space in which a person can get to achieve a state of relieving solitude, (among other things) but not only. Thanks to the absence of standard daily comfort, it forces you to focus on the essential. 6
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Content
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1. remoteness as solitude
p.10
2. program
p.38
3. site
p.50
4. proposal
p.74
Apendix _ Personal object
p.123
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Remoteness as solitude
Anna Trentin
Remoteness in the case of this project is related with solitude. Since the beginning of this project my thoughts went to places that got abandoned or that are frequented by people in different ways one time of the day to another. Many times people mistake solitude with loneliness, even though they are 2 different things, almost opposite. The decision was to first analyse how solitude differs from loneliness And to concentrate then on people that made of solitude a way of life. 10
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The collages that I produced at the beginning of this course are related with the places that have hosted my escapes and some places that give me the same feeling of recollection whenever I find myself. The first image in particular shows the landscape, the nature that surrounds my house in Italy, places where I used to take refuge and a church. The inside of a church, maybe for its silence or maybe for the emptiness, it sends me the same feeling of remoteness. 12
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In this isecond collage I wanted to join some places that give me the same feeling of recollection that I mentioned before. Places like the Central Station of Milan, Piazza San Marco in Venice and the inside of a church. Places that only in the special and short time in which they are completely empty have for me an emotional value. 14
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Affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone. Remote from places of human habitation. Desolate.
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Lonliness
The state of being or living alone; seclusion. Remoteness from habitations, as of a place. Absence of human activity, a lonely, unfrequented place.
Solitude
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“Hermits were not people often on my mind and hermitages had never occurred to me as a possible vacation destination. If you had asked me several months ago what I knew about hermits, I would have dipped into a limited trove of literary and cinematic examples”
The choice here was to analyze people that have made of solitude their way of life, people like Hermits. It includes not only being monos, meaning “alone” as usually believed, but rather a sense of unification, the search for a unity of the person with life. We could also say that the hermit, who, apparently, is “withdraw from the world”, it is actually a “symbolic” being.
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Study case
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Sadhus are struggling to change the perception of the real world, reprogram their mind, break through the “veil of illusion� to experience the great reality that lies beyond. The waiver is the basic requirement of life of Sadhu.
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The vow of poverty allows him to possess only the bare minimum for survival and some objects of ritual use. They do not work, they do not produce, their survival depends on the offerings of the devotees. Minimalism is a must.
Hindu hermits
These people are prepared to isolation.They Close themselves up in a cell, a closet built in a secluded place, mostly clinging to a rock over a sheer drop, where just do not pass anyone. There they spend in prayer and meditation three years,
three months and three days. When the isolation period ends, the hermit who comes out of his cell is celebrated and revered by the people. Some choose to remain there for the rest of their life.�
Buddhist hermits
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The choice of the hermit Christian is in the majority Often they retire in hermitages with other monks, pracof cases to escape from society to get away from the ticing always the life of a hermit in their cell, except for crowd that has disappointed them and which they do the liturgy and works inside the monastery. not feel to be part of.
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Religious hermits
Thousand misadventures after his arrival in Australia, the loss of the woman he loved, the loss of large sums of money and work. Over the years, Ricetti turned his home into a rocky Aladdin’s cave of wonders.
He carved a chapel and a kitchen in the rock and built stone walls, stone stairs, tanks for water supply and even a landscaped garden. He earned enough money to go back to Italy and after that has never been back in Australia.
Valerio Ricetti
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The only thing he said was that “He was not well satisfied with the world and its trends”. He normally accepted visitors to his hermitage and even performed for them on his violin. He appeared at numerous sportsmen’s shows.
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All of his journals were cracked some 25 years after his death. In 1950, the New York State closed the Cold River area to the public, forcing Rondeau from his home at age 67. He didn’t return to a hermit’s life.
Noah John Rondeau
He had been committed to a mental hospital in Morganton by his family, after his wife left him. He escaped and moved to an abandoned World War 2 bunker. Harrill was far from isolated, and in fact had many visitors every year.
In the 1960s he was the second most popular ‘tourist’ attraction in the state of North Carolina. Harrill planted a vegetable garden to supplement his diet. Visitors provided him with monetary donations. Harrill died under “mysterious” circumstances in June 1972.
