AirArchitectureDesign Studio

Shelly Verhoeven - 614521

Architecture Design Studio AIR

Shelly Verhoeven 2013Tutors David & Michael

Content

1 Expression of Interest 1.1 Architecture as a discourse 1.2 Case for Innovation 1.3 Design Approach

Expression of interest1

1.1 Architecture as a discourse

What is architecture? I think that everyone has an idea of what architecture is. But as we really start to think about it and try to explain what architecture is, a lot of different answers will come up. Can you say that every building is architecture? Is the design of a dollhouse architecture? And what about an arcade or a bridge? Is a city architecture or does a city just contain architecture? If a building design has not actually been build, does that mean it’s not architecture?

According to Richard Williams, “architecture needs to be thought of less as a set of special material products and rather more as range of social and professional practices that sometimes, but by no means always, lead to buildings. But, above all, architecture needs to be analyzed as a discourse. It then becomes possible to think about architecture as something in which all can participate.”

1.2 Case for innovationWhen we think of skyscrapers, we think of massive static buildings. Building that have nothing to do with nature. And everybody knows: they don’t move. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. Architect David Fisher designed the first building in the world that is in motion. He created ‘The Dynamic Tower’ a rotating skyscraper that is to be self-powered and 90% prefabricated. The tower’s form is ever changing, as each floor independently rotates around the core in response to the wind and the sun. So now, the sky-scraper is ectually part of the environment and has a lot to do with nature. As Fisher states: “Today’s life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change continuously, to our concept of design and to our mood, buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, they will change di-rection and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust them-selves to the weather, buildings will be alive. From now on, buildings will have four dimensions, the fourth dimension is ‘Time’ to become part of architecture.”

http://www.limitemagazine.com/2008/08/dynamic-architecture/

Rotating Skyscraper, Moskow. By David Fisher

Aside from the concrete core, the entire building exist of prefabricated units. These units are completely finished and include flooring, water piping and air-conditioning when they arrive to the construction site. This means that the construction time will be very fast and way less workmen will be needed. If this is sustainable in every as-pect is questionable. Looking at the social aspect of sustainability for example, less workmen means that more people will be unemployed. Looking at the images, it is also clear that the ability to rotate is not used to gain a perfect position towards the sun, and use the sun or shadow to create a nice envi-ronment inside of the building and reduce the use of heating/air-conditioning. As the floors are all facing in different directions in the image on the right.However, the horizontal wind turbines between the floors would be capable of generating both the power required to keep the building in constant motion and to power the functions inside the building, which off course is very sustainable.

The constant change of your view when looking out of the window or standing on the balcony is is a very nice and innovating aspect of Fisher’s creation. However, it might not always be as fortunate. For example, if Ms Baily wants to spend her free Wednesday on her balcony sunbaking, she might just find herself sitting in the shad-ow all day, depending on the position of her floor.

Overall, David Fisher’s Dynamic Tower is a very innovative and futuristic creation that changes the concept the skyscraper and will (constantly) change the look of cities.

Dynamic Tower, Dubai. By David Fisher