Minor by yichi wang

MINOR

YI-CHI WANG architecture portfolio 2013

[ Men on a rooftop ] René Burri, São Paulo,1960 about city/second nature: As the world fast changing, cities become more and more relavant. People enjoy the variety of activities, vivid living and different faces in the city. The growing of modern architecture/ economy make city livable. However, we architects also create too much problem for the society, “the landscape of our constructed mistakes”. When we start to expand the desire of architecture/material, the world becomes twisted. The issue of making a balance between human and nature has been talked a lot. I think it's more important to talk about the balance in our second nature, our artifitial world. In the city, we have the gap between the rich and the poor. Although the chaos bring city various appearances, we still eager the quality of life. Although we can create system for control and order, we may make mistake that turn it to be boring and useless. It is hard to make right thing because we always put our desires on the top. The world is beautiful because of its differences. We architects should make our own desire smaller and think more for the world, cities and people to make our nature better. We should always seak the truth and eager for knowledge to make right desicion. We should create our intention based on deep consideration, research and beauty. And that's why I am looking for MINOR.

about minor Minor in Kafka's literature is as opposition, but also minor as a discipline that digs within the matter of a dominant order. From “Toward a Minor Architecture“ writen by Jill Stoner, we can find a strategy of resistive process in architecture. and the politics of architecture. The invention of minor is because of the power structural. I want to quote some phrases from “Toward a Minor Architecture“ , to reveal some points... "In The Trial all rooms are stifling; ever ywhere is airlessness, unventilated heat, and claustrophobia. Private rooms double as offices or passageways; Josef K.’s own chamber opens into the bedroom of Fraulein Burstner, which becomes the strange first venue of his ordeal. An inspector sits behind a desk that has been moved to the middle of the room, three other men lurk in a shadowy corner, peering at framed photographs hanging on the wall. In the midst of this bureaucratic setting "a white blouse dangled from the latch of the open window.” Every scene is similarly crowded by suited men and incongruous assemblages of objects, a commingling of officiousness and domesticity within rooms." "To object (v) to the object (n). To register objections is to draw lines through objects of power, objects that are the result of institutions, which in turn rely on knowledge. Knowledge itself is a massive heavy object, with enormous foundations and a reliance on gravity. Theories and philosophies are constructed on the backs of canonical precedents. Like doctrines, they are dangerously authoritarian. Religions, monarchies, systems of law, corporations – these historical patrons of architecture have provided us with the objects upon which minor architects can write (or draw) their objections." "A minor architect is a minor destructive character, a tinkerer and hacker, journalist and editor, alter ego and subaltern. But tinkerers may sabotage as well as fix, and wildfully take apart rather than assemble. Hackers may scramble code as often as decipher it, and editors (to save us from our wordiness) ruthlessly slice the excess away. […] Interiors proliferate outward; they escape. Objects proliferate in place; they fragment. For the architect/subject, to become minor is to exchange focused ambition for scattered flight and love of masters for that rejection of master languages with which we began." Stoner Jill. Toward a Minor Architecture. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2012.

We must be minor architects. We must express our latent but powerful desires to undo structures of power. Using our wisdom and humor, beauty and patience, observation and documantation to be minor in opposite to this enormous world.

about portfolio

minor

Doing architecture, we will face different scale from S to XL or from XL to S. The intensive thinking between different scales is to have comprehensive researches to do a better project. In each project, we need to deal with different contexts and attributions, and we may have several theories to pratice. Theories are all knowledge, and architects need to gain knowledge to do architecture. We should not be limited by theory. By this portfolio, I want to focus on different parts of architecture to show different aspects of MINOR, an aspiration and mind of an architect.

