Cha
rlot
te B
irch
Uni
t D
201
2/13
Rebuilding Culture and Identity Post Disaster
L’Aquila, Italy
Piazza Del Duomo, L’Aquila
Project 1 - Recording:RecodingA symbolic object/place with cultural significanceThe Candlelight Monument
Glo
bal I
mpa
ct o
f D
isas
ters
Und
erst
andi
ng V
ulne
rabi
lity
- Earthquake - 3.32am 6th April 2009 - 6.3 Richter - 42.348 N, 13.380 E - Focal Depth 9.46km
Disaster - 308 killed -1500 injured - Nearly 70,000 evacuated - Estimated 25,000 houses damaged
- Unable to react properly to danger - Were told there was ‘nothing to worry about’ by state - Poorly constructed buildings. – Old and structurally weak historical heritage buildings
- Lack of previous knowledge/ experience of an earthquake. – State blasé attitude toward forewarnings. – No precautionary measures taken to strengthen/reinforce historical buildings - Construction of buildings which violate codes to cut costs.
- Last earthquake was over two generations ago. – Reliance on State media. - Regarding heritage aesthetics over safety. – Vested interest in economic gain of construction rather than safety. – Wrong risk classification of area on national prevention map.
Root Causes Dynamic Pressures Unsafe Conditions Hazard
Surr
ound
ing
Top
ogra
phy North
South
East
West
South mountains are tallest
Old city on a hill - steepest side is south
Closest mountains south-west
West edge of old city is flattest
Vulnerability - Old city is surrounded by mountains indicating a seismic area
Gen
eral
Cit
y A
naly
sis
- E
arth
quak
e im
pact
, clim
ate,
roa
ds
Palazzo Del GovernoCorso Principe Umberto Piazza Santa Maria Paganica
Piazza Rocca di Corno
Bef
ore
and
Aft
er t
he Q
uake
Train routes
Main Road routes
My Personal routes
Transect Walk
Site
Ana
lysi
s -
Figu
re G
roun
ds
Building Densities and Green ares Routes through the City Points of Interest
Site
Ana
lysi
s -
Pia
zza
Del
Duo
mo
Scale 1:1000
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Statuesque architecture, importance, heritage, clock towers, market culture, alfresco dining, gelatery, cobbled road, heritage, clock towers
1. 2.
Boutiques, corner shops, tourist/info/news booths, balconies, patio windows, views to the square, narrow crooked side streets, contrast open space of square. heritage, clock towers.
3. 4.
Community culture, social space, mo-peds and motorbikes, freedom, relaxed, busy yet laid back, the peoples square, biking trails, rest, food and drink, culture.
5.
6.
Dusk fog, blurred glow of lamps, orange haze, silhouettes, pink sky sunsets, old fashioned elegant street lamps, romantic, poetic scene
Pre
cede
nt S
tudi
es
Garden, sanctuary, peaceful, tranquil, contemporary memorial benches.
One object represents one victim. - Shows magnitude of loss
7/7 Bombings Memorial, Hyde Park, London
9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Washington.
Simple forms, elegant Personal significance
More private
More open Public and private remembrance?
Boxing Day Tsunami memorial, Patong Beach, Thaliand
One year anniversary parade of the L’aquila earthquake.Japan Earthquake Memorial
Lighting candles - Comforting, prayers, celebration, memory
Simple act
Elegant effect
‘Knee-jerk’ temporary memorials
before an offial state
one is made
Global tradition - evident in L’Aquila
Light and Shadows
Furt
her
Pre
cede
nt S
tudi
es -
Im
port
ance
of
Can
dles
in I
talia
n C
ultu
re
Theses three images were taken from inside S.Maria del Suffragio in Piazza del Duomo, the main church in the main square of the city (the site for our monument). This shows the importance of candles is very much in L’Aquila as well as Rome, using them as a symbol of prayer.
Votive Candles in Cathedrals in Rome
Inside Santa Maria del Suffragio Church, Piazza del Duomo, L’Aquila
Permanent Candles in L’AquilaThis image was taken beside a partial collapse building along with a picture of a young girl about 6 years old and her teddy bear. Here, the candle is a symbol of remembrance as well as prayer. It is battery powered; clearly the idea of a candle is so important that they’re using a more long term solution.
Con
cept
Dev
elop
men
t
BioluminescenceThe idea that the monument can act as a warning by lighting up or possibly changing colour before an earthquake. Bioluminescence is created by “the chemicals luciferin (a pigment) and luciferase (an enzyme).The luciferin reacts with oxygen to create light. My idea is these chemicals to be somehow released and mixed using the foreshocks of an earthquake.
Device to reduce Vulnerability?
