IAAC Workshop

The workshop aimed to put into practice a procedure based on the following premises:
1. We have a physical space destined to be a construction.
2. We know what functions are to be carried out inside.
3. Each function has definitively assigned spatial needs, which form part of the architect's technical knowledge.
4. With the empty space, a package of special characteristics can be destined for each function.
These considerations led each participant to select a city for which to propose a vertical building. This decision got rid of the space-phenomenon association with the local situating conditions. That is, it focused attention on the local characteristics that were lacking a spatial aspect; instead of considering topography, boundaries, axes or visual aspects, emphasis was given to climactic characteristics, socio-economic structure or forms of construction, considering conditions applicable to the whole city.
Students sketched architecture not through its functional packages, but through its dynamics and atmosphere, choosing appliances most conducive to self-sufficiency: white goods, switches, doors, materials... incorporating the socio-technical innovations that enable or hinder self-sufficiency, and its desirable environmental suitability.
The workshop aimed to concentrate on generation a habitable architectural proto-object. For this reason a physical scale model of the microsystems that define architectural self-sufficiency was necessary, together with a selection of socio-technical innovations with regard to the home and of the complementary uses that modify the conditions of self-sufficiency.
A preliminary three-dimensional translation, through the assembly of existing structures, was also necessary.
Lastly, a spatial restitution of the project was carried out, to map the structure of the building, the dwelling and the complementary uses. By Izaskun Chinchilla

Berlin Air

The project begins with the analysis of some relevant phenomena occuring in Berlin: the abandonment and re-use of furniture and other old objects through the market pointing to economic self-sufficiency; the occupation of empty spaces in a building and the emergence of new activities inside it showing the social aspect; the rapid changes in weather referring to the environmental side. Four floors for the market, ten floors for social activities and six floors for dwellings make up the building's functional program. The idea is that people can temporarily occupy these empty spaces, organizing the spaces and activities with objects they find in the market. The building's energy program consists of an external caption system, made with silicon mesh tubing and transparent solar panels, an H2 distribution and storage system by floor, a central part with water installations and vertical distribution and a system of hanging tents to divide the space up quickly.
 
 

Refugee Camp

Through a modular construction system a precarious building can be generated. The reason for building a vertical refugee camp is to give tangible form to a community born of an abrupt, forced change. This project does not aim to solve the personal problems of the refugees, but rather promote an acceptable community life for short periods of time.
With escalating armed conflicts, the growing occurence of natural disasters and worldwide economic imbalances, the number of displaced and homeless people has increased the demand for housing as never before. Rapid construction techniques and temporary refuges allow us to deal with this problem.
The assembly system functions around structural connections and can work with different materials, with a humanitarian organization providing the connections. Thus, the user can assemble his house in a way appropriate to his necessities. For the roof he can use materials as diverse as synthetic fiber, cloth or light concrete. Sanitary installations and basic electricity can also be added.

Through a modular construction system a precarious building can be generated. The reason for building a vertical refugee camp is to give tangible form to a community born of an abrupt, forced change. This project does not aim to solve the personal problems of the refugees, but rather promote an acceptable community life for short periods of time.
With escalating armed conflicts, the growing occurence of natural disasters and worldwide economic imbalances, the number of displaced and homeless people has increased the demand for housing as never before. Rapid construction techniques and temporary refuges allow us to deal with this problem.
The assembly system functions around structural connections and can work with different materials, with a humanitarian organization providing the connections. Thus, the user can assemble his house in a way appropriate to his necessities. For the roof he can use materials as diverse as synthetic fiber, cloth or light concrete. Sanitary installations and basic electricity can also be added.
 
 

Baghdad Project
Guillermo López, México


In a context that is not entirely Western, things seem to be related to ideas of accumulation, improvement and, supposedly, progress. This project was triggered by thinking about how to approach the opposite side in a war zone. The case study was Baghdad. The building tries to incorporate different micro-elements in order to negotiate with the context. It is made up of a basic structure that can accomodate improvements, but also survive with the minimum.