unsought mechanisms Reclaim, Reject, Reinterpret a new form of culture Unsought Mechanisms explores the intersection of migrant labor and culture in Central California. The small suburban city of Soledad is surrounded by farmland that has become disconnected from culture due to the extreme pressures for productivity exerted by the corporate farming system. Because of these pressures Soledad has become a cultural wasteland devoid of an intimate connection between the land and its occupation by people. The farmland has become a machinelike productive landscape, devoid of the human quantities it had prior to the introduction of corporate farming.
PLOUGH / FOOD PREPARATION
PRELIMINARY SCHEMES
THIS SOIL TILLING MACHINE IS USED FOR INITIAL CULTIVATION AND DEEPER TILLAGE. IT BECOMES THE FIRST STEP OF PREPARATION FOR SOWING AND PLANTING THE SEED BY TURNING OVER THE UPPER LAYER OF THE SOIL. OFF WORK HOURS THIS MACHINE WILL ALSO SERVE AS A CAFE OR EATING AREA.
PLANTER SEED DRILL/ LIBRARY THE SEED DRILL IS THE SECOND STEP TO THE PROCESS OF CULTIVATION. IT IS A SOWING DEVICE THAT PRECISELY POSITIONS THE SEED IN THE SOIL AND THEN COVERS IT. DURING NONWORKING HOURS THIS MECHANISM WILL ALSO SERVE AS A LIBRARY TO PROVIDE SOME FORM OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE FARM WORKERS.
REAPER/ WORK-SHOP SPACE
Fostering a relationship between the farmland and the laborer can become a means of reclaiming the land and allowing for it continued development. By introducing a microinfestation of unsought mechanisms, such as small domestic scenarios within farmland or farming techniques that celebrate culture, a richer and less pragmatic farmland will emerge with new hybrid mode of cultural interaction that exist between labor and culture. The reintroduction of farming mechanisms and old farming techniques will foster human interaction and restore the dignity of labor. During non-working hours this farming machinery can transform into a collective space with programs where farm workers can develop new skills in order to have alternative ways of supporting themselves. These workshops and devices allow the farm workers to gather during non-working hours, breaks, or lunches to develop new forms of hybrid culture in direct interaction with the farmland. In a place where machines have taken over, Unsought Mechanisms introduces smallscale interventions that restore human activity.
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site: soledad,ca population by ethnicity: hispanic: 94.22% non-hispanic: 5.78% percentage of farm workers: 38.21%
THE REAPER, ALSO KNOW AS A HARVEST MECHANISM, IS THE THIRD STEP IN THE PROCESS AND IS MAINLY USED FOR CUTTING AND GATHERING CROPS. AS A SECONDARY FUNCTION THE REAPER WILL SERVE AS A WORKSHOP SPACE FOR THOSE WORKERS WHO HAVE TURNED THEIR HOBBIES INTO SECONDARY JOBS. THE SPACES CONSIST OF A BEAUTY SHOP, TAILOR SHOP, AND ANY OTHER ACTIVITY BEING PRACTICED AFTER HOURS.
HARROW/ TAILOR SHOP THE HARROW IS USED FOR CULTIVATION. IT IS MUCH MORE DELICATE THAN A PLOUGH. IT IS USED AS A FINISHING TOOL AFTER THE CROP IS CUTOR THE SEED IS PLANTED, THE HARROW GOES THROUGH AND REMOVES ANY VISIBLE WEEDS ON TOP OF THE BED, ALSO KNOWN AS A CIRCUIT. DURING NON-WORKING HOURS THIS MACHINE WILL SERVE AS A TAILOR SHOP FOR THOSE WHO KNOW THESE SKLLS AND WISH TO PRACTICE THEM.
COLLECTIVE SPACE THE COLLECTIVE SPACE IS THE GATHERING OFF ALL MACHINES AND THEIR SECONDARY FUNCTION. THE MECHANISMS GATHER IN THE CENTER POINT OF 3 DIFFERENT LAND OWNERS. IT ALLOWS FOR ALL WORKERS TO GATHER IN A SINGLE SPACE AND INTERACT WITH EACHOTHER.