Precedent Synthesis - One Candle and One Glass Tube represents One victim308 Glass tubes for 308 Victims
Des
ign
Dev
elop
men
t
Materiality1. Granite - Dark colour, hardwearing, weathers well could have rough or polished finish. However unlikely to be able to get in one continuous slab, will have to be clad.2. Marble - Does not weather well, stains easily.3. Polished Concrete - Weathers well, will be able to construct in one continuous slab.
Design RefinementsRemoving the ground slab reinforces the elegance of the floating roof. Due to the fragility of the design, the exteral lighted tubes should be made from a hard-wearing frosted plastic, which should also help provent any vandalism.
Too open - lighting of candles will have less of an effect.Roof creates shading - giving lighting more important
Pos
itio
n in
Pia
zza 7am 1pm 5pm
Summer(Mid June)
Equinox(Sept)
Winter(Mid Dec)
Sketch-up model of the site showing the sunlight and shadow throughout the day. It appears that the southern edge of the piazza is in shadow for the majority of the day throughout the year.
Alfresco dining
Alfresco dining
Market space
Monument
Strong diagonal/line of sight
Using the shadow diagram and my site analysis, I have chosen to place my monument centre/south as to still maintain one line of symmetry, keep my monument in shadow for as long as possible as well as not disturbing the market and alfresco culture. I will face the entrance toward the cathedral as this is a
quieter area of the piazza, ensuring a calm and respectful atmosphere around my monument.
Structure 1
Structure 2
Structure ProposalsStructure Idea 1 - thick external columns (possibly concrete) to support roof, not interrupting the light tubes however it loses the illusion that the roof is ‘floating’ upon light.Structure Idea 2 - thinner steel columns in the corners of the outer ‘ring’ of lighted tubes, will keep illusion of ‘floating’ roof - will sacrifice access to 3 lighted tubes, these will not have names on and permanent lighting. Will have to add 12 lighted tubes elsewhere.
Structure Idea 3 - Very thin steel columns - the same dimensions of the lighted tubes, replacing each corner tube, this will help the structure ‘melt’ into the design ensuring it is hardly noticeable, reinforcing the concept of the heavy monolithic roof is ‘floating’ on light. The steel will be polished as to mirror it’s surroundings. Having them thinner means I will need more of them, replacing 12 of the lighted tubes.Structure Idea 4 - Very thin steel plates between each tube or perhaps every other tube. From some angles the structure will be barely visible, however would block some of the ‘glow’ from the tubes, reducing it’s impact.
Stru
ctur
al I
nves
tiga
tion
s
Structure 3
Structure 4
The SANAA 2009 Serpentine Pavilion - “Describing their structure the architects said: ‘The Pavilion is floating aluminium, drifting freely between the trees like smoke’”. They have managed to create this feeling using extremely thin steel columns piercing throughout the roofscape. The structure, being so thin, melts into the building and becomes almost non-existant as it reflects it’s surroundings.
The structural steel columns are hardly visible. Being the same uniformity as the translucent lighted tubes has helped the structure blend seamlessly with the design and reinforcing the concept that the monument is floating on light.
As the lighted tubes are very tall and not strong are the bottom due to the cut out slot for the candle, the tubes need the be well fixed at the top of the structure. I’ve looked at using a steel plate and hollow cyclinder that the tube can be slotted into, the steel plate will be fixed to the roof slab giving it stability.
Plan (Scale 1:50)
Letting oxygen through perforations in glass.8cm by 15cm window to insert candle with dipped down plate for candle to sit and collect any dripped wax.
Structural Idea 3 - Explored
Des
ign
Sequ
ence
Fina
lised
Des
ign
Polished Concrete
Steel Structural Rod
Translucent Cast Acrylic
Translucent Glass
Plan (1:50)Orthographic View and Perspective View
Sect
ion
(Sca
le 1:
40)
Glass
Stone
Glass Seal
Bottom of tube detail with window cut
Perforations in tube
Plan of tube
Top of tube showing fixture to the
Steel
Glass Seal
Glass
Concrete
Pla
n an
d Se
ctio
n D
etai
ls -
Sca
le 1:
1
Mon
umen
t V
iew
s
Project 2 - ReinhabitingA temporary occupation to activate L’AquilaFree L’Aquila Paint Festival
Piazza Del Duomo, L’Aquila
Bri
ng C
olou
r ba
ck t
o ab
ando
ned
tow
n -
Cat
alys
t fo
r P
roje
ct 3
Precedents for Paint Festivals‘Holi Festival’ in India, aka ‘Festival of Colour’. This is a Hindu religious festival where they celebrate the beginning of Spring and commemorate fetile lands and fruitful harvests.
Holi is ‘played’ by throwing coloured powders into the air and at friends/family/neighbours etc then water pistols and water balloons are thrown the awash everyone and everything in sight with bright colours.
The colours can stain clothes by do not stain the surrounding environment.
