http://politicstransformativeblock.wordpress.com/ 7 INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEF INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEF INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEF INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEF POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCK POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCK POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCK POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCK Understanding scale through Buenos Aires city grid
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INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEFINTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEFINTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEFINTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 BRIEF POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCKPOLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCKPOLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCKPOLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCK
Understanding scale through Buenos Aires city grid
INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8 POLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCKPOLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCKPOLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCKPOLITICS OF TRANSFORMATIVE BLOCK
Understanding scale through Buenos Aires city grid
This year Intermediate Unit 8 will be working on the design of a mix-used city block to be shared by a private corporation
and a public institution in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In Latin-American cities, rapid socio-economic changes are giving
birth to unprecedented city block configurations with radical programmatic assemblages, reversibility between inside and
outside and interchange between public and private domains. However the possibility of these transformations, that
change our understanding of cities as politically controlled entities through policy making, lies in its attachment to a generic
urban grid. Being Buenos Aires 100x100m grid one of the densest in Latin-America makes it a perfect scenario to
showcase the potential value of the block to generate city today. This implies a complex form finding process reassessing
the tension between block and grid, a gradation between permanence and change in buildings, and a constant fight
between the stability aimed by the governmental and the inevitable change derived from economic processes.
Students will work on a 100x100m urban block using an empty or built plot within the Buenos Aires grid. The structure of
the course will be divided in three interrelated parts detecting fundamental aspects for the block design.
1. Operational fields: Research on socio-cultural and economic aspects that will inform the programmatic brief of block
proposals. This research will be also accompanied by a reading of the city through a collection of maps, photographs and
city fragments that will be used for filling the block with content. 2. Spatial Organizations: Architectural examples of
Clorindo Testa in Buenos Aires and urban block proposals by Rem Koolhaas, Hans Kollhoff and Rafael Moneo will be
analysed to understand their formal and spatial organizations that will be extrapolated as preliminary systems of spatial
relations of block proposals. These diagrams in axonometric will articulate and structure the programmatic content of the
block. 3. Active Interfaces: Studies on the transformation, adaptation and responsiveness of the block, reflecting on its
relationship with both the grid and the passersby, will be studied through a 1/5 mock-up of the building envelope.
BUENOS AIRES CITY GRID
BANK OF LONDON AND SOUTH AMERICA (1959), BUENOS AIRES, BY ARGENTINIAN ARCHITECT CLORINDO TESTA
UNIT WORKUNIT WORKUNIT WORKUNIT WORK
PORTFOLIO:URBAN AGRICULTURE IN HAVANA MAX HACKE (3RD YEAR-0910)(ALEXANDER MEMORIAL PRIZE 2010)
PORTFOLIO: WORK AND LIVING IN TLATELOLCO, MEXICO df CARLOTTA CONTE (2ND YEAR-1112)
In Inter Unit 8 we believe that the work of an architect is fundamentally intellectual. This does not mean that
architects could not need to master certain techniques in order articulate their own ideas properly, but these
techniques have to be subordinated to intellectual and conceptual preoccupations which guide them. Following
this principle, Inter Unit 8 proposes as an intermediate year work to define compelling arguments related to
socio-political and cultural questions able to give certain guidance to the design work throughout different
stages. Regarding this aim the unit work will be phased according to a learning process of different tools and
skills to enable to acquire a complex understanding of the mediation between socio-politics, cultural matters
and architecture through material investigations.
Specifically this academic year Inter Unit 8 work will be focus on designing a range of proposals for one block
of the Buenos Aires city grid. Each individual proposal will be supported on rigorous socio-cultural, urban,
spatial and material investigations developed through different small briefs distributed along the first two terms.
A prolific production of drawings, images, texts and physical tests will be encouraged, but only in relation to a
precise and sophisticate individual arguments. During the second and third term proposals will be interrogated
according to different concepts and requirements, including those registered during the field trip to Buenos
Aires. Finally, at the end of the year, the work will be edited in an A1 portfolio that will prove the ability to
consistently relate theoretical enquiries with each construction solutions
SCHEDULESCHEDULESCHEDULESCHEDULE Tutorials: Mondays or Tuesdays, and Fridays. Any enquire to: [email protected]
Schedule will be announced in http://politicstransformativeblock.wordpress.com/
1111---- OPERATIONAL FIELDSOPERATIONAL FIELDSOPERATIONAL FIELDSOPERATIONAL FIELDS This first stage of the design process will be dedicated to explore the shape and program of the 100x100 block proposals. Location and role of the block proposal in the city
of Buenos Aires will be decided after a deductive research process during this term. (6 weeks)
W2 W2 W2 W2 01010101----05 Oct05 Oct05 Oct05 Oct THE BLOCKTHE BLOCKTHE BLOCKTHE BLOCK (1week)(1week)(1week)(1week)
FORM FINDING EXERCISE
As a starting point the unit will explore through 1:250 scale models the shape of a100x100m block in an
intuitive manner. Different materials, such as foam, plaster, metal sticks and cables, will be use to have
a range of schematic shapes that will be later used to define the block designs. It is recommended to
check references such as Argentinean artist Leon Ferrari’s sculptures (1962-64) or Herzog and De
Meuron and OMA working models to understand this workshop intention.
