COUNTRYSIDE [OUTSIDE] ARCHITECTURE MArch Modular Pathway 2020-2021 Vlad Bucsoiu / S1890926 Studio Leaders: Chris French & Michael Lewis
CONTESTING ‘COUNTRYSIDING’ The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma Studio B May 2021
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CONTESTING ‘COUNTRYSIDING’
CONTENTS
‘Countrysiding’1 - , a “funnelling” of “populations into the countryside of the mind”, a “flatland of the imagination.”
This document has been organised in order to support the reading of this project. It supplements the design report document to create a better understanding of the thesis and the work presented. The design report document offers a thetic understanding of the thesis, as well as an argumentation regarding the technical, environmental and other design decisions, whereas this folio builds a further documentation of the architectural project. The work has veen divided as follows:
> [1:100]Exploded Axonometric View: Structural and Environmental strategies > View from the weaving workshop >[1:200]North-South Section through the school, weaving workshop and lower platforms >[1:200]The Writer’s Space | The Summer temporary Agriculture Workshop > [1:200]The Writer’s Space | Winter
‘Garcini’ Field Station / Site Survey.............................................3
The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma “The truth is that, in the days of yore, the Gypsies had a country. Now they keep searching for it in vain, the wheels of their wagons wearing ruts in the road as they travel them back and forth, looking for a hidden spot of earth somewhere under an out-of-the-way patch of sky. Only in their souls does the hope still exist that one day they will find their country. Then they will gather together from the farthest corners of the world where they have been scattered, and they will never leave it again.”2 Surrounded by hills, mountains and valleys, Garcini is a Roma settlement on the outskirts of Brasov. Despite its proximity to the city, and a traditional neighbouring village, the Garcini settlement is neglected and isolated, socially as well as physically. The Roma community is outside any urban or rural development frameworks. This is, as Troy Conrad Therrien would term it, an example of countrysiding, a “funnelling” of “populations into the countryside of the mind,” a “flatland of the imagination.” The myth of nomadism surrounding the Roma — as Luminita Mihai Cioaba suggests, their migration actually began with an exile – exacerbates this countrysiding. Some Roma are still travellers, others are migratory but only travel small distances and return to the village, while yet more are now sedentary. CONTESTING ‘COUNTRYSIDING’ develops new relationships between the settlement, the village and the city, and locates an opportunity for the Roma to settle on stable ground, potentially finding their ‘lost country’.
1.Troy Conrad Therrien, “Along for the Ride,” in Countryside, A Report (New York: Taschen, 2020), 14. 2.Cioaba, Luminita Mihai. 2002. The Lost Country. Translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Cristina Cristea. Social-Cultural Foundation of Roma „ION CIOABA”.
In their day-to-day operations, the Roma of Garcini create myriad movement patterns across the landscape, influenced by seasonal weather and the need for work. Their way of living generates a specific morphological figure: a dense and irregular arrangement of fixed houses surrounded by solid, tall fences, combined with other areas of temporary and poorly constructed shelters, lacking any boundary between plots. These shelters, coupled with the changing weather conditions, make this a difficult environment in which to live. The ground shifts from frozen in the winter, to marshy in the summer. The makeshift constructions and the constant presence of water leaves many shelters at risk of regular flooding during the summer, and at the same time, does not prevent them becoming filled with snow during winter. The architectural proposal is aware of the fragile social and environmental landscape of Garcini and its unstable conditions. It explores the movements within this territory (Roma, goods, animals, water, ground), and develops an architecture that intersects with the muddy/ frozen ground between the village and the Roma settlement. It takes the craft practices for which the Roma were celebrated and provides an opportunity for these practices to be passed on. Workshops for making, farming, recycling, and spaces for gatherings and social events offer the Roma a place of their own and at the same time, reinforce the dialogue between the Roma and other local urban communities.