CONTENT_

We will talk about minor from the idea of house, which is the basic needs of architecture. About architecture behaviour in the city, that is related to cities in the future and how an architecture survive in this ever-changing world. About devices, small scale, which is an important matter in the city. It's probably the kind of architecture which is the nearest with people. About construction, which is an impor tant issue nowadays, that related to economy, environment and the thinking, practice of architecture. About megastructure, which is part of the city existence. About stories...which may be innocent, but is important to architect that having imaginary intention to create a better life. There are few projects about public architecture chosen in this por tfolio, because public project usually related to specific program, such as museum or stadium. Here, the main idea is to reveal the pure mind of architecture. Once the thinking of housing is created, it will be more clear to do public projects.

ch 1_HOME, not only house

ch 2_SUSTAINABILITY in the city

ch 3_ARCHITECTURE AS DEVICE

ch 4_MINOR CONSTRUCTION

ch 5_MEGASTRUCTURE

ch 6_ENDING as begining

1-1 CASA TOPO zootopia 1-2 VILLAGE in CITY 2-1 FROM CITY TO HOUSE 2-2 INHABITED SCREEN -contrast3-1 INFRUSTRUCTURAL PLAYSCAPE 3-2 LIVELY CHAOS 4-1 HOUSING WITH ONE WALL 4-2 METABOLIC HIGHPOINT 5-1 LINKIN ARC 5-2 INVISIBLE TOWER 6-1 SHARE 6-2 25m2 House 6-3 VERS UNE ORIGINE

chapter I_ HOME, not only house

1_1 CASA TOPO zootopia dwelling info depth: 3.5m size: 20 / 28 / 36 m2

1_2 VILLAGE in CITY depth: 4m size: 30 / 45 m2

MCH_5 days_48 hrs workshop leader_ Hrvoje Njiric assistant_Jose Maria Sanchez cooperation_Carolina Rodas Alejandra Novoa

MCH_7 days_70 hrs workshop leader_ Juan Herreros assistant_ María Auxiliadora Gálvez cooperation_ Borja Navarro Ibañez de Aldecoa Gabriela Macias María Elvira Villarreal Cuartas

chapter I_

CASA TOPO zootopia

a mystery: toward a minor community living with topo

What if we can live with animals, not pets someday.... Topo is one of the smallest animal in the world. They are sensitive and fragile. They probably just live in the earth under the place we standing. They live with families and neighbors, just like us. Because the characteristics, they need special environment for protection and living. By thinking housing from animal, we can find new value for neighbor, house and community. Understand and analysis the way of living of topos, and traslate in architectural way. To do so, we become sensitive. It is important to create identification with an understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. From doing Topo's house, we become empathetic for the underpriviledged. It is possible to make architecture for topo and create a community with topos, which could be unique and highly neighborhood. Casa topo just like a church, a spiritural center or a focus, a topic in the community. We share the same earth with each other. We need to be sympathetic to make community as one. We are equal living in this community.

up: Equallity // Hagen Island, MVRDV down: the earth we don't understand, the house of topo

Life of TOPO

Imagine living without seeing, thinking of topo. The way how topos living is clear. 1. space for moving (1.2m long) 2. space for hiding and storage 3. space for sleep together 4. space for playing/fighting 5. Safe entance to go out for food once a week down: translation / section of the lifetime 12

a. house

b. house+earth for leisure

c. house+earth for leisure and exploration

1st translation: 3 levels for casa topo Maximum 10 family members, live for life time. 13

+1.2m

+- 0

-1.2m

up: Route transformation / Ear th is par t of the house. left: Create a way to interact with topos. Feeding to solve the problem of the decrease of food. Also, make topo to safely explore outside more. "Who is responsible this week?" become a topic.

1.8m

Unit of casa topo. down-up: the earth - house open space - roof 15

M 4.3

3.4m

1.8m

section show the different relationship with human houses

M 8.1

chapter I_

Housing master plan Living with topos

Community of Equality and Neighborhood Main idea is to see and take care of each other. To maintain Equality, introduce the small dwelling, 20 /28/ 36 m2 19

concrete steel tube ceramic/brick

rammed earth

A myster y in the neighborhood. A stor y for children. A simbol of the community. A uniqueness in the city. 20

chapter I_

VILLAGE in CITY

new definition of "home" : home without house/boarder. minor village inside city.

left: imagination of new home, no boarder, new relation right: 3 levels of comfort zone, "Feel at home"

