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We understand the term of triphibian  as  a concept  that embrace the three different dimensions that surround us, by that we mean air, water and ground. This concept is not referred as a mere geometrical or physical representation,  but as an operative posture that is encompassing and blending with the three-dimensionality of the environment. A position that emerges as a strategy in the urban field, that at the same time faces the qualities  and characteristics of Montjuic and the port of Barcelona. The reading which receives this infrastructure is fluid, continuous and nonlinear, where the gaps between each level covered are resolved  differently, creating a heterogeneous and continuous reading while where there is not a clear  beginning or end, but it is apparent where the differentiation of each of the intervals at which this infrastructure will take place.

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Contemporary societies reflect their archetypes and organizational methods in bureaucratic power structures, governed by economic and financial interests; the reflection of the status quo dictates a society based on indiscriminate consumption of goods and services as well as natural and energy resources. the physical layout of cities is dictated by the regent economic model and the interests that it represents; but what would happen if cities, understood as the physical representation of the social spectrum and thus, based on collectivity, could be organized on the basis of social behavior and urban phenomena based on collective and individual constructionism of situations, evoking a social functionalism projecting a humanist joint. The constant and continuous search of an humanistic society becomes an idealistic utopia that comes in some ways as reproof to the current functioning of society.

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We are located in one of the most significant places in the  collective memory and identity of Barcelona. Montjuic from its geological formation has contributed and  successfully fulfilled the role of supplier to the city from becoming the raw matter for its development. We translate a reading of the mountain as a resource for building and the engine of growth for the city. At the same time played a role of control and protection of the city. In fact, we deduce the role of the site as an generating, organizational and evolutionary entity for for the development of the city and its citizens. we had to deal with the historical premise and the existence of previously established organizational and interactive proposals, which we identified and classified into two groups. The first group refers to organizational proposals that focus on the connectivity of discontinuous spaces in linear order, while the second group is based on the responsiveness of its proposals taking as the main agent density of people, activities and experiences. We had to deal with the historical premise and the existence of previously established organizational and interactive proposals, which we identified and classified into two groups. The first group refers to organizational proposals that are focus on the connectivity of discontinuous spaces in linear order, while the second group is based on the interaction of its proposals taking as the main agent of the density of people, activities and experiences. From this reading we could rescue the intent of the proposals together, where the main objective was an evolutionary portion of urban habitat where connectivity and interaction serve as a catalyst for enhancing a continuous and heterogeneous, nonlinear and speculative reading  of the site.

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The prediction of the  performance and organization of future cities based on specific activities are till a certain point, ambiguous; in the sense that we  evoke a radical changev in the physical conformation of the cities,  the projective premise driving the proposal is based on the understanding of  inalienable situations and actions such as the behavior, grouping capability and community sense of people. Located in the sociological field, we try to understand how in the equation of functioning and structuring of the cities, external factors that go beyond the social and collective spectrum, end up mutating negatively the conformation of cities. In that sense, Herbert Spencer was the first author to use systematically the concepts of structure and function. We identify that in a society the conjunction of social interaction based on urban communication (interactionism) and the social interaction based on urban phenomena (constructionism) derives in a functionalist social structure, where the society in understand as an holistic organic entity based on its primary needs. We understand that the main agent in the project proposal is the social spectrum referred to human behavior and interaction, we wonder how is it possible to measure and evaluate these human values.

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Thus, we fall back on the theoretical basis according to the sociological stream called constructionism, Marvin Wolgang  states that the excessive amount of people in the same surroundings leads to urban withdraw and anomie“; so we measure the relation between the amount of people and the amount of surface where the social encounter is taking place“, with these we state that there is a directly proportional relationship between the area of the surface and the amount of people in order to achieve a proper social interaction, this is what we called behavior. On the other hand, we recognize that the social interaction takes place where its  focus is based in both,  the quantity and quality of human activities. We found that there is a direct relationship between the amount of people and the number and diversity of activities which can lead to social phenomena such as human grouping and collective sense in people. With this, we measured the social interaction based on communication, but not in a physical way; on the contrary, we measure it as we did it before, within the spectrum in the relation between the amount of people in one space and the quantity and quality of the activities occurring in these scenarios.

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We took three different moments along the year 2115, we map the number of people on the site, based on a prediction with actual data, the area of the surface, and the concentration of activities that could possibly take place according to the physical and logistical characteristics of the site ; we overleaped all these layers of data and  we were able to locate and identify the social communication and behavior concerning the social interactions in this urban environment. We separated these social interactions based on two different types of activities, controlled ones and spontaneous. The social interaction based on controlled activities require a physical and segregated dimension in order to take place, this activities are daily, repetitive and program. On the other hand, the spontaneous activities doesn’t need a physical nor segregated dimension to happen, this activities take place in the in the interstices of the controlled activities and  on the unoccupied spaces around the city.

