REMOTE LIVING by ofis_architects

HKU - FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE | OFIS ARCHITECTS | MARCH SPRING SEMESTER 2019-2020

REMOTE LIVING

HKU | Faculty of Architecture | MArch Spring Semester 2019-2020 | OFIS architects

REMOTE L I V I N G

Rok Oman / Špela Videčnik / José Navarrete

HKU | Faculty of Architecture MArch Spring Semester 2019-2020 OFIS architects

Tutors Rok Oman, Špela Videčnik, José Navarrete

Teaching Assistant Jane Luk

Students Chan Ka Fai Calvin, Guo Huaer, Hon Tung Suet Ophelia, Ji Xiang Jason, Lau Ho Chuen Maxwell, Vincent Lo, Ng Sze Long Julian, Sheng Tai Ted, Sun Yutong, Yim Chi Chung Tim, Yuen Ka Ho Kelvin, Xiaopei Zhang, Zhao Jinglun Jerry, Yiwen Zhou

Guest critics Olga Aleksakova, Joshua Bolchover, Julia Burdova, Juan Du, Holger Kehne, Burak Pekoglu, Gilles Retsin, Eike Schling

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PROJECTS

page 6

page 8

page 13

MT.EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 1

MT.EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 2

FOLDARECYCL-GAMI

page 34

page 40

page 44

FLEXIBLE ADAPTIVE MODULES IN MOUNT EVEREST

ALASKA TARGETED DWELLING

CLIMATIC HEALING

page 14

page 20

page 28

THE BIVOUAC: EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF LIVING

MOUNT EVEREST INN

COLOPHON

page 50

page 56

page 70

FOREWORD

Joshua Bolchover

Joshua Bolchover is currently Director of the Masters’ of Architecture Programme and Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong. His current research focuses on the complex urban-rural ecology of cities. He set up Rural Urban Framework with John Lin in 2005 with the remit to create a not-for-profit agency as a platform for design and research. Their projects have been internationally exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2016, the Design Museum London 2016, and The Chicago Biennale 2015. RUF’s work has been awarded the RIBA International Emerging Architect Award 2016 for the Angdong Hospital, The Curry Stone Design Prize 2015, The Ralph Erskine Prize 2014 and has received third place commendations for the Architectural Review’s Healthcare and Schools Award. Joshua’s recent publications include Border Ecologies: Hong Kong’s Mainland Frontier, Birkhauser, 2016, Designing the Rural: A Global Countryside in Flux, Architectural Design 2016, and Rural Urban Framework: Transforming the Chinese Countryside, Birkhauser 2013.

I first witnessed the work of Špela Videčnik and Rok Oman as an audience member of their final presentation of their graduating project at the AA DRL in 2000. Then, a student at the Bartlett, I was fascinated by their obsession to maximize the number of spatial permutations between two rooms. They manipulated the boundary wall through incisive pushes and pulls to the section to create multiple variations of programmatic adjacencies and living arrangements. Public and private spaces were in constant negotiation becoming embedded, encapsulated, separated or overlapped. Twenty years on and their methodology still resonates with their approach to Exigent Habitats, the topic of their studio brief as part of The University of Hong Kong’s Visiting Professor Series. The studio explored the creation of a basic dwelling in diverse, yet extreme environmental conditions impacted by flooding, avalanche, or extreme weather. The precariousness of making architecture in such locations provides a wider commentary on what it means to build today, given our current predicament of climate and atmospheric change. The projects reflected in this book touch the ground lightly, innovate with scarce resources, and test methods of prefabrication and modular construction. They explore how a unit can aggregate both sectionally and in plan to allow for building clusters to adapt to local constraints of both site and programme. Materials and systems of construction work with portability and environmental performance, balancing flexibility with managing the pragmatics of the hostile climate in which the projects are located. The resulting negotiations demonstrate an awareness to evolve a precise architecture for the challenges of the contemporary condition. This was exacerbated and intensified by the global pandemic, making it impossible for students to visit their sites or to meet Špela and Rok in person. Nevertheless, the work is a testament to both students and to Rok, Špela, José and Jane for their commitment and their articulation of a clear and precise methodology. The aim of the Visiting Professor Series is to enrich, exchange and inform architectural discourse within HKU and beyond, and although we missed their actual presence in Hong Kong, their contribution has been a testament to this objective.

