[ architecture for extreme zones ]
{text tactics}
Tactics
ARQZE emerged through the exposure of architectonic practice to Antarctic conditions. Being
situated in this critical translation from strategies into actions provoked new forms of
response that manifest a different organizational logic. tactics is a synthesis of this new
approach to making space.
00.1
Deployability
deployment is a military operation involving transportation, assembly and implementation .
ARQZE infrastructure is shipped into Antarctica in hercules planes and installed under extreme
climatic conditions by trained personnel. deployability entails prefabrication and collapsibility,
and an assembly process designed to implement limited means in specific contexts. deployable
infrastructure articulates a hybrid choreography in which all of the phases of the timeline are
inflected in the form. the deployed is strongly eventual and provisional, transforming a given
context in the generation of a modeled reality that is open to unforseen interaction.
00.2
Lightness
lightness is the most critical dimension in air transportation.
in an increasingly mobile society that is retreating from the age of cheap energy, lightness is
also an ethical attitude fundamental for sustainability. to do more with less. lightness is a
product of the complex interaction of shape, structure and material process. structural shape
maps out vectorial flows in which tension forces becomes increasingly protagonist, articulating
new fields of contemporary research. geodesic structures are maximally efficient and their
mathematical conjugation can be interpreted in multiple variations that respond to different
contexts. double curvature membranes dematerialize stability, and pneumatic structures are
totally self supporting. advanced modeling software permits the dynamic exploration of these
structural shapes and the evaluation
of their performance in simulated conditions by
computer aided engineering. design solutions become increasingly optimized, maximizing the
potentials of different materials in the fabrication of precision components.
01.3
Performance
performance refocuses architectural practice, insisting on the active participation of space in
the constitution of emerging situations. architecture is transformed from a passive context to a
responsive medium, hybridizing spatial practices and programs. structural shape anticipates
dynamic interaction, generating fuselages that register multiple informational inputs in the
constant curvature of their surfaces.
urban culture changes its clothes with increasing frequency, and information surfaces become
interfaces in which the shape of the moment is constantly being recycled. performance
involves behavior through time, a specific frequency of transformation.
deployable structures permit the rapid implementation of new organization, allowing testing
and feedback to be integrated into evolving design solutions. performance intensifies
architecture.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
01.4
Zero impact
the antarctic treaty subjects all human interventions in the continent to the environmental
demands of the madrid protocol generating a culture that we have defined as zero impact. The
principal problems are energetic, related to the production of water, and environmental in
relation to the disposal of the waste. the implemented support systems make visible the
fragility and temporality of living systems within this extreme energy field through a series of
transparent artifacts and the evacuation of all waste. zero impact introduces a culture of
reversibility, defining a soft temporal habitability that is retractable. this antarctic culture can
be exported to other contexts, informing an attitude of extreme energetic efficiency and the
use of minimum resources in the generation of habitats. the relationship with context becomes
intensive and performative, integrating the participation of natural and artificial resources in a
reconfigured synthetic reality.
Antarctica
02.01. antarctic tactics
Antarctica is the highest driest and coldest continent on earth, and its extreme energetic
condition has resulted in the absence of biotic systems in its interior, and until modern times,
its total isolation from human civilization. This energy frontier that is crossed where the ocean
begins to freeze gives access to a completely virgin territory where scientific investigation is
recently discovering decisive information about the climatic history of our planet. The
inevitable impact of human presence in this environment was controlled by the madrid
protocol in 1994, that proposed antarctica as a new model for environmental coexistence.
However increasing scientific research conducted by national antarctica programmes is now
being joined by diverse tourist activities to present a threat to the environment and the
coastal ecosystems. The challenge of designing zero impact installations that permit the
controlled introduction of human activity into this continent requires an integrated approach to
design that combines logistical, environmental and programmatic dimensions within a holistic
approach to the question of energy. ARQZE has investigated the potentials and qualities for
prototypical installations that are situated within the emerging logistical networks that are
beginning to spread a technologically reinforced lifeform across the surface of the antarctic
continent.
02.01.01
Logistic
In antarctica all supplies and technologies are imported from urban centres in other
continents. This dependence entails that transportation infrastructure is essential for
the development of all activity. Logistical networks define potential and connectivity is
fundamental. These networks define quantitative limitations and dimension the activity
that is to be realized. Coastal stations can rely on the cargo capacity of supply ships
while interior infrastructure is limited to the capacity of different types of aircraft.