“EMOTIONS OF A PRISM” AND “MEN STUDY” BY LEON FERRARI (1961)
STUDIES ON MIAMI HIDDEN CULTURE IN SCARFACE MOVIE BY VIDHYA PUSHPANATHAN(2ND
YEAR/10-11-AA TAVEL STUDENSHIP AWARD 2011)
COFFEE CULTURE RESEARCH BY YIMING HUANG (3RD YEAR/10-11)
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC BY CLORINDO TESTA,
BUENOS AIRES (1961)
PUERTO MADERO, BUENOS AIRES
W3W3W3W3 08080808----12121212 OctOctOctOct THE GRID THE GRID THE GRID THE GRID (1 week)(1 week)(1 week)(1 week)
ANALYZE BUENOS AIRES URBAN FABRIC & ECONOMIC ASPECTS
Before deepening into material aspects of the block the unit should be familiarize with the different
formal, economic and political aspects of Buenos Aires. In groups, the unit will create an archive of
drawings in different scales with information about the urban grain, voids, density and urban form.
Similarly it will be collected some data of economic and political changes in Argentina during the last 50
years. Afterwards, individually it will be selected an initial programmatic framework and a location for
each block proposal into the vast regular grid of the city.
Seminar : On site: Buenos Aires by Nuria Álvarez Lombardero
Readings
Arturo Almandoz Marte: Planning Latin America's capital cities 1850-1950, London: Routledge, 2002.
Jean-Francois Lejeune (ed): Cruelty and Utopia: Cities and Landscapes of Latin America, New York:
Princeton Architectural Press, 2005.
Jorge F. Liernur, (ed) & Zalduendo, Ines (Tr): Case: Puerto Madero Waterfront, Prestel Publishing,
September 2007.
Mario Gandelsonas: X-urbanism : architecture and the American city, New York : Princeton Architectural
2222---- SPATIAL ORGANIZATIONSSPATIAL ORGANIZATIONSSPATIAL ORGANIZATIONSSPATIAL ORGANIZATIONS This non contextual second stage of the design process will be dedicated to explore the internal spatial organization and circulation of the blocks. The initial schematic designs
for the block in Buenos Aires will be a combination of the previous stage findings and the result ant juxtaposition of different diagrams. Entering in the next Term the unit will
speculate on possible transformations and variation of the different program of both the private corporation and public institution. (5 weeks)
W8W8W8W8 12121212----16 Nov16 Nov16 Nov16 Nov WWWW9999 19191919----23 Nov23 Nov23 Nov23 Nov
THE SPHERE AND THE LABIRYNTHTHE SPHERE AND THE LABIRYNTHTHE SPHERE AND THE LABIRYNTHTHE SPHERE AND THE LABIRYNTH (4 weeks)(4 weeks)(4 weeks)(4 weeks)
FRAME: SPATIAL-ARCHITECTONIC SYSTEMS
As a starting point different examples at various scales of block proposals by different architects, such
as Rem Koolhaas, Hans Kollhoff, Rafael Moneo or Mario Galdensonas, will be analyzed. Aspects,
such as free section and circulation of the different examples by diagrams, will be explored to
understand their spatial organizations to be later applied to block proposals.
Seminar: The Sphere and the Labyrinth by Francisco Gonzalez de Canales
References
Bernard Tschumi: Manhattan transcripts, London: Academy Editions, 1994.
Rem Koolhaas, S, M, L, XL, New York: Monacelli Press, 1995
Manfredo Tafuri: Sphere and the labyrinth: avant-gardes and architecture from Piranesi to the 1970s,
London: MIT Press 1990.
TRES GRAND BIBLIOTEQUE PROPOSAL BY OMA (1989)
INTERIOR OF THE BANK OF LONDON AND SOUTH AMERICA (1959), BUENOS AIRES, BY
ARGENTINIAN ARCHITECT CLORINDO TESTA.