A walk on the main road through the city - Empty, ghostly, abandoned - no life, barely any people about, even cars seemed abandoned Collage of graffiti from around L’Aquila - small instances of colour and humour in the city.
Key
Spray Cans concealed/camoflaged within scaffolding
Army watch points - points in the area where Army tended to always have people stationed.
Common Army patrolled routes
Mapping of StrategyThe PaintFest will bring activity and colour back into the city as well as raise awareness for the protest to rebuild the city.
To create awareness and excitement for the PaintFest I plan to empower a small group of people who will conceal spray cans of temporary graffiti paint which will blend in within the scaffolding holding up the buildings, choosing spots that are a safe distance away from common Army presence points and routes.
This small group will begin the tagging of ‘Free L’Aquila PaintFest’ and spreading the word of the concealed paint cans and encouraging them to tag aswell. They will also spread news of the date of the planned paint festival.
Informing the local shops as well of the planned festival will help with spreading the information.
This should also spark the local marketsmen to begin selling the powdering paints needed for the festival. This will also be temporary and washable.
Idea
Dev
elop
men
t
Progress of StrategyArmy unawares of locations of spray cans or planned festival
Empowered small group begin the tagging and concealing of cans
People begin to take notice of tags and hear of hidded spray cans
Others find cans and tag too.
“I’ve heard the festival is the last weekend of this month”
Marketmen begin selling the powdered paints in preparation.
Bri
ng C
olou
r ba
ck t
o ab
ando
ned
tow
n -
Cat
alys
t fo
r P
roje
ct 3
Beginnings of the Festival
Project 3 - RecastingA place for new forms of democracyFavilla D’essai - Street Art Centre for Therapy and Protest
Piazza Del Palazzo, L’Aquila
L’A
quila
- F
urth
er S
ite
Ana
lysi
s Important building, entrance set back from street, modern arch for entrance to porch
Common curved arch doorways, wider than standard doors, busy public building, carved decoration
Less money to spend on ornamentation, plain curved arch - conform to the ‘rules’.
Less common to have doors set back from street, privacy?
Triangular arch, different decoration to common curved arch, moulded decor
Very highly decorated iron ornamentation, display of wealth, importance, not residential, common material for decoration, stone carving and iron casting
More modern building, simple windows, no decoration
More modern window, conforms to ‘rules’ but simpler, less decorative, common stone framing and balconette
Older window, larger balcony with old style wooden shutters, decorative iron railings
Common stone carved ornamentation on older buildings, stone has weathered over time showing age of building.
Wooden blinds, perhaps cheaper version of traditional wooden shutters
More modern building, modern glazed wall combined with a more traditional plaster and stone cornicing.
Traditional terracotta and pinky tones for painted plastering.
Modern stretcher bond
Rougher, more expressed stone work.
Plaster broken away showing the layers of construction, timberframe with masonry infill
Plaster broken away showing construction, perhaps poorly constructed
Circular windows common for churches, not used usually for residential buildings.Less grand small churches, decorative doors however plain plastering, no cornicing or ornamentation.
Larger churches, symmetrical, grander entrances, taller than standard doorways, highly decorative with ornamentation mouldings, statues, columns, tall, bell towers
Situated in larger public piazzas, tallest buildings in the squares, showing their importance
White/cream painted plaster, physically highlighting them against the typical terracotta or pinky surrounding buildings.
Balconies are common decorative feature amoung buildings, cultural - coffee on the balcony, alfresco dining
Stone carved decorative railings for balcony, unusual, wrought iron is usually used bent into intricate patterns.
Stone cornicing in alternating pattern, old fashion lamps are commonly placed on the facades of buildings.
More extravagant take on street lighting, used on facade of large post office, inspired by L’Aquila eagle crest
Attention to detail, iron decorative knockers, style using lions heads are quite common
Roofscapes show mainly terracotta tiled roofs with realtively shallow pitches, highlighting the terracotta, pinky tones of the town.
L’A
quila
- E
arth
quak
e D
amag
e
Temporary Supports to buildings and walls
Partially or Total collapsed buildings
Hai
ry D
raw
ing
- M
appi
ng t
he p
oint
s of
inte
rest
in c
ity Renzo Piano auditorium
(right), Piano ‘gave’ it to
L’Aquila for free and the
local school of Architecture
were involved in the design
process to ensure it met
their needs
The most emotional part of the
city for me, the
collapsed university
student halls.
Photos, flowers, candles
and poems pinned to
the fencing.
A drop of dewPerfectOver a green leafPerfectSlips awaySlowlyAt first fightDawn
ThenAs if he was afraidTo make the leapStop for a momentOn the extreme edgeEventuallyDetermined in the choiceAlready madeGets the courageIndulges happyJumps
To all the studentsHere that lost their lives
Your courageWill be for usForeverPride
L’Aquila 6th April 2009Cause you not to forget
Continued army presences
patrolling the main street
and some of the backstreets
ensuring people do not enter the
red zone (800 euro fine)
(Below) The 99 Fountains-
made of 99 spouts
signifying the 99
villages that originally
made up the city.