Robert Harrill
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At the age of 70, he erected a hut there but would remain in the park until his death. He had no running water or electricity and cooked his food from a camping stove. His property consisted of a grill, skillet, trunk, and shelving for canned foods.
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His source of water was a cistern to catch rain. Darwin grewa garden and raised rabbits, selling much of his produce every two weeks at the city market. Even so, in advanced age he complained that “it’s not like it used to be.
Arthur Leslie Darwin
Before the start of World War II, in which her home island was ravaged repeatedly, Achladioti sailed with her husband and mother to the nearby deserted island of Ro. Here they lived off of a few goats, chickens, and a garden.
Achladioti remained alone on the island for another 40 years after the other 2 died, earning the nickname The Lady of Ro. Death on May 13, 1982 at the age of 92.
Despina Achladioti
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After a very bad illness, he decided to devote the rest of his life to the strength and health of his body. He was an amateur naturalist who lived alone for nearly thirty years in the mountains of Alaska in a log cabin he had constructed by hands.
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Proenneke hunted, fished, raised and gathered his own food, and also had supplies flown in occasionally. He documented his activities in journals and on video. In 1999, at age 82, Proenneke returned to civilization.
Richard Proenneke
The exact date that Kitchener took up isolation is uncer- In 2003, after some of his friends went to get medical tain, nor it is known why he choose to stay there. It is help against his will, Kitchener fled back to the woods. likely that he originally began his dwelling to elude cap- His remains were found on 27 June 2004. ture and punishment for his desertion on II World War.
Willard Kitchener Macdonald
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Which reason pushed them to become hermits? As hermits, which caracteristics do their lives have? Did they ever go back to the society they lived in?
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one thing that interested me the most reguarding the life this hermits were (conducevano) in that not knowing each others, they all had some things in common.
Each of them was led to a life as a hermit due to some strong facts that happened in their lives. In some cases the cause of this drastic decision was the loss of their beloved. For others a big disappointment by their relatives. In one case in Particular strong disappointment reguarding some decisions made by the society of that time.
Each of them was having a daily journal
To survive, some practiced self-sufficiency, some other were selling goods that they produced to the nearest market. In the case of few analised hermits, they Became proper tourist attractions and often received money from visitors. Each of them was growing it’s own garden and (allevare) few animals
In several cases they were having a personal hobby
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Nature Relationships
Work Playing an instrument
Growing a garden
Money
Family Daily journal
Having animals Obligations
A brief analysis of the life that many of us lead nowadays shows which are the major causes of stress. Often caused by the relationships we are required to have (due to our job or not) with other people. 34
Everyday causes of stress
It has been prooved as small changes in one’s life can favor the reduction of the stress of every day. Few activities, often simple to do, helps the relaxation.
Things that releaf from stress
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Hormon Cortisol
Simpathetic nerve activity
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69 %
65 %
61 %
57 %
56 %
52 %
51 %
Money
Work
The Economy
Family Obligations
Relationships
Family Health
Personal Health
Main sources of stress caused by daily life
- 12,4 %
-7%
Heart rate
- 5,8%
Blod pressure
- 1,4 %
Effects produced by nature on people
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programm
Anna Trentin
After a look at the various causes of stress that affect our daily lives. After the analysis on hermits, at those people who have decided to make an unusual change to their life. With my intervention I try to create a space in which a person can reach a state of solitude and thanks to the essential minimalism of the space at its disposal can relax enjoying the location. Designed for a temporary residence for people who want to experience a self-sufficiency life far from society and city life. Here they can test their skills, they can prove themselves to be able to give up everything, to be able to cope with their forces. 38
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Standardiszed Bathroom
Facilities provided
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Standardiszed Livingroom
Facilities provided
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Standardiszed Kitchen
Facilities provided
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Leeks Radicchio Radishes Celery Spinach Pumpkins Zucchini
Asparagus Swiss chard Broccoli Artichokes Thistles Carrotes Cauliflower
Salads Eggplant Potatoes Pepperoni Peas Tomatoes Porcini
Cabbage Cucumbers Chicory Onions Green beans Fave Fennel
Pears Peaches Currant Plums Grapes
Apricots Watermelons Oranges Persimmon Cherries
Clementines Apples Blueberries Cranberries Melons
Figs Strawberries Kiwi Raspberries Lemons
A dynamic space that provides for the presence of seasonal plants and ever-green plants. To enjoy the change of seasons and the various cultures related to them. 46
Garden
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What would they need in term of spaces
What would they need
food 2 times a day 0,5 Kg of hay
water