INTRODUCTION

Rok Oman / Špela Videčnik / José Navarrete

Rok Oman and Špela Videčnik, both graduates of the University of Ljubljana School of Architecture and the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) in London, established OFIS arhitekti in 1996. Since its creation, the practice has received several awards and was invited to participate in Architecture Biennials in Venice, Moscow, and Beijing. OFIS works and communicates at an international level, taking part in competitions, lectures, and discourses. The team is based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Paris, France and Moscow, Russia. They have taught at the Harvard GSD since 2012, and also at faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana and Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture ParisVal de Seine and currently at Hong Kong University and the AA. José Navarrete holds a Master of Architecture and Urbanism from the University of Granada. Since 2016 he is a project architect in OFIS arhitekti, where he has participated in more than 30 projects. During this time he has also been project leader for projects of diverse sizes and programs, from shelters to museums, such as the Glass House in the desert, for which he served as architect-in-charge. He is enthusiastic about the latent potential of limitations in architecture. Currently he is a studio tutor at Hong Kong University and Diploma unit master at the Architectural Association.

Remote Living has been a Spring Semester studio focused on key global concerns such as environmental issues, climate change, increasing social and economic inequalities, mass tourism, waste management and growing population by exploring the limits of habitation in severe environments. These habitats represent a unique testing territory for human settlements because of its inherent climatic singularity. Understanding the performance of architectural proposals in these areas is essential to anticipate what might become standard in the rest of the planet for years to come. The research through design intends to propose schemes for specific sites while addressing issues such as the latest technological breakthroughs, vernacular tradition and local identity. The aim was to produce a coherent concept to cope with the exposed facts for each scenario. The final result of the studio will be a specific buildable proposal, accurately developed and defined by 3D models, plans, sections, construction details, physical models and possibly, 1:1 prototyping for some parts. Harsh environmental conditions require incisive designs that respond to irregular loading from strong winds, heavy snowfalls, avalanche risk zones and extreme cold. These phenomena are often instantaneous, sudden and unpredictable. Risk of severe weather increases the vulnerability of human habitation to natural surroundings. Housing, in particular, must achieve self-sufficiency in such environments in order to decrease dependency upon external infrastructural networks that can be severed during periods of harsh weather. It must avoid the problems that can be caused by complex material provision and inaccessible, remote terrain. Designing living environments must therefore consolidate solutions to scarcity, inaccessibility, self-sufficiency and specificity of innovation. The

Triglav Peak and panorama of Vrata Valley, Triglav National Park, Slovenia

existing dichotomy between vernacular housing traditions and the latest innovation in building technology establishes an interesting terrain for the design of comfortable living environments in the harshest weather conditions. In the beginning, we have investigated small scale architectural solutions to extreme climatic conditions. Students conducted research on traditional building designs that respond to risks associated with avalanches, heavy snowfalls, strong winds and low temperatures. As an introduction to building in these conditions, the studio produced several prototypical designs of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;smallest- possible habitable unitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that offer a temporary living space for up to eight mountaineers, hikers and researchers. The process involved using structural engineering and sustainable architectural elements to produce a shelter within strict design constraints â&#x20AC;&#x201C; minimum energy consumption, minimum envelope exposure, lightweight structure and adherence to the limits of remote transportation. In parallel, the studio took into consideration large-scale housing designs in a similarly harsh climate. The students selected extreme areas that require temporary accommodation. Through the continual development of research and the aggregation of the prototypes produced, the

students have designed a comfortable settlement that encourages social relations, respects the environment, has the minimum impact on nature and is optimised for the challenges posed by the extreme climate. Most of the research driven for the chosen location was produced by groups of students, while others worked individually. In addition to the quite experimental curriculum of this studio, the conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the way it was planned to be taught. The experience of remote learning took away our chances to meet physically, gather and discuss about the production of architecture but in no way it has reduced the quality and dedication put on the production of the projects exposed in this publication. Our students have been commited since the beginning, have worked hard and, most of the time, aimed well. Let their work be the best testimony of such a peculiar Semester to remember.