As the city ever-changing, there are many problems created. One, probably the most common is the poor area full of low-income people, immigrants, single family and lonely elders in the city. They are all from different background but with same situation, lonely, need to earn money from the city and low-quality of life. Mainly, instead of having nice and large house, thay need to share house with many people. The quality of house is so poor that they spend a lot of time gathering on the street. There are some special social fact developed, like "hot bed", which means residents need to plan scheduale and share the same bed that the bed is usually warm... Take Embajadores, Madrid for example, we have the lowest rent and highest density here. We can find many immigrants and elders. The appearance of this area looks poor. However, we can easily feel the neighborhood and vivid life by several activities, like street events, many grocery stores, colorful graffiti and people movement. This social movement is what we need living in the city, meet people and creating living. From this case, the definition of home is twisted. We only need a bed, tiny space for sleeping in the house(building). Other things, such as showering, kitchen or living, we can be satisfied by sharing! The way we feel at home is no more just in a single house. What we can introduce is, as the internet-era growing, the need for house is decreasing. Many youngsters just need a room for using computer and sleeping, which is the similar social phenomenon to embajadores. It is the moment we need to transform the meaning and method for housing. Beneath the enormous bright city, there are many people struggling for living.

3 levels: a. minimum self space/bedroom b. sharing space c. space for meeting/public space 22

sketch of imaginary for new collective housing one L-shape wall to define a room, blur the boarder of private and public, sharing 24

[ THE “UNIT” ]

2 family units, sharing a space in-between

Embajadores, Madrid, Spain site area: 15000 m2 // 700 habitants // 20-40m2 per habitant (current) site A=10600 m2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;> 5000m2 per floor 5000m2 x 7 floors =35M

market / library

The idea is to create spaces/movement between project building and surrounding neighbors. By introduce fragment houses, whcih is like transforming the building into villagecombination, we can create movement inside. 26

[ BREATHING [ BREATHING CORES ] CORES ] _PROGRAM _PROGRAM RELATIONS RELATIONS IN TIME / WEEKEND_ IN TIME / WEEKEND_

AMPHITHEATHER AMPHITHEATHER / ROOF MARKET / ROOF M

BOOK SHARE BOOK S

PUBLIC SWIMMING PUBLICPOOL SWIMMING

SHOWROOMSHOWROOM / GALLERY / GA

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY LEISURE LE CAMPO

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY SHOPPING SHO

OPEN STUDIO OPEN ST

STORAGE FLEE STORAGE MARKET FLEE MA

weekday

[ BREATHING [ BREATHING CORES CORES ] ] _PROGRAM _PROGRAM RELATIONS RELATIONS IN TIMEIN TIME

SCHOOL SCHOOL | KINDERGARDEN | KINDERGARDE

PUBLICPUBLIC BATHS |BATHS SAUNA| SAUN

NETWORKING NETWORKIN

WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS

STORAGE STORAGE

MIDWEEK MIDWEEK weekend / festival

Following the topography, the project was seperated to 3 part. Each part introduce a main core as structure and circulation. Create slope and several levels to reach each other and maintain multi function. The main goal is to create movement and vertical village atmosphere, vivid but minor. The methodology is introducing different function and bigger spaces/room as nodes, and place houses inbetween. By studying existing neighbor and residents, we can create programs such as gallery, museum, library, farms, community centers, workcenter and workshops...etc. And study different dwelling types/ residents which can match the function/public space. For example, the community farm with elders, the workcenter with youngsters, the community center with small families......

chapter II_ SUSTAINABLE in the city

2_1 FROM CITY TO HOUSE depth: 7m // 24m size: 45 / 65 / 85 m2

2_2 INHABITANED SCREEN -contrastdepth: 14m size: 85 m2

MCH_5 days_40 hrs workshop leader_Dietmar Eberle assistant_Victor Olmos

MCH_5 days_40 hrs workshop leader_Cino Zucchi assistant_Belen Hermida cooperation_Rafael Medrano

chapter II_

FROM CITY TO HOUSE in Madrid

part of the long-lasting city, how to be minor and make city always better

standard city

historic city center

What is sustainibility? An architecture which can create better attribution, transform better composition and be part of the long-last changing city will be a good sustainable building. How about the function? A good architecture can contain any program, which is the flexibility. In these two cases, use the same methodology to reflect the different surroundings. Besides human demand(which is the same), family types and economic concer, the first step is studying form, which will relate to urban behavior and money(construction, size...). After decision of form, design dwelling typology or function from studying existing needs and composition.