food 2 times a day ammount of 100/300 gr
water
What would they produce and when
5-7 Kg of wool every year
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(starting from jenuary or february) 1 Kg of milk every day, possible length of time is 8 months
Animals
1 egg every day
average of 1 Kg of meat each animal
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site
Anna Trentin
Referring back to my idea of remoteness explained in the first chapter, I decided to consider reusing an old abandoned rural church. My researches immediately focused on the state of Italy , being a place with a strong Catholic culture, it offers a rich vastness of religious architectures. The canons used in Searching the rural church, were two. First thing, the distance from the surrounding towns as the remoteness in the case of my thesis refers to solitude. Second thing, the amount of people and nature surrounding the church. Through this research I got to the choice of Valle Piola and its chapel of St. Nicholas as project site. 50
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Site
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1 St. Martin chapel 2 Madonna delle vigne 3 Chapel of Annunziata 4 Chapel di St. Leonard 5 Nargli chapel 6 Chapel of St. Burzio 7 Chapel of Piola 8 Chapel of St. Elena 9 St. Nicholas chapel
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Potential locations
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Inhabitants by Kmq 50 - 100 100 - 150 150 - 300 300 - 1000
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Population Density
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5 min
10 min Gattico 3369 inhab
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Saint Martin chapel
Trino 7372 inhab
Madonna delle vigne
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4 min
5 min Prata 59 inhab
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Chapel of Annunziata
Aquilea 154 inhab
Chapel di St. Leonard
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20 min
5 min Strove 184 inhab
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Nargli chapel
Magliano 3639 inhab
Chapel of St. Burzio
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1 min
13 min
Lotzorai 2185 inhab
4 min
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Chapel of St. Elena
Stilo 2665 inhab
St. Nicholas chapel
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45 min Poggio valle 31 inhab
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Chapel of Piola
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Piola valley Poggio valle 31 people; distance of 3.5 Km Pastignano 21 people; distance of 6 Km Ioanella 25 people; distance of 10 Km 68
Piola Valley and sorroundings
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Way to Piola valley
View along the way
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Piola Valley
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proposal
Anna Trentin, Italy
As I got to deal with a medieval village totally abandoned of course I had to have something to do with the pre existing structures. The site includes 13 abandoned houses, some still in good condition, others partially collapsed in a state of ruin. In my intervention I did not want to spoil the view of these magnificent ruins. I thought of a way of being able to create a space suitable for the temporary accommodation, with various services that the structure needs without damaging the landscape. The tecnic I used was therefore of a box in a box. For each structure built and for each intervention realized I earnmark to a space occupied by an existing building. So I placed all my intervention within the existing buildings. The result is to be able to get all the services you need to stay on site by reusing existing spaces without touching them. 74
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Piola Valley top view
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Private rooms
Bathroom
Common area
Animals
Kitchen Storage
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Greenhouse
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Site plan scale 1:400
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Site plan scale 1:400
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Section
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Section
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Private hut scale 1:100
Section scale 1: 100
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Perspective section of the private hut scale 1:100
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Church scale 1:100
Section scale 1:100
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Perspective section of the church scale 1:100
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Pool room scale 1:100
Section scale 1:100
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Perspective section of the bath room scale 1:100
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Composting scale 1:100
Section scale 1:100
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Perspective section of the composting scale 1:100
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Kitchen scale 1:100
Section scale 1:100
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Storage scale 1:150
Section scale 1:100
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Chicken coop scale 1:100
Section scale 1:150
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Barn for sheep Scale 1:100
Section scale 1:100
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Greenhouse scale 1:100
Section scale 1:100
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Perspective section of the greenhouse scale 1:100
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Construction Particular of the Private Hut scale 1:10
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I Dessau International Architecture School Anhalt University Department 3 Š 2012