GENERATION OF AN INHABITABLE LANDSCAPE FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION IN MEXICO DF
BY ELENI TZAVELLOU (3RD
YEAR-1112)
BUENOS AIRES STREET
W10W10W10W10 26262626----30 Nov30 Nov30 Nov30 Nov
W11W11W11W11 03030303----07 D07 D07 D07 Deeeecccc
CLORINDO TESTA AND LE CORBUSIER
In addition to previous examples local architectural examples, such as the Curutchet House of Le
Corbuier (the only Latin-American example of the master’s work) and the Bank of London by
Argentinean architect Clorindo Testa, will be analyzed using different diagrams and axonometric
drawings.
References
Yukio Futagawa (ed.): Manteola, Sanchez Gomez, Santos, Solsona / Vinoly: Banco de la Ciudad de
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Head Office, 1968/Liniers Branch, 1969/Retiro Branch, 1970) , Tokyo: ADA
Edita, 1984.
Yukio Futagawa (ed.): Sanchez Elia, Peralta Ramos, Agostini y Clorinda Testa: Banco de Londres y
America del Sud, Casa Central Buenos Aires, Argentina 1959-66, Tokyo: ADA Edita 1984.
Manuel Cuadra, Clorindo Testa, And Alfonso Corona Martínez: Clorindo Testa, architect, Rotterdam:
NAI Publishers, 2000.
Fernando Pérez Oyarzún: Le Corbusier y Sudamérica: viajes y proyectos, Ediciones Arq, 1991.
WEEK 10 - 3RD YEARS MEET TS TUTORS
W12W12W12W12 10101010----14 De14 De14 De14 Decccc
SOCIOSOCIOSOCIOSOCIO----SPATIAL CONSTRUCTION OF POLITICAL SPACSPATIAL CONSTRUCTION OF POLITICAL SPACSPATIAL CONSTRUCTION OF POLITICAL SPACSPATIAL CONSTRUCTION OF POLITICAL SPACEEEE (1 week(1 week(1 week(1 week summary 1summary 1summary 1summary 1stststst Term)Term)Term)Term)
BUILDING A POLITICAL ARGUMENT
After intensively working throughout the term on understanding the relationship between politics and
space students will be asked to define their own design proposals. They should combine previous socio-
cultural, spatial and material investigations and analysis. Plans, Sections, Elevations and sketch models
are expected for the End Of The Term. After the end of the term Jury there would be an assessment of
the work done. Parts of the design not developed during the Term should be completed in the Christmas
break.
Readings
Edward Soja: Thirdspace, Oxford: Blackwell, 1989.
Henri Lefebvre: The Production of Space, Oxford England and Cambridge Mass.: Basil Blackwell, 1991.
Hannah Arendt, “Introduction into politics”, in The Promise of Politics, Schoken Books: New York 2005,
pp. 93-200.
WALTER, Richard J. : Politics and Urban Growth in Buenos Aires, 1910-1942, Cambridge University
TERM TERM TERM TERM 2222 During the second term third year students will start their TS proposals related to their projects. Intermediate Unit 8 suggests large span structures and façade solutions as
possible subjects to be researched. Please check TS Brief for references and Bibliography. 3333---- ACTIVE INTERFACESACTIVE INTERFACESACTIVE INTERFACESACTIVE INTERFACES The last third stage of the block design will be focus on studying the transformation, adaptation and responsiveness of the block, reflecting on the relationship between the
block and the grid and the block with the passerby. Responding to the first question the unit will explore the material dimension and definition of the block external skin by
physical models, 2D and 3D construction drawings and a final 1/5 mock-up. Later there will be a reflection on the latter question by different diagrams and axonometric
drawings showing the block in the context of the city. (7 weeks)
W1 W1 W1 W1 07070707----11111111 JanJanJanJan
ADAPTATIONADAPTATIONADAPTATIONADAPTATION:::: VARIATIONS ON THE BLOCK PROGRAMME (VARIATIONS ON THE BLOCK PROGRAMME (VARIATIONS ON THE BLOCK PROGRAMME (VARIATIONS ON THE BLOCK PROGRAMME (3333 weeks)weeks)weeks)weeks)
Programmatic Decompositions
First Term proposals for the 100x100m block will be interrogated in terms of program. The capability of
programmatic anchors to engage with the city public space will be put in question and deeply explored.
The results will be expressed by axonometric drawings for the final portfolio.
Readings
Bernard Tschumi, “Program”, in Architecture and Disjunction, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1994. pp. 99-
168
Kim Dovey and Scott Dickson, “Architecture and Freedom? Programmatic Innovation in the Work of
Koolhaas/OMA”, Journal of Architectural Education, ACSA (2000), pp. 5-13.
