Healing By Design - Project Precedents

ARCH IX: Thesis

Professor Lia Dikigoropoulou - Christopher Mancia - Healing By Design - Project Precedents

In order to solve the School of Art's need for a home, we look at a variety of existing projects understanding potential program, biophilic capabilities, and aesthetics. These precedents express potential development within the existing site and propose new ways to think about its circulation and dynamism. The first set of precedents understand the potentials for an art colony, how they have been set up historically, their programs, the senses they expand upon, and issues they have encountered. The second set of precedents understand how biophilia can be expressed within an urban context, how we can expand upon Guatemala City's climate within the project. The third set of precedents introduces local materiality, connecting local context into public program and establishing place through form. These precedents introduce individual concepts to be brought into the design phase of the project.

Precedents - Art Colonies

Arcosanti - Paolo Soleri

Looking into Arcosanti, we see the potential for a dynamic residency and center for the Arts and Sciences. Designed to be self-sufficient, this project brought in the idea of communal sustainability, allowing the residents to be the ones responsible for the elevation of the space while introducing placemaking as a means of cultural expression. This project's biggest detriment was its access. Due to being isolated, the center was abandoned over time. We can use the same idea of self-sufficiency within the project as we are located within an urban context.

Kiyoharu Art Colony - Yoshio Taniguchi, Tadao Ando, Terenobu Fujimori, Gustav Eiffel

The Kiyoharu Art Colony was established for Artists to detach and come into their creative rhythm. This art colony introduces a set of buildings placed within a large plot of land giving each one their own essence and tranquility. These buildings act as a set of sculptures having been designed independently by different Architects. We can use this same idea tying in the existing buildings with the proposed ones turning Parque Centenario into an Art Colony itself.

Precedents - Biophilic Design

Wonderwoods - Stefano Boeri

Within the Wonderwoods project, we see the potential for the urban forest. This project introduces the potentials for nature intertwined with commercial and residential spaces. Recognizing the way in which we can respond to climactic needs can allow us to bring in agriculture to our site. Recognizing Guatemala's biodiversity, this can be a potential option for vibrance to the site while simultaneously answering the need for biophilia.

Joint Research Center - Dorte Mandrup

For this proposal, Dorte Mandrup introduces the use of natural materials utilizing biophilic design within this Research Center. The result is a space that introduces warmth through the use of wood, plantings and natural light. This project utilizes an atrium, double and triple height spaces to maximize daylight within the interior creating an open space for collaboration.

Precedents - Local Materials

La Cabanita - Paz Arquitectura

Within this house located on the outskirts of Guatemala City, we see the introduction of large windows and natural materials. This house expresses the landscape creating 360 views as one passes through the structure. Bringing in the natural elements to the city will create a sustainable connection between the site and the surrounding context.

El Paredon Buena Vista - DEOC Arquitectos

This project located in Buena Vista was a design response to the eruption of the Volcano of Fire. Through the introduction of local masonry techniques and dimensioning, DEOC Arquitectos brought modular housing to the site, reducing the amount of waste created by elaborate recycling of waste materials. The project also introduces natural ventilation through the use of screened masonry walls and placemaking by allowing the materials to be painted by residents giving each home their identity.

A combination of the different elements found in these precedents will be brought into the project as the massing and designs develop.