Portfolio Giulliana Giorgi

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FUTURE OF LIFE SUMMER SCHOOL APPLICATION

GIULLIANA-FLORELA GIORGI

PORTFOLIO

MYCOTOPIA

BIRMINGHAM, UK 2

THE PROJECT PROPOSES A CIVIC LABORATORY FOR APPLIED MYCOLOGY ON A FORMER LANDFILL ACTIVATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT WE PERCEIVE AS ORGANIC WASTE AND MYCELIUM, THE ROOT-LIKE UNDERGROUND SYSTEM OF FUNGI WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO DIGEST AND BIND MATTER TOGETHER. THE PROJECT ATTEMPTS TO DEMYSTIF SCIENTIFIC PRACTICES OF RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION, NAMELY THE DISCIPLINE OF MYCOLOGY, AND TO DEMOCRATIZE KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION, AND THEREFORE, CULTURAL PRODUCTION, THROUGH EQUIPPING CITIZENS WITH THE TOOLS AND SKILLS OF LABORATORY PRACTICE IN MANIPULATING NEW MATERIALS AND MAKING THE INVIZIBLE VISIBLE. I ARGUE THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE TOWARDS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY, BUT INSTEAD WE SHOULD DEVELOP REGENERATIVE PRACTICES TO REPLENISH RESOURCES, ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY AND BIOREGENERATE WASTED AND POLLUTED LANDS FOR THE BENEFITS OF ALL SPECIES.

THE PROJECT LOOKS AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF MATERIAL SOURCING THAT DEPEND NEITHER ON EXTRACTION NOR CULTIVATION, BUT REGROWTH FROM ORGANIC WASTE STREAMS. IT SPECULATES ON THE IMPLICATION OF DESIGNING WITH THE LIVING BY DEPLOYING MICROORGANISMS, NAMELY MYCELIUM, IN TERRITORIAL REMEDIATION AND MATERIAL TRANSFORMATION.

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CONCEALED STORIES OF GRUNEWALD

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

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THE PROJECT ATTEMPTS TO DISCUSS THE EVER CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS GERMAN SOCIETY HAS WITH THE FOREST. THE PROPOSAL LEARNS FROM THE RICH HISTORY OF GRUNEWALD FOREST AND EXPLORES WAYS OF ENGAGING FOREST VISITORS BEYOND THE PASSIVE CONTEMPLATION OF NATURAL ELEMENTS, INTO A LEARNING PROCESS ABOUT THE INTRICATE HISTORY OF TRANSFORMATIONS OF GRUNEWALD FOREST. THE AIM IS TO FACILITATE NEW READINGS OF THE FOREST AND TO FURTHER INFLUENCE THE LANDSCAPE TRANFORMATIONS OF THE FUTURE. THEREFORE, THE BUILDING OFFERS A SHELTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSFERING OF KNOWLEDGE. THE TRANSFER COMES ON MULTIPLE LEVELS, FROM THE TECHNIQUE OF THE CONSTRUCTION TO THE PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO BUILT IT, FROM THE TECHNIQUE TO THE INDUSTRY OF WOOD CONSTRUCTION REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF DEPARTING FROM INTENSIVE GLUE APPLICATION IN ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS TOWARDS AN ALL WOOD SYSTEM, FROM THE FOREST AESTHETIC AS A RESULT OF FORESTRY PRINCIPLES TO THE DESIGN LANGUAGE OF THE INTERVENTION, FROM THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE TO THE PROGRAMME AND ORIENTATION OF THE BUILDING. THE TECHNIQUE LOOKS AT REINTRODUCING SOME OF THE INHERENT PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIAL WOOD SUCH AS ITS HYDROSCOPIC CHARACTER INTO THE ASSEMBLY SYSTEM, BY LOCKING IN PLACE PLANKS OF LOW GRADED SOFTWOODS WITH THE USE OF HARDWOOD DOWELLS AT A LOWER MOISTURE EQUILIBRIUM CONTENT.