Translation of poem
Stray dogs all over city. Owners may have died or left the city
Boards displaying info about the chosen
reconstruction projects by the Government.
Mainly churches and public buildings.
Piazza del Duomo. The
main and largest public square in the
city.
Transect WalkSpray L’Aquila - Street art
Community-made memorials
A message thanking L’Aquila for the spaces. Showing the need for space for expression. Street art depicting characters, construction, writing
etc. Other examples round the city included political messages
Keys pinned to the scaffolding surrounding the buildings signifying the many homes lost. Post-its stuck to a wall, people trying to communicate
to each other, community has been separated, messages of hope, well-wishing, prayers - therapeutic to write down your feelings.
Tra
nsec
t W
alk
- R
ecor
ding
sig
ht, s
ound
, atm
osph
ere
in t
he c
ity
Tra
ffic
Car
sta
rtin
g
beep
bee
p ah
ead
Dri
lling T
raffi
c
Tra
ffic
Dul
l con
stan
t co
nstr
ucti
on n
oise
Army presence Police car drives away
Feel watched Starting to feel like I’m not allowed to be here
Police PatrolSp
arki
ng s
aw
Bui
lder
s ta
lkin
g
Dri
lling S
andi
ng
Ver
y lo
ud d
rilli
ng
Walking into scaffoling tunnel
Tense, overwhelming construction sound
Piazza del Duomo
Mus
ic f
rom
ca
fe in
squ
are
4 C
him
es f
rom
th
e cl
ockt
ower
in
squ
areS
mal
l lul
l
Dri
lling
fu
rthe
r aw
ay
Con
stru
ctio
n
Bee
ping
mac
hine
ry
Bee
p be
ep -
ca
r re
vers
ing
Slap
ping
wat
er
foun
tain
Gro
up o
f 5
chat
ting
beh
ind
3 ca
rs p
assi
ng
bark
bar
k
Dis
tanc
e co
nstr
ucti
on
stre
et o
ppos
ite
Dis
tant
cha
tter
an
d fo
otst
eps
Pat
ter
of
dog
paw
s Qui
et, j
ust
my
foot
step
s an
d ge
ntle
fl
appi
ng o
f di
scar
ded
pape
r po
ster
s
Confused, people with filming equipment
Wind blowing in my ears More at ease, music and water fountains, familiar
Stray dogs following me, seem friendly
Dogs seem to hate the cars, very loud, agressive barking at them
Uneasy, lonely, ghostly
Lots of shops closed down, scaffolding,
Con
stru
ctio
n in
dis
tant
Con
stru
ctio
n, c
hain
s cl
angi
ng, h
oove
ring
Jazz
, pia
no b
ar m
usic
Ban
g
Eng
lish
mus
ic,
from
Piz
zeri
a
Res
taur
ant,
co
ffee
, cha
tter
Bus
bra
kes
Cha
tter
, peo
ple
wal
king
by,
bus
ier
Tra
ffic
Solit
ary
peop
le
Bir
ds
Lul
l in
cons
truc
tion
an
d tr
affic
Tra
ffic
nois
e pi
ckin
g up
, m
ovin
g to
war
ds a
larg
e ro
unda
bout
and
pet
rol s
tati
on
Hea
vier
tra
ffic,
edg
e of
ol
d ci
ty, l
arge
rin
g ro
ad
Comforting, people around, social, more cafes open
Curious, sudden activity
Quiet without feeling ghostly
Comforting, trees and greenery
Pia
zza
Del
Pal
azzo
Benches
Lamp-posts
Trees, foliagePlant pots
Direct access routes to Piazza del Duomo
Large main road, common route to site (how we got to site)
Clock tower
Nearby Piazza - quieter, religious square, around fountain
Most damaged build-ing in the square.
Shops, jewellers and pizzeria
Shops, jewellers and pizzeria
Disabled parking space
7am 1pm 5pm
Summer(Mid June)
Equinox(Sept)
Winter(Mid Dec)
Pia
zza
Del
Pal
azzo
Stonework contrasts terracotta plasterwork of sur-rounding buildings.
Detailed roof mouldings contrasting plasterwork.
Similar style mouldings to roof - straight - mould-ings around windows, more attention to detail than most contemporary buildings.
Contrasting stonework along corner edges, very common among buildings in the old town.
Large double door stone edged entrance - important building, large intake of people to require double doors.
Clock tower - tallest building in the square, important, landmark, social meeting point.
Via Patini - larger side street, direct access to Piazza Del Duomo.
Evident structure made decorative, columns very common decora-tive tool in Italian style.