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Once we identified and classified the social activities, we looked back into the triphibian concept, where this concept  of developmental and heterogeneous properties  can provide specificity and mutability in geometrical terms. We assigned different behaviors and qualities to its responsive structure based on the different types of activities ( Controlled and Spontaneous) and the physical condition where this infrastructure is placed (Air, Ground and Water).

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As a first step to materialize the social spectrum, we took the density of people as the generatrix of this evolutionary process, where the number of people (points) establish the number and variety of connections(branches) in order to enhance a social interaction. At most amount of people, as much the number and diversity of connections. As soon as we identify a  directly proportional relationship between these two components, we proceed to geometrize this interactions by a linear system ( straight lines). After this step, we applied a geometrical construction based on Thiessen polygons, which are one of the simplest methods in interpolation based on the Euclidean distance, especially appropriate when the data is qualitative and quantitative. They are created by connecting the dots together, tracing the bisectors of the connecting segment. The intersections of these bisectors determine a number of polygons in a two-dimensional space around a set of control points, so that the perimeter of polygons generated is equidistant to the closest points and designate its area of influence. This polygons are well known as Voronoi diagrams and and its geometrical application is for both inside and outside the urban habitat. Regarding the geometric understanding and operation of the triphibian infrastructure, we established rules and responsive parameters that match the specific qualities of the environment.

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If the triphibian is at the sea, the skin is more compact, lighter and translucent; if the structure is extended on the ground, the proportions do not exceed the visual scale of the pedestrian and the geometry becomes more rigid and its responsiveness  appears in lower intervals. If the structure is projected on the air, the skin becomes lighter and more aerodynamic,  the interior becomes more dense and it connects with the ground where the highest levels of social interaction and concentration of activities are presented. Once we identified and characterized the social interactions of the site, we proceeded to establish the creation of a responsive urban network based on social interaction, where different kinds of social behaviors converge into and through the triphibian structure  in order to devise a functionalist holistic society. With these parameters we find a heterogeneous, responsive and integrated structure along the morrot. The triphibian is not placing programs or specific zoning, its just providing the physical space to build//construct situations in the urban space; it’s materializing the need of physical space in order to foster and solidify social interaction..

[Video Link]

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Antimatter is the less common form of matter that consists of antiparticles as opposed to ordinary matter that is composed of particles. Contact between matter and antimatter brings their mutual annihilation, this does not mean destruction, but a transformation that results in high-energy photons. It is estimated that only 10 milligrams of antimatter would be needed to propel a spacecraft to Mars. We understood the conceptual complexity which comprises antimatter, in the sense that to produce enough power, it must include a process of constant creation and annihilation. In order to be able to have the energy to create matter you have to destroy another space of the same whole. Triphibian‘s energetic system functions as a closed energy circuit.

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The Triphibian infrastructure by recognizing the different types of social interaction, acts generating a physical or virtual space as needed. Energy in form of particles that is stored within the urban parasite is released into the immediate environment, creating a temporary physical annihilation that responds to the spontaneous activities, that is to say, the absence of a tangible space, while generating other physical representation necessary to conduct controlled activities . This symbiosis between these two social spectra serves as a generative analogy when control, arrange and organize the wave energy that gathers this infrastructure . Just as the geometric generation of this project is meticulously following the density and social interaction, the energy flow serves as a tool to materialize the social spectrum  by  the cyclic creation and annihilation of matter.

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The infrastructure works only with the presence of people, without this, its ability for creation and annihilation is inoperative, diminished and obsolete; when its located on scenes of urban and social character, creates a virtuous and infinite circle that is constantly changing and fosters a  transitory and perennial character . Antimatter represents the balance and the conceptual materialization between the social spectrum and a tangible urban habitat.

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The culmination of this project suggests a new perspective on the interpretation of the social and urban environment, in which the powers that govern societies, and thus the physical configuration of the cities, are no longer the determining agents when materialize the human habitat. If since the first civilizations were no longer nomadic, and emerged the human instinct of social and collective grouping, cities responded directly to the needs and immediate demands  of these huge companies. After a tedious and tortuous process of social involution in terms of grouping and collectivity, hierarchies and social differences have been configured a segregated, discontinuous and generic city-society. When an exogenous agent of the social spectrum is shaping the urban hatibat  is when the concept that refers to the cities, as everything that represents man in his collective and individual character, is weakened. The most significant scope of this project lies in the elimination of this exogenous agent, simplifying the equation of the genesis of future cities, where the tangible and corporeal is molded based on the social spectrum within an urban setting.