PROJECTS

FLEXIBLE ADAPTIVE MODULES IN MOUNT EVEREST Chan Ka Fai, Calvin / Zhao Jinglun, Jerry ALASKA TARGETED DWELLING Guo Huaer / Sun Yutong / Ng Sze Long Julian CLIMATIC HEALING Hon Tung Suet, Ophelia / Yim Chi Chung, Tim MT. EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 1 Ji Xiang Jason MT. EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 2 Sheng Tai Ted FOLDA-RECYCL-GAMI Lau Ho Chuen Maxwell / Yuen Ka Ho Kelvin THE BIVOUAC: EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF LIVING Vincent Lo MOUNT EVEREST INN Xiaopei Zhang / Yiwen Zhou

FLEXIBLE ADAPTIVE MODULES ON MOUNT EVEREST

Chan Ka Fai, Calvin / Zhao Jinglun, Jerry

INTRODUCTION

The reason of choosing this studio is based on the strong sense of calling as a future architect to give attention to the severe weather. Our purpose for this studio design is to explore the position of architecture between nature and human and how architecture could help people to adapt to the exigent climate. The chosen site is on Mount Everest. It is because of the assumption of that if our prototype could be applied to the most exigent environment, then it might be also possible to be applied to the less exigent environment around the world. Since people can only climb to the summit of Mount Everest in May, which is the window period each year, we want to propose a temporary structure that would only stay on the Mount Everest for one month, minimising the construction influence to the Mount Everest. The living modules would be carried by the helicopters to the 5 campsites along the climbing route. For the rest of the 11 months, the modules would be aggregated on a larger scale to form a residential village near the base camp for the shepherds and the local people.

FLEXIBLE ADAPTIVE MODULES IN MOUNT EVEREST | CHAN KA FAI, CALVIN / ZHAO JINGLUN, JERRY

ALASKA TARGETED DWELLING Guo Huaer / Sun Yutong / Ng Sze Long Julian

INTRODUCTION

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and designing living environments in Juneau must therefore consolidate solutions to economy, sociality, inaccessibility, and natural hazards with innovation particular to extreme climates. After preliminary research, we found that, with fisheries and tourism as the leading industries, many fishermen live and work in Juneau, seasonal tourists come to vacation, and mountaineering enthusiasts immerse in nature. The living demands, activity place, and social needs of different groups of people are also quite different. Furthermore, Juneau was mainly threatened by several natural disasters like avalanches, earthquakes. In this context, our research topic is targeted dwelling design. We hope that our prototype can meet the demands of different users in a flexible manner, and present representative communities according to the site features, and at the same time, protect the dwelling from natural hazards as the focus of structural design.

ALASKA TARGETED DWELLING | GUO HUAER / SUN YUTONG / NG SZE LONG JULIAN

FISHERMEN - FISHING SEASON

FISHERMEN - NON-FISHING SEASON

TOURIST

HIKER

ALASKA TARGETED DWELLING | GUO HUAER / SUN YUTONG / NG SZE LONG JULIAN

CLIMATIC HEALING Hon Tung Suet, Ophelia / Yim Chi Chung, Tim

INTRODUCTION

Climatic Healing is a minimalistic and sensitive healing retreat cluster which blends in with the natural context to reduce the assumed damages on Nature due to tourism development.Â The project looks specifically at the seasonal difference in Bovec to find opportunities to create a contextualized design. Therefore, there are dwelling stations, therapy stations and activity stations scattering along the hiking trail to cater the programmatic needs of tourists and local farmers in varying periods of the year. Eco tourism is the major concern in the project so in different stations, we try to achieve the appreciation of nature, education in renewable resources and participation in the local economy to create a sustainable business model for Bovec.

