Meta | daptic

meta|daptic

University of Nicosia Architecture Research Centre 2015

Unit 5 - In ‘n’ Out Crisis A. Swiny M. Georgiou N. Christou

by

Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra

Contents|

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ flood

*experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ tree + water [b] architectural precedents/ buckminster fuller *topic : pattern formation/ beehive *crisis : environmental/ flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ flood *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ tree + water [b] architectural precedents/ buckminster fuller *topic : pattern formation/ beehive *crisis : environmental/ flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

water in river/lake

water level in river/lake rising

water level in river/lake overtops existing levĂŠe and escapes its usual boundaries

flood

flood types:

flash flood_ “In areas with steep slopes, heavy rain can cause a riverbed that held very little or no water at first, to suddenly brim with fast flowing water.

The rain water is collected on the slopes,then flows downhill gathering speed and all the water comes together in the river bed. The water level rises fast.

The water flows over the river banks and floods the area. Speed is the keyword. It all happens fast, it rains heavily. The water flows at high speed. Because of this speed it has the strength to carry away heavy objects.

The flood stops as suddenly as it starts.

community location within steep slopes

A flash flood is a very direct response to rainfall with a very high intensity or sudden massive melting of snow.

The area covered by water in a flash flood is relatively small compared to other types of floods. The amount of water that covers the land is usually not very large, but is so concentrated on a small area that it can rise very high.

Because of the sudden onset and the high travelling speed of the water, flash floods can be very dangerous.

The water can transport large objects like rocks, trees and cars. Never drive through a flash flood, even if it doesn’t seem to be very deep: the car may be swept away by the sheer speed of the water.

excessive rain/ water is collected on the slopes

When a dyke breaks along the sea or along a river, the water may flow in so suddenly and with such speed that you could compare it with a flash flood.”

http://www.floodsite.net/

water flows downhill coming together with the river overflowing it

flash flood_prevention “In some places, retaining walls levees, lakes, dams, reservoirs or retention ponds have been constructed to hold extra water during times of flooding.�

community location within steep slopes

excessive rain/ water is collected on the slopes

http://eschooltoday.com/

water flows downhill coming together with the river. vegetation reduces water speed and retains water. river level rises -retaining walls allow river to hold extra water

vegetation

vegetation

wall construction

vegetation

vegetation wall construction

vegetation

vegetation

wall construction

coastal flood_ “A coastal flood is when the coast is flooded by the sea.

The cause of such a surge is a severe storm. The storm wind pushes the water up and creates high waves.

A storm is formed in al low pressure area, as you may know. An interesting fact is that beneath a low pressure area the sea level is higher. Think of a balloon. Press it hard and it flattens. Release pressure and it bounces back. The rule of thumb is that with each millibar of pressure less, the sea level rises a centimetre. This contributes to the high sea level, but the wind can have a larger effect.

A flood starts when waves move inland on an undefended coast or overtop or breach the coastal defence works like dunes and dikes. The waves attack the shore time and again. When it is a sandy coast, each wave in a storm will take sand away. Eventually a dune may collapse that way.

see side community location

Very characteristic of a coastal flood is that the water level drops and rises with the tide. At high tide the water may flow in and at low tide it may recede again.

When a sea defence is breached, low tide is the time to repair the breach. In the animation you see the build-up of force by the sea and how the sea floods the coast. Once it overtops and breaches the defences, the sea enters fast, but slows down when it spreads over a larger area.�

http://www.floodsite.net/

waves moving inland

coastal flood_prevention “Sea walls and tide gates have been built in some places to prevent tidal waves from pushing the waters up ashore. In some areas too, sand bags are made and placed in strategic areas to retain floodwaters.�

see side community location

http://eschooltoday.com/

waves moving inland are restricted from reaching community due to natural or manmade wall system

natural (vegentation) or permanent(concrete)/ephemeral(sandbags) constructed wall system

natural (vegentation) or permanent(concrete)/ephemeral(sandbags) constructed wall system

urban flood_

urban flood_prevention

“Urban flooding is specific in the fact that the cause is a lack of drainage in an urban area. As there is little open soil that can be used for water storage nearly all the precipitation needs to be transport to surface water or the sewage system. High intensity rainfall can cause flooding when the city sewage system and draining canals do not have the necessary capacity to drain away the amounts of rain that are falling. Water may even enter the sewage system in one place and then get deposited somewhere else in the city on the streets.

Sometimes you see dancing drain covers.