[Triphibian Video Link]

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[Triphibian Booklet Link]

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http://issuu.com/juandiegoramirezleon/docs/triphibian_booklet__c3a560908b5ef5

[TEAM]

>>Ksenia Dyusemabeva

>>Asya Güney

>>Edgar Navarrete Sanchez

>>Diego Ramirez Leon

“FUTURE SHOCK IS THE SHATTERING STRESS AND DISORIENTATION THAT WE INDUCE IN INDIVIDUALS BY SUBJECTING THEM TO TOO MUCH CHANGE IN TOO SHORT TIME” ALVIN TOFFLER
Barcelona port 2015
Surfaces On Demand is a language, its a system that can be adapt anywhere any time, as long as the city has water sources and physical buildings. This system can be changed and adapted to any situation. like The reality in which we live in today where changes occures almost every second.

Streets and neighberhoods changes their density/colurs/ sounds every hour. In this project im tring to bring this constant changing reality to the water.

The water surfaces are fluid and movable. This is a tool to accelerate, intensify and enrich city’s and port activities. This is a new way to connect the sea to the city. By using three main elements- Data, People and Energy that moves freely back and forth from, and to the city. The islands produce the energy needed to the “inlands islands”, that’s makes the system much more efficient and smart. In case no energy is needed, so the islands wont produce it. Same as for the flow of people and the flow of data. This is a bottom up system and 100% democratic architectural spaces and this is the way i want to image ports in the far future!

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Formless Architecture

In the book „future shock“ by alvin toffler there is a very specific view about the future, this view describe the future as a flood of knowledge that will live the human been without any option to function. I tried to bring some of this mood into the project by using real time data as the main factor of creating the space. This Data creates a responsive architecture, that changes all the time and can be seen in many different ways. Actually the project changes every single minute, and that‘s why he has no shape of no form. The only thing that matters is the process, the language, the system.

What is important to formless architecture?
Motivation. And the motivation is the human basic need to interact and social. I think this will never disappear, because this is simply what makes as human, no matter how many pad, iPod, tablet etc. we are using. This basic notion is the starting points of the project- to bring people together. To create interesting and smart public spaces, in the sea, and in the land. Spaces that are self-organized and self-sufficient in terms of programs and energy creation and consumption.
And for, apparently you don‘t need to build a lot. And here arose another big question-

maybe we don‘t need architects at all?

Architecture that reacts
People have been dreaming, painting, writing and planning their ports from the beginning of time. The project presents an imaginary concept of Barcelona’s port 100 years from now. This project developed a system in which people will have the ability to create their own surfaces, their own and immediate public spaces, by using and calculating real time data systems, taking into consideration the weather, amount of people, amount of ships, number of attractions etc. Ports are field of energy, like a living cell, they are always in a process of constant changing. That makes them full of potential. In the ports we have all kinds of ships and boats, with huge variety of programs, sizes etc. The surfaces system that the project developed can affect each one of them and create a simultaneity multifunctional system that will give people the opportunity to share spaces in the sea water.

There will be three main parts to this work- The first part will discuss the sea and the water relations, focusing mainly on their meaning to the city of Barcelona. The second part will discuss the pop up surface concept for the future- its meaning and its goals. The third part of this work will discuss the three main „Players“- People, Data and Energy.
The forth part will present the conclusion of the work and points some possible critic points to this specific future view.

The third parts of the project discuss the way it acts in real time. The three elements that make the system works are Data, People and Energy. These elements connecting the sea and the land, the islands in the sea, and the islands in the water. Each one of these flows is independent, but together the three of them creates a multi layered system, that defined itself by its parts

Three Flows-

Energy- The energy is produced under the islands, inside the water. The bigger the island is- the more energy it can produce. Already today there are many ways to produce energy inside the water. For example, the energy that produce by the waves, In this project there are many situations in which ships creates waves, so this is a very good chance to start and produce energy only from this act of moving water.
Moreover, In the future there may be even much more ways to take energy for the ocean water.