Balcony over main entrance, traditional. Banner translated: “If a dream has
many obstacles it means it’s the right one”. - Could be referring to earth-quake, fighting to keep her bar open.
Via Marelli - smaller side street, another direct access to Piazza Del Duomo, currently red zone blocked.
‘Ristorante Ernesto’
Curved door entrances on all facades on this street
Mini side street, no access to other roads, cul-de-sac, unusual in grid-like plan.
Pia
zza
Del
Pal
azzo
Via Accursio - very narrow, very steep side street
Humour, lightheartedness - model of a builder made from bits of scrap, wearing a hard hat.
High-end Ladies and Childrens clothing chain, online shopping.
Mid-end Jewel-lery and fashion accessories chain.
Traditional, rustic pizzeria.
Small Ladies clothing shop.
Translated: ‘An-cient World’ - antique shop?
Translated: ‘Shop from Asia’.
Communal balcony across whole facade.
Door doesn’t match the rest, possibly been replaced - or door to accomodation above shops?
Large scale arches leading to doorways, lined with columns, grand feeling, important building.
Each window has a balcony, adding to grand feeling
Highly decorated windows, more panes of glass, arched windows, mini antique street lights, matching those of the square
Two layers of roof mouldings, more detailed designs, height of building and intricity of designs indicates most important building of the square.
All roughly same scale, not symmetical. Mouldings around windows are plain and not as ornate as the rest of the buildings in the square. Possibly made from local masons.
Oldest looking building in the square, most damaged looking, heaviest scaffolding.
Evident slope
Site
Bui
ldin
g
Outdoor seating - social spaces, views out to square, summer evenings
“If a dream has many obstacles it means it’s the right one.”
Posters - films, events around town, social hub, information point.
Farfarello - The Goblin - From the story of ‘Dantes Inferno’. It is an allegory telling of the journey of Dante through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. Farfarello was one of the thirteen de-mons that tried to trick Virgil and Dante by telling them of a path which does not really exist.
View from Farfarello’s entrance
Close up materials - stone, wood, plaster, cobble paving.
Colours in facade.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRO
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CED
BY
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ON
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PRO
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRO
DU
CED
BY A
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UTO
DESK
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CA
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OD
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Front Elevation - Scale 1:100
Con
cept
Ide
a O
ne
Freedom of Speech - spaces for expression
“If a dream has many obstacles, it means it is the right one” - space for people to express their dreams, using post-it note memorial for inspiration - dreams become the facade, engraved in, inspired others.
Act of expression is therapeutic
In February 2009, “This We Believe,” a citywide initiative was launched to help residents conceptualize and contribute their thoughts for designs for city wide murals through a series of forums. The Murals Arts Program started in 1984 as a component of the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network which
encourages the positive energy of the destructive nature of street graffiti artists to create artwork to rebuild communities.
Since inception, over 25 years ago, over 3,000 public art murals have been painted.
Pre
cede
nt f
or C
once
pt
Image from Internet
My own image
Att
itud
e to
war
d de
moc
racy
in I
taly
To have The same individual who owns iTaly's privaTe Tv channels as head of The governmenT has been a disasTrous concenTraTion of power. - The independanT (14/12/10)
Italy's political landscape is shifting drastically, with both the Berlusconi era and the technocratic Monti government coming to a likely end and elections possible on 10 March.
now ThaT silvio berlusconi is no longer iTaly's prime minisTer, and has been replaced by mario monTi, is iTaly on The paTh To recovery? - bbc news (14/11/12)
The Money Man
Technocratic Government
‘No to the imperialsm of Monti’s government, Take your hands off Syria’
‘No Monti Day’ - Marches against Austerity in Rome, 27th October 2012.
My own photo of graffiti sprayed in L’Aquila
Graffiti
Ancient Forms- Viking Graffiti - Newgrange Mound- Mayan - Scratched onto scultures
Communicate- People communicate with each other- Points of view and expressions
Creative- Space to be creative, show off flare.- Exploring and displaying skills
Territorial- ‘Tagging’ - gang ‘logos’ claiming area.- Get as many tags up as posible- Most common - most negative-Quick to do, less likely to be caught
Banksy
Cultural- Story-telling, heritage, history- Depicting things they’re proud of.
Boredom-’Meaningless’ graffiti - “Kate 4 Will”- Doodles
A graffiti centre in Cardiff, teaching people how to express themselves through graffiti medium. The centre includes indoor space as well as large exterior walls to perform numerous workshops with the community, school groups etc. They also get commissions to create work on graffiti legal walls. They also use the space to hold gigs, concerts and exhibitions.
Greenpeace specialise in peaceful protest and have succeeded in achieving many positive changes across environment and political issues. The images to the left are from Glastonbury festival showing the protest wall and a gallery, showing current issues and protests, made from reclaimed tyres. Although Greenpeace protests are peaceful towards people, they often break laws to get their opinions heard resulting in many of their protesters being frequently arrested.