“Reduction of litter keeps drainage system clean and water can flow without restrictions”

Urban floods are a great disturbance of daily life in the city. Roads can be blocked, people can’t go to work or to schools. The economic damages are high but the number of casualties is usually very limited, because of the nature of the flood. The water slowly rises on the city streets. When the city is on flat terrain the flow speed is low and you can still see people driving through it. The water rises relatively slow and the water level usually does not reach life endangering heights.”

http://www.floodsite.net/

urban community with underground sewage system

sewage system capacity is limited leading to flood after excessive rainfall

fluvial flood_ “Rainfall over an extended period and an extended area can cause major rivers to overflow their banks.

The water can cover enormous areas. Downstream areas may be affected, even when they didn’t receive much rain themselves.

With large rivers the process is relatively slow. The rain water enters the river in many ways. Some rain will fall into the river directly, but that alone doesn’t make the river rise high. A lot of rain water will run off the surface when the soil is saturated or hard. It will flow to small rivers that flow to larger rivers and these rivers flow into even larger rivers. In this way all the rain that fell in a large area (catchment area) comes together in this one very large river. When there is a lot of rain over a long period, you see the river rise gradually as it is fed with water form smaller rivers. It takes time for all the rainwater to reach the river, but once it is in the river it has to flow downstream to sea.”

small rivers joining large river

river level gradually rises and then over flows http://www.floodsite.net/

flood archive:

Data mapped according to the Global Archive of Large Flood Events from 1985-2007

Dartmouth Flood Observatory http://www.dartmouth.edu/

1985

2007

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ flood *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ tree + water [b] architectural precedents/ buckminster fuller *topic : pattern formation/ beehive *crisis : environmental/ flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

how does the tree puch water upwards against gravity:

tree divided in three main sections:

leaves

stem

root

rings of tree consist of xylem

water goes from the root xylem to the stem xylem

the stem xylem xylem is part of the tree system that transports water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Xylem consists of specialized water-conducting tissues made up mostly of narrow, elongated, hollow cells.

empty container fills with water [slow rate]

blowing air

water molecules grasp on water molecules moving upwards

water container

water moving upwards cappilary attraction experiment

water moving upwards pressure difference experiment

cold air

cold air

water

water sucked in warm air bottle

in the warm air bottle the oxygen is exhausted and the the volume of the air decreases therefore the water rises due to lack of air pressure within the bottle

4.

water is directed through stem xylem towards the leaves were it is released through evaporation

3. water moves through root xylem towards stem xylem

2. root hair forming cells located on the epidermis of the root absorb water from ground

1.

water in ground

potato test [osmosis]

creating a cavity in a potato and filling it with sodium chloride

adding water in the external surface of the potato

water begins moving through the root (30’)

osmosis explanation

Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides.

water A water B sodium chloride

water B

water A

water B

water A

water B

water A

water B

water A

water level

when solvent molecules are placed on both sides of the semi-permeable membrane the molecules move through freely with the liquid level being equal on both sides

water B

water A

water B water level

water level

when higher solute concentration is placed in side B (hypertonic) of the semi-permeable membrane, the water molecules of side A (hypotonic), which have lower solute concentration, move through the membrane, towards side B in order to equallize the solute concentration on both sides

water level

water level

water A

explanation of _ permeable/semi permeable/non permeable status of materials

permeable materials

semi permeable materials

non permeable materials

allow liquids or gases to pass through it

are partially permeable allow passage of certain, especially small, molecules or ions but acts as a barrier to others

do not allow liquids or gases to pass through it

salt in parchment paper in water

water passes through

testing parchment paper to achieve osmosis

testing cellophane membrane to achieve osmosis

testing layers of cellophane membrane to achieve osmosis

Water passes from first membrane (salt) but does not continue moving up because the solute concentration after the first semi-permeable membrane becomes higher (water+salt).

The second membrane that consists salt is of lower solute concentration, therefore the water is not attracted towards it and stays in the hypertonic region of the first membrane.

representation of osmosis through particle simulation

component placed in mud does not absorb any water mud solute concentration is higher that waters

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ flood *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ tree + water [b] architectural precedents/ buckminster fuller *topic : pattern formation/ beehive *crisis : environmental/ flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

RICHARD BUCKMINSTER FULLER 1895 - 1983

three main innovations buckminster fuller contributed to architectural and engineering thinking

1933

DYMAXION HOUSE

super-light and efficient house and car

1953 GEODESIC DOMES

1975

SYNERGETICS [publication]

the result of decades of exploration into an alternate mathematical coordinate system

“The word tensegrity is an invention: it is a contraction of tensional integrity.

