Re( con )notations - The Edge of Chaos

Re( CON )NOTATIONS

THE EDGE OF CHAOS

A thesis by Oskar Victor

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Complex systems tend to locate themselves at a place we call ‘the edge of chaos.’ We imagine the edge of chaos as a place where there is enough innovation to keep a living system vibrant, and enough stability to keep it from collapsing into anarchy. It is a zone of conflict and upheaval, where the old and the new are constantly at war.

- Michael Crichton, “The Lost World”

Re( con )notations

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look around the world: contemplate the whole and every part of it: you will find it to be nothing but one great machine, subdivided into an infinite number of lesser machines, which again admit of subdivisions to a degree beyond what human senses and faculties can trace and explain. All these various machines, and even their most minute parts, are adjusted to each other with an accuracy which ravishes into admiration all men who have ever contemplated them.

- David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779)

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Re(con)notations / The Edge of Chaos tackles New Zealand’s largest port by volume: the port of Tauranga. This thesis explores how an allegorical architectural project can cultivate a machine aesthetic to harmonize an industrial chaotic space of layered alternative typologies that can transform depending on shifts in the economic climate.

Layering will be used by investigating how alternative architectural typologies can harmoniously coexist.

Typically, urban architecture expands outward; however, this thesis will treat the site like a palimpsest, allowing the layering of residential and commercial architecture to appear industrial. In order to achieve this, the architecture will be developed as an allegory to convey the contextual machine aesthetic around itself, additionally by embracing the vast area

as an ever-changing dynamic zone.

The architectural interventions can seamlessly adapt with relevance to the economic climate. Moving into or out of the industrial zone will provide more or less residential or commercial buildings.

This design-led research investigation proposes to explore the design of an allegorical architecture. Penelope Haralambidou describes the allegorical architectural project as a critical method for architectural design research; it draws from design disciplines outside the field of architecture to inform new ideas about architectural design. The principal aim of this research thesis is to investigate how an allegorical architectural project can be used as a critical method to enhance the understanding of a site within an industrial zone by allowing residential and commercial centres to enter the site whilst maintaining the functionality of the industrial zone.

The thesis title for this allegorical architectural project draws inspiration from Michael Crichton’s novel “The Lost World.” He writes, “Too much change is as destructive as too little.

Only at the edge of chaos can complex system flourish.” The textual deconstruction of ‘Re(con)notations’ means three things. Firstly, the exploration to gain information, a reconnaissance.

Secondly, the underlying meanings of the project and notations. The term “Con” has been struck through, symbolizing that the port, once a negative space, is now imperceptible.

The Edge of Chaos

ABSTRACT

The Tauranga region is marked by an industrial scar, dividing its landscape between the bustling, fast-paced city of Tauranga and the slower residential relaxation hotspot, Mount Maunganui. The once vibrant softscape-created waterfront haven for animals, nature and residence has been transformed into a chaotic hardscape, leaving the waterfront inaccessible to the public. This research contends that the conventional typology of industrial ports is diminishing in the face of changing economic dynamics.

The demeaning need for vast industrial port spaces starkly contrasts with the escalating demand for residential housing.

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Fig. 0.2 Tauranga Harbour, 2023 by Author

Compiled imagery from my thesis research

The Edge of Chaos

IMAGERY

01:

1.0

(RE)CONSTRUCTED MACHINES CONCEPT DESIGN : PHYSICAL MODELS (PART 1) Initial physical model showcasing the thought process behind finding machines and interpreting them as architectural interventions rather than just standard machine parts.

This model explores seven machine parts which have been placed on a piece of wood from Tauranga port. The concrete plinths are then placed into the wooden establishing them as architectural interventions in Tauranga port.

Public Space

Residential

South Mount Maunganui Logging / Forestry

Sulpher Point

Container Shipping

THE SITE

North Mount Maunganui

2.0

Oil / Petrolium

(In)dustial Z0ne

2.1 MACHINE TYPOLOGIES OIL AND PETROLIUM IMPORTS

Y Fig. 2.5.1 “Oil and Petrolium Import” 2023 by Author

2.2 MACHINE TYPOLOGIES FORESTRY AND LOGGING EXPORTS

X Fig. 2.5.2 “Forestry and Logging Exports ” 2023 by Author

2.3 MACHINE TYPOLOGIES CONTAINER SHIPPING

Z Fig. 2.5.3 “Container Shipping Imports and Exports ” 2023 by Author

3.1

PALIMPSESTS LANDSCAPE Each of the three tools have been scatted across the landscape grid to create a palimpsests layer which becomes the base of where the architectural interventions sit.