Supply networks negotiate between intercontinental and intracontinental scales in the
development of integrated strategies for distribution. The first issue in all antartic
matters is how do i get it there and what does it cost. Antarctic tactics proposes that
the articulation of these logistical issues into an infrastructural practice is a
fundamental orientation for architects and designers in antartica
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.01.02
Environment
The extremity of the antarctic environment demands a significant technological
support for the introduction of human life. The nature of these support systems has
been profoundly affected by the madrid protocol that established a strict code of
environmental protection for all antartctic activity. The traditional approach of
introducing large scale systems that consume vast quantities of hydrocarbons is being
transformed by the adoption of diverse strategies for sustainable energy generation
that are incorporated into the design of the architectural body. These soft technologies
make a significant impact on logistical planning and renegotiate the energetic
equation that is the major limitation on antarctic practice. The extreme climate in
antartcia makes the performative dimension protagonic, and innovative structural
design and material specification are fundamental, together with a clear attitude
towards deployment under adverse conditions.
02.01.03
Program
Antarctic activity has passed through two phases in its short history. The initial heroic
exploration has been followed by scientific investigation undertaken by national
antarctica programmes of 30 the member states of SCAR/COMNAP. This activity is
now being complimented by an increasing quantity of touristic programmes based
mainly in self sufficient passenger ships around the coast with certain intrusions into
the interior of the continent. With the development of optoelectronic technologies and
satellite communications antarctic activity is now entering into a simultaneous
continuity with the rest of civilization, opening the possibility of cultural and
informational programmes that are exported
in an activity that produces the
constitution of a new virtual continent. The potential interrelation of these different
layers of activity, together with the initiation of commercial interaction within the
continent itself opens a field in which a new generation of networks and structures are
emerging.
02.02 antarctic projects
02.02.01
Eptap antarctic blue ice station
02.02.01.01
blue ice runway
morphology. Situated at 80 degrees south, the Patriot hills perforate 850m of ice
and produce an acceleration in the catabatic winds which flow constantly downwards
from the 4000m polar icecap. This local increase in the velocity of the winds displaces
the snow layer and exposes the surface of the highly dense and transparent blue ice.
landing. In 1984 it was confirmed that this extensive horizontal surface could be
implemented as a natural runway capable of receiving cargo planes such as h the
hercules_c130, flying directly from punta arenas in 6 hours and landing with wheels on
the ice.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
Air transport. given the difficulties in terrestrial travel in antarctica and the limitation
of ski equipped aircraft, blue ice runways will completely transform air transport,
reducing costs spectacularly and establishing a network of natural airports that will
activate the interior of the continent.
02.02.01.02
polar network
logistical potencial. EPTAP [estacion polar teniente arturo parodi] was a commission
undertaken by ARQZE for the Antartic Division of the chilean airforce [FACH],
establishing a permanent infrastructure in Patriot Hills to accommodate the increase in
the logistical activity of the blue ice runway.
support. EPTAP is the first permanent polar station in a blue ice zone and has a
residential capacity for 24 persons, allowing the Chilean Air Force to provide
navigational, communicational, and logistical services throughout the summer months.
EPTAP becomes the first node in a network that is extending national activity towards
the pole and an aerial link with other continents close to antartica.
02.02.01.03 situ data
02.02.01.03.01 Geolocation
Latitude 80°19´south
Longitude 81°18’ west
distance to south Pole 1084km
altitude 855m above sea level
02.02.01.03.02 sunlight
sunrise august 25 12.00hrs
sunset april 17 12.00hrs
summer 135 continuous days of sunshine
winter 135 continuous days of darkness.
02.02.01.03.03 Temperature
minimum rec. temp. –35.8°C .
average temp. jan feb -20°C
min. predicted –70°C
02.02.01.03.05
catabatic wind
max. registered velocity150 km/h 29 [dec.] 1999
average velocity 20 km/h [mission 1998]
max. predicted 200km/h
02.02.01.03.06
blue ice area
length 8km east west.
width 2km. north south
thickness 700m
average displacement 8m each year [Cassassa1995]
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.01.04
deployment
cargo capacity. The entire station was designed to be transported in one Hercules
c130 plane with a cargo capacity of 13 tons. The station components were adjusted to
fit the 3m x 3m standard pallet size. Twenty personnel participated in the installation
process.
Transportation. transportation from the runway to the station site was realized by
four skidoos and sledges. A snowcat tractor belonging to the adventure network
international tourist company was employed in the installation of the station.
02.02.01.05 superficial equilibrium
snow accumulation . The EPTAP station incorporates the processes of snow
accumulation particular to blue ice fields into its location and organization. The zone of
superficial equilibrium defines an area of snowfield located 800 m north of the blue ice
, where the wind decelerates, generating a surface condition that is stable , avoiding
the burying of the station in time.
hardened snow. This zone has a depth of hardened snow of approximately two
meters that is supported on the ice. this ground condition allows the station to be
situated without suffering the problems of sinking that affect other antarctic stations.
These two conditions generate a very favorable situation for the development of future
stations within this zone uniquely associated with blue ice fields.
