MAA Student: Luz Michelle Lavayen (Panama)

Research Studio: Self- Sufficient Buildings

Studio Instructor: Vicente Guallart, IAAC Director

Project Goal: Create a self-sufficient urban block for 22@, Barcelona.

Student’s Summary:

“The main concepts for developing a self-sufficient city block  were to free the ground level, create an underground patio and use it as a public green space in order to connect and give back interactive spaces to the city. Analyzing the structure of a tree and its growth I can relate thesis process to the project. Organizing the different programs according to better location for those activities and also connecting them. The inverted topography of the building will work as structure, vertical circulation and fluid system for sustainable elements, it also becomes the skin of the building. This metabolic structure will serve to harvest water to produce energy, clean grey water for farming and public green areas, waste management, geothermal system, wind power from turbines located in the top patios and solar photovoltaic panels on south side of the block where it can take advantage of the most of radiation.”

About the MAA Final Projects

In Final Phases of the Masters in Advanced Architecture program students attend one of three Research Studios: Self-Sufficient Buildings, Digital Tectonics or Emergent Territories. At the end of Phase II MAA Students presented their initial proposals. Throughout Phase III they will refine this research for their final presentations.

In the time leading up to the week of presentations we will give a preview of each project on the blog.

This year final presentations will be held the week of June 27. All presentations are open to the public. We invite you to come to see the students present. More information will be provided closer to the week of presentations.

MAA Student: Javier Gonzalez (Spain)

Research Studio: Self-Sufficient Buildings

Studio Instructor: Vicente Guallart, IAAC Director

Project Goal: Create a self-sufficient urban block for 22@, Barcelona.

Student Summary:

Trying to look to the past by adapting the proposal to Ildefons Cerdá’s urban structure to keep the character of the city (not only adjusting the façades to the pre-existing grid to maintain the alignment of the streets, but also providing a big central courtyard working as public space inside the block, as the original thoughts of Ildefons Cerdá), the building also tries to look forward to the new paradigm of Self-Sufficient architecture.

Taking advantage of solar energy as the easiest renewable energy source in Barcelona, the building tries to orient itself to the position of the sun. Its form follows the sun tilting the main “roof façade” into a proper angle for solar energy gathering, while also decreasing its height in the southern part and increase it in the northern part, in order to allow the best access to the solar daylight as possible.

The characteristic element of this building, its “roof façade”, has been though as a double skin which will contain a mixed system of photovoltaic panels and openings, based on Ecotect analysis and their own interior program, thus optimizing the position of panels and voids. Overheating inside the building will also be controlled through the double skin, allowing a natural flow of air through the gap between the interior and the exterior skin.

MAA Student: Hugo Carvallo (Peru)

Research Studio: Self- Sufficient Buildings

Studio Instructor: Vicente Guallart, IAAC Director

Project Goal: Create a self-sufficient urban block for 22@, Barcelona.

Student’s Summary:

“The metabolism of the building/block [project] for the Self-Sufficient Building Studio is based on water.

Water as a natural element not only provides life to the animals and plants of the planet, but it also is an important part of many systems and cycles. The proposed design looks to balance human beings lives and the nature of the world with its chaotic and problematic social issues, and economical conditions.

To start, I took three main references that helped me to develop this project.  As natural reference, I am taking under consideration the water cycling; and under historical reference, I am taking under consideration the farm terrace that many ancient cultures used, such as the Inca.  I would like to make a special emphasis on learning about ancient ways of living because they were very sustainable and self-sufficient.  And last but not least, I considered current technology, which will improve the idea of recycling the ‘water cycling’ and therefore provide energy within it.

Under the natural consideration, it is been known that water cycles naturally through an infinite process.  This similar process, using current technology, will imitate the benefit to the inhabitants of the block.

The farm terrace will work perfectly in the sense that water will follow a determinate path where water cycling will be appreciated and noticeable through the metabolism of the building.  Through this, remains from the farms will be collected and processed thereafter to provide energy throughout the building.”

About the MAA Final Projects

In Final Phases of the Masters in Advanced Architecture program students attend one of three Research Studios: Self-Sufficient Buildings, Digital Tectonics or Emergent Territories. At the end of Phase II MAA Students presented their initial proposals. Throughout Phase III they will refine this research for their final presentations.

In the time leading up to the week of presentations we will give a preview of each project on the blog.

This year final presentations will be held the week of June 27. All presentations are open to the public. We invite you to come to see the students present. More information will be provided closer to the week of presentations.