Tensegrity describes a structural-relationship principle in which structural shape is guaranteed by the finitely closed, comprehensively continuous, tensional behaviors of the system and not by the discontinuous and exclusively local compressional member behaviors.

Tensegrity provides the ability to yield increasingly without ultimately breaking or coming asunder.“ Buckminster Fuller

SYNERGETICS Chapter 700.00 - Tensegrity

“All structures, properly understood, from the solar system to the atom, are tensegrity structures. Universe is omnitensional integrity.�

Buckminster Fuller Synergies

plato solids and associations

tetrahedron

octahedron

cube

icosahedron

dodecahedron

fire

air

earth

water

cosmos

The solids are the tetrahedron, or pyramid which is associated with fire, and the octahedron which is associated with air, the icosahedron which is associated with water, and the cube which is associated with earth. The dodecahedron is the solid of the Cosmos.

Plato Timaeus 53c -56c

20 equilateral triangle faced polyhedron

internal rectangles with edge length ratios of 2:1

20 triangular pyramid cells meet at the apex

the icosahedron

20 equilateral triangle faced polyhedron

internal rectangles with edge length ratios of 2:1

edges replaced with struts

“well� defined space within struts

the tensegrity icosahedron

model 100mm wooden struts+rubber bands

the icosahedron substituing cables with elastic fabric

front view

in order to join two icosahedron two of the triangular faces are placed on top of each other inverted

the cables join all ends of the 6 end points of struts forming a regular hexagon

joining icosahedrons through faces manipulation

top view

joining two icosahedron by diminishing one strut requires the shifting of the two perpedicular struts

the faces are no longer equal on each icosahedron

joining icosahedrons through struts and cables manipulation

-------------horizontal joined struts

joining icosahedrons by connecting vertical and horizontal struts generating a tensegrity grid

----------------------------------------vertical joined struts

joining icosahedrons through merging struts

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ [b] architectural precedents/ *topic : pattern formation/ *crisis : environmental/

flood tree + water buckminster fuller beehive flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

tesselation

“Metamorphosis II� split in two Maurits Cornelis Escher

regular* tesselation of euclidean plane

In the Euclidean plane there are only 3 possible regular (a tessellation is called regular* if its faces are regular and equal; the same number of polygons meet at each vertex) tessellations: {3,6} in which equilateral triangles meet six at each vertex {4,4} in which squares meet four at each vertex {6,3} in which hexagons meet three at each vertex

triangular tiling

square tiling

hexagonal tiling

tesselations in nature

TU Delft’s faculty of Architecture http://rendsm.hyperbody.nl/

the beehive; tesselation in nature

bees require cells large enough to fit a bee inside and store sufficient amount of nectar

the cirlce

circle packing

the hexagon

hexagon packing

most efficient geometrical shape perimeter : area ratio

packing method that generates wasted space (yellow)

geometrical shape that resemples the circle and maintains an efficient perimeter : area ratio

packing method that doesn’t generate wasted space

small perimeter large area

“...the cells actually start off as circles — molded by the shape of a bee’s body — and then flow into a hexagonal pattern seconds later...”

Bhushan Karihaloo Cardiff University

“...think about the honey bees... They spend their lives flying from flower to flower to collect nectar to make honey. They think that’s their purpose but their true -and much larger- purpose is to pollinate the flowers...”

the law of precession Buckminster Fuller

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ [b] architectural precedents/ *topic : pattern formation/ *crisis : environmental/

flood tree + water buckminster fuller beehive flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

flood crisis leads to deaths...

...destruction of crops generating financial crisis...

...destruction of buildings and social structure generating social crisis...

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ [b] architectural precedents/ *topic : pattern formation/ *crisis : environmental/

flood tree + water buckminster fuller beehive flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

The el ni単o and la ni単a effects

The el ni単o and la ni単a effects are responsible for the worlds largests floods and most intense droughts. The west and east pacific coast are the areas mostly affected by the phenomena even though the entire globe is exposed to them.

el ni単o

la ni単a

the andes mountains located in South America have repeatedly reported incidents of floods occuring during the el ni単o effect season

peru located on the andes mountains is in the list of the deadliest floods that have ever occured

peru

warm-dry/ desert variety of temperatures/ rocky mountains hot-wet/ rainforest

peru-environments

rivers piura tumbes_1983-364 deaths rannrahirca_1962-4000 deaths pampallacta_1963-300 deaths cordillera blanca_1941-5000 deaths huallaga cusco_1982-532 deaths

greatest floods occuring in areas of the andes mountains that are near rivers

localizing site Peru_Cuzco_Quillabamba

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ [b] architectural precedents/ *topic : pattern formation/ *crisis : environmental/

flood tree + water buckminster fuller beehive flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

On emergency; the pod

“By definition, emergencies occur within a space. They are always contained in a specific territory. The role of emergency procedures is to maintain the limits of a particular space. In a sense, they define the real geometry of that space. The actual condition of a space is not revealed in its visible shape but in the emergency protocols that are used to maintain the shape.”