02.02.01.06
module
igloo cabins. ARQZE developed the EPTAP design on the basis of a detailed critical
analysis of six Igloo Cabin living modules that had been purchased previously by the
FACH. The organization, deployability, materiality, and performativity of this fibreglass
unit informed a proposition for their transformation and incorporation into the design
of a permanent polar station adapted to the extreme conditions of Patriot Hills.
insulation. The most critical deficiency of the modules is their low level of insulation
and the cold bridges and filtration of air produced in all of the joints between panels.
The u-value of the modular panels was increased by applying a layer of 50mm of high
density polyurethane on the interior surface, finished with a white pvc membrane,
isolating the interior of the module completely from the existing fibreglass and resin
structure and eliminating all filtrations. The resulting internal surface promoted tactile
contact, inviting the inhabitants to occupy the space from its limits in a mediation
through the skin and the body of an architectonic construction that is energetic and
corporeal, while increasing the habitable volume .
Protesis. The intention of maximizing the void at the centre of the module together
with the recognition of a series of activities that are superimposed in this space led to
the proposition for a furniture system that was flexible, transformable, and capable of
disappearing when not being used. An aluminum framed canvas stretcher formed the
basic component of the system, providing material support for the activities of
sleeping, working and relaxing in a sequential cycle within the same space.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.01.07 tunnel
02.02.01.07.01
acumulation.
intereference patterns. In the antarctic interior static bodies located on the surface
of the snow provoke intereference patterns in the prevailing catabatic wind, leading to
an accumulation of snow which tends to consume the original body, making access
extremely difficult. In response to this condition a new lineal element called the
distribution tunnel was developed, providing an independent protected access to all of
the modules.
downwind. This tunnel is located downwind of the modules, and incorporates the
accumulated snow as a structural defense against the extremity of the catabatic winds
and a thermal defense against the extreme winter temperatures. Access to the tunnel
is organized by orientating its extremes upwind, constituting the two leading points of
the station, and giving the impulse to the development of a curved form for the tunnel.
02.02.01.07.02
Interstitiality.
interstitial. originally incorporated as a strategy for guaranteeing access, the tunnel
was subsequently developed as an interstitial space graduating the energetic and
programmatic relationships between the reduced interiors of the modules and the full
exposure of the antarctic exterior. This interstitial potential was expanded through
proposing the tunnel as an unheated and uninsulated interior constituted by a simple
membrane that provided protection from the wind and the accumulation of snow
within a territory where the catabatic winds can make exterior habitation impossible
for days on end.
maximize. This decision reduced dramatically the cost of fabrication and
transportation, and allowed the tunnel to be developed as an architectonic space with
a dimensional generosity that was inconceivable within the energetic parameters of
the modules, constituting the experience of the station as a unitary installation.
02.02.01.07.03
structural section.
Arcs . The section of the tunnel was developed initially from ergonometric notations
that were rationalized within a circular arc with a radius of 2 metres and a rotational
angle of 240 degrees, coinciding with the dimensions of the cargo pallets of the
hercules plane and invoking the scale of its fuselage.
units. This arc defined a tubular compression ring and for economic considerations
was assembled from welded steel sections, provided the lateral resistance necessary
to oppose wind loading and possible snow accumulation. Because the tenacity of
steel drops rapidly with temperatures below –20 °C, making it fragile and susceptible
to impact fractures, it was decided to design a structural system in which the rigid
compression elements are isolated from each other within a network of flexible joints
which dampen and distribute impact forces throughout the system.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
articulation. Criteria of economy and flexibility informed the material resolution of
this articulation in strips of 50mm nylon sling, fixed to the arcs and the rails by means
of self perforating screws, producing a simple effective and adaptable system that was
easy to implement on site, reproducing the modelled geometry of the structure in five
hours. Before transportation the arcs were joined into six units of three pairs,these
units being easily stackable and manipulable by three persons.
02.02.01.07.04
Implant
Snow trace. The energetic interstitially of the tunnel generated the possibility of
implanting it through integrating the snow into its structural organization, providing a
ballast for the tunnel that would prevent it being overturned by the wind.
Snow ballast. This action is integral to the deployable strategies developed by arqze
in which lightweight products collaborate with the materiality of a context to
consolidate an architectonic proposition that is tensioned between place and
placelessness.
02.02.01.07.05
Skin.
surface. The enclosure of the tunnel was developed as a membrane tensioned into a
series of three distinct hyperparabolic surfaces between the arcs, establishing a
system of intersecting lines of opposed tensions that fix each point of the surface in
space. The fabric chosen for the membrane was PVC reinforced with a polyester
webbing with a weight of 750gms/m2, its surface incorporating an anodized finish and
an anti U.V treatment to protect against the reduced ozone layer and the continuous
solar radiation.
instalation. The six arc structural unit was replicated in the module for the
membrane, and the union between membrane units was developed as a double flap of
100 mm velcro. The membrane units were fixed to the structural arcs by means of a
large quantity of 35mm nylon slings and buckles, reproducing the action of the hands
that manipulated the membrane and forming one structural system that was flexible
and extremely resistent. The installation of the membrane units was facilitated by calm
conditions and the prestress was introduced by fixing to the extreme arcs of each unit
and rotating them through the applied action of a skidoo.
