Unit Introduction 2013-2014

Page 1

Unit 5 ‘in/out crisis’ emergent and adaptive

tutors: alessandra swiny & michalis georgiou

University of Nicosia, Department of Architecture. [ARC] Architecture Research Center


Research Objectives The Unit

grasps a critical momentum in time

and examines the current state of

Crisis from a positive state mind that can generate built environment.

new ways and a new approach

of

to the

We address Crisis as a positive momentum towards a different environmental, social, political, or financial states. Crisis is an opportunity to

create constructive change

sedentary lethargic inactivity.

Create intelligent strategies for alternative solutions

and

escape


Crisis Definition A

CRISIS from the Greek

κρίσις

"critical" is any event that is, or expected to lead to, an affecting an individual, group, community, or whole society.

- krisis;

unstable

and

dangerous situation

security, economic, political, societal, or environmental affairs Crises are deemed to be negative changes in the

, especially when they occur

abruptly, with little or no warning.

More

loosely,

it

is

a

term

meaning

'a testing time'

'EMERGENCY EVENT'.

or

an

text taken from Wikipedia


Crisis Definition unexpected

creates uncertainty is seen as

a threat to important goals

"crisis is a process of transformation where the old system can no longer be maintained." Therefore the fourth defining quality is

Venette argues that

the

need for change

. If change is not needed, the event could more accurately be

described as a failure.

Apart from natural crises of the crises that we face are depends upon

that are inherently unpredictable (volcanic eruptions, tsunami etc.) most

created by man.

Hence the requirements of their being 'unexpected'

man failing to note the onset of crisis conditions.


Crisis Definition We currently exist between

three states: everyday, emergency, and crisis.

Emergency is an integral part of the space. 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.

A crisis

is the moment that the threat is not just inside the space but is actually

an

extreme challenge to the space itself

threat within a system, whole system.

If an emergency is a

Crises always appear as

a crisis is a

threat to the

the failure of a spatial system, a

failure of architecture.

Mark Wigley, C-LAB Space in Crisis


Paths or Lenses of investigation

Check list: A B C D

Type of Crisis Technique/Tools Terrain (Site) Program


A. Types of Crisis

1. 2. 3. 4.

Environmental Political Social Financial


A1. Environmental

Natural Disasters Climate change Human Induced disasters (oil spills, nuclear, etc.)


A2. Political

War / Refugees/Global wealth shifting / Distribution of Power

A. Types of Crisis


A3. Social

Arab Spring / Uprisings Occupy movement Dissolving Fracturing of Family Structure Migration immigration


A4. Financial

Cyprus / Unemployment / Freezing Developing sector Consumerism Europe American Real Estate Migration immigration

A. Types of Crisis


STUDENT WORK Unit 5 – Fall 2013- Spring 2014 4th & 5th Year

P_VasquezHadjilyra. Inverted Utopia lost things in the sand A_Aristodemou_Trashformer A_Ragkousis_Marine Debris Upcycling Center G_Hadjimattheou-A.M_Tarkasi_welcome_2_hell

A. Types of Crisis


Araoune. Mali. P_VasquezHadjilyra


Athens, Greece. A_Aristodemou_Trashformer


Thessaloniki, Greece A_Ragkousis_Marine Debris Upcycling Center


Centralia, USA G_Hadjimattheou-A.M_Tarkasi_welcome_2_hell


B. Tools and Techniques

1. 2. 3. 4.

Analogue vs. Digital Handmade vs. Fabrication New vs. Re-Used/Salvaged Low Tech vs. High Tech


B1. Analogue vs. Digital Analogue and Digital Medias will be expected to be interwoven as the first step of the presence of juxtaposed dualities in the real world.

B. Tools and Techniques


A_Aristodemou_Trashformer


B2. Handmade vs. Fabrication Handmade drawings, models, digital processing and fabrication can lead away from the questionable current direction of Architecture.

B. Tools and Techniques


P_Vasquez Hadjilyra.Inverted Utopia lost things in the sand


B3. New vs. Re-Used/Salvaged The state-of-the-art technology and experimental materiality is expected to promote sustainability by remaking and reusing existing resources.

B. Tools and Techniques


M_Ioannou_Crystalizing_the_atmosphere


B4. Low Tech VS High Tech Low Tech accommodates High Tech and vice versa.

B. Tools and Techniques


1

ll

,,~ t

(

~'

a.

E_Mintsiou_Parasitizing_the_void


B. Tools and Techniques

The above techniques and tools will be approached through a series of in-class daily workshops.


B. Tools and Techniques Laser Cutting applications


B. Tools and Techniques 3D Printing Prototypes


B. Tools and Techniques 7-axis CNC Machine – Connection to the Industry


C. Terrain (Site) 4th and 5th year students (Choose over Summer): The sites will be selected based on certain terrain conditions (unclaimed, unstable, flooded, dangerous, polluted, abandoned, unsafe, uninhabitable, radioactive, underground, over ground, aquatic, deserted, extraterrestrial, etc.) always related to the thematic – ‘in Crisis’ 5th year students can continue with sites that have already chosen at an earlier stage in their studies.


C. Terrain (Site)

The situation demands innovation. The spaces being protected have to change to survive. Crises produce new forms.


C. Terrain (Site)

Crises are ultimately productive.

Crisis is not a particular condition. It is the crucial turning point of either recovery or death! They force invention.


D. 4th Year Program Response Center:

Adaptive/Emergent Environment:

Habitation Researching Production Cultivation Maintenance Salvaging

Rethinking Urban-scape Reclaiming Contested sites Regenerating damaged landscapes Integrating Sub-natures Adapting to extreme weather


D. 5th Year Program Program related to the thematic of the Unit and derived from each student’s research interests and existing interests


E. Unit Extra Curriculum Activities

• Possible Collaboration with the Architecture Department of the American University of Sharjah, UAE, George Katodrytis, Associate Professor • Unit Field Trip • Participation in a Live Project


What would be the architecture of crisis??

*All images in this presentation (except students work) are taken from internet sources using the relevant key word search on google


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