CHRIS KELUSAK ACADEMY OF ART MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE DECEMBER 14TH, 2015
EXPOSURE:
AN EXPLORATION INTO EXPLOITING EROSION TO REVEAL SPACE
DESIGN SYSTEM STRATEGY Dunes, being dynamic system required the design of a strategy where the structures needed to be designed based off of the specific dunes that are being injected as well as at a larger field condition where a series of rules that would influence the design. These rules deal with first the centering upon the dune, second the horizontal constraints of the dune, third the vertical constraints of the dune, forth the slope of the dune and finally time considerations.
DIAMETER OF DUNE
WIND DIRECTION
FUTURE POSITION CENTER OF DUNE
SLOPE OF DUNE
STARTING POSITION EROSION
DEPOSITION
Dune Migration
RELATIVE WIND STRENGTH
ANCHOR LOCATION The first consideration that is considered is the centering the structure upon the dune. This becomes the connecting point for the structure where it will be eventually “anchored” to the ground. The anchor in this case is the termination point where the branches of the structure will terminate at. While finding the center of simple dunes is simple, the issue arises when you are looking at complex dunes, such as parabolic or combined dunes. There are two solutions that I have decided upon for solving for complex dunes, The first looking at Parabolic and the second looking at combined dunes.
CURRENT DAY SITE - NO EROSION
Looking at parabolic dunes the possibilities to create a structure that has a larger horizontal reach then vertical was decided on as a means to create more branches that run parallel to the ground plane. This gives a different effect upon the movement of sand throughout the site, stabilizing the dune at various vertical heights more than at multiple points.
A
WINDWARD FACE
SLIP FACE
10 - 12°
30 - 35°
WINDWARD / SLIP FACE ANGLE RANGE
The solution for the Combined dunes is to divide them into separate simple dunes where the original strategy of finding the central location is simplified. This means within in the single complex dunes you will have multiple structures being created that can vary in size.
B C
NUMBER OF BRANCHES The second and third considerations, horizontal and vertical size of the dune is used to calculate the number of branches the structure has. This is step drives the overall area of influence that a structure has on the surrounding sand. Once again depending on the complexity of the dune the rule followed was looking at single ratio that would be applied to create the number of branches. The ratio of 2 to 1 was decided upon based off of studies into the dune sizes and the optimal configuration for the structures. This is applied in both the X and Y axis’ leading to the number of branches.
MODERATELY EXPOSED SITE - SOME EROSION
NUMBER OF PLATFORMS
D
The fourth consideration was the slope of the dune, which controls the number of “platforms” or “knots” that appear along the branches. These platforms or knots are used to provide larger surface areas of impact of the structure without creating the whole thing at a larger diameter. A side effect of the creation and spacing of these is the amount of area of influence is greater when encountering one then it would be when there is none influencing the movement, changing the rate that sand is moved through the structure.
FULLY EXPOSED SITE - FULL EROSION
PARTICLE FLOW THROUGH EXPOSED STRUCTURE USING REALFLOW
FAR OUT VIEW THROUGH NETWORK
CURRENT DAY SITE MODERATELY EXPOSED SITE FULLY EXPOSE SITE 15 30
0
15 30
PREDICTED WATER LINE
SITE SECTION SHOWING EROSION OVER TIME @ 1/8” = 1’ -0” COASTAL SITE(S) A HORSESHOE BEND 36°52’48.36”N 111°31’21.25”W PAGE, ARIZONA UNITED STATES EROSION TYPE: WATER
B THE WHITE DESERT 28°25’02.21”N 28°45’12.71”E WESTERN EGYPT EROSION TYPE: ABRASION (SAND)
C EMPTY QUARTER 16°30’N 44°30’E TO 23°00’N 56°30’E SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, UAE, YEMEN EROSION TYPE: WIND
D THE TWELVE APOSTLES 38°39’57.02”S 143°06’17.24”E PRINCETOWN, VICTORIA AUSTRALIA EROSION TYPE: WATER / WIND
Current day Embryonic dunes would be scanned and analyzed for an understanding of the current forces acting upon them. Once this analysis is complete the system is ready to be deployed. Upon injecting into the dune it is only a matter of time before changes start occurring.
