Assigned: April 28, 2023
Due: Pinup, 5.5.23, LAWRENCE 222
Desk Crits: 5.1.23,  5.3.23

View from Shore Acres State Park Towards Oceanfront Ledges,  EMark, Photo, 4.7.23

OVERVIEW

This sketch problem takes into account a more developed architectural program that is specific to a particular community and more completely begins to address the healing potential of the site. In this sketch exercise you begin to make preparations for a longer term stay of an uncertain time length. Note that the current floor area of 450 square feet is over twice the square footage of a standard rapidly deployed UNHCR shelter which is typically just under 200 square feet (see UNHCR shelter solutions) or about the size of a typical tiny house (Wikipedia, 2019). By contrast, a two bedroom apartment in Japan may be about 600 square feet. In England it is closer to 700 square feet. In Eugene, one bedroom apartments for rent appear to also be at about 700 square feet. Thus, our sense about private space may be more generous in the USA  than is true in other parts of the world.

We also now begin to look at the scale of a UNHCR defined “Community” of sixteen shelters . Each shelter holds 4 to 6 residents for a total 16 unit population of approximately 80 persons.

The studio will now begin to work to 2′ contour digital terrain models of the two state park sites. We recently held a workshop how to model such sites by using a technique developed in Rhino with a component written for Grasshopper.  This site data is based upon a GIS file converted to 2′ contours at the UO Library that was in turn converted into a digital terrain model (DTM) within Rhino as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1. Sunset Bay to Shore Acres State Parks from 2′ Contours. View from Ocean. GIS Kathy Stroud, DTM Earl Mark

Figure 2. Sunset Bay to Shore Acres State Parks corresponding to DTM, Google Earth Aerial Photo, 5.9.2019


Figure 3. Sunset Bay Closeup From 2′ Contours. GIS Kathy Stroud, DTM Earl Mark

OBJECTIVES

Sketch Problems 1 & 3 began with the exploration of fabric materials and the interoperability of building components. Sketch problem 4 served as a counterpoise to give more emphasis on rigid structure components and joints. It introduced architectural fabric potentially as a skin rather than as major structural element.

Now, the approach is more of a hybrid with the option to choose from either of the above two strategies, fabric as structure or fabric as skin or both.  This exercise 5 is a modification and continuation of exercise 4 and opens up the kinds of options available. In this iteration, the connection to the ground is to become a more clearly delineated strategy of placing the structures on the site with the healing potential of the oceanfront setting to residents and their responsible stewardship of the environment a key to your approach. A schematic  layout in plan of a standard size UNHCR size “community” of sixteen shelters is also for the first time included. You should establish roughly five discussion points and one key question that you have regarding your own proposition and that may help to shape the discussion for the mid-review that will follow this exercise.

1. Develop a 450 sq. ft. collapsible structure based primarily on rigid components with fabric used non-structurally as an exterior skin surface.  You may continue to explore paper folding to help discover the kinds of rigid structure transformations possible. Or, you may now resume with a more full return to tensioning physical fabric. Or, you may wish to integrate a combination of both approaches.
2. Develop the physical connection to the ground or foundation system still in schematic form, but where possible begin to identify types of hardware components used.
3. Deploy the structure on one of the two sites studied on the field trip to Sunset Bay State Park and Shore Acres State Park.
4. Show a 3D rendering of at least four such structures in a communicating relationship to each other where there may be visual connections, easy pedestrian access, and potentially shared physical assets between them (e.g, raised walkway, seating, a common garden, etc.) according to your interpretation of the narrative for the community served.
5. Begin to examine schematically in plan the deployment of a community of 16 shelters.
6. Based upon your own continuing review of the literature in the bibliography or from other sources look further into the narrative of a particular group of forcibly displaced people that would form the community. Describe how some of the needs of this community are addressed in your approach to the site.

Materials:

The physical study of the structure should be studied with hardware elements and optionally 3D printed components. Operable components should include consideration of fabric connections that help with with retraction and unfurling. Delineate the transformation of joints and/or a kit of parts that can be assembled and disassembled as needed on a periodic basis.

Constraints:

• The armature itself should fully retract or collapse for transportation.
• At least two entrances/exits.
• Operable openings for fresh air, natural light and views.
• Four to six places for sleeping.
• Four to six writing surfaces and/or one common surface for dining. **
• Daylighting.
• Minimal artificial lighting.
• Explicit renderings of building transformation.
• Renderings of active uses and ergonomic studies of the space.
• Passive solar design principles.
• Consideration of wind, rain and snow.
• Consideration of environmental impact on habitats and marine conditions.
• Near full collapse or reduction in volume for storage and transport. *

Exclude:

• Washing or WC facilities.
• Kitchen

Media Requirements:

• Investigate structure concurrently in physical model form, hand drawing and computer modeling.
• Requirements:
  • At least one operable physical joint at any scale and correspondingly illustrated joint minimally at ½” scale (i.e., ½” = 1 foot).
  • At least one physical prototype of the shelter at discretionary model scale, hand-made and optionally with integration of CNC fabricated components.
  • Computer 3D rendering of plan, section and axonometric or perspective rendering.
  • Wall section at 1/4” or 1/8” scale (see Josep Llorens article posted on courses server referenced below). 
  • Sections, elevation, and plan, of the family structure at 1/4” or 1/8” scale.
  • Rough sectional study of site with building units.
  • Schematic site plan with placement of single unit, consideration of sun, wind, and programmatic adjacencies.
  • Schematic 3D layout of 4 unit clusters and their spatial or physical connections.
  • Abstract plan only layout for a community of 16 units.
  • Print illustrations and renderings on tabloid size paper 11 x 17 inches for the pinup discussion on 5.5.23.

Optional:

• Schematic 3D layout of 8 or 16 unit clusters and their spatial or physical connections.

Recommended Readings:

• UNHCR Settlement Folio(web link): UNHCR Shelter and Settlement Section, Geneva, Switzerland, March 2016
• Helphand, Kenneth, Defiant Gardens: Making Gardens in Wartime, San Antonio: Trinity University Press (2006). (read especially Chapter 5) #. Also see Helphand’s web site: http://www.defiantgardens.com. Helphand is Professor Emeritus, University of Oregon, Department of Landscape Architecture.
• Trieb, Mark and Imbert, Dorothée, “The Art of Social Landscape Design” (web link)),  in Modern Landscapes for Living, UC Press E-Books Collection, 1997 (initially published under UC Press). Pages 107 to 158.
• Fabric Architecture Magazine, https://fabricarchitecturemag.com, online and in print, includes illustrations of fabric structures and details.
• Llorens, Josep. Detailing for Fabric Architectural Structures, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 12.2015, DOI:10.1016/B978-1-78242-233-4.00011-5. (see copy in course subfolder  Shared_Data/detailingFabricStructures)
  

Scenarios:

• Eating/sleeping/meeting.
• Warm day ventilation/cold day or night insulation.
• Light power supply for reading/laptop recharging/night-time activity).
• Healing activities on the oceanfront site.

NOTES

1. Show site conditions in renderings.
2. Initiate consideration of environmental factors (e.g, orientation, terrain, runoff, wind).
3. Specify hardware and materials used (e.g., wood, fabric, pin joints, etc.).Relate to regional and other precedents.
4. Help each other with respect to sewing, if it is available, 3D printing.
5. Prepare a short outline of four to five key principles for the pinup discussions on 5.5

EXTRACURRICULAR OPTIONS

* Develop a method of full retraction  that can be transported within cargo container or stored for future use.
** Consider non-traditional interior furnishings for sleeping and eating.