Frei
Otto, Roof for the Multihalle in Manheim
– installing the grid (1974-1975)
“(...) The more we reveal
nature’s material connections, and the more we feel the need to make our cities
true urban landscapes – that is, nature formed by the intellect – the clearer
it becomes that the character of the skin or membrane between the exterior
space and the dimension of the body basically relates to the way in which the
space is defined and dimensioned on a psycho-physical level (…).”
Segfried Ebeling
In [P1] potential relations between body><covering><environment
and materiality<>phenomena<>effects were explored. Applying the
same optics, in [P2] the structural and material properties of selected
examples from the 20th century Western history of architecture were analysed
thus creating a collective archive of exemplary architectural materializations
of relations body><covering><environment. Maintaining this focus,
through the performance of series of experiments [P3] aims at the generation of space(-s) within potential membranes
which embody specific relations between the human body and the phenomenon
selected in [P1].
“(…) Field conditions are bottom-up phenomena, defined not by
overarching geometrical schemas but by intricate local connections. Form
matters, but not so much the forms of things as the form between things. (…)”
Stan Allen
All students are
asked to team up, choosing a partner who in the [P1] investigated phenomena which differs from their own. The team
is required to choose a structural principle explored and documented in the [P2] archive. On the basis of the
commonly selected structural principle each team is asked to perform investigations
in which they focus on potential materializations of specific relations human body><covering><environment
affected by their chosen weather phenomena.
[m.o. #1] Based on initial intentions regarding
relations body><covering
><environment – environment understood as her or his selected phenomenon
- each student is asked to define a set of parameters which the student find should
guide further production within the team. These parameters should define the delimitations
of the team´s negotiation on which common structural principle further
investigations are to be based.
The discussion of parameters should be based on an initial testing of
consequences materialized in diagrams; test models et.al.
“(…)Time always expresses itself by producing, or more precisely, by
drawing matter into a process of becoming ever-different, (…).”
Sanford Kwinter
[m.o. #2]
– following the choice of common structural principle, each team is asked to
define common parameters concerning:
> ‘time-scale’ or speed – having an impact on the character of differences studied, the team is asked to choose between relating
their investigations in [P3] to a 24-hour or a 12-month or a 20-year cycle.
> situation – in this context meaning
longitude – latitude; n-e-s-w orientation
[m.o. #3] – development of a series of probes
Within their
common parametric framework, each team is asked to initiate the production of a
series of probes testing potential materializations of particular relationships
between human body><covering
><environment.
The production
of each probe should be based on programming a strategy to act upon or against
previously investigated phenomena, furthermore on the definition of intentions
concerning production of specific effect(s). In other words, the production
should be guided by the formulation of clear research questions and followed by
analysis of the results in order to extract potential conclusions allowing the development
of probes to be performed in a dialogue between intention and discovery.
Thus the
production of each probe is expected to inform the production of following.
Thu. October 10th
12:30
[Pin up #1]
Team presentation
of choice of:
> structural
principle
> ‘time-scale’ or speed
The presentation
should include documentation of the process leading to the specific parametric choices
made.
Material to be presented:
Production
investigating the potential consequences of the team´s parametric decisions.
1 page
announcing preliminary further investigation programme. The following is required:
> preliminary title relating to subject matter of the anticipated investigations
> preliminary title relating to subject matter of the anticipated investigations
> a
description of chosen structural principle
> a
description of chosen ‘time-scale’ or speed
> a
description of chosen situation
> the first
and last names of the authors
> format: an A3 format reduced to
29.7 x 32,7. With a 3 cm zone reserved for gluing, this leaves 29.7cm x 29.7cm
for graphic lay out.
>paper code: Technical drawing paper 185 gr.
>font: Times
New Roman
>margins:
3,5cm t/b/l/r of the graphic lay out zone.
– for further
information, please follow the [P2] layout guide
Thu. October 24th
[Pin up #2]
[Pin up #2]
Team presentation
of:
> a minimum
of 4 probes
> the
parameters guiding the production of each presented probe
> conclusions
drawn from the production of each presented probe
> relation
between conclusions drawn and their influence on progression in the production
of the presented probes
All material
should be processed, comprehensively and coherently organized and presented in a zigzag-folded book (one side printed).
>format: an A3 format is reduced to 29.7 x 32,7. With a 3 cm
zone reserved for gluing, this leaves 29.7cm x 29.7cm for graphic lay out.
Please note that the last page should not have a gluing zone meaning the format
of the last page is 29.7 x 29.7 cm.
>paper code: Technical drawing paper 185 gr.
>font: Times
New Roman
>margins: 3,5cm
t/b/l/r of the graphic lay out zone.
For further
information on lay out guidelines, see [P2]. Please note that the specific layout
and required number of pages in the book will depend on the nature of the
produced and/or collected material, however it should contain:
> 1 revised page announcing
programme of investigation focusing on the membrane as a mediator
<body><environment>
2 pages per
probe
> documenting
the particular qualities developed in each probe
> documenting
investigations and experiments performed leading to the production of each
probe
> announcing
subject matter of investigations and announcing parameters framing the
performance of experiments
> announcing
conclusions drawn from each investigation/experiment/probe
All source
material – quotes, references, images etc. – must announce source according to the
provided reference system.