AIR SPEED
ALT
38
165
37
160
36
155
35
150
34
145
33
140
32
135
The first change upon the site would be the growth of vegetation, now having a structure seeded into the dune roots have a place to take hold. Over time sand is blown from the structure, leaving it exposed and crawling with vegetation. The space now carved out is an attraction not only for human interaction, where one is able to walk through a field of the structures, but also creates shade, shelter and a food source for other life forms.
PROJECTED ARIEL VIEW
Time continues to progress and the rising tides have now taken over the beach and is starting to interact with the field of structures. At this point the current ecosystem can no longer be supported within the structures, as the ocean covers and exposes it for a period of time each day. With each change of tide, nutrients begin to cover the structures, crustaceans climb over and under the structures where muscles begin to latch on to parts that are covered in water more frequently. The tidal pool becomes an attraction for animals and humans alike. Finally as time continues to pass the field of structures is fully submerged, allowing its final form to appear. Based off of specific site locations there is the possibility of the structures becoming a home to a new reef, having coral clinging on to and filling the voids in between it is now a thriving marine ecosystem. The system's job is not done tho, even in areas where no reef is grown it is still providing a duty, as ocean swells pass over it they are slowed down, providing a much needed relief to the shoreline that lies behind.
URBAN SITE CONDITION
FULLY EXPOSED SITE @ 1/8” = 1’-0”
CONTOURED SITE
NON-URBAN SITE CONDITION SLOPE ANALYSIS
THE STORY
Erosion is the creator of many natural wonders of the world that millions of people visit annually. What if it was possible to use this natural force as a tool for creating space and mitigate the future effects of global warming on Earth. This project looks specifically at sand as a site material and utilizes erosion to create an infrastructure to designate space and prevent future erosion.
QUAD MESH
SUNNY DAY WITH SOME EROSION
Long before the Earth was formed there have been natural forces shaping the environment that we live in today, and will continue to long after we are gone. From raging winds to melting ice the Earth's surface is continuously being sculpted. While current events have tarnished the concept of erosion such as; Hurricane sandy, desertification and global warming, it is hard to remember that erosion is also the creator of some of the most beautiful spaces in the world.
TRIANGULATED MESH
What tends to get lost when Erosion is talked about is the remainder of the process. Erosion is not only the removal, but the removal, transmittal and deposition of matter from one area to another. While every form of matter is subject to erosion the project explicitly looks into erosion’s relationship with sand and the possibilities of using erosion as a means of creation.
MODERATELY EXPOSED SITE @ 1/8” = 1’-0”
We are currently in a time where we as humans have realized the impact that we have had on the natural environment and are looking for ways to remediate or relieve some of the changes that are occurring. By using traditional and emerging technologies we are able to examine local conditions, allowing for the design and construction of the proposed system to be applied specifically for individual site conditions. Once the the system is deployed then monitored for performance allowing for a second wave of deployment if necessary.
RENDERED MESH
This project aims at three different site conditions, all of which are affected by erosion in different ways, on different scales, provide different social interactions and different ways of effecting the erosive process. The sites that are being examined are; two different types of coastal dunes, Embryonic or low lying and foredunes as well as transverse dunes which are found both in the desert and in coastal regions.
BASE IMAGERY
ANALYSIS POSSIBILITIES
WORK FLOW
N SCAN ENVIRONMENT
ANALYZE SCANS
DESIGN STRUCTURES
INJECT STRUCTURES
LIFE TIME
ANCHOR LOCATION(S)
CURRENT DAY SITE @ 1/8” = 1’-0”
PROJECTIONS TO MARS: AERIAL
PROJECTIONS TO MARS: ROVER CHECK UP