“Space in Crisis” Mark Wigley

areas of Quillabamba river has rised in the past indication of public spaces that could potentially host pods for the flood affected

replacing the two vertical struts with four

vertical support to ground generated

creation of “easy� access towards the interior of the pod

model 1:50

indication of single strut replacement by two creation of access

free standing pod

wax is a semipermeable material prevents water molecules from passing throught it allowss oxygen to pass through

pod model 1:50

hardened fabric models

arbitrary

pod expansion

pods connecting and creating an ephemeral communal structure

hardened weaved fabric test model

fabric+wax

fabric+wax+metal support

excessive wax

space in fabric being pushed by struts

tension fabric model

connecting icosahedrons

PHASE 1_Learn

*condition : water/ *experiments : [a] natural systems precedents/ [b] architectural precedents/ *topic : pattern formation/ *crisis : environmental/

flood tree + water buckminster fuller beehive flood

PHASE 2_Apply

*localizing the crisis: *the pod:

south america-andes mountains/ peru_cuzco_quillabamba flood/

on emergency

*meta | daptic:

flood/

PHASE 3_Realize

on crisis

“ What happens to architecture when the situation goes beyond emergency? What happens when emergency turns into crisis as the familiar linear narrative—immediate danger and rapid response followed by careful repair and eventual recovery—does not unfold? What happens when the recovery narrative itself breaks down? What would be the architecture of crisis? Is crisis architecture a contradiction in terms or a crucial unacknowledged force?”

“Space in Crisis” Mark Wigley

metabolism biology-the complex of physical and chemical processes involved in the maintenance of life the functioning of any specific substance within the living body metabolic zoology- undergoing metamorphosis adapt to make suitable to requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment

metabolic+adapt=metadaptic

Meta | daptic Project Natural disasters have proven their superiority to humans.

Nature has been able till now to continuously adapt to any environmental challenges.

Following this, the proposal for areas that are in constant risk of flooding is constructed. Prevention and avoidance of the crisis are substituted by terms such as adaptation and adjustment within the crisis. Turning away from the area the crisis evolves, is not an option. Each site challenges are considered an opportunity for innovation. The motivation for people to take matters on their own hands is pursued.

For Quillabamba the program becomes the breeding of the elements required, which are celebrated through seasonal cycles, for the manufacture of a structure that at time of crisis can perform as a generator of a safe environment for the maintenance of the social structure.

the construction of Quillabamba on the top of the mountain as a grid cmes in complete contradiction to Machu Pichu’s architecture that follows the contour lines the selection of the site aims to act as a sign of a more “appropriate” location for construction

Quillabamba has large plantations of coca.

The government in an attempt to reduce cocaine production, burns and pours chemicals on the plantations.

Beyond endagering the lives of the locals the destruction of flora weakens the land .

The El Ni単o effect with its heavy rainfall period and the weak land generate mudslides and floods.

on program_ bamboo plantations for reinforcement of land, reduction of coca cultivation and production of construction material

on program_ beehives cultivation government funds Quillabamba for beehive cultivation in order to promote the reduction of coca plantations. wax extraction is used for weaving threads other beehive products are to provide income to beekeepers

the thread spinning and weaving ancient incan tradition

model

beehive platform

“Cocomama was an Incan goddess that initially was a flirty female who was cut in half by jealous lovers and subsequently transformed into the world’s first coca plant.

Men who managed to satisfy their woman’s sexual needs were rewarded with a munch on the coca leaves afterwards.

She was the Goddess of mental and physical health”

“..the body is not a stack of bricks but rather a set of parts which their integrity and continuity is due to its tensional elements..”

Buckminster Fuller

Tom Flemon’s Tensegrity Model of the Spine yoga-pilates and bitotensegrity

Joseph Pilates’ teachings indicate and intend a whole structure being held by opposing forces, creating a uniform state of tension (elasticity/tone) to maximum capacity for stability, resilience, wholeness, integration and balance.

section aa

waxed fabric component model 1:50

bee view digital model

model of structure 1:100