People- the flow of people is different by its definition, people can’t fly (yet!) and they can’t crash into buildings, that by their flow is much slower and depends a lot on topography, people can’t be shipped directly (like the energy flow) from one place to the other

Data- flow of data is crucial for the whole process. The data that are being gathered are- time, day, place, season, no. of ships entering the port, no. of people inside the water, no. of activities.
Al this data gathering, (that in the future will be very easy to collect at any real time moment), affect the creation of the islands, determines their own shape and decide their disappearing and repairing process. As you can see in the following diagrams- data flows directly from one place to the other. It’s very important that data will reach from place to place the fastest so the process which I described will happed fatly and accurately to the current need

The flow have also can be changed by their density, length, amount etc. that are changing the whole time, like a river the flow constantly. The three part are equal to each other, none of them is more important than the other, this unity as a hole is what make the system work not the individual parts

The three flows can be seen and represent the veins in the human body. Just as the “In land island” may be referred as joint, and the “surface on demand system” are the palm.

The Conclusion of this project take into consideration the opportunity that everything will fail at the end. What can be a failure is a huge question for itself, but we can imagine hundreds of ships piling one over the other without the freedom to move, and many island pop up in a chaotic way. collecting real time data doesn’t insure you a brighter future necessarily after all…

CL3VER PROJECT LINK-
Here is a link to the CL3VER website of the project, where you can find more information and data about the SURFACE ON DEMAND PROJECT-

http://3d.cl3ver.com/T7ZQa

The pixel’s minute urban scale geometry and transformability may appear to be far fetched, but innovative ideas stem from thinking outside of the box. It can be said that predictions of the future are focused on and are reflective of contemporary issues, in so far that the project attempts to seek ways of relating the Barcelona Port and the arrival (or departure) of goods. Thus rooting the thesis in the distribution of goods.

The consumption-focused lifestyle of an urban population adds fuel to the notion of distribution further. This is an area of immediate opportunity. Efficiency is driven through the urban grid distributing goods to create social places, activities that are as a result useful and enjoyable.  And when one looks out to imagine a future, it is described with, “bike paths and sunny restaurant terraces (…) pretty neighborhoods and great art,” enforcing the aesthetic value of a place.

Although health, mechanical stairs and the customs worker may appear to have nothing in common, it is our duty as designers, innovators to explore the relationships.

According to the Port’s statistics, we looked at the type of goods that are being imported, and we predict that in the future, some products will be of more value. The use of agricultural products i.e. soya beans, cereals and flours will sustain human nutrition; and the chemical products to support transportation devices.

Here we applied the vectors to the movement of goods, in order to establish a relationship to the site.

The relevance of this time line was to provide an understanding of efficiency, through manufacturing and productivity terms, in order to support the flow of goods.

Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3MfS8TjxNo

Booklet Link:

http://issuu.com/rossanagraca/docs/booklet_ 

Team:

Ayaan Barodawala

Rossana Graça

Saad Saheen

Feelings, something very important for all of us, connecting us with a world, people and  events. Even if they are good or bad they are part of everyday life and create a memories. Stress is today way of life that is almost  impossible to avoid. Restlessness and bustle as well as excessive demands and excpectacions that are posed to us have been reflected in our bodies and minds. On the contrary, if we are more rested and relaxed we have more energy and peace. But the question is what exactly make us feel relaxed and happy? Man quickly adjust to everything that is already known. However, various of space, time activities can contribute improving the human mood.

Yes, the things are changing… Nowadays, we think of Barcelona as a land of the sun, sand and sangria, but  its easy to forget that before the games in 1992 it was a different place. It was a place without a beach , 2 miles of a beachfront and a modern marina has been created by demolishing industrial buildings on the waterfront before the games. The Olympics  represented a significant effort to restructure the city. As a result it also has economical and social transformation. Olympic infrastructure  has provided 20 000 permanent jobs in Barcelona, and now 20 years after, Barcelona is one of the most popular tourist destination in the world.

The question is what we can change in the next 50-100 years? What is going to happen in the future? Taking in advance existing data from 1992-2014 of the port of Barcelona, it was concluded that if  we did analysis of the next 35 years, with no incidents, we could manage to increase the amount of tourists  per year for 12%  and only 1,2 % of increase of amount of boats. If the number of people increase drastically and the number of boats for only 1.2 %, we could conclude that one of the most important factors are changes in the size and the shape of the ships. As a consequence of above changes, there would be scenario of new floating city coming to existing city. The question is: what is the appropriate connection between them? Is it some solid static structure or movable, transformable  device as a part of the port?