Adaptability. The geometric, structural and material strategies of the tunnel skin
were adapted to produce a series of plug in ports that connected the existing modules
into the interiority of the tunnel. These plug_in ports are central to the logic of the
tunnel as an adaptable distribution system, transforming the design of the station into
an open system capable of linear expansion in two directions along its circular axes.
This first phase of 50 metres can be extended serially by 6 arc structure and
membrane units with their corresponding plug in ports. When fully developed the
station will be able to accomidate up to 30 modules similar to the igloo cabins together
with other dependencies, pemitting a maximum capacity of 100 personnel.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.01.08
Visor
Materiality. The regular repetition of the structure and membrane units of the tunnel
terminates in each extreme in a transparent visor that exploits the combination of
flexibility and structural strength of 4mm monolithic polycarbonate in the articulation
of a single continuous plane . This plane is fixed to a frame of two arcs and articulated
by cast steel joints, allowing it to be rotated into the air.
performance. The visor opens the tradition of sheltered concentric interiority of
antarctic habitation to the experience of transparency. This provokes a profound
transformation in the relationship with the exterior in which the extreme climatic
processes cease to present a threat, and become incorporated into an architectural
proposition of continuity in which they are observed from a space of security.
Transparency. This transparency in the work constructs a tension between a
projected space of design and a territorial space, in which a mutual enfolding is
juxtaposed by an energetic discontinuity.
Access. When open the visor actualizes the continuity between the tunnel and the
exterior, allowing skidoos with sledges of equipment and stores to be entered directly.
02.02.01.09
Ice point
register. ice point is the location for formal actions and photographic register within
Patriot Hills.
System. Constructively ice point is a system of aluminium tubes and plates that
form an expandable series of flag masts and signages.
transhorizontal context. The maps and texts engraved on the plates articulate the
relationship between actual bodily location and the geographical distances that they
open, provoking a dislocation with the immediate continuity of place, resituating the
corporeality of the inhabitants within a transhorizontal context.
blueicecity is a cultural project situated in patriot hills
that applies digital
technologies and satellite communication systems in an exploration of emerging
conditions of contemporary Antarctic habitation.
02.02.02 sala sastruggi triaxial tent plug in for EPTAP
introduction
The sala sastruggi is a flexible social space designed to complement the existing
infrastructure of the EPTAP station in patriot Hills, antarctica, in the mission of
November 2000. The design of the sala was undertaken systemically by ARQZE,
generating an infrastructural proposal called the Catabatic system that anticipates and
explores a diversity of applications. The sala sastruggi became a prototype that tested
the qualities of this system.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.02.01
Catabatic system
Performance. The Catabatic System is an interconnective tent system designed to
withstand antarctic conditions, based on a concept of triaxial organization and double
curvature membranes. The design permits a high strength-to-weight ratio and
provides secure, user-friendly shelter in the most extreme environments on earth.
The Catabatic System provide specific solutions to habitational requirements, including
scientific expeditions, bases, and tourism.
Triaxial Modularity. The Catabatic System is triaxial, modular and interconnective,
forming a flexible and expandible organization which can accomidate changes in
strategy and develop itself along three axes through a series of phases. The triaxiality
permits the design of stations with periferal modules configured as separate sleeping
compartments by means of adjustable partitions, while the central modules becomes
a shared communal space with external access.
Station Configuration. The Catabatic System can be deployed in distinct
configurations responding to user requirements. These expandible Catabatic Stations
can be zoned according to programme and thermal criteria, permitting differentiated
internal environments.
02.02.02.02
Structure.
profile seccion. The structural elements are extruded in a high strength aluminium
alloy with a prototipical profile of 92mm diameter specifically designed to resist
extreme wind loading while recieving a series of poliester cables that fix the tensed
membranes into a system developed from advanced yacht technology.
structural ring. The structure is organized at ground level through a structural ring of
aluminium profiles that establishes the geometrical integrity of the system.
rotula. The vertices of the structural ring are articulated through a series of rigid
joints called rotula fabricated in cast aluminium.
articulated joints. Each rotula receives three articulated joints fabricated from cast
aluminium that dissipate the vibrational energy generated in the structural arcs.
arcs. The aluminium profile is cylindered in three sections with two radii of curvature,
and the arcs assembled by means of aluminium sections produced from cast
aluminium.
02.02.02.03
flooring.
Snow shoe. This laminated floor panel is tensed by ratches to the aluminium profiles
of the structural ring, forming an integrated structural foundation that prevents sinking
by distributing load in a form similar to a snow shoe.