left: Different situation inside city, different urban attribution. Same mind: to make city better, better quality of life and sustainable in long lastiong and ever-changing city. Standard city: salamanca // Historic center: Huertas, Santa Ana, Madrid 37

HISTORIC CITY CENTER Huetas, Santa Ana, Madrid

After studying form, the second process is the surrounding, the opening and balconies, material, height, greenary, and composition. Buildings in city center, located in a chaos corner/plaza/intersection with many tension, we need to think minor that prevent more noises. The other idea is to bring interesting atmosphere which is important in city center. The desicion is to set back part of the facade and create a small plaza for stay, decreasing the rush of the intersection. And using two opposite material, like sandwich, to make the new small plaza quietly focused. The heigh, follow the surrounding and decrease front part to create a balcony, which can turn into a 2-floor restarant or a spotlight of the small plaza.

9 2

7 5

As the surrounding building mainly covered by painted stone and ceramics, choose the dark grey brick-kind ceramic to maintain material sequence and create calm atmosphere. In the middle, use wood lath as contrast to break the dark brick wall, and bring bright atmosphere for the plaza which is facing south.

the expanding elevation, the transition of two materials

Sacrifice for urban attribution? It is the relation of what put into the building and what benefits get out of the building.

STANDARD CITY Salamanca, Madrid

In the standard city with similar boring faces, to create an interesting appearance is the main point. The second point is to maintain the correct rules of the standard, like 25m building depth. Inspired by the long block (100m), create a slope-like corridor/balcony to bring a fresh visual atmosphere for the city, which is like a mountain or avocado. However, this corridor is also the result from the inside, different typologies of the dwelling.

HISTORIC CITY CENTER

About the material, to not make too much differences, choose red ceramic brick as main material, and the middle is simple appearance from concrete. The "avocado" elevation is the reflection of two kind of balcony, one is bacony inside the house as a loggia, the other one is open balcony with smaller typology. 51

chapter II_

INHABITED SCREENS -contrastwhat's behind the screen?

The contrast between close facade appearance and openminded Spanish in Madrid. We can find comething usual, self-construction to cover private,tools covering crowded small balcony for protecting from strong sunshine. And we'll ask, which city is this? Milano? Madrid? or Bari? 53

Simply take volume and vacuity as contrast, reflect the differences from building and balcony. Increase the space of balcony as 4m depth loggia, which is like a room, to increase the convenience of using and the sun shading. Try to reflect the fact of climate and living hobbits. 54

Abstract appearance following the simple form to create pure atmosphere. Using colored concrete as ramed earth, combined with loggia surrounded with the special tree bark. The small pore on the surface of tree bark make the light go through, increasing interior lumination daytime, and make loggia reveal the interior ligh, like a lantern at night. 58

Facade is like TV screen showing the life of residents. Increase the depth of screen by introducing 4m loggia as a room, we increase the variety of the show, also increase the privacy of the artists/residents. Honest reflection of inside, and bring uniqueness/personality from outside. 60

chapter III_ ARCHITECTURE as DEVICE

3_1 INFRUSTRUCTURAL PLAYSCAPE

MCH_5 days_48 hrs workshop leader_Burgos&Garrio assitant_ Javier Malo de Molina cooperation_ Hans Schwarz Roberto Carlucci

3_2 LIVELY CHAOS / favela in Sao Paolo

MCH_5 days_40 hrs workshop leader_MarĂa Teresa Diniz assistant_Belen Gesto cooperation_Alejandra Novoa Jon Ander Mendiola Roberto Carlucci

chapter IIII_

INFRUSTRUCTURE PLAYSCAPE play with city landscape // revolution of infrastructure

Filling | atmosphere vegetation

Border | bonding material

Pillar | prefab concrete joint Pillar | mechanical space

Pillar | structure

Pillar | joint

"What the child needs is what we need - just that: places where we can be what we really are: children unto ourselves, from birth to death - Somewhere. Somewhere! To establish some where is the task of architects." Aldo van Eyck

A space for playing is not just an object or a plastic device, its a matter of atmosphere. Forest, a perfect playground, both environment and object compose the playground atmosphere. How to play in the city? The city is full of similar plastic playground which are lost the connection with city landscape and surroundings. However, due to the various movement in the city, we should find a way which can easily bring atmophere for people want to play, which can happen on the street, in the parking or sidewalk.