As a main tool for our project we had to analysis ramps.Lets look back to the evolution of the ramps and what they really presented. The first ramps in the history have been made by wood. They were static and represented a path from point A to point B. Later, they became concrete ramps (as the part of the street, buildings, etc., but still were solid and static). A few years later, dynamic and movable ramps began to occur. Also, it is possible to separate them on recreative, sports, traffic, pedestrian, artificial and natural. But in common, they all had the same characteristics: connecting two points/places.

Is it the only function of the ramp? It has more functions? What are the future ramp? Analyzing this chronological development led us to new ideas. In the future ramp should not be so static, having all the time same size, same slope… but they should be capable to transform, resize according to external influences and according to the place they occupy.

The many faces of Barcelona include the medieval Old Town, the unique street grid resulting from 19th-century urban planning. The city has both long sandy beaches and green parks on the hills, pretty much side-by-side. Barcelona is also famous for a number of prominent buildings, of which perhaps the most known are by the architect Antonio Gaudi, including his Sagrada Familia, which became Barcelona’s symbol to many. Barcelona is a huge city, but the modern and very extensive public transport system allows you to get anywhere. Metro, buses and trams run very frequently until late at night. Apart from that, there are several cable cars, funiculars, railways, sightseeing buses, taxis, local trains, night buses and other transport systems. But is it enough fast and interesting way for tourists? Can we improve transportation system? Is it possible to make something that become connection between two points and at the same time “new attraction” between two existing  attractions?

Our main objectives are to understand our surrounding. The morrot and the port of Barcelona are fundamental for our propose. Port and its history has been relevant during the years. Barcelona, with its early industrialization, its busy port and its proximity to France has been historically a mixed town.

With our data analysis and future assumptions we imagined different city, different era where is proposed a model of transporting people from city to city, in a way of adventures and experiences. The idea is to expand all through the territory and in the moment this incredible ships(floating islands) arrive, we will be ready to receive them, to give the users fantastic adventures, emotions and completely new experiences.

We imagine this future device widespread all over the world connecting airplanes, ships, cities and more, in a way of having new experiences and creating new memories. What is vital force of the city? People! So, like blood particles move inside veins, people bring life into the city via their movement. Our project is about movement and  connectivity. To propose the future  connectivity in the port it is crucial to analyze different types of existing  city movement. There we wanted to tell story about what is city  movement, how does it look, how people really move in the city, what they use and do we see new way for it? Did we make new decisions for better  future?

Acording to activities and functions  we noticed three zones on the site. In order to connect it, we produced adaptable and transformable device connecting necessary places  and creating new spaces and activities.

Taking in advance main points(attractions) in the city and the site, it is decided to create connection between Montjuic, center of the city and port(arriving ships). The communication  with Montjuic, as an important touristic point, was created over central points activities(place where devices are crossing). Those emerging points are depending on the amount of people where they are capable to create upper ground and underground connections.

The main device’s characteristics are transformation, movement, rotation, extension, adaptation, multi-functionality. Device is adaptable to any shape/size of the arriving ships(arriving islands). Depending on the size of the ship device can be duplicated horizontally or vertically. The device is inspired in a musical instrument called the accordion. Its main purpose is to expand and contract to create music, and has millions of possibilities of geometrical forms.

The device has a functionality of change, transformation, expansion and especially, taking in consideration the idea of Rhizome, adaptation. If a rhizome is separated into pieces, each piece may be able to give rise to a new plant. The plant uses the rhizome to store starches, proteins, and other nutrients. This idea is applied to the port and people circulating inside of it.

The port of Barcelona is a large space, but despite of its size, it will have a lot of limitations in 100 years with enormous cities merging into Barcelona and becoming  part of its culture and entertainment development. Our idea is to solve this scale problem with our Rhizome Device.

Depending of the type of activities and functions we create a network that connects the most important points on the site. According to situation, device is able to transform and adapt horizontally and vertically. We create static and dynamic points. Possition of points allows adjustment to various of situations.

Different concepts have an influence on organizing, so in some sections the biggest concentration of connection is on the land while the other ones are more concentrated in the water. No matter what kind/size of ships  or floating islands are comming to the city, device is ready to attach. On the other hand, in situations when nothing is coming, it is creating different spaces for activities represented in any time of day or night (night clubs, casinos, open cinemas, showrooms, sport and recreation, restaurants etc.)

Main static and dynamic points on different levels organized according to different concept situations. This kind of mapping is helping to understand better what are the possible ways of device transformation on the whole territory but keeping the main, primary concept at each part of seven different sections. There we observed that the device has possibility to adapt very easy to any kind of form and any kind of purpose. It is achieved by its duplicating, opening, half-opening, transforming, merging. Static points helped us to understand where our structure should be more solid, while on the other side, dynamic points allows us to be more creative in terms of possible scenarios that could happen in the future.