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Grunewald, Berlin

Nuthe-Urstromtal, Brandenburg

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

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As a biological material, wood has particular anisotropc characteristics depending on the species and environmental conditions in which it grows., but as these inherent properties are considered inefficient and undesirable, new products of engineered wood have emerged that homogenise an inhomogeneous material through breaking it down, recomposing it and adding binding substances.

I propose to reconsider the inherent properties of the material and actively use its hydroscopic character to join and fasten softwood posts with drier hardwood elements together, thus using the movement of the material reaching towards moisture equilibrium content as a fastening system.

In order to allow some of the irregularities of the trunk to persist, the log is flat sawn and the two apparent edges of the wood, left uncutted - combining the rigurosity of construction with the organicity of the material’s origin.

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

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moving of wood

Softwood planks / 12% MEC Softwood planks / 12% moisture equilibrium content Hardwood dowels / 8% MEC

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ASSEMBLY SYSTEM AND EFFECT

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integration of knot wood deffects

knot wood deffects

Hardwood dowels / 8% moisture equilibrium content

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

Instead of a rectilinear construction, the proposal uses the array of simple straight wooden planks on double curvature surfaces to create a continuous movement of a sinous façade which ondulates around the trees of the forest.

Type A: single branching

Type B: triple branching

Type C: quadruple branching

This movement is generated by the organisational system of the programmes which plays with the platonic circle and introduces a series of branching paths in order to cluster the bundling circles together.

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C.2 Cluster development and branching systems variations

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The circular organization at canopy level encourages collaboration and socialization, while the branching system on top offers directionality and brings the wanderer into dead ends which act as viewing platforms.

INSTRUMENTALIZING FORM

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Softwood planks / 12% moisture

Hardwood dowels / 8% moisture

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

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As I started documenting the histories of transformation Grunewald forest in Berlin has been subjected to, I realized that although the concept of the forest remained constant, it’s use and function has greatly differed throughout history: from silvopasture, to a hunting game reserve, through mutations and clearings for new settlements to its function in military manouvers.

Situated at the visual intersection of important historical points in Grunewald, the building points back towards those places establishing a relationship between them.

Establishing Grunewald as a source of knowledge that needs to be preserved, transmitted and further explored, the programme revolves around the act of studying and learning clustering together various disciplines concerned with the studying of the forest from specific disciplinary frameworks.

Visual impressions from Grunewald

Artificial Topographies_ Rubble Mountains Buildings Former parts of the forest converted into settlements Natural Reserves Cementeries

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

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Amphitheatre / Lecture Hall Lookout Platform Platform Lookout

Research Space Space Research

Grunewald History Exhibition

Library Library

Research Space

ACADEMIC | YEAR 4 20-21 | INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

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The relationship between the building and the forest is in a continuous change and shifts in power dynamics. What at first might appear as a monumental building in a forest clearing, over the years it becomes exceeded in height by neighbouring trees, it becomes concealed by them, and the perception of monumentality returns to the trees.

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IDUNU VALLEY

OSUN STATE. NIGERIA 28

WITH THE DESIGN OF IDUNU VALLEY WE LOOKED AT CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO OF THE ORPHANAGE AS AN ENCLOSED INSITUTION WHICH SEPARATES THE ORPHANS FROM OTHER CHILDREN. MOVING BEYOND THE MERE PROVISION OF A SHELTER, THE ORPHANAGE ACTS AS A MICRO VILLAGE CREATING A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY. THE MASTERPLAN ALLOWS FOR A GENTLE SETTLEMENT WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE. THE SINUOUS PATHWAYS AND THE CURVED WALLS ARE DESIGNED TO FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT OF THE LANDSCAPE. THE PROGRAMS OF THE MATERPLAN ARE CAREFULLY ARRANGED IN INTERDEPENDENT CLUSTER OF ACTIVITIES.