PLANTER SEED DRILL/ LIBRARY
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the seed drill is the second step to the process of cultivation. it is a sowing device that precisely positions the seed in the soil and gently covers it. during non-working hours this mechanism will also serve as a library that provides educational resources for all farm workers.
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THE INSPARATION FOR THE NEW MECHANISMS CAME FROM MERGING OLD FARMING TECHNIQUES WITH THE NEW. THE RESULT WAS A HYBRID MECHANISM THAT ALLOWED A FURTHER CONNECTION BETWEEN MAN AND MACHINE
city of soledad + Existing farmland This site, to most, is an unknown town consisting of a sprawl suburban community located in the center of “Prime Farmland.� The perimeter of the city supplies a large part of the agricultural products that get distributed throughout California. Since the farmland is one of the best in the state, the city of Soledad has stopped its city expansion plan, and is considering other alternatives for further expansion. However, the city plans to continue having no connection between farmland and city. The existing empty lots in between farmland allow for design opportunities that can begin to bring some urban elements of the city into the existing rural conditions.
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1000ft
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Existing empty lots existing homes for managers Existing paths PROPOSED PROJECT
this mechanism attaches itself to the stationary structure and transforms into a library that can only be access while the seed planter and the stationary structure merge.
strategic site plan
THE HORROW -CULTIVATOR -USED AS SECONDARY TILLAGE -USED FOR LOOSENING AND DIVIDING THE SURFACE INTO SMALL PARTICLES ’-0”
15’
-0”
30
the workshop
the water tank
the bar -USED FOR SOWING CROPS
the bar is a stationary structure attatched to a water tank. it provides drinks and entertainment after work hours.
the existing water tank is use to provide food services of various sorts.
-LAYS DOWN SEED IN A PRECISE MANNER AND COVERS IT. -DURING NON USE HOURS THE PLANTER IS COMPLETELY RESTED ON THE GROUND
25’-0”
-THE SHANK IS IN FORM OF A HOOK ALLOWING IT TO HAND TOOLS AND OTHER ITEMS DURING NON WORKING HOURS
the library serves as a learning center that tansforms when the seed drill attaches to the stationary structure below.
SEED DRILL/PLANTER
the workshop space transforms into an enclosed area once both reapers connect to it. it is used to house the hobbies of the agriculture workers
the library
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D
-THE SEEDS ARE STORED IN CONTAINER AND DISTRIBUTED THROUGH DISCS B
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the balance plough -used for initial cultivation -deeper tillage -prepares for sowing seed
-DURING NON OPERATING HOURS THE CURVED PIECES BECOME SEATING AREAS
40’-0”
REAPER -USED FOR HARVEST -COLLECTS CROPS THROUGH ROTATING WHEEL
REAPER -USED HARVEST -COLLECTS CROPS THROUGH ROTATING WHEEL
-THE ROTATING WHEEL CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF TEETH THAT EASILY COLLECT THE CROPS 30’-0” LENGTH OF REAPER
-INCLUDES A CONTAINER THAT TEMPORARY HOLDS THE COLLECTED CROPS 45’-0” LENGTH OF REAPER
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25’-0”
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Buenos Aires Justice Center Buenos Aires is a city of respite, of permanence where time seems to stop. Time allows for transformation, change and permanence. Time leaves its mark on the city as it records successive accumulation of layers and creates memories from them, allowing its identity to be in a state of constant evolution. While maintaining density through the movement and speed of the city is crucial, the porosity and necessity for stagnation and contemplation is equally demanded in Buenos Aires. We propose to take the analogy of stacked file records as an emblem of the judiciary system in Buenos Aires. The density between the layers of superimposed documentation reflects the people’s demands for porosity and transparency in the judicial branch. Merging the energy and tension of the existing government systems, the site responds to a flawed justice system by manipulating the typography of the site. The typography of the diagonal emerges from the ground, literally wrapping around the judicial building as a way of resembling the upward moving force of the people into a marker for justice.