Infrastructure - Cities face great challenges in terms of space and infrastructure. We chose infrastructure as a starting point, since infrastructure is the basis of the city.

Landscape - In the natural scenery, continuity of the surface is important. Landscape in the city should be able to reflect this continuity to allow the city be part of a whole.

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Games, 1560, Pieter Bruegel the Elder 67

Project - The project is a concrete cone that can be understood as a single standing element or an entire surface. Using the principle of addition to the city, we believe a single element can provide the environment and the device and result into a new playscape atmosphere that has 3 levels of interaction; The ground, the cone and the canopy.

Lavapies, Madrid, Spain The origin plaza is seldom-used because the crack in the middle caused by unferground parking. The terrible condition of the pavement, creating uncontinuous surface which is difficult to use The crack stop the interaction between two sides of the neighbor. The main idea is to make a continuous surface and use the â&#x20AC;&#x153;cornâ&#x20AC;? to provide parking function and continuous surface as new playground/plaza.

Structural Grid

Surface

+ +

Surface

= =

0.00 m 0.00 m

- 0.50 m - 3.00 m

- 0.50 m

- 3.00 m

- 2.00 m - 2.00 m

The plan is based on the parking. The atmosphere is recreated dramatically by the infrastructural playground. One simple device create several benefits. 72

chapter IIII_

LIVELY CHAOS

learning from favela // simple device be part of chaos

left: contrast between new development and favela // Site: Vila Cristina / Jardin Celest, Sao Paolo, Brazil Facing the complex issues of facvela in Sao Paolo, understanding the existing is the first step. To remove whole favela is unhumane and destroying the unique culture. To think minor and refurbish the minimum is the aim. How to do the minimum and increase the quality of life, then people will be inspired by the new development that change the community by themselves. Here, architecture design is not only finish an building, but also abservation and educating residents by true and touching design. 75

sea level

Think from XL to S scale. The topography in Brazil is higher than sea level about 300m, which affect the unique landscape and city images. By analysing the infrastructural issues, for example, dangerous area, river area, building condition, portable water, sewage and greenary, we can find some traces to refurbish favela without "new idea". It is important to read each house carefully and make a win-win decision that distroy the least, attribute the most.

up: new master paln // left: a. strategy wall as "new order", b. new device is a new center (XLantern, weWater) By removing the houses in danger or bad condition, we can have enough space for breathing. Save the small forest and teansform into a community open space, linked with the forest and the stream on the other side. 78

remove the house in bad condition

creating new rule / a clean wall

people can self-construction but inside the new wall / invisible law

internet center / bar / shop

future housing

stream park green route

new community center

up: sketch for simple idea, ideas from basic infrastructure, water and light Simple devices transform the favela into a better and unique part of the city. The XLantern may bring a fresh image like stars at night... 82

chapter IIII_ MINOR CONSTRUCTION

4_1 HOUSING WITH ONE WALL depth: 12 m size: 100 m2

4_2 METABOLIC HIGHPOINT depth: m size: 45/75/100 m2

MCH_5 days_40 hrs workshop leader_Andrea Deplazes assistant_Fernando Altozano cooperation_ Jose Alberto Bethencourt Gallardo