ARRANGEMENT OF PROGRAMS BY VIDHYA PUSHPANATHAN (2ND YEAR)
(AA TAVEL STUDENSHIP AWARD 2011)
PROGRAMME VARIATIONS FOR BLOCK TRANSFORMATION BY HAO WEN LIM (2ND YEAR 1112)
After defining the final program of the block proposal for the private corporation and public institution, the
unit will be explored the different possible variation and relationships to be established between the public
and private programme proposed. These variables will be further explored and represented by an
animation done in Maya software.
Workshop Maya Software.
W4 W4 W4 W4 28282828----01010101FebFebFebFeb
RESPONSIVENEES: RESPONSIVENEES: RESPONSIVENEES: RESPONSIVENEES: SKINS AS MEDIATORS SKINS AS MEDIATORS SKINS AS MEDIATORS SKINS AS MEDIATORS (5 WEEKS)(5 WEEKS)(5 WEEKS)(5 WEEKS)
Exercise on Materiality
This second workshop the unit will explore through a 1:250 scale models the skin of the schematic block
proposals in an intuitive manner. Students will work with models for their possible explorations in relation
to their Technical Studies work. Different materials, such as wood, metal, concrete or plastic will be use to
have a range of schematic facade schemes. Throughout this phase, concepts will acquire more accurate
material expressions and will reflect on the responsiveness of the block to its immediate environment.
Readings
Philip Ursprung: Herzog & de Meuron: natural history, Montreal, Quebec: Canadian Centre for
Architecture; Baden, Lars Muller Publishers, 2002.
Farshid Mousavi and Michael Kubo, The Function of Ornament, Barcelona: Actar, 2008.
Brooke Hodge, Patricia Mears and Susan Sidlauskas (eds.), Skin + Bones, Thames & Hudson, 2006. HERZOG AND DE MEURON STUDIES OF DIFFERENT SKIN MATERIALITY BY MODELS
SKIN PROPOSAL FOR THE US EMBASSY IN LONDON (ADORA SHARINEN 3RD YEAR 1011)
FACADE COLLAGES FOR US EMBASSY IN LONDON (LARA YEGENOGLOU 2ND YEAR 1011)
WWWW5 5 5 5 04040404----08080808ebebebeb
Permeability/Porosity
Building on the discussing from the first term, the politics of skin openings will be reassessed through
students’ designs throughout this week. Each student will provide an efficient system of openings for the
skins that is consistent with the political argument being presented. Sections thought the facade explored
before in models will determine how porous or permeable is the block design as well as the relationship
that the skin establishes between the exterior and the interior.
Seminar: “Immediate Governance: Doors and Transits” by Francisco González de Canales.
Readings
Steven Holl, Experiments on Porosity, The Architectural Review, 2006.
As a final reflection and summary of the work done in the last five weeks on the skin as mediator between
the open public space and enclose private environment of the block, a 1:5 mock up of the building
enveloped will be constructed for each individual proposal. Possibly the unit will travel to Hooke Park
installations to construct this mock-up.
References:
Lecture by “From Office Da to NDAAA” by Nader Tehrani in the Designing Fabrication series at the AA,
3th of August 2012.
WWWW9 9 9 9 04040404----08 Mar08 Mar08 Mar08 Mar
W10 W10 W10 W10 11111111----17171717 MarMarMarMar
TRANSFORMATIONS: CONTEXT AS A FORM SHARPENERTRANSFORMATIONS: CONTEXT AS A FORM SHARPENERTRANSFORMATIONS: CONTEXT AS A FORM SHARPENERTRANSFORMATIONS: CONTEXT AS A FORM SHARPENER (2(2(2(2 weeks)weeks)weeks)weeks)
After defining the skin of the block designs in terms of responsiveness to the immediate environment and
adaptation to changes in program, the unit will recapture the first forms of the block found at the beginning
of the year to redefine them. The placement of the block in its particular location will bring the context
forward as a sharpener of intuitive forms to bring the final definition of the blocks. This reflection on the
block form will establich a connection between the block and the whole grid of Buenos Aires. Third year
students will present their work on TS for final refinement and feedback to prepare the final submission.
WEEK 9 TS3 INTERIM JURY OPTION 2
WWWW11 11 11 11 18181818----22 Mar22 Mar22 Mar22 Mar REVIREVIREVIREVIEWEWEWEW OF ARGUMENTS AND OF ARGUMENTS AND OF ARGUMENTS AND OF ARGUMENTS AND DESIGNSDESIGNSDESIGNSDESIGNS
Proposals should summarized and material production finish for the end of the Term Jury. There it will be
tested the validity of the design decisions and arguments. Third years will check their work in the intermediate
previews and tables in the last week of the Term.