>[1:5000] Urban Scale Map [1:500] Village Map >FSR01 Village Site Plan >Field Station Layout and Materiality >Village Site Plan and Section >[1:500] Site Location
Drawing Animations..........................8
Contesting Countrysiding / A retreat for winter.........................31 >[-20m Bellow the Ground Floor] View from the lower end of the hill towards the workshop >[1:100] Exploded Axonometry | Ground and First Floor Structural and Environmental Strategies >[1:100] Ground Floor Plan | Summer Food Market >View from the first floor | The school >[1:100]Exploded Axo | Ground and First Floors Structural and Environmental Strategies >[1:100] First Floor | The School >A retreat for the winter between the diaphragm walls >[1:100] The Writer’s Space | First Floor >[1:20] Section through the Writer’s Space > [1:20] Section through the Writer’s Space
>Landscape Tracing Drawings Folding / Unfolding Paper Model >Compression of the Conceptual Design with the landscape territories
Contesting Countrysiding / The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma............10
>[+50M above ground floor]Aerial View from the South-Western Hills >[1:200]Long North-South Section >[1:500]Site Plan >’The Core Sample’ >[1:200]Ground Floor | First Floor Plans >[+50M above ground floor]Aerial View from the Western Hills > [1:200] North-South Section through the Exhibition-space and Winter Storage >[1:200]Workshop/Gardens Floor Plan >[1:200]North-South Section through the celebration space above the crops garden > Frontal Perspective | View of the Southern Facade
Access the Full HD version of my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4mxeyXWcw&ab_channel=VladBucsoiu
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[1:5000] Urban Scale Map | ‘Garcini’ Village, the Main City ‘Brasov’ and the Surroundings 0
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Contesting Countrysiding ‘Garcini’ Village: Location and Context
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Despite its proximity to the city, and a traditional neighbouring village, the Garcini settlement is neglected and isolated, socially as well as physically. The Roma community is outside any urban or rural development frameworks.
1.Garcinia village 2.City peripheries / Traditional Countryside 3.The main City of Brasov 4.Touristic Ski Resort
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Contesting Countrysiding ‘Garcini’ Village: Village Site Plan | Layers of the Roma Village | FSR01
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[1:1000] ‘Garcini’ Village | Housing Density
[1:1000] ‘Garcini’ Village | Houses vs Plots
[1:1000] ‘Garcini’ Village | Plot Density
[1:1000] ‘Garcini’ Village | Plot Figural Morphology
‘Genius Loci’ / Village Imaginary
Material Deconstruction of the Dense Arrangement
Contesting Countrysiding Unwrapping the Roma Village: Village Layout and Materiality The drawings illustrate the layout of multiple elements of the village: houses, plots, temporary shelters and flooded affected areas. The plans and sections show how the populous is distributed in contrast to a regular grid and the rudimentary materials used by the Roma to build up their shelters.
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[1:1000] ‘Garcini’ Village | Site
Contesting Countrysiding Existing Morphological Sections | Village Topography
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1.Neighbouring Traditional Village 2.Northern Hill / Extremity of the village 3.Small River 4.’Garcini’ Village 5.Southern End of the village
1.North-Eastern Hill / Extremity of the village 2.Main River 3.The Village 4.South-Western Hill / Extremity of the Village
1.Northern Hill / Extremity of the village 2.Small River 3.The Village 4.South-Western Hill / Extremity of the Village
1.North-Eastern Hill / Extremity of the village 2.Main River 3.The Village 4.South-Western Hill / Extremity of the Village
1.Western Hill / Extremity of the village 2.The Village 3.South-Western Hill / Extremity of the Village
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Contesting Countrysiding
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[1:500] Site Location: Site Plan The proposal is located on the hill at the Northern end of the village. The small river that crosses the drawing above defines a small boundary between the hill and the village.
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Contesting Countrysiding Drawing Animation: An iterative process of tracing, cutting, folding and unfolding over different landscapes at different scales, seeking to develop the first moves towards an architectural language.
Traces of Movement across vast territories 8
Contesting Countrysiding
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Compression of the conceptual design with the animated drawings: A process of compressing and overlaying plans and elevations, plans and forms, forms and culture, details and forms. Indicative moves for interventions in the existing site
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [+50m above Ground Floor] Aerial View from the South-Western Hills: The proposal is witnessing the arrival of the Roma travellers during the spring months, who are celebrating the snowmelt by burning various items and planting crops on the hillside. These are combined with specific weather conditions, such as fog and rain.