Duality Line of separatio alternative machines

LINE OF DUALITY

X

Fig. 4.4.1 “Forestry Landscape” by Author

Fig. 4.4.1 “Petrolium Landsca

Critical reflection; Although the scale of the landscape has been enhanced for the model it allows the reader to visualize the landscapes and view the alternative differences between the two.

on between the s typologies.

LINE OF DUALITY

LI TY

Z

LINE OF DU A

Y

ape” by Author

Fig. 4.4.1 “Container Landscape” by Author

4.1

4.2

Local Site Narrative

Transportation Movement

4.3

Machine T

Typologies

4.0

THE SITE : PHYSICAL MODEL Section 4.1 explores site conditions looking purely at the two alternative sides of Tauranga harbour. The East side of the port or the Mount Maunganui side primarily exports logs, being regonised as the destroyer of the garden of eden. Additionally the bottom of the east side also imports oil and the top allows space for larger cruise ships to doc. The west side or Sulpher Point provides only shipping through containers. Primarily exporting dairy and fruit whilst importing goods from all around the world.

4.4

4.5

Palimpsest

Preliminary Design

5.0

DIDACTIC ARCHITECTURE : DECONSTRUCTION OF THE MACHINE Section 6.0 aims to develop concept models through deconstructing machine parts. This will attempt to start creating didactic architecture through the typologies found on the site. Establishing a harmonious relationship between residential and commercial architecture on the Edge of Chaos.

Taurnaga port’s three primary sections of the port. The Mount Maunganui side of the port primary ships logging and forestry exports. To the south of the site oil and petroleum is imported and stored. Sulpher point handles only shipping containers. Which are either imported or exported.

This “tool box” holds place for toys. Many toys which can be used to develop and building more toys. Toys which can be used to merge the gap between standard architecture and industrial architecture.

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“Everywhere it is machines—real ones, not figurative ones: machines driving other machines, machines being driven by other machines, with all the necessary couplings and connections.” – 1

- Gilles Deleuze and Guattari Félix, Anti-Oedipus, “Capitalism and Schizophrenia”, 1977.

5.1 OIL AND PETROLIUM DRAW

OF.01

Machine parts fragmented and amalgamated together to create a series of machine typologies which reflect the process of oil pumping, refining and transporting. The machines act as didactic architecture informing the participant how the oil system operates.

OIL FRAGMENTS

OF.04

OF.03

OF.02

18/07/2023

5.2 FORESTRY AND LOGGING DRAW

FF.01

Machine parts fragmented and amalgamated together to create a series of machine typologies which reflect the process of forestry and the destruction of Eden. The machines act as didactic architecture informing the participant how forestry operates.

FORESTRY FRAGMENTS

FF.04

FF.03

FF.02

18/07/2023

5.3 CONTAINER SHIPPING DRAW

CSF.01

Machine parts fragmented and amalgamated together to create a series of machine typologies which reflect the process of container shipping. The machines act as didactic architecture informing the participant how container shipping operates.

CONTAINER SHIPPING FRAGMENTS

CSF.04

CSF.03

CSF.02

18/07/2023

5.4

(RE)CONSTRUCTED TOY BOX Built from the tools themselves toys are created. The toys begin to start being situated together.

Critical reflection; At this point the architecture although demonstrates at a didactic level how the architecture operates it isn’t situated onto the site. To do so a further investigation of how these toys can start to be combined and manipulated between the sites boundaries. “The duality” section that lies between the two alternative typologies.

6.1 CONCEPT DESIGN LOCATION ‘D’ AUTHOR.

METERS

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LINE OF DUALITY

ELEVATION 01

RE-PURPOSED MACHINES LINE OF DUALITY

ELEVATION 01

Didactic sentinels and guardians of the Taurnaga Port.

6.0

(RE)IMAGINING MACHINES As stated in previous reflections scale has been a large problem. With the port spanning five separate models in five different regions of the port. The aim of each of the five models is to replicate a process that occurs within the region or the fundamental site conditions. Therefore establishing a didactic architecture that allows users to learn about the micro scale of the port. And view the changes from section to section within the port.

This change is also shown within the architecture itself whereby as the building crosses the duality zone between one port typology to the next the buildings showcase several of the duality acts. Furthering the users perception and understanding of the port space.

Location A:

Location B:

Location C:

Location D:

Location E:

Each building additionally is framed by the one before and after it creating a link between the five buildings. Establishing a gateway of guardians and sentinels into the port of Tauranga.

7.0

(RE)PURPOSING MACHINES

(Re)purposed machines in the chipping container environment capable of inhabiting people.