For start-up and operation of such a complex system, it is necessary to plan meaningful production and use of energy. The project is designed as a self-sufficient from the energy point of view. In this regard, the main sources of energy have been observed in constant movement and circulation of the large number of people through the system, as well as the apparent force that produced the upcoming big floating island. So, two main systems were established.

Piezoelectric floors (capable to harvest energy from human movement): Piezoelectricity is electrical energy produced from mechanical pressure (including motions such as walking). When pressure is applied to an object, a negative charge is produced on the expanded side and a positive charge on the compressed side. Once the pressure is relieved, electrical current flows across the material.

Wave power floating system: Wave energy is produced when electricity generators are placed on the surface of the ocean. The energy provided is most often used in desalination plants, power plants and water pumps. Energy output is determined by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and water density. The exchange of energy is seen through three key scenarios.

1. The common scenario with daily various activities at the port, where the possibility of organizing different events a higher concentration of people and activities contributing to the creation of the energy needed to maintain the system.

2. Incoming island that creates waves and thus provides the necessary power to create energy that is directed to the bed of the system towards the approaching island.

3. Big island in the harbor where the huge exchange of people going in both directions and thereby gets the necessary energy from their movement, by sensitive floors, for the contraction of such a large system after  the island leaves port.

Barcelona is a city full of magic, culture, tourism and cruises. Its large capability of receiving transit passengers of the entire world and positioning its port as number one in the Mediterranean Sea makes it unique and spectacular. Our theory of growth will probably one day become a reality. Tourism is growing exponentially, amount of people also, but land is not growing…  so the oceans will surely become areas where the land will tend to expend. Sensations, adventures and feelings are our bases of device where the main idea is to connect people. We are all creating memories by a serial of changing and evolving connections and networks in a new territory of experience. Our device would have the capability of transforming into a different kind of entertainment, such as cinemas, clubs,  platforms,  simple passages, a store, a circuit of energy, a scene for a concert… The aim was to transform Barcelona into the city of the future, the city that will be able to connect moving cities and receive them. Barcelona will have multifaceted activities that will transform the history of the port. In 100 years we will have a city of hospitals in the middle of the pacific, a city of casinos in the Atlantic, a city of Disney in the Mediterranean… we will have the ocean with mini cities moving throughout the world.

link to the video>

BOOKLET LINK:

http://issuu.com/tamaraivanovic/docs/last_booklet

This short video was produced as part of the design process – not just for fun.  The purpose was to explore metaballs, the geometry that was decided on during the previous phase of the project.  This video represents a catalogue of the various creative solutions that are possible with this mathematical form, and how rewarding it can be to watch them expand, mutate and rearrange.

Last semester this project addressed the questions of what the architecture of a hedonist society could offer, and how could it be quantified.  The idea was to extend Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill’s concept of hedonistic calculus with the parameters of sun vs. shade, space vs. proximity and exclusivity vs. inclusivity.  The architecture would adapt to individual requests for each, in realtime.

With that as a starting point, the next logical step was to develop a more thorough understanding of pleasure and hedonism.  The investigation and subsequent conclusions are below:

Every action that gives us pleasure can be represented by a simple curve on a graph.  The levels of pleasure are on the Y-axis and time is on the X-axis.  What we see is that the levels of pleasure rise, reach a peak, and eventually decline.  The amplitude (or intensity) may vary, and so can the duration of the event.  Sometimes, when the peak happens very quickly, it can result in a steep decline and lowered levels of satisfaction- for example while eating junk food.  At other times, there may be a long build up to the peak with no crash, leaving us with an enduring sense of satisfaction, for example after leaving an intimate party with good friends and good conversation.

The next question that a society of insatiable pleasure seekers would ask is how can our pleasure be greater and last longer?  An analysis of many pleasurable activities concluded that they all have qualities that can be accurately described by one spectrum or another.  Two useful spectra referred to here are social vs. private and exposed vs. sheltered.  However, much like standing in a room surrounded by mirrors, these two spectra are but two of an infinite number of definitions, and each place you look exposes a different angle of an object.  These umbrella categories are defined as “in-ness” and “out-ness”, and they refer to the dichotomous relationships that are present in all our actions.