Insulation. The catabatic system incorporates a highly insulated floor system made
from laminating pvc membrane with closed pore polyethylene insulation and
aluminium foil.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
ballast. The floor membrane in the three wings finishes at the perimeter by folding
downwards into an excavated trench in the snow of 80 cm where it is subsequently
buried, forming the ballast of the system, and sealing the edges that are prone to
erosion by the wind.
02.02.02.04
skin.
double curvature membrane. The structural arcs are used to tense a series of nine
double curvature panels confectioned by ultrasonic fusion from a pvc and poliester
membrane of 750gms/m2 with anodized finish and ultra violet treatment.
Stability. These hyperparabolic surfaces interact aerodynamically with the wind, and
the anticlastic geometry of the double curvature defines each point in a specific
location in space which avoids the vibration and fatigue experienced in standard tent
solutions. The membrane can resist winds of 200km/hr
polyester cable. The edges of the mebrane panel finish in a sleeve that contains a
polyester cable of 10mm diameter that is introduced into the 14mm slot of the
aluminium profile, fixing the membrane continuously and hermetically to the structural
arc.
Tension. The external membranes are pretensioned into their double curvature
geometry by two processes. A system of ratchets tenses the membranes transversally
while the lower arc is tensioned longitudinally by a nylon sling and ratchet system
attached to the ballast.
insulation layer. A 20mm layer of closed pore polyethylene, finished in a bonded
surface of aluminium provides a continuous insulation layer within the void between
the external and internal membranes. This insulation layer is lightweight and highly
water resistent, and is fixed continuously to the internal slot of the arcs by nylon slings
and velcro, forming a double airgap between the membrane layers.
internal membrane. The internal surface is confectioned in double curvature from
highly resistant and imperveous ripstop nylon and fixed to the internal slot of the arcs
by nylon slings and velcro.
02.02.02.05
transmission.
entrance. Access into the sala sastruggi is through a membrane door inserted into
the triangular external membrane panels with a highly resistant zipper.
visor. The vertical membrane panels that enclose the wings are in selected locations
replaced by a continuous transparent visor of 14m2, affording natural illumination,
solar gain, and extensive visual contact with the exterior. This visor is fabricated in
hermetically sealed double panels with an airgap of 12mm between two layers of
monolithic polycarbonate of 3mm thickness with an ultraviolet coating.
portholes. Circular double glazed polycarbonate portholes with a diametre of 800mm
are inserted into selected areas of the triangular membranes.
Ventilation. Is managed passively through a manually controlled venturi located in
the skylight at the encounter of the three arcs.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.02.06
Deployment.
transportation. When collapsed each catabatic triaxial module is very compact, being
contained within a system of 2m bags, with a total weight of approximately 1000kg,
allowing it to be transported economically by small planes such as twin otters.
assembly. The erection procedure is specifically designed to be practical in adverse
conditions, employing the hinging of the arcs to tense the membranes.
02.02.03
Polar capsule (fibreglass living module for extreme zones)
02.02.03.01 Shell.
the capsule is a monocoque shell generating a highly insulated secure interior that was
developed to accommodate the sanitary systems of the EPTAP polar station. the
standard fuselage can accommodates different programs through the incorporation of
equipment for sleeping, working, or sanitary purposes as in EPTAP
02.02.03.02 deployment.
the polar capsule is transportable by hercules C_130. the shell is assembled from 10
panels that are stackable and easily manipulated by two persons.
02.02.03.03 panels.
the 10 panels are fabricated in fibreglass from two generic moulds that become
supertypes capable of generating different forms.
02.02.03.04 data.
date > 2003 surface area >18m2 weight
materials>fibreglass and closed pore polyurethane
02.02.04
>
300kg
cost>20.000
us
water cycle system zero impact support systems
02.02.04.01 Antarctic treaty.
the madrid protocol of 1985 establishes a strict code that minimizes the environmental
impact produced by human activity in this virgin continent. the water cycle systems
developed for the EPTAP station interpret this code, generating a culture of zero
impact through tactics of transparency, minimum water use and the evacuation of all
waste.
02.02.04.02 fusion.
the antarctic interior is the driest desert in the world, however the solar snow melter
takes advantage of the 24 hr sunshine to generate up to 2 litres of water per hour in
its insulated transparent interior. this capacity is complemented by an electric snow
melter. the water cycle systems implement strategies of minimum water use to reduce
fuel consumption and the quantity of waste that subsequently has to be evacuated.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.04.03 equipment.
the water cycle systems have been designed as a self supporting unit with equipment
that is located within the fuselage of the polar capsule, where the ambient
temperature can be maintained above freezing.