WEEK 10 HAND IN WEEK
MONDAY 25TH MARCH BEFORE 1PM HAND IN DAY FOR 3RD YEARS
WEEK 11 END OF THE TERM JURY (tbc)
18-19TH OF MARCH INTERMEDIATE PREVIEWS/PART 1 – 3rd years
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A RESPONSE TO THE ACCELERATION OF MEXICO CITY SOCIO-SPATIAL FRAGMENTATION BY CREATING A NEW TRANSPORTATION HUB IN TLATELOLCO SITE THAT COMBINES SPONTANEOUS PESEROS’ NETWORK WITH REGULATED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM by FRAGKISKOS KONSTANTATOS. (3ND YEAR 1112)
TERM 3TERM 3TERM 3TERM 3DESIGN DEVELOPMENTDESIGN DEVELOPMENTDESIGN DEVELOPMENTDESIGN DEVELOPMENT After reviewing the three different components of the block design, during the third term, the unit will be focus on finding the limits stretching the designs by multiple variables
and defining the spaces of the building. All the work will be directed to complete the A1 portfolio that will be weekly reviewed.
WWWW1 1 1 1 22222222----26262626 AprAprAprApr STRETCHING THE DESIGN POSSIBILITIESSTRETCHING THE DESIGN POSSIBILITIESSTRETCHING THE DESIGN POSSIBILITIESSTRETCHING THE DESIGN POSSIBILITIES
Change And Growth
The degree of flexibility of the schematic proposal to change over time and its capacity of growth or
decrease inside the defined envelope of the building, explored at the beginning of the second term, will
be further developed through different axonometric drawings that will express those possibilities through
time. The different possibilities can be connected through Maya software to create a new animation that
will resume the possibilities of the transformative block.
WEEK 1 TS3 FINAL SUBMISSION OPTION 2
REGENERATION OF URBANITY IN TLATELOLCO PUBLIC SPACE THROUGH A PROGRAMMED PROCESS OF EROSION AND RECONSTRUCTION BY ELLIOT ROGOSIN (2ND YEAR-112)
CONSEQUENCES OF INTRODUCING A NEW TRANSPORTATION HUB IN TLATELOLCO SITE, MEXICO DF BY FRAGKISKOS KONSTANTATOS (3RD YEAR – HIGH PASS 1112)
POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR NOMADIC URBAN AGRICULTURE BY YONATAN BUCHHANDLER
(2ND YEAR 1011)
W2W2W2W2 29292929----03030303 MayMayMayMay
Scales Of Association
The associative dynamics created by first term schematic designs will be tested in the actual everyday
life activities at the city of Buenos Aires. Issues proposed will play an important role in these explorations
as well as the graphic results. Some proposals might need a networking scheme over the city to express
WEEK 7 - WEDNESDAY 6TH JUNE - 2ND YEAR END OF THE TERM REVIEWS
WEEK 8 - MONDAY 11TH AND TUESDAY 12TH JUNE - INTERMEDIATE PART 1 FINAL CHECK
WEEK 9 - TUESDAY 19TH JUNE - AA INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION RIBA PART 1
FRIDAY 22ND JUNE - OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION
UNIT TUTORSUNIT TUTORSUNIT TUTORSUNIT TUTORS Francisco Gonzalez de Canales studied architecture at ETSA Seville, ETSA Barcelona and Harvard University, and worked for Foster+Partners and Rafael Moneo. He is co
director of award-winning office Canales & Lombardero. An active architectural critic, he has previously lectured in England, Mexico, Spain and the USA, worked as AACP
coordinator and collaborated in different architectural publications. He is currently AA HTS tutor and has recently published the book Experiments with life itself (Actar 2012)
based on his PhD research on the radical domestic self-experimentations of the 1940s and 1950s.
Nuria Alvarez Lombardero studied Architecture and Urbanism at ETSA Madrid and AA. She has worked for Machado & Silvetti Associates in Boston and in Neutra Magazine
as editorial board. Since 2003 she co-directs the London-Seville based office Canales & Lombardero. She has previously taught in the University of Cambridge and TEC
Monterrey and lectured on Urbanism in the University of Seville. After working as a researcher in Harvard University, the University of Cambridge and the AA, she has just
finished her PhD on the dissolution of boundaries traced by modern urban planning.
Both Nuria and Francisco are directors of the award winning office Canales & Lombardero based in London and Seville, (www.canales-lombardero.com) and the AA Visiting
School Politics of Fabrication Lab (PFL) that took place in the Open City (Chile) and Havana (Cuba) the last two summers.
INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8INTERMEDIATE UNIT 8