project02:Development
Development
PROGRESS
The design process has changed several times. Trying to always keep the initial idea and conceptual background we tried to experiment with different ways to resolve and develop the tower. The circulation around and onto the tower has been an issue from the very beginning. Also the relationship of the tower to the water surface and the way it emerges from the waster has created several limitations and constrains in our decisions.
The past week has been crucial for our design process. We sat down and rethought our whole project and invested this week’s time to re-design our tower. Initially we tried not to constrain ourselves and our ideas/inspiration and experiment, taking everything to its extreme and see what the limits are and if they are any. This procedure we believe helped us a lot to be more critical and find a balance between realism and idealism. The new outcome has the same idea and concept as the initial design but its more coherent and challenging.
Initially we had a circulation core that was very rigid and stiff and contrasted with the organic forms and structure. This core created issues and was not helpful for the development of the project. Thus in our new approach, we treat the structure of the building as the circulation too, having 2 functions in one. The thicker pipes surrounding the building and forming the main structural system and have elevator shafts inside that take the visitors between and through the different volumes along the tower. The secondary structure, connecting these pipes in different levels horizontally, form walkways and links between the elevators and enclosed volumes.
The volumes have been now clustered having 2 main ones underwater (the archives- with the cemetery ,and library with the reception emerging from the water), and above water level we have the Accommodation, visiting spaces and ceremony room, and 2 spaces with activities on the top, with a viewing platform and meditation-realization-purification rooms. Now the tower goes 20 meters underwater (instead of 200 meters) and it is now floatable which will help to its stability. Above water the tower is 100 meters still being very high and monumental but merging better with its surrounding and connecting/interacting with the rest of the projects.
The landscape on water level is now formed with walkways and islands that connect the circulation pipes to the reception on water level. This way the tower is better observed and experienced and can be better seen, emerging from the water. The temple is an individual entity further away connected with a very narrow walkway. The position of the building is the same with before but now taking over less water surface space. Because of the change in proportion this affected all elements of the tower and the whole design had to be rethought.
Interactions with other projects are still the same. Our main interaction is with Variations who connect on this side of our tower. Since the landscape has changed, a specific walkway will be design on which Variations will attach during day and people can directly walk around the network of passages. Another idea is connecting it to the top of the reception and people can directly walk into the café from which they have a view of the floating ‘plaza’ in front of it. These walkways connecting the pipes (elevators) with each other form also places on which Sarah (islands) can attach and people can come and go. We did not want any physical link (permanent) since the tower has to be surrounded with water and give the impression that it’s floating or growing from the depth of the sea. The second interaction with Mallika happens in the Temple whose volume will also be half under water. The connection will happen externally and people will be able to walk around the volume and from there, either get into the temple or take the walkway that leads to the base (centre) of the tower.
In addition, the location, form and interactions has been established, and now we are to determine and decide on the structural system, and go into more detail, refining the connection and simultaneous function of all elements. Developing the structure and materiality will further change the imagery of the tower thus it is very important to study and decide these aspects.