02.02.04.04 separation.
the toilets take advantage of the anatomic separation of liquid and solid waste
expulsion, generating differential collection that is subsequently frozen and stored. the
waxed paper bags are flattened by a lever to minimize space requirements on the
return.
02.02.04.05 urinal.
urinals are distributed throughout the station and the blue ice terminal to prevent
contamination of the snow. different versions have been developed, including the use
of an adjustable stainless steel funnel to minimize fluid loss.
02.02.04.06 grey water.
the showers implement compressors and atomizers to minimize water use. one litre is
sufficient for each individual, and the system is complemented by a steam generator
that transforms the unit into a turkish bath.
02.02.04.07 u_bags.
all contaminated fluids are stored in double lined polypropylene bags where they are
sunsequently frozen. the transparency reinforces the ethical attitude and prevents
confusion. the bags are evacuated by hercules 130 planes at the end of the mission,
and the waste is treated in punta arenas.
02.02.04.08 water cycle.
the implementation of a system of microfiltration that recycles the grey water would
reduce the total waste by tons. the recuperation of the urine by a system of inverse
osmosis would save...tons. these options will be explored in future missions.
02.02.05
shockwave_Blue Ice Hangar
02.02.05.01
context
blue ice runway. The blue ice runway at Patriot Hills has been subject to a continual
increase in activity since the first hercules c130 landed in 1995. This activity receives
navigational and logistical support from the Chilean Airforce personnel that operate
from the EPTAP station during the summer months.
activities. However the activites of loading and unloading the planes on the blue ice
are exposed to the full force of the unpredictable catabatic winds, and on occasions
vital supplies and equipment have been lost or damaged. To improve this situation, in
2002 the Chilean Airforce commissioned the design of a Blue Ice Hangar that could be
fixed to the ice and allow the storage of all cargo in a secure environment before
operations of loading and unloading.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
02.02.05.02
tactical tent system
blue ice hangar. The design of the blue ice hangar was undertaken systemically by
ARQZE, generating Shockwave, a tactical tent system designed to provide deployable
semi-permanent shelter in extreme environments.
design. Designed from materials of the highest specifications, the shockwave system
offers secure and innovative infrastructural solutions for multiple activities in
conditions ranging from desert storms in the atacama to the catabatic winds of the
antartic interior.
02.02.05.03
structure
Shape. The original shape of the shockwave has been generated with advanced
modelling software, producing a poligonized fuselage with high aerodynamic
performance that can resist winds of 150km/hr and snowloading of one metre.
Geodesic. The continuous double curvature of the geodesic geometry generates a
structural frame that distributes loading evenly throughout a network of points,
minimizing the concentration of forces and permitting the use of highly efficient and
lightweight structural elements.
Stereometric. The integration of sterometric reinforcing with geodesic geometry
generates a series of autonomous rigid trusses that are implemented in the assembly
process. The trusses allow the generation of the discontinuity in the geodesic
structure introduced bym the large portals required to enter planes and machinery.
The relocation and scaling of the stereometric trusses permits the generation of
customized forms that adapt to specific client requirements.
02.02.05.04
components
Tubing. The galvanized steel tubes have a standard diametre of 38mm and a
maximum length of 1.6m to minimize the risk of buckling. The terminals of the tubes
are compressed into a rigid planar form that permits fixing with parker bolts to the
disc nodes.
disc. The structural and geometrical relationships between the tubes are consolidated
by a series of galvanized steel discs with different geometrical forms. These disc nodes
are designed to facilitate the assembly process, and guarantee the integrity and
stability of the structure. They are produced through a process of mechanized
operations on 2mm steel plate.
Skin. The standard shockwave system is fabricated in PVC coated polyester fabrics of
the highest specification, welded together ultrasonically, producing hermetic, and
durable membranes that integrate ultraviolet protection and lacquered finishes. This
aerodynamic fuselage avoids the vibration and fatigue experienced in standard tent
solutions. The membrane is assembled from three panels to facilitate manipulation,
and sealed by overlapping flaps and velcro. The panels are fixed to the steel structure
with nylon slings and buckles.The quality of the membrane can be adapted to suit
specific requirements, including LTA fabrics in antarctica and blackout materials for
strategic situations.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
Feet. Each stereometric truss is attached to two tripod feet that are fixed to the ice by
a large steel plate that is sunk into a void of water produced in the glacier which
subsequently freezes, generating anchorage. The tripod feet are highly adjustable,
adapting to uneven terrains, and the articulated connection with the truss allows them
to be rotated into the air.
Portal. The large portal is closed by a membrane panel fixed to the stereometric truss
and a second arch that can be anchored to a series of points by ratchets to permit
tensioning. This portal can be raised by a system of nylon slings.
02.02.05.05. Deployment
self mounting. Shockwave systems are assembled by hand with no mechanical
support necessary, allowing deployment in remote situations.