BBC - Sherlock Holmes
Simple, clear message Symbols, underground communication Subliminal - pressure
Wrapping/patching up
L’Aquila
Facebook, blogging - knits being sent from France, Spain, Germany,
Portugal, Ukraine, US, Venezuela, Iran
Displaying communities
emotions and hope
Christo Jean-Claude’s
eccentric bold statement -
wrapping of buildings
Exp
lori
ng G
raffi
ti -
Pur
pose
and
Pra
ctic
e
Graffiti artists often use
temporary spray paint to dodge persecution as it is no longer permanent damage to buildings.
‘Spray L’Aquila’ panorama on main road through city centre
Qui
ck
colla
ge e
xplo
ring
tra
nspa
renc
y an
d st
ruct
ure
Qui
ck
colla
ge e
xplo
ring
a f
acad
e as
a c
anva
s
Furt
her
Con
cept
Ide
as -
Beg
inni
ng o
f Fo
rm
Building Take-Over:Precedent - Kunsthaus Tacheles, Berlin.
HistoryKunsthaus meaning Art House and Tacheles being Yiddish for ‘straight talking’. Had a number of uses including an electrical department store and a Nazi Prison. It had suffered only moderate damage during the second world war but was due to be demolished to create a new street plan. The dome and movie theatre was demolished with the rest of the building to be demolished in April 1990. This is when the group of artists overtook the building and named it Kunsthause Tacheles, two months before demolition. They tried to get it recognised as a historical landmark which was unsuccessful and did not delay demolition until the artists had managed to get a last-minute injunction issued from the Berlin Round Table. The building was then recognised as a historical landmark in the next survey in 1992.
Damaged by Second World War - beginning of take over Renovated and structurally sound
Inside graffiti covered stairwell
Each and every surface is a canvas, space to express themselves
Space for staging live shows
Front facade
Social hang-out - luggage, backpackers, multi-cultural
Glass facades - displaying work
Large courtyard space at back of building used for sculptural exhibitions
“Half hippy commune, half sculpure park where the sand underfoot gave it the air of a beach transported to the inner city”
“There was an air of the morning after the night before about the place. This is apparently the venue for some legendary parties.”
“Local Berliners love to go there and meet the new “starts” in town. The general atmosphere there is relaxed and natural, even if you are not an art lover you can still go there and no one will grudge your lack of knowledge; here everyone is welcome.”
An explosive new movement that would become known as Street Art. This hybrid form of graffiti was driven by a new generation using stickers, stencils, posters and sculptures to make their mark by any means neccessary. With the arrival of the internet these once temporary works and could be shared by an audience of millions. Street art was set to become the biggest counter-cultural movement since punk.
Space Invader Monsier Andre Zeus
Street Art has a shaort life-span. It needs documenting.
Shepard Fairey
“One day Sheppard would become famous for transforming the face of an unknown senator into a universally recognised icon.”
Power of repitition.
Furt
her
Stre
et A
rt R
esea
rch
“I like the idea of the more stickers that are out there the more important it seems, the more important it seems, the more people wanna know was it is, the more they’ll ask each other and . . .
Seizer Neckface Sweet Toof Ron English Dotmasters Swoon Borf Buffmonster
Street Art Studios Other skills- Material storage, ready, at hand- Floor space, laying out, stencilling- Desk spaces- Work Benchs- Tools
- Free running/ street running/ parque- Scaling, climbing billboards, buildings etc
Types of Street ArtSpray painting, fire extinguishers, brush paintings, public transport, abandoned vehicles, billboards, street signs, sculpture, stencils, posters
... it gains real power from perceived power”
Works of Banksy- Controversial, shock, clear messages, ambition, pushing boundaries, critising society, cultue and systems
“Borf was my friends name who killed himself when e were younger, I do it to commemorate his life”
Em
pow
ered
Gro
up -
Vis
ion
and
Act
ion
Favilla D’essai
Spark Arthouse
“Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda” - Dante Alighieri
“A great flame follows a small spark”
Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) was an Italian epic poem writer of the middle-ages, most noted work being “The Divine Comedy” depicting Dantes and Virgils struggle through hell and purgatory to Heaven which, is where the aforementioned Farfarello features.
People- Artists- Rebellious- Outspoken- Determined- Protesters
Vision- Teach people how to express themselves, this becomes very therapeutic and increases confidence and self-esteem, making people believe they can impliment change, their views are important.- Release them into the city with new skills- Viral protest, people expressed their views all over the city- Raising awareness of the need for the city to be rebuilt, becoming a catalyst for action- Bringing activity and life back into the city
Action- The ‘Favilla D’essai’ group will take over the building and transform it to meet their needs i.e. accomodation, inspiring studio space etc.- Overtime, cultivating, producing work, discussing ideas etc.- The suddenly exploding their all their work into the square in an art festival, meaning the movement is too big and established to be stopped or hindered by army or police presence. - Public are then aware of the arthouse and their work and are invited to join them, offering teaching, workshops etc- Photographing, recording each of the steps, process, later to be used as a timeline record showing their achievements.