MCH_5 days_48 hrs workshop leader_Ramón Araujo cooperation_ Antoño G. de los Salmones Nieves Fernández

chapter IIII_

HOUSING with ONE WALL

rethink WALL // simple construction, fix wall with space free

12m depth / 100m2 dwelling 86

up: plan of HohlstraĂ&#x;e Apartments, Peter MĂ¤rkli left: 100m x100m area collective housing

chapter IIII_

METABOLIC HIGHPOINT

rethink classic collective housing, transform by contemporary construction,

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

up: new plan and sketch for new structure idea HIGHPOINT was the first building constructed by concrete cladding. The design by Berthold Lubetkin was appreciated by Le corbusier because of the elegant detail and well-designed dwelling in 1930s. The special + shaped housing was contributed by a central core and 4 dwellings ( 3+1on different floor), which was simple and clear. To reflect the contemporary way of construction, we want to introduce industrial process and maintain the composition of 1 core with 4 dwellings. Meanwhile, we think the capsule and industrial idea from metabolism can still reveal the contemporary construction thinking for the future. The housing is easily built, structure the core and insert dwellings. And it is also easily disassambled because of the recycled material, such as steel.

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

7,2

21,17

7,2

10,59

7,2

21,17

7,2

10,59

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

10,59

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

10 m

7.7 m

the idea of the new dwelling is trying to maintain the idea from HIGHPOINT, horizontal window openning and space divided by living area and bedrooms. Modify typology because the decreasing size of dwelling nowadays. 94

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

13 m

7.7 m

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

10,31

6,65

7,37

5,87

7,37

6,65

10,31

2,1

7,2

2,1

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

2,1

20,6

2,1

7,23

21,11

7,17

2,1

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

10,31

6,65

7,37

5,87

7,37

6,65

10,31

2,1

7,2

2,1

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

2,1

7,23

21,11

7,17

2,1

PRODUCIDO POR UN PRODUCTO EDUCATIVO DE AUTODESK

2,1

20,6

Residents can see cables, feel the structure. It is a starting point to understand architecture for people.

100

101

chapter V_ MEGASTRUCTURE

102

5_1 LINKIN ARC depth: 12 // 18m size: 65 / 75 / 85 / 105 m2

5_2 INVISIBLE TOWER

MCH_5 days_40 hrs workshop leader_Bernardo Ynzenga cooperation_Rafael Medrano Yoav Elad

Taiwan Tower concept design competition CYS.ASDO assistant 5 people teamwork 2010

103

chapter V_

LINKIN ARC

feasible enormous city development : megastructure contain minor living

104

The site was fragmented by different developments during several period. The strongest mark was made of railways. Raiway made cracks that breaking the continuous movement. However, railway is also the key point for future development. The main idea is to create a new layer with XL scale which can domain whole area. Try to do one strong action that can turn all chaos into better situation. The megastructure contains several minor inner.

URBAN POTENTIAL 1. TRANSPORTATION NODE: metro/ railway/ bus 2. GREEN AREA: parc retiro/ madrid rio/ southern park 3. NEIGHBORHOOD: reina sofia/ metadero/ galleries/ warehouse CUTURAL 1. HISTORY: atocha station/ admistrativo atocha/ warehouse 2. ARCHITECTURE: warehouse/ atocha atation/ museum GLOBAL 1. transportation system reach to europe GOAL: Take advantage of various development layer by identity. Introduce high density (more than 250pl/ha) and variety of typology of housing to increase the people movement. Also, Mix-use building between culture, commerce and business.

105

106

107

108

109

110

Megastruture is always “something” in the city. It can be an important landmark, but also can be a city cancer which waste a huge amount of money for few benefits. I think megastructure should be a manifesto if we need to do it. There are two parts we need to consider. Firstly, by megastrucutre, we should bring a strong atmosphere which is studied form the city, and can contribute to whole city. To turn the situation of city to a better and more feasible way. We must consider the profit, which is not only about money, but also the new movement and trend. The second part, we should consider residents and citizen. For citizen, this megastructure should be like an amusement park which also provide infrastructural funtion, such as transportation. You need to make people understand why this architecture need to be so enourmous. For residents, you should make them proud of this mega-development. The “mega“ should not become a shape portraited by architect’s desire. It should be the enormous consideration from whole city.