Maps. The shockwave 150 hangar can be assembled by a team of 8 in 24 hours, and
the geometrical complexity is rapidly comprehended through clear maps and manuals
Truss. initially the four stereometric trusses are assembled on the ground in a safe
and rapid action that can be executed in parallel.
Hoist. The trusses are fixed to their respective tripod feet and hoisted into the air by a
mast, using rope and mechanical advantage.
Integration. using the trusses as scaffolding additional steel tubes are bolted in to
establish a stable geodesic shell.
Skin. The membrane is lifted onto the geodesic structure and unfolded by hand, then
fixed by Velcro.
Transport. When collapsed the shockwave system is very compact, being contained
within a series of 1.6m bags weighing 40kg each, easily transported by small scale
pickups, boats and aircraft.
02.02.05.06 dimensional series
shockwave 150. was designed as a service hangar for the blue ice runway in patriot
Hills in 2002. Due to a mechanical problem with the Hercules planes the mission to
Patriot Hills was canceled, and rescheduled for the summer of 2004.
The shockwave tent has been exhibited in fidae 2004 by the Antarctic division of the
FACH. Particular to this model are the LTA membrane fabricated by Seamans in Ohio,
the snow filled bag establishing the seal with blue ice, and the orange eyelid of the
door that makes the hangar visible in whiteout conditions.
data
series
surface area
length
width
height
weight
::Arqze contact::
shockwave 150
150m2
16m
10m
6m
1300kg
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
shockwave 300. was designed as an open hangar space with a large membrane
door that accommodates fighter planes such as the f-16 or the mirage. It is also
suitable for agricultural processes, exploratory mining activity, timber industries, and
any other activities that require large protected spaces for their development. The
shockwave 300 was exhibited in FIDAE in 2002, then in Buenas Aires. In February it
was implemented as a bar/screen on the Muelle baron for the MUTEK.CL 2004 festival.
Data
series
surface area
length
width
height
weight
shockwave 300
230m2
22m
15m
7.5m
2000kg
hangar fach. The hangar fach is a customized version of the shockwave system that
has been adapted to the necessity of protecting chilean airforce fighterplanes in the
atacama desert. The logistics of rapid entrance and takeoff dictate a solution that
incorporates two large portals, each one structured by a stereometric arch, allowing
the displacement of the aircraft with its own propulsion. This adaptation produces a
version of the shockwave system that is structured entirely from stereometric arches
allowing limitless extension of the hangar to incorporate a series of planes in one
structure.
data
width
height
portal height
::Arqze contact::
hangar fach
14 m
7m
5m
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
Projects
00.3
Bungydome
03.6.1 geodesic+jumping
the bungydome is a deployable entertainment structure produced by hybridizing
standard bungy_trampoline equipment with geodesic dome structures.
03.6.2 hoist
the bungydome is designed with rigid joints, generating a top down assembly process
that allows the dome to be hoisted by a crane while four people work at ground level
assembling all the tubes and hubs in 3 hours
03.6.3 hub
the complexity of the geodesic geometry is incorporated into four families of aluminum
hubs, produced in series by robotized fabrication processes from a solid aluminum
cylinder. the geodesic geometry is color coded by component allowing rapid assembly
without reference to maps.
03.6.4 connector
the connectors reinforce the ends of the aluminum tubes and establish rigid
connections with the hubs, being secured by two galvanized steel pins.
03.6.5 feet
the geodesic sphere is sectioned where it meets the ground, generating a series of 8
feet that are bolted to existing concrete slabs or specially installed foundations.
03.6.6 skin
the skin is a single membrane panel that protects the jumpers from rain and sun,
generating a large luminous interior that can receive publicity and be transformed into
a projection surface at night.
03.6.7 cables
the jumping cables run through pulley systems attached to the geodesic structure,
allowing
the elastic assisted jumpers to perform triple somersaults in an
uncontaminated void.
03.6.8 motors
The electric winches are bolted to a mounting and fixed to a hub that is out of the
publics reach for safety.
03.6.9 prototypes
the bungydome was evolved through a series of prototypes tested on chilean beaches
in 2001, allowing the scale, organization, and assembly process to be fine tuned.
03.6.10 commerce
the commercial performance of the first product installed in sao paolo in 2003
indicates a doubling of sales in comparison with standard 4 in 1 trampoline bungy
structures.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
03.02
Earth Dance
03.02.01 festival space
earth dance is a distributed simultaneous festival occurring in 60 cities worldwide. the
chilean edition has developed into a 48 hour event in isla del maipo. arqze generates
diverse infrastructural elements that reestablish the festival aesthetic each year.
03.02.02 utfsm 1998
the first earthdance festival was realized within the santa maria university, involving
the action of an arqze led third year architecture studio in the design and fabrication of
a series of eventual structures.