CLIMATIC HEALING | HON TUNG SUET, OPHELIA / YIM CHI CHUNG, TIM

EXIGENT HABITATS

STANDARD MODULE Design Features

Slope Adaptation; Simple Manufacturing; Minimal Ground Contact

Standard Wood Frame

Interior Finishing Panels

Supporting Wooden Frame

Exterior Finishing Panels

Insulation Infill

Triple Glazed Window

CLIMATIC HEALING | HON TUNG SUET, OPHELIA / YIM CHI CHUNG, TIM

Waterproofing Membrane

Steel Foundation

CLIMATIC HEALING | HON TUNG SUET, OPHELIA / YIM CHI CHUNG, TIM

MT. EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 1 Ji Xiang Jason

INTRODUCTION

Being the highest point on earth, the Mt. Everest attracts tourist, climbers, and scientists all year round. The harsh environment made it a challenge for short-term stay and long-term living in this region. Currently, the fragile environment is endangered by the excessive amount of human activities and wastes that produced during the inhabiting time. The tents also touch some parts of the ground and generate potential waste. Providing a temporary yet permanent structure in Everest base camps becomes urgent. To solve the increasing amount of people and activities and minimize the impact to the site context, we are looking for a solution that give possibilities to expand and retract according to various demands and situations.

MT. EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 1 | JI XIANG JASON

MT. EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 2 Sheng Tai Ted

INTRODUCTION

After we conducted a full investigation of Camp II, I got inspired by the local stone. Stone is the richest resources as a building material, it can resist the strong wind and keep warm because it can absorb the heat during the day and release it at night. So it is the perfect material for construction in such high mountain areas and extremely cold regions. Also, the stone is deeply integrated with the local culture. The Sherpa used stone to build houses and fence, to build religious sites to pray and memory, to carve scripture and history. Owing to our site (camp II) is full of stones, so I am wondering if I can fully use the local stone to build the shelter, it would be a perfect solution, considering the thermal insulation performance of the materials, the relationship between the building and nature, and the convenience of transportation. However, we cannot use the traditional construction methods, so I am looking for another way to quickly build a stone wall, so I turn to the gabion wall for alternatives. My project uses the gabion wall as a starting point and tries to respond positively to the natural environment (slope, wind, sunshine, heavy snow). At the same time, to make full use of the interspace to accommodate as many climbers as possible. Finally, we have a building that combines nature and function perfectly.

MT. EVEREST CAMP II DESIGN 2 | SHENG TAI TED

FOLDA-RECYCL-GAMI Lau Ho Chuen Maxwell / Yuen Ka Ho Kelvin

INTRODUCTION

The dynamics we are engaging is shelter for hikers to stay on Mountain Rombon to Prevala in Slovenia. The site is in national protected zone, vulnerable to waste accumulation and it is hard to be accessible with vehicle because it is located at high attitude, 2000 metres above sea levels. Our architectural intent is to experiment different geometry of light weight foldable structures which are easily transport to the site. In addition, we hope to test out the geometrical response to collecting water, accumulate snow for insulation to sustain hikersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; temporarily stay on the mountain. The business model is to organise plastic-free tourism which allows hikers to stay in our prototype in the mountain area whilst at the same time removing hazardous substances from the mountain by encouraging them to pick up wastes along the trail, which will be brought down the mountain and recycled in the workshop. for fabricating recycled useful products and building materials for the prototype as well. Ultimately, we would like to keep the mountain debris free, and to protect our environment by promoting plastic-free tourism, upcycling concept in hoping to achieve a circular economy.

DETAILS ILLUSTRATION

60mm Wood frame 100 mm Steel Cap 6mm Steel Claws (Fixing wood frame) Stablizing Cap for Steel cap on ground 60mm Foundation wood frame

Wood and Steel Cap foundation system 3mm wire U Bracket

Tensioner Pivot Joint Fastener on side panels Adhersion to the ground to withstand wind blow

The wood skeleton is fixated by steel claws in the steel cap. The steel cap is also stablized by another cap on the ground. The prototype is further stablized by having tensioner connecting to the side panels and the ground. 46 FOLDA-RECYCL-GAMI | LAU HO CHUEN MAXWELL / YUEN KA HO KELVIN

FOLDA-RECYCL-GAMI | LAU HO CHUEN MAXWELL / YUEN KA HO KELVIN

THE BIVOUAC Exploring the Future of Living Vincent Lo

INTRODUCTION

Located in the far reaches of the Earth, Antarctica, this research station utilises a self-sustaining ecosystem to further and develop the potentials of futuristic living environments. Populated by scientists and astronauts, the station provides a harmonious habitation for the two groups. These experts co-exists in this space to research the technique and effects of living in harsh and extreme conditions, advancing our knowledge and ability for further space exploration. This research station provides the facilities to monitor isolation effects and develop architectural technologies to help us adapt and maintain our daily activities in extreme exigent habitats.