After mapping enough activities across these spectra, a pattern emerged.  Often the most pleasurable activities are the ones that have two forces in opposition.  If privacy can be considered “in-ness” and exposure is “out-ness”, then when these two states combine (as in exhibitionism, for example) then it’s like drawing a bow and arrow.  There is a tension created – a synthetic risk that leads to heightened feelings of pleasure.  Another state that can lead to heightened sensations of pleasure is when the activity requires a delicate balance of both private vs. social and shelter vs. exposure – like being on a first date, for example.  The implication here is that by thoughtful design this tension could be leveraged to increase an individual’s pleasure.

In the following movie, these conclusions are visualised in the very different reality of a hedonist society inhabiting Barcelona 100 years in the future. The situations shown here attempt to provide a clear contrast between what happens inside and outside, and how the relationships between these pseudo states can be modulated by a flexible metaball architecture.

To develop a complete understanding of the project it is necessary to understand the logics involved in the technical resolution.  The first step was to divide our site at the Barcelona Port into zones.  This was achieved using metaballs of varying thresholds to define overlapping regions of influence.  These regions were populated according to specific parameters for each one, depending on the density of use and intended geometric permutation for each zone.  The points were used to construct a 2-dimensional Voronoi grid.  Although Voronoi cells may not be the organisational grid of the future, they could be a candidate because of the minimal packing of the geometry.

Next, start points and end points for the centres of each metaball are distributed onto the grid, with factors applied to modulate the theoretical densities of use according to time and intent.  These points are made to travel along the grid using the shortest route possible.  Then the grid is pushed up into 3-dimensions using the local densities around each intersection as a parameter, combined with a unique factor for each zone.  Finally, the metaballs are given flesh with radii determined using another zone factor.  The resulting urban amalgamation seen here has a clear set of logics governing it, just like any emergent reality we expect to see in the future.

The Intro | Responsive Renaturalization

Port city harbors, which were once isolated, now face the challenge of being reintegrated into an increasingly data-driven urban fabric. This desire is coupled with the push for renaturalization of such densely concrete, anthropic jungles.

The Port of Barcelona of the 22nd century should reject monofunctional infrastructure and instead re-invite a scenario of discovery, welcoming a rhizomatic interaction built upon nature’s inherent fluctuation.

This project is the nexus of annual local and tourist social exchanges, leading to the spread of plant-life, wildlife and aquatic life. Real-time human behavior triggers the exploit of green-energy amidst Montjuic and the seaport, which then feeds the transition of Responsive Habitats.

http://issuu.com/eel6529/docs/responsivehabitats_finalbooklet?e=2347737/13496863

The Synopsis | Emergent Territory

Advanced Architecture will have a new relationship with nature. This relationship will be driven by generated data and maintained through localized energy production.

Cities will develop new relationships with their coastal regions as they expand. Without the customary boundaries between natural and built environments, time will become a variable of occupancy.

The future Port of Barcelona, as proposed in this project, is informed by real-time data. Human population data activates the site, which is also affected by cargo, wildlife, climate and marine data.

This site will be shared, but occupied at different times. The data supports a Peak Season for public activity and an Off Season more suitable for plantlife and wildlife that will share the space.

These contrasting seasons will transition in an annual cycle. Each year the cycle builds off of the unpredictable spread of nature, creating an unstable yet functional emergent territory.

In 100 years architecture will not be limited to inactive objects anymore.  Kinetic architecture is established, constructions are not frozen in one moment, they change constantly to the current needs. Rooms can grow when the number of people increases, bridges can come up only when needed, leaving free space if not. But how can the structure know about those needs? The 21st century is the era of data collection. Everybody has several devices, which observe, record and publish data every second used. This data can be taken to measure pedestrian and traffic flows, current needs and shortages. The structure will respond to that input as well as it can already provide the surrounding for certain scenarios.  Two surfaces respond either in different ways. One works in a performative way and one works observative. Together they shape a space with various functions, reacting to the behavior of the people.

Thesis

What will the city look like in 100 years? Nowadays we imagine architecture as something static. But Life is not static. Nor is a city or a building. Buildings already change their functions, when the use changes, as well as their appearance by preserving or developing renovations. Cities are systems in constant change, shaped by flows of people, devices and data. Bit by bit, buildings change, giving the city a new face every day. But why do buildings have to be static? Already in the 1960’s architects like Ron Herron of the journal Archigram proposed massive robotic structures, which could walk wherever it might be the best. The walking city nowadays is an icon in architectural theory. Examples of kinetic architecture can be found already today.  Heatherwicks‘ Rolling Bridge is just one example. So what if not only the city changes by fluctuant constructions, but the buildings itself alter?