BY ELEVATING THE CHILDREN’S ACCOMMODATION, FLOODING IS PREVENTED DURING RAINY SEASON WHILE OFFERING VARIOUS SHADED PLAY AREAS. IN ADDITION, A SENSE OF SECURITY AND CONTROL IS EXPLORED

BY PLACING THE ACCOMMODATION UNITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SITE AND ELEVATING THE UNITS. SEVERAL BORDERS FROM SOFT TO HARD EDGES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED SURROUNDING THE ACCOMMODATION. THE INTENT WAS TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN WITHOUT MAKING THEM FEEL CONSTRAINED.

TEAM: GIULLIANA GIORGI AND MERYL LEFLEOUR

MULTIPLE ENTRANCES ARE PROVIDED AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENCOURAGED BY OPENING UP THE SCHOOL AND THE VOCATIONAL UNITS TO VISITORS AND EXTERNAL STUDENTS.

COMPETITION | OCT 2017 | GROUP PROJECT

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COMPETITION | OCT 2017 | GROUP PROJECT

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1. MAIN ENTRANCE 2. SCHOOL ENTRANCE 3.SPORTSVENUEENTRANCE 4.ARTVOCATIONALENTRANCE 5. GIRLS DORMITORY

6. GIRLS DORMITORY 7. PLAY TOWER 8. STAFF ACCOMMODATION 9. PRIMARY SCHOOL 10. LIBRARY

11. SECONDARY SCHOOL 12. SCHOOL’S LOBBY 13. CANTEEN 14. VOCATIONAL KITCHEN 15. SPORTS AREA

16. AGRICULTURE 17. IRRIGATION POND 18. OBSERVATION HUT 19. ART VOCATIONAL UNIT 20.DESIGNVOCATIONALUNIT

21. TAILORING 22. HAIR SALOON 23. BRICK LAYERING 24. CARPENTRY 25. PLUMBING

26. MECHANIC 27.BUSSINESSANDECONOMICS 28. AGRICULTURE 29. IT 30. MEDICAL CARE CENTRE

COMPETITION | OCT 2017 | GROUP PROJECT

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COMPETITION | 0CT 2017 | GROUP PROJECT

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https://youtu.be/IIB7RlymZ5I

COMPETITION | OCT 2017 | GROUP PROJECT

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EFDEN

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DETAIL OF A BESPOKE FURNITURE ELEMENT WITH INSERTED GREENERY

EFDEN IS THE ROMANIAN TEAM THAT TOOK PART IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SOLAR DECATHLON. WE ARE A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT STARTED RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABILITY IN THE BUILDING ENVIRONMENT, SETTING THE GOAL OF PROMOTING AND INTEGRATING THE CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS INTO THE ROMANIAN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE. OVER 200 STUDENTS, 4 UNIVERSITIES AND MORE THAN 100 SPONSORS WORKED TOGETHER ON MATERIALIZING THEIR ASPIRATIONS OF A MORE DESIRABLE SOCIETY. AFTER COMPETING AT THE SOLAR DECATHLON VERSAILLES, WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE PROJECT AND BUILD THE FIRST RESEARCH CENTRE FOR COMFORT IN ROMANIA. MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A TEAM LEADER FOR THE INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE INCLUDED COORDINATION AND SUPERVISION OF THE BUILDING SITE, CREATING SCHEDULES, ARRANGING MEETINGS AND MOTIVATING THE TEAM. AS A MEMBER OF THE FUNDRAISING DEPARTMENT, I MAINTAINED AN ACTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPONSORS AND REACHED PUT TO VARIOUS COMPANIES TO ASK FOR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT.

HANDS ON THE BUILDING SITE

THE KITCHEN. AN ARCHAIC GATHERING SPACE

THIS EXPERIENCE WAS A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH ONE CAN ACHIEVE WORKING FOR A COMMON GOAL IN A PASSIONATE TEAM.

VOLUNTEER | 2015 | GROUP PROJECT

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`TO CREATE, ONE MUST FIST QUESTION EVERYTHING. `EILEEN GRAY

IMAGE FROM ‘THE INSECT PLAY‘ | WRITTEN BY BROTHERS CAPEK | CO DIRECTED | PERFORMED BY BRAINSTORMING BUCHAREST