THE BIVOUAC: EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF LIVING | VINCENT LO

MOUNT EVEREST INN Xiaopei Zhang / Yiwen Zhou

INTRODUCTION

Influenced by religious culture, it is not hard to find that local temples and residential complexes use the stone that falling down from the mountain mixed with clay to build and smooth the exterior wall. strong red and white color is aimed to show their worship. we were considering to use stones to build our aggreagations but if we considered to make a flexible assembled aggregations, we believed it is a not a good choice. But as a loadbearing structural elements, we would like to use the stone as retaining walls to gradually blend the whole building with the ground . It is flexible to be disassembled and relocated to different sites. Since many components of a building are completed in the factory, the size of the prototype allows truck as the mainly transportation method to deliver on the Everest highway. Then the next step is how the hexagon-shape could assemble to fit different site conditions. We can tell that the different size of orange spots are the local villages that sitting along the highway. There are two famous temples near to the base camp, where the local residents and pilgrims always gathered around . So we decided to set our site between these temples and along the highway to bring the convenience and incorporate with the local community. Each prototype was developed horizontally and vertically by rotating and interlocking to adapt to different angles of rising slope. The crossing pocket area are the interior key area for celecrating, communicating and gathering

MOUNT EVEREST INN | XIAOPEI ZHANG / YIWEN ZHOU

final exhibition HKU, july 2020

Remote Living is a Spring Semester studio focused on key global concerns such as environmental issues, climate change, increasing social and economic inequalities, mass tourism, waste management and growing population by exploring the limits of habitation in severe environments. These habitats represent a unique testing territory for human settlements because of its inherent climatic singularity. Understanding the performance of architectural proposals in these areas is essential to anticipate what might become standard in the rest of the planet for years to come. The research through design intends to propose schemes for specific sites while addressing issues such as the latest technological breakthroughs, vernacular tradition and local identity. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank Eric Schuldenfrei, Head of the Department and Joshua Bolchover, Director of the Mastersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of Architecture Programme at the University of Hong Kong for the opportunity to instruct this studio. We are also grateful to the guest critics that joined us during the semester and, of course to all of the students for their commitment and hard work. Special thanks to our teaching assistant, Jane Luk, for her relentless support, valuable feedback, good coordination and assistance during the semester and for the organization of the final exhibition.

Published by The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Architecture 4/F, Knowles Building Pokfulam Road Hong Kong ÂŠ2020 HKU - Faculty of Architecture Text and images ÂŠ 2020 by their authors No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher, except in the context of reviews. Every reasonable attempt has been made to identify owners of copyright. Errors or omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions IMAGE CREDITS Cover image: Hon Tung Suet Ophelia and Yim Chi Chung Tim 2, 12, 74-75: Lau Ho Chuen Maxwell 10-11: Javier Sanchez Portero / Wikimedia 62-73: HKU - Faculty of Architecture 76-79: Chan Ka Fai Calvin

Remote Living is a Spring Semester studio focused on key global concerns such as environmental issues, climate change, increasing social and economic inequalities, mass tourism, waste management and growing population by exploring the limits of habitation in severe environments. These habitats represent a unique testing territory for human settlements because of its inherent climatic singularity. Understanding the performance of architectural proposals in these areas is essential to anticipate what might become standard in the rest of the planet for years to come. The research through design intends to propose schemes for specific sites while addressing issues such as the latest technological breakthroughs, vernacular tradition and local identity. Studio led by Rok Oman, Špela Videčnik, José Navarrete / teaching assistant Jane Luk / projects by Chan Ka Fai Calvin, Guo Huaer, Hon Tung Suet Ophelia, Ji Xiang Jason, Lau Ho Chuen Maxwell, Vincent Lo, Ng Sze Long Julian, Sheng Tai Ted, Sun Yutong, Yim Chi Chung Tim, Yuen Ka Ho Kelvin, Xiaopei Zhang, Zhao Jinglun Jerry, Yiwen Zhou / with a foreword by Joshua Bolchover / edited by Rok Oman, Špela Videčnik, José Navarrete / published by The University of Hong Kong - Faculty of Architecture.