Emotional release - Art therapy
Teaching people how to express themselves and how to protest
Ambition Change the BUILDING - the SQUARE - the CITY - the SYSTEM
Em
pow
ered
Gro
up -
Str
eet
art
Fest
ival
Artist accomodation/ Hostel space/ Studio for sculpture, posters, signage
Artist accomodation/ Hostel space/ Studios for paints (spray, stencils, canvas’, brush)
Bar/social hub for planning, discussion, strategy, talks, teaching, preparing
Facade Gallery Space
Mezzanine Platforms Skylight Staircase
Lift Shaft
Moveable wall/canvases
Org
anis
ing
spac
es a
nd u
ses
Double height (tall sculptures), mezzanine floors (extra floorspace for laying out)
Printers, work benches, tools, storage for materials
Moveable wall sections that could ‘clip’ together, creating more wall space to practice, paint
Bar, kitchen, space for tables and chairs, wall space for presentations, pinning up plans and strategies
Desks, storage for paints and brushes, canvas’
Tables and chairs that can be stacked and stored, storage
What’s on each floor? What does each floor need?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OYCTcPkIIBI Compact Living/Flexible spaces
Mezzanine Spaces - Precedent - Jun Igarashi’s
Raised platforms for beds, creating space underneath.
Clever furniture for flexibility, double for accomodation then creating socialising spaces. Spaces could adapt to hostel numbers.
Packing boxes away according to numbers in hostel. Perhaps use boxs as tables. Able to unpack and fox together furniture without any tools. Entire set can be put together in under 10 minutes.
Exp
lori
ng id
eas
for
host
el s
pace
s
Visualisations
Large mezzanine floor, very open and visual. Smaller, private, intimate mezzanine spaces elegant arrange in a small ‘slice’ of the building.
1:100
Ske
tch
mod
el
First FloorBar Area Kitchen Staircase LiftFloorspace for tables and chairs
Second FloorMoveable ‘wall’ canvases
Skylight Bedroom(disabled access)
Bathrooms Staircase LiftThird FloorCraft work
mezzanine area Skylight Floor space for large sculptures
Bedroom/social space mezzanine areas
Lift
New stone construction
New construction,
glass perimeter,
highlighting the extension
and contrasting
with heritage, bringing in
light.
Sun direction comes in SSW
and at 74 and 36 degrees. I
have carefully placed
skylights so that
throughout the majority
of the day, the bottom floor
will get some direct sunlight,
lighting specifically the bar as I felt it is the
important original heart
of the building
Bedroom/ social space mezzanine
areas
Bar - space for socialising, relaxing, debating, planning, displaying, meeting 1st Floor Studio - space for paint (brush/aerosol/stencil etc), print, wheat paste posters
Vis
ualis
atio
ns
2nd Floor Studio - space for sculpture, workshop tools, smaller crafts
Vis
ualis
atio
ns Hostel Mezzanine spaces - flexible spaces for bedrooms and/or social spaces
Ext
erna
l Vie
w a
nd S
ecti
onal
Per
spec
tive
Studio Concept Visualisation
1:100
Sca
le M
odel
- S
pace
s, s
truc
ture
and
env
iron
men
t
Simple to Complex
Structure and space Transparency
Environment - Natural Lighting - Front and side facade with windows and turning segments allows daylight to travel from front of the building. The sun angles are 740 and 36o and using my earlier sun path studies I placed the skylights in the roof and each of the floors to allow direct sunlight to travel through all floors and light the bar at the ground floor throughout the majority of the day. The hostel space also has a skylight - the very bottom is the darkest area however this only houses services (toilets, showerss etc) where natural light is less vital.
Environment - Ventilation- Ventilation is particularly important for the 1st and 2nd floors as these are the spaces that aerosols such as paints and glues may be used. Fortunately on each of these floors are a sufficient amount of openable windows along with an open plan spatial arrangement. This allows for natural ventilation as the prevailing wind will push fresh air through the west facade consequently pushing old air out the front facade.