The site

The location between Montjuic and the harbor is full of contradictions. On one hand it is a place with lots of connections. The ships are landing, bringing thousands of people and tons of goods to Barcelona every day. A big street is connecting the airport to the city. And the view from the castle to the sea is stunning. On the other hand there are lots of frictions. The street, connecting in one direction, is a huge barrier in the perpendicular way. From the top of the mountain the sea seems far away, although well seen. The hill slope itself is a barrier, which makes the castle on top inaccessible from the seaside. And though every tourist visiting Barcelona is passing this place, nobody ever stops there. Whether the people come from the big cruise ships or if they come from the airport, they always pass the constriction between the harbor and the Montjuic. As well as the inhabitants of Barcelona, close enough to see it every day – nobody is aware of this place. In the site analysis we extracted the main nodes, which function as fixed activator points for the structure. In addition the site was sliced in seven sections, each one representing another zone and function.

form follows data

www.atnight.ws: data mapping

In 100 years urban structures as well as buildings will not be static anymore. They will change their shape according to the needs of the user and the given circumstances. But how does the building know what to do? Nowadays everybody carries various devices that measure nearly everything. By tracking the geolocation of images and posts uploaded on social networks, a rough outline of the users behavior can be done already. Analyzing the content of the images and posts gives even more information. Almost everything can be measured. The structure responds to the given input. If there is a large gathering of people it will shape bigger rooms to allow more space. If cars want to cross from one terminal to the other, it will shape a bridge. When a ship wants to pass, it moves to the ground of the harbor. If smaller ships need docks, the structure creates various islands, as well as connections to the land. If someone from the harbor wishes to reach the peak of the mountain, the surface will transport him there. When there is no input given, the two surfaces rest and merge with the existing landscape.

Structure

Therefore the structure is parted in two surfaces: one functions as an observative platform, the other one performative. Each one has different functions according to their aim. Together they shape an active urban space that connects the harbor site with the city.

Concept

After concentrating on the first section the structure has to expand over the whole territory. Seven groups worked on seven sections and each one had a different concept. The consecutive method was to appropriate the different concepts and merge them in the structure. Therefore the harbor was divided into seven sections and zones.  Each zone varies in shape and function. The first sector is the dedicated to leisure time. Here big concerts are happening as well as exhibitions. The structure reaches from the sea up to the castle to connect the two counterpoints and offer views all over. The second one is a green zone. The active surface merges into green space where plants grow while the passive one forms paths that lead through the park. The third one is dedicated to the harbor work. Containers and goods are stored in between the surfaces and distributed to further destinations. The consecutive one has a triphibian concept. It functions as a terminal and gate for the cruise ship passengers. It connects the harbor directly with the city and the mountain. The fifth area is a housing zone. Here the surfaces multiply and create various spaces in between that will be used for accommodation. The locations are next to the waterfront and on top of the mountain so that each space has a unique view. The last two areas function mainly for the ships. Plug-in ramps connect the ships to the land and offer the passengers a welcome to Barcelona. The last zone appears mainly in the ocean, the surfaces dive into the water and only peak out in a few points. They create islands where they are needed, so ships can dock there and recharge their supply, if they don’t want to stay on the land.

Energy concept

The energy used for the movement of the structure is generated by the surface itself. With piezoelectric materials, the pressure energy of the surrounding is collected and directly distributed to the spots needed. The pressure causing elements are the containers of the harbor work, the waves and the users. Through piezoelectric materials, the weight pushed on the skin can be transformed into electric energy. The spots with the most activity usually produce and consume most electricity, therefore the energy is always directly produced where it is needed. Excess energy will be directed to the electricity system of Barcelona.

Conclusion

We do not know what the world or Barcelona will look like in 100 years. The Landscape of Experience is an attempt to draw the outline of the future shape of Barcelona. Following the population graphs today, the city will grow and expand rapidly. The site of el Morrot will not be the edge of Barcelona anymore but a whole new district embedded in the city pattern. The cities future image will be shaped by mega structures.  The future buildings will have multiple functions. Spaces will be fluent. Inside and outside, public and private, industrial and commercial, the structure will blur. Through sensors and processors the structure will have intelligence, allowing it to respond to the conditions and react to the necessities. Kinetic structures allow the movement and changes.

We do not know the future. But we can imagine it and our imagination will shape the world of tomorrow. The future starts today.

by

Pia Grobner   .   Yanna Haddad   .   Joy Alexandre Harb Kadiri

see also:

Full Thesis booklet: http://issuu.com/piagrobner/docs/landscape_of_experience_booklet_sin

Interative interface: http://3d.cl3ver.com/GE147