03.02.03 stereo 2001
stereo is an instalation of two fragments of a frequency 4 class 1 geodesic dome that
configure a spatial field for the lake stage, reproducing in its reflection the light of the
projections.
03.02.04 palapa 2002
the palapa hybridizes toroid geometry with geodesic articulation to produce a
conditioned interior environment where eculture presented animations to a public that
sought refuge from the cold night.
03.02.05 skin 2002
skin is a screen as simple hyperparabolic surface produced in an elastic membrane,
incorporating the height of the trees into its spatial and structural articulation
03.02.06 uv 2003
uv is a system of screens and a shades that investigates pneumatic technologies in
the generation of complex surface geometries.
03.02.07 fish 2003
fish is a prototype tent/stand infrastructure designed to accomodate small scale
commercial projects during the festival. the design investigates the conjugation of a
minimum compresion structure in relation with a double curvature surface.
03.02.08 klab 2003
the k lab is a real time pavilion that was presented in a prototypical state during the
festival [see k_lab]
03.03
Mutek.cl
03.8.0 organization
MUTEK is an international organization, with operational centers in Montreal,
Valparaiso and Berlin, dedicated to the development and diffusion of emerging forms
of electronic music and digital urban culture.[www.mutek.cl] MUTEK produces a cycle
of festivals distributed across three continents, establishing an international platform
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
for collaboration, investigation and experimentation into contemporary digital urban
culture.
03.8.1 muelle baron
To situate the festival in its south_pacific context, ARQZE collaborated with MUTEK
CHILE in the design of a festival environment on the baron pier, opening a new
developmental axis for the city of valparaiso, anticipating emerging urban practices in
this port city that has since been defined the cultural capital of chile.
03.8.2 micromutek 2003
the micromutek event in january 2003 was configured around the installation of the
100m2 screen that integrated the functionality of the existing cranes into the
articulation of a spectacular stage that resignified the pier as an event space for the
2700 public that enjoyed the 14 hour event.
03.8.3 shape
the cranes are rotated inversely and asymmetrically hoist the lightweight membrane
into its modeled location, where its aerodynamic fuselage negotiates the 100km/hr
coastal winds through a minimal deformation of its hyperparabolic surface. the final
shape inflects a delicate negotiation between a shade and a screen.
03.8.5 information sky
the mutek screen was designed originally to receive
animations, spatializing their appearance by provoking
varied frontality. the scale of the image is unprecedented,
projector cast an artificial information sky across the dance
the projection of particle
an acceleration across its
and the 7000 ANSI lumens
deck.
03.03.06 mutek.cl 2004
In january 2004 ARQZE produced the spatial field on muelle baron for the 48 hour
MUTEK.CL festival, complementing the crane stage screen with the shockwave tent
configured as the kbar, and the structure for the real time pavilion [see k_lab]. During
the afternoon the festival revealed the performance of the crane stage screen as a
dynamic shading device, with the public taking advantage of the mobility of 120 red
beanbags to displace themselves continuously across the deck in time with the shade.
03.03.07 synthetic city
The MUTEKNATION animation competition was projected simultaneously on the crane
screen and inside the kbar, including live footage and playback of the afternoon
performances, generating a complex system of interrelations in which the musical
performance was situated. The spatial field conditions established a correlation with
the intense quadraphonic sonic field without being subordinated, producing an
integrated eventual situation [synthetic city] that redefined the festivals 48 hour
habitational cycle in Valparaiso.
03.04
k_skin
03.04.01 introduction
Kskin is a tensioned membrane designed to wrap the patio of the ozone restaurant in
santiago making it habitable during winter. The proposal was developed integrating
dimensions of the place, spatial objectives, and the brand of the sponsor kent.
03.04.02 modeling
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
the complex geometry of the surface of the k skin is the result of advanced digital
modeling, negotiating in continuity the encounter between the orthogonality of the
existing construction, and the elastic and geometric requirements of the tensioned
membrane.
03.04.03 surface
The surface has factor five complexity, achieving a consistency of curvature which is
more related to aeronautic fields than traditional architectonic forms. K_skin generates
a trans_scalar environment, adding amplitude and spatial ambiguity to the patio with a
futuristic and integrated gesture.
03.04.04 transparency
k_skin establishes a relation of visibility combining and incorporating elements of the
patio of ozone through a grid of transparent circular panels inspired in the logo of the
kent brand. The k dot of kent is understood as being distinguished by the introduction
of blue filters that superimpose and tension different lectures and spatialities.
03.04.05 fixing
The edges of the existing edification are regularized by a stainless steel rail that
simplifes the geometry and produces a uniform condition for fixing. This rail
established the limits of the modelled reality, defining an edge condition that
acknowledges a certain resolution of local contingency while blurring others.
The Nylon straps that fix the membrane to the rail are stitched to a circular patch of
material which is thermo sealed to the main membrane.
03.04.06 