Rooftop, new layer of movement, nature

111

112

113

chapter V_

INVISIBLE TOWER

competition: Taiwan Tower, a mega-symbol in Taichung presenting the beauty of Taiwan

114

The competition of high-rise / tower in terms of their height & shape carries out between continents / countries continuously throughout human history. The height and shape of these towers will be inevitably surpassed by others one day. Due to the sustainability conception for the new era of architectural development, we should not start another height&shape competition as before. We need a new and advanced concept for the tower which is capable of representing the new Taiwan spirit. If we interprete these towers differently, by not focus on their diverse formal expression (the form and structure...) but on their common essence which is the bright random windows during the night. These bright random windows/units compose themselves into an alternative perception for the tower and can changed by time. These towers start to look similar on this perspective. In other words, Atom is known as the smallest component for diverse objects on the earth. The only difference is the arrangement of it. H2O can compose into a pool of water, cloud, fog or iceberg. They are composed by different appearences but the essence is the same. We focus on the essence of tower â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the UNITS.

115

FORMLESSNESS Sky lantern, fireworks and lanterns are traditional Taiwanese objects for celebrations. Abundant pieces of these objects create kind of magnificent scene which represent local positive and energetic spirit.They are all composed by lots of bright dots/units as the towers mentioned before. We start on the similarity between them here. In other words, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t focus on the form but on the units and the void space between them. We use the units to compose the tower, and it becomes formless. The tower should be self-sufficient.The units should gather from nature and re-useable. It can be light dots collected from the sun during the day through solar panel system, and also could be water vapor by reusing rain from water recycling system. This is a light/vapor tower, and it can be programmed into any kind of form/shape. Contrast to its formlessness, it changes for various circumstances.

116

117

During the day_ The spray vapor system gives the tower an unique â&#x20AC;&#x153;natureâ&#x20AC;&#x153; look, unlike most of the towers in the world. The sprayed vapor can neutralize the climate for the site, and also great for the vegetation as well.

118

During the night_ The tower aimed to change its appearance due to the four layers of LED light dots. They are capable of performing 3D images, rather than just lighting on the surroundingd as most of the buildings. The various appearances can be purely geometry, cultural, and commercial as well. 119

120

121

chapter VI_ ENDING as begining

122

6_1 SHARE depth: 14 m size: 85 m2

6_2 25m2 House

6_3 VERS UNE ORIGINE

5 days_40 hrs workshop leader_Anne Lacaton assistant_Diego Garcia Setian cooperation_Nieves Fernรกndez Roberto Carlucci

interior design Royhong design studio 2012

projects with Taiwanese aboriginal people, Bunun and Amis A. architecture volunteer B. documentary

123

chapter VI_

new way doing a project. Having intentions/images and the best project is in your mind

124

left: the story board / up: sketch for Villa Meyer, Le corbusier Before doing a project, ask yourself a question â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is your intention?â&#x20AC;? . Complete an image of how you think of a good housing, From inside to outside, think of residents, how they can live in this building, and answer by architecture process. For customers, once we have same image, we can create architecture efficiently.

125

There should have a sharing space for every dwelling in contemporary city. A space just for meeting people, reaching the nature, it is part of houses, an extension of living. After an exhausting day, we have this space, big enough for deep breathing and recharge for another day.

126

127

House is a combination of living sequences. This sequence need a crack to let sunshine/nature come inside.

128

129

Everyone need a comfort space just for stay alone, which is not just a standard bedroom. It donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be big, just a space we can sit, watch the city and think comfortably.

130

131

Openning with deep thinking can provide the vision for the nature and ligh. Beside the opening, there must be some dark space in the house. We should prepare a comfort space that we can tell the beautiful living track once the light pass.

132

133

Plaza is for meeting people and lost in the city. Corridor is a space for meeting people and together do something. Because the boarder is not defined by other buildings, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just building itself, a reflection of street and structure.

134

135

Think of some contemporary issue, the city growth and death of second cities, the crisis, the lost generation of younsters nowadays, the increasing expenditure and decreasing income, we think the house itself must be a relief space from the city, where we can be sensed by neighborhood, nature and living. We need to live in the city, but we want nature. We need to face the city, but we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to cover by cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s noise. Share living, we create more life. Share nature, we bring more light.

