In his article “The Shape of Energy”, Sean Lally advocates for a new architecture that is based on “material energies”. We are constantly surrounded by different energies – thermodynamic, electromagnetic, acoustic, chemicals – and we take them for granted, but in reality the role which they play in our lives and in influencing our behaviours are just as, if not more important, than our concrete environment. Material energies create boundaries that are fluid and responsive, resulting in a vernacular that is intimately connected to both regional and climatic conditions.

So how would one apply these intangible energies? Unfortunately, while he brings up some very interesting points, Sean Lally has failed to address the practical application of his ideations. One cannot just take energy and build with it. Humans exist in the physical domain, and we do not have a physical grasp on energy. In order to use something as a building block, one must first gain an intimate understanding of the material at hand, and while we may have an intuitive sense of different energies since we are surrounded by and interact with them on a daily basis, we are a far cry from being able to control them, not to mention manipulate them for careful study and experimentation, and eventually incorporate them into our architectural realm.

What I find fascinating is the physical manifestation of energy. Every energy somehow influences the physical environment. Tree wells form because heat generated by trees melts the surrounding snow, and compass needles point north because of the Earth’s magnetic field. Paying attention to changes in the physical environment provides information about surrounding energies as well as changes in energy conditions. A person putting on a sweater might signify a drop in temperature, while the same person, now reading a book, moving from one room to another might suggest an increase in noise or a decrease in light in the former space. By observing such changes in our environment, one can gain much insight into the invisible forces that surround us.

Another compelling thought is that architecture based on material energies would be able to adapt almost instantaneously to changes in the environment or in social programming. Through a feedback relationship between material energies and existing climatic context, an active dialogue would emerge between a building’s environment and its building blocks, with architecture that can either “dissipate on command” or respond accordingly in its shape and configuration. Of course, such a fluid reality is still far away.

It is interesting to view Sou Fujimoto’s House N in light of material energies. The house itself is purist and minimalistic, and in the physical domain it might seem like a purely spatial exercise – that is, three shells nested one inside the other. However, it is not just the walls that create an increased sense of privacy and separation as one moves deeper into the house; the change in light, sound, view planes, temperature, bodily sense of enclosure, etc. all contribute to the gradient that exists through the spaces.

I am of the strong opinion that so long as we do not transgress the physical nature of our corporeal existence, neither will our architecture. However, this does not mean that we cannot study and become more in tune with the forces that we cannot readily control, because we can certainly shape existing energies with solid-state building materials. An example that comes to mind is Philippe Rahm’s Convective Apartments, in which the architecture is designed according to the principle of convection. In this case, it is the existing thermal landscape that has shaped the resulting configuration of the building’s solid elements. Even though the architecture remains static and potentially iconic in its form, this is the first step towards an architecture informed by energy. I would be interested in examining such basic physical and climatic principles in order to generate systematic, vernacular designs that directly reflect their environmental conditions.

http://cloudatlas.wikia.com/wiki/Neo_Seoul

photo credits: http://www.archdaily.com/38196/never-never-land-house-andres-jaque-arquitectos/

Case Study_ Never Never Land / Andres Jaque Architects

Reading_ Form and Function Follow Climate / Philippe Rahm

Since ancient times, nature was an integral part of the architecture. Until today, that fact has not changed in terms of the interplay of nature and architecture, but the time has changed and is changing the way how humans, architects perceive the specified kind of relation. In advanced architecture of the 21st Century trees play a very sensitive role in the design proces, to the extent that it becomes part of the architectural ensemble.

Never Never Land house, located in Ibiza (Spain), was designed according to mentioned interplay by respecting  four guiding decisions and logics: minimum removal of existing vegetation (trees, bushes); lifting more than 80% of the building mass on piles, to prevent irritation of the soil as much as possible; grouping of all systems (for filtering and processing waste as well as water tank), that could cause spills into the subsoil, into a reinforced concrete vessel; reusing  part of the soil, that removes during the construction of the house, in a manner that the removed substrate incorporates in the building (in combination with water-retaining gelatine) allowing  the growth of plants and animals in the future. The house was imagined to depict the archipelago of islands where it was located, where each part of the house represents one of the islands. Interaction with own desires is what makes this house very provocative, even if the the whole idea is very personal architect’s vision and experience.