N
EW
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Foldable glass partition
Darkest area - services block
1:100
Sca
le M
odel
- S
pace
s, s
truc
ture
and
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iron
men
t
Tec
hnol
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- M
odif
ying
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ori
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l bui
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Thick existing loadbearing wall
Existing building - Ground floor plan
As I wish to remove most of the internal walls for open plan space and ‘transparency’ of space yet keep as much as the existing floors as possible, I need to propose a strategy which will ‘pick up’ and support the existing floor beams. On the plan above, I have mapped the shortest span and therefore the direction in which the floor beams should be spanning as shown below
Existing floor beams- Orientation
‘Motel out of the Blue’ by Maartje Dros and Francois Lombarts
Structural Aim: Keeping as much of the existing building as possible Sustainability - Recycle Scaffolding -
Scaffolding is now part of the City’s History - Material Record of the Earthquake
Using an empty construction site, Dros and Lombarts recycled discarded materials on site such as scaffolding poles, plywood walk ways etc to create furniture, beds, seats, tables - creating a lecture theatre, bedrooms, dining hall. Dros and Lombarts wanted to create a monstary-like feel and atmosphere to the spaces.
I feel that recycling the scaffolding that currently envelopes L’Aquila would not only be more efficient, but could become ‘a material record’. The earthquake is now part of the city’s history and therefore so is the changing facades of the city. The scaffolding was used for support in the city’s time of need and now the support can be extended into the reconstruction of the city.
Tec
hnol
ogy
- M
odif
ying
the
ori
gina
l bui
ldin
g
1:50 Model of Structural Proposal
The Structural ‘Spine’
Existing floor beams
Recycled steel scaffolding - ‘tying’ timber ‘tray’/beam to existing walls
Timber and plywood ‘tray’/beam
Recycled scaffolding - creating ‘tree-like’ structural columns
I realise now that the joints for the ‘tree-like’ structures are slightly wrong on this model, scaffolding joints sit next to each other with a swivel joint rather than connecting directly together.
Existing walls
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Scale 1:5 detail of joints and connections of the ‘tree-like’ scaffolding Scale 1:20 section of ‘Structural Spine’ Scale 1:5 section detail of ‘Structural Spine’ connections with existing structure
Key
1) - Timber floor beams (existing)2) - Timber batons (existing)3) - Exposed timber floor boards (existing)4) - Plywood board5) - Timber batons6) - Recycled scaffolding poles7) - Scaffolding ‘swivel’ joint8) - Timber ring beam9) - Welded metal plate connection10) - Epoxy resin11) - Thick stone wall (existing)12) - Skirting board
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Tec
hnol
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- W
arm
Roo
f C
onst
ruct
ion
and
serv
ice
outl
ets
Flat Timber Warm Roof Construction Detail - Scale 1:5
1
2 3
2
24
5
5
6
7
8
9
Key
1) - 300mm Recycled timber beams2) - Timber batons3) - Timber upstand4) - Ceiling finish5) - 18mm Plywood board6) - Vapour Barrier membrane7) - Rigid insulation8) - EPDM single ply membrane9) - Steel upstand capping
Insulation cut with 1:80 falls to allow rainwater drainage
EPDM single ply membrane waterproofs the roof and is carried up and over the timber upstand, ensuring no moisture gets into the construction causing rotting.
Steel capping with flashing to protect timber and direct water away
As the roof has been raised to create a double height space on the top floor this is a new construction however I wish to use
recycled timber beam and batons from the existing ceiling.
Service OutletsThe majority of the services (lift, toilets, showers etc) are in the back section of the building. However there is an interrupted route directly to the roof. Therefore service ducts will need to travel through the floors toward the front left side of the building where the ducts can be fed through the walls all the way to the roof vents.
Glass windows interrupts direct route to roof.
Rainwater Outlet- Water is directed down a
‘funnel’ ensuring the water is drained through a waterproof tube through the wall rather than the structure itself. A grate is place on top to stop
debris clogging
Boiler, Ventilation and SVP Outlets- Heating, ventilation and toilets all need vent pipes to the roof and these are two ways of doing it. Each individual tube could have a cap and flashing to stop water getting in. Or all the pipes could be
housed in one box with vents to rid of the waste air as well as keep water out. As my roof is not a terrace roof either choice will not be seen.
Section - Scale 1:100
Ground Floor Plan - Scale 1:100
Section Line
Via Marrelli
Via
Cav
our
Cor
so U
mbe
rto
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First Floor Plan - Scale 1:50
Studio Space- Glass inserts into both ceiling and floor allowing natural light to pass- Flexible, modular moving ‘canvas’’ or walls for graphic practice- Photocopier, computer, A1 printer for computer generated stencils and graphics- In built storage for materials, paints, brushes, aerosols, glues etc- Large sink for mixing, cleaning off paint, brushes,- Bedroom in sectioned off hostel space as well as toilets, showers etc (disabled access)
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Second Floor Plan - Scale 1:50
Sculpture and Craft Studio Space- Glass inserts into both ceiling and floor allowing natural light to pass- Glass perimetre window showing new construction where the roof has been lifted as well as giving panoramic views of L’Aquila as well as the square.- Double height space for large sculptures- Mezzanine floor for smaller craft work- Storage for craft and tools- Work benches for sawing, cutting, carving, etc - Access to hostel space