136

137

chapter VI_

25m2 House

house of couple // minimalism

138

Guting, Taipei Royhong design studio phtography: Hung Po-Tung 139

chapter VI_

VERS UNE ORIGINE

rethinking of architecture for humanity, learning from aboriginal tribes

ORIGINAL DIFFICULTIES Taiwan is an island seperated into three parts by the steep montain group, westfieldplain, east-longitudinal valley and center-mountains. It is the original reason of imbalance in development and resource between west/east and field/mountain. To develope the east and central part of Taiwan is much more difficult due to poor transportation, population and strict geography. We have a diverse aboriginal culture in Taiwan. Because of the complex colonial history, aboriginal people mainly located on the central and east part of Taiwan. Therefore, they have rich culture of living, crats and arhitecture related to nature and landscape. It’s an opportunity to share different knowledge and resource. But it’s more important to learn their attitude of life, nature and human. We should rethink the value of architecture, why architecture only belonging to the object of economic growth? The origin of architecture is pure that provide a shelter for people, And it’s naturally practiced in the tribes, the pure architecture! Under this imbalance era, we architects should take these kind of opportunuty preciously. To create a better life, we should be voluteer to do architecture. We should learn the original culture in our island! left: Taiwan1906 (during the Japanese occupation), from Makka Mappa

CENTER OF TAIWAN_project a._volunteer for architecture Due to strict geography and frequent typhoons, the only elementary school in Shuanglong, Xing-Yi township, which is one of the Bunun tribes, was damaged. The most serious one is the destroy of the classroom for traditional education. By chance, We had an opportunity to meet them and rebuild it. Our aim is not only rebuilding, but also refind the skill of Bunun architecture and reinforce the neighborhood. We rethink architecture from material to structure. We choose to remain original idea of Bunun, light structure, easy construction, eco-recycling and natural material-Bamboo. The shape is like a core, which like a begining of an architectural practice. We are volunteers for architeture. EAST OF TAIWAN_project b._into the life, documentary for the Amis Living in Taipei, such a crowded Asian big city, it’s easy to get lost about life and purpose. I asked myself a question: what is architecture in Taiwam? and I could not find an answer. In 2012, I got a chance to live in Douli, an Amis aboriginal tribe in Taitung. The village located on a slope beside Pacific Ocean. The amazing landscape , rich Amis culture and eco-environment were attractive and inspiring. We documented the one-month life by writing, photography, drawing and film. Becuse of the poor transportation and infrastructure, residents create many ideas about surviving. By linving with them, we learnt their positive and content attitude that made us rethink about life. Architecture is simple but so appropriate here, which inspired us the value of architecture. 140

141

CENTER OF TAIWAN_project a._volunteer for architecture

up: the idea of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;coreâ&#x20AC;&#x153; shape related to ventilation and landscape left: working process during 3 weeks 142

143

EAST OF TAIWAN_project b._into the life, documentary for the Amis

the rich daily-life with Amis. celebration by dancing. amazing landscape. simple daily housework and living with nature, from food to house 144

145

_We shape clay into a pot, But it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.. _We pierce doors and windows to make a house; But it is the inner space that makes it livable. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Laozi

146

photography in Lisbon, 2013 147

sketch about Ralph Erskine, 2013

148

YI CHI WANG +886 921-543277 estherduckw@gmail.com Taipei, Taiwan Education - MSc, Architecture, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan, 2010 - MArch, Master of architecture in collective housing, ESTAM, UPM, Spain, 2013 Intern experience - Who’s recipe design studio, 2008 - Fab-Taiwan Architecture Humanity, 2009 - Ho+Hou Studio Architect, 2010 Work experience - CYS.ASDO architecture/space design office, design assistant, 2010-2011 - Royhong Design Studio, Interior Designer, 2011-2012 Exhibition / Competition -Young Designers’ Exhibition, Taiwan, 2010 (Final academic project “The Exploding Arts Village”) -Taiwan Tower Conceptual Design Competition, Honorable Mention, 2010 (CYS.ASDO, teamwork, 5 people) - Participant of Youth Travel in Taiwan, YDA 2012

149

YI-CHI WANG architecture portfolio TAIWAN 2013 150