THE LAL DAWARZA BATHHOUSE PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION
Having spent 3 weeks in India Interacting with the people, quickly taught me that, "taking over," is the Indian way. Low income communities resort to taking over areas to provide shelter for themselves and their family. They occupy empty area of the city in which their slum village grows rapidly. However, slum communities slack essentials, such as water, toilets, and showers. In the researched gathered we found that less than 10 % of squatter settlements have actual toilets or showers.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
LAUNDRY WASHING REST ROOMS/SHOWERS CAFE LOCKERS/ CHANGING ROOMS COLD PLUNGES MAIN POOL WETLAND/SECONDARY TREATMENT PRIMARY TREATMENT
- The existing house holds a hierarchy in the project by being the only 2
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PUBLIC
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Long Section Scale 1/16” = 1’-0”
PRIVATE
SECOND FLOOR PLAN Scale 1/16” = 1’-0”
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION ACCOMMODATES THE SQUATTER SETTLEMENT BY ALLOWING EASY PARALLEL ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM
GENDER SEPARATION GENDER SEPARATION WAS INCLUDED TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE EACH INDIVIDUAL
MEN WOMAN COMMUNAL
SHORT SECTION N
Scale 1/16” = 1’-0”
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SITE PLAN
Scale 1/16” = 1’-0”
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PROGRAM WAS DISTRIBUTED BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE SQUATTER SETTLEMENT LOCATED PARALLEL TO THE INHABITED SITE.
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
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PUBLIC VS PRIVATE
The lack of essentials in slum areas, led me to occupy a site that is parallel to a squatter settlements, and near the river. My design process began by "taking over" the existing site establishing the program in the empty areas available, and using the existing buildings as a crucial part of my program. By establishing the program near the settlement I was able to provide what these people lacked. The program is divided into public and private areas that are in relation to the squatter settlement. The public program is located near the slums and it includes showers, toilets, washing areas, and a cafe. Further away from the settlement I located the private program, which includes cold plunges, pools, and relaxation areas. The division of the public and private is made by an existing old English Villa that became the icon of my project distribution. The village and the villa are the anchors to my project, both whom provided me with a grid system to establish the program. My project doesn't attempt to change Ahmadabad, but rather embrace the Indian way by making subtle moves onthe site and providing the basic fundamentals that can't be obtained by low income individuals.
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holds the cafe opened to the public.
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PRELIMINARY SECTIONS
The perferated brick is reinforced with a concrete structural frame that includes rebar running vertically and horizontally
Water Circulation Squatter Settlement Water from the river is utilized as a secondary water source
Natural light enters the interior through this opening. Natural light reflects off the water and bounces into the space, creating a subtle whimmering affect.
Location of both the primary and secondary treatment
Water is distributed based on the level of cleanliness.It begins at the southern part of the site and slowly makes its way through a sequence of clenliness, beginning with the pools and ending in the public restrooms near the squatter settlement.
People Flow
Perferated brick allows for natural ventilation to occur, as well as light to illuminate the interior.
Main Entrance points
There are two main entrances to the site, one public and one private. For the most part, the programs circulation is intended to be perpendicular to the squatter settlement
The screen wall consist of two different size of brick, at eye level and below the perferations decrease due to the need of privacy. However, above eye level the perferations begin to increase in size, allowing more natural light and ventilatoin in.
Artificial lighting is located in very subtle areas. They are located in around the perimeter of the pool, and in the exterior walkways of the building. Due to the openess off the program, only small amounts of artificial lighting were needed.
SUN ROTATION
SUN RISES FROM THE EAST AND SETS ON THE WEST
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Monroe House: Painter’s Studio Professional Practice I Instructor: Robert Kerr Project: Housing Project Partners: Astrid Rangel, John Sorrell,