All material investigated or developed in relation to the production of
probes should be available at the presentation.
Thu. November 7th
[Pin up #3] Hand-in
Team presentation
of:
> a series of
ʻfinal’ models and/or prototypes that
framed by the chosen parameters concerning ʻtime-scale’ or speed and situation, document
the materialization of specific relations between the human body><covering ><environment.
All material should be processed, comprehensive and coherently organized
and presented in the zigzag-folded book (one side printed). For information on
format; paper code et. al., see [Pin up #2].
Please note that
the specific layout and required number of pages in the book will depend on the
nature of the produced and/or collected material, however in relation to each ‘final’ model and/or prototype as a
minimum the following is required:
> announcement of the act of covering: a description of the relation between the investigated phenomena and the covering materialized.
>a
description of the covering: its physiognomy, scale, material properties;
>in relation
to the human body a description of the effect(s) produced: its/their physical
properties and their intentional appearance related to ‘time-scale’ or speed. This should be supplemented by reflections on the character
of the potential experiential qualities developed.
>a
description of intentional other effects produced.
All material presented in the book should be critically selected in order to document findings
during development of the ‘final’ models and/or prototypes.
All source
material – quotes, references, images etc. – must announce source according to
the provided reference system.
The books are to
be delivered both on paper and as a PDF documents uploaded to the shared folder
>>>> Shared (R) >Bachelor
>Unit 2+3d_AL >F2013 >Phase III
All material investigated or developed in relation to the production of models/prototypes
should be available at the presentation.
Method:
Research by design using model construction as tool of inquiry in the
investigation of materialized relationships between the human body-environment.
In this context environment is
understood as a selected climatic phenomenon and materialization as the development of covering(-s).
Team work (2 students) in dialogue with individual production.
Team work (2 students) in dialogue with individual production.
Media:
Models, and a process ‘log’ extracted in a contribution to the publication
of a book.
Duration:
Oct. 7th
– Nov. 7th.
Objectives:
delimitation of field of investigation; the application of critically
focused data search and processing in the development of a series of architectural
probes; using models as a tool of inquiry the construction of experiments
enabling relevant conclusions to be drawn in a dialogue intention-discovery; based
on conclusions extracting potentials for further development.
Calendar:
Mon. Oct. 7th
9:00am:
[P3] Introduction/ Glasburet, Paradisga
10:00am
Readings discussion/ Glasburet
Thu. Oct. 10th
12:30pm [Pin up
#1]/Studio
Thu. Oct. 24th
9:00am: [Pin up #2] Laden S/N /
Nørreport
Thu. Nov. 7th
9:00am [Pin up #3] Hand-in/ The
Gym, Paradisgade
Readings:
ÁBALOS, Iñaki “Thermodynamic Beauty” in: Ábalos + Sentkiewicz, 2G, n56, January 2011, pp. 126-136
ALLEN, Stan (2009) “From Object to Field. Field Conditions in
Architecture + Urbanism” in: ALLEN, Stan: Practice:
Architecture, technique + representation, New York: Routledge, pp. 217-243
Architectural Design: Energies: New Material Boundaries
HILL, Jonathan (2012) Weather
Architecture, Routledge,
KWINTER, Sanford
(2002) Architectures of Time. Toward a
Theory of the Event in Modernist Culture, MIT Press paperback edition,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
LEATHERBARROW, David (2009) “Breathing Walls” and “Unscripted
Performances” in: LEATHERBARROW, David: Architecture
Oriented Otherwise, New York: Princeton Architectural Press
SOMOL, Robert; WHITING, Sarah (2002) “Notes about the Doppler
Effect and other Moods of Modernism” in: Perspecta
33, The Yale Architectural Journal, pp. 72-77
Links:
[1] OTTO, Frei, Roof for the Multihalle in Manheim – installing the grid (1974-1975) in: NERDINGER, Winfried (ed.) (2005) Frei Otto. Complete works. Basel, Boston, Berlin: Birkhäuser, p.289
[2] EBELING, Segfried (2010 [1926]) Space as a Membrane, London: Architectural Association Publications, pp.9-10, (original edition: Der Raum als Membran, Dessau, 1926)
[3] ALLEN, Stan (2009) “From Object to Field. Field Conditions in Architecture + Urbanism” in: ALLEN, Stan: Practice: Architecture, technique + representation, New York: Routledge, p. 218
[4] KWINTER, Sanford (2002) Architectures of Time. Toward a Theory of the Event in Modernist Culture, MIT Press paperback edition, Cambridge, Massachusetts, p.4
[2] EBELING, Segfried (2010 [1926]) Space as a Membrane, London: Architectural Association Publications, pp.9-10, (original edition: Der Raum als Membran, Dessau, 1926)
[3] ALLEN, Stan (2009) “From Object to Field. Field Conditions in Architecture + Urbanism” in: ALLEN, Stan: Practice: Architecture, technique + representation, New York: Routledge, p. 218
[4] KWINTER, Sanford (2002) Architectures of Time. Toward a Theory of the Event in Modernist Culture, MIT Press paperback edition, Cambridge, Massachusetts, p.4