The mentioned fusion between architecture and its environment, as well as architecture which is supposed to reflect our desires and to be adaptable in terms of environment, weather and seasons, is very present in Phillipe Rahm’s text “Form and Function Follow Climate”, where the author primarily draws attention to the sustainable development as a phenomenon that affects invisible building structure, like ventilation and heating systems, emphasizing the problem of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Rahm sees sustainability as “reduction of building’s energy consumption” what requires modifications of architectural form and function. In addition, the author tends to reconcile two very different, conflicting theories. On one side is Louis Sullivan’s “form follows function” where he challenged symbolic and decorative status of architecture, defining it as an expression of programme. On the other side is quite the opposite Louis Kahn’s “function follows form” where he criticises Sullivan’s statement towards needs and activities which were deemed to be changed, by proposing a system of hierarchies where architecture was independent of the programme. Following these differences in attitudes, Rahm suggests the idea of architecture  that would spontaneously merge form and function in response to climate and which could be adapted according to seasons, weather conditions, as well as new functions and unexpected forms.

Personally, this interplay between architecture and climate I define as part of “Bioclimatic architecture” in the area of sustainable development, where i would like to pay special attention and explore modern flows of interpolating architecture with the environment, in terms of their interaction.

In his writing form and function follow climate Philippe Rahm suggests a new architectural concept which differs from classical approaches such as form follows function or function follows form. Rahm claims that form has to be developed in response to climate conditions and that sustainability is due to be the guideline for architectural advancement.
Rahm investigates the relationship between human and nature. He advocates a transformation of conventional spatial organization into a free space which is not limited by specific functions.

In his work, Rahm identifies sustainable development to be the essential challenge of architecture in the 21st century. In his view we have to reconsider conventional habits and patterns to establish innovative and sustainable buildings. He considers advanced technologies as part of this changing process which will eventually affect the form and function of prospective architecture.
Rahm investigates the relationship between form and function by referring to Louis Sullivan’s statement of form follows function which simplifies architecture as a spatial expression of the functional program on the one hand and Louis Kahn’s contradicting concept of function follows form which defines the functional program as flexible in response to a system of hierarchies on the other hand.
However, Rahm proposes an alternative perception of spatial organization considering the climate as a leading factor for architectural design. He states that form and function have to follow climate. In Rahm’s point of view space has to be adaptable according to season and weather conditions as well as to human needs and desires. Rahm proves that our built surroundings can be reinterpreted and functionally changed as for example the campi in Venice which were originally meant to be catching systems for rainwater, but serve as social and cultural meeting points by now.
According to his work, Rahm considers the climate as crucial for any future architectural development.
Furthermore, he questions traditional spatial organizations and proposes a concept of interpretable architecture to liberate space from function and provide individually adaptable space instead.
In conclusion, Rahm suggests to emerge function and form spontaneously according to the climatic conditions and individual needs. Architecture has to be a response to changes of the physical and cultural environment.

The case study deals with a project called Never Never Land designed by Andrés Jaque Architects located in San José, Ibiza. About 80% of the building has been raised above ground in order to preserve the natural environment. The geometric configuration is intended to sustain most of the existing trees which indicates a positional relation.
The spatial organization of Never Never Land is very unusual. Exterior and interior spaces are strongly connected to establish an interaction between architecture and the surroundings. The rooms for intimacy and those for group actions are assembled to create an open living zone.
Reconsulting the writing of Philippe Rahm it is noticeable that some of his basic ideas about advanced architecture are matching the case study project. The Never Never Land project deals with sustainability and environmental responsibility as well as with unconventional spatial planning.
Nevertheless, the project of Andrés Jaques Architects relates to the natural surroundings only superficially which is why I would not consider it as advanced architecture.

The climate change and the greenhouse gas production are currently increasing the global warming more and more. Acting environmentally respectfully and taking concepts as Rahm’s form and function follow climate in consideration during the design process has become crucially relevant. In my opinion preserving our environment and investigating in our natural surroundings is an essential part of advanced architecture.
Architecture of cities and buildings has become an element of the “ecosystem nature”. In my point of view advanced architecture means respecting this system we live in and relating to it.
I consider it as an opportunity as well as a duty to preserve our natural environment and in the best case improve it.

personal research proposal:

Rhizome is a philosophical concept developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari as part of the Capitalism and Schizophrenia project. Rhizome is defined as a system of interaction based on the botanical rhizome. The Rhizome Theory provides a multiple, non-hierarchical classification system which follows no specific pattern or organizational regulations.
During my research I would like to investigate in the Rhizome Theory considering how it could be related to spatial and urban organization as well as to human society. In this context it will be challenging to discover how the Rhizome Theory can be related to the concept of Relational Logics.

photo credits: www.philipperahm.com