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:200] Long North-South Section
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:500] Site Plan 1.Ground Floor Summer Food Market 2.First Floor Summer School 3.Semi-Outdoor Space 4.The Writer’s Space 5.First Floor Bridge 6.Public/Truck Arriving Area
7.Permanent Summer Workshop 8.Temporary Summer Workshop 9.Summer Crop Preparation / Washing Area 10.Marshy / Arable Land 11.River 12.’Garcini’ Village 13. Romanian Traditional Village
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:100] ‘The Core Sample’
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[1:200] First Floor Plan 1.Classroom 2.Auditorium / Recreational stairs 3.Public Washroom / Toilet 4.Bridges 5.Semi-Outdoor Summer Social Event Space 6.Indoor Social Event Space
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma
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7.Writer’s Working Space 8.Writer’s Living Space 9.Public/Truck Arriving Area 10.Main Road 11.Green Area
[1:200] First Floor Plan
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1.Arrival / Summer Street Market 2.Summer Food Market 3.Trapdoor 4.Core | Elevators/Stairs 5.Access to first floor level and to main road 6.Washing Deck
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [+40m Above Ground Floor] Aerial View from the Western Hills 15
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:200] North-South Section through the Exhibition Space and Winter Storage A space created inside the diaphragm wall, where the Roma exhibit their craft work created in the summer workshops. The long strip is elevated above the ground to avoid the snow. It is used as a cold storage during the winter months.
1.Exhibition Space 2.Summer / Winter Storage 3.Winter Cold Storage 4.Lower Platform / Snow defence 5.Snow Collecting Roof 6. Vertical Access
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:200] Workshop/Gardens Floor Plan -16m below Ground Floor 1.Permanent Summer Weaving Workshop 2.Exhibition Space 3.Permanent Summer Timber Workshop 4.Temporary Summer Workshop
5.Public Washroom / Toilet 6.Access to Workshops / Vegetable Preparation 7.Washing Platform / Rainwater/Snow Deposit Platform 8.Lower Rainwater/Snow Deposit Platform 9.Vertical Circulation 10.Diaphragm wall | Rain/Snow collection area 11.Agriculture Gardens
12.Marshy / Arable Land 13.River
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma 1[1:200]
North-South Section through the celebration space above the crops garden.
1.Social Event / Celebration Space 2.Food Market 3.Rainwater/Snow Collecting Roof 4.Writer’s Space 5.Diaphragm Wall: Rainwater/Snow Collection Basin
6.Hillside Garden 7.Vegetable Preparation Platform 8.Vegetable Preparation/Washing Deck 9.Marshy / Arable Land
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma Frontal Perspective | View of the Southern Facade 19
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:100] Exploded Axonometric View: Structural and Environmental strategies
1.Rainwater/Snow harvesting roof 2.Insulation installed over timber rafters 3.Roof Structure: Timber Trusses 4.Timber Beams 5.Timber Manually Controlled Louvres 6.Structural Diaphragm Wall
7.Lower Rainwater/Snow deposit/defence 8.Airflow Chimney 9.Rainwater Collection Tank
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma View from the weaving workshop. 21
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Interaction between the city and the village/Children Teaching Space
Main access to the workshop and the lower platforms
Adult Teaching Space
Rainwater/Snow Deposit
Secondary access to workshops
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:200] North-South Section through the school, food market, weaving workshop and lower platforms
1.School Classroom 2.Auditorium Seating / Recreation 3.Food Market 4.Rainwater/Snow Collecting Roof 5.Diaphragm Wall/ Vertical Access 6.Airflow Chimney
7.Weaving Workshop 8.Manually Adjusted Louvres 9.Vegetable Preparation Platform 10.Vegetable Washing
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:200] The Writer’s Space | The Summer temporary Agriculture Workshop
1.Writing Space / Library 2.Bathroom 3.Lounge Area / Library 4.Small Reading Antic 5.Bedroom 6.Rainwater/Snow Collecting Roof
7.Diaphragm Wall / Vertical circulation 8.Agriculture Summer Temporary Workshop 9.Vegetable Preparation Platform 10.Vegetable Washing Platform / Snow Deposit
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:200] The Writer’s Space | Winter
1.Crafted Items Library/Livingroom 2.Writing Space/Library 3.Small Reading Attic 4.Bedroom 5.Snow Deposit
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [-20m Bellow the Ground Floor] View from the lower end of the hill towards the workshop
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1.Lead Coated Cooper Roofing with integrated Drip Edge and Structural Underlay 2.25x50mm Timber Battens 3.150mm Foam Insulation (installed over rafters) 4.150x47mm Timber Rafters 5.150x47mm Vertical Structural Timber Frame 6.Manually Adjustable Timber Louvres 7.12x600mm Wood Wall Panel | Interior Finish 8.150mm Vertical Structural Timber Frame 9.150mm Wall Insulation 10.Vertical Timber Cladding
Classroom Exploded Axonometric View
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:100] Exploded Axonometry | Ground and First Floor Structural and Environmental Strategies
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Exploded Axonometric | Ground and First Floor 1.Rainwater/Snow Collecting Roof | Cooper Exterior Finish 6.Water Pipes 2.Insulation 7.Ground Floor | Food Market 3.Timber Trusses 8.Concrete Vertical Circulation Core 4.Summer School | Elevated Above Ground Floor 5.Concrete Structural Columns
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:100] Ground Floor Plan | Summer Food Market
1.Access From first floor arriving area 2.Food Market 3.Vertical Core | Access to first floor 4.Trapdoor for the Diaphragm Wall space 5.Outdoor Eating
6.Washing Deck 7.Rainwater Drainage 8.Skylight Window for the Exhibition space 9.Diaphragm Wall Head Cover | Viewing Platform
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma View from the first floor | The school. 28
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[1:200] North-South section through the ground floor food market and the first floor school GSEducationalVersion
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:100] Exploded Axonometry | Ground and First Floor Structural and Environmental Strategies
1.Lead Coated Cooper Roofing with integrated Drip Edge and Structural Underlay 2.150mm Insulation (Installed over rafters) 3. Stubbed Double W Timber Trusses 16m span | 330x140 top/bottom chords / 100x40mm webs 4.Glulam Support beam 450x250mm
5.12x600mm Wood Wall Panel | Interior Finish 6.150mm Vertical Structural Timber Frame 7.150mm Wall Insulation(Installed between the vertical timber studs) 8.Exterior Cooper Cladding Panels(installed on horizontal steel support bars)
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma [1:100] First Floor Plan | Summer School
1.Flexible Classrooms | Teaching and learning craft art, folk music and dancing 2.Flexible Celebration / Performance stage 3.Auditorium / Recreational stairs 4.Elevator | Vertical Circulation
5.Public Washroom / Toilets 6.Bridge Connecting to Main Arrival Point and Main Road 7.Green Area 8.Main Arrival Point (Car Park) 9.Main Road
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma A retreat for the winter between the diaphragm walls View from the upper part of the summer workshop overlooking the diaphragm walls and the southern mountain range 31
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The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma | A Winter Retreat [1:100] The Writer’s Space | First Floor
1.Writing Space / Library 2.Lounge Area / Library 3.Entrance Lobby 4.Double Height Crafted Items Library 5.Small Reading Attic
6.Rainwater/Snow Collecting Roof 7.Elevator 8.Ground Floor | Diaphragm Wall Head Cover / Viewing Platform
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| A Winter Retreat [1:20] Section through the Writer’s Space
1.Top to Bottom: >Solid Hardwood Flooring >Sand and cement Screed >150mm rigid floor insulation >300mm concrete slab
2.Left to Right: >30mm Timber Lining to Walls >Vapour Barrier >250mm I-Joist >9mm OSB panel >250mm foam insulation >Breather Membrane >Ventilated Cavity formed by 50x50mm sw battens >Vertical Timber Cladding
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Building Section 1.Top to Bottom: >Cooper Gutter Lining With Continuous Edge Strip >Cooper Gutter Edge Cap >Wood Gutter Framing >Ventilated Cavity formed by 50x50mm sw battens >Breather Membrane >150mm foam insulation(Installed between rafters)
>130x300 Timber Rafters >185x450 Glulam Timber Beams | Main Structure supporting the trusses >50mm Timber Lining to Walls
2.Top to Bottom: >Solid Concrete Ground Floor >Solid Concrete Intermediate Floor >Solid Filling Under Floor
1:100 3.Left to Right: >Solid Filling Under Floor >Solid Concrete Wall Reinforced at top and bottom to control cracking >Inclined Stone Face With Capstone
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CONTESTING ‘COUNTRYSIDING’
The ‘Lost Country’ of the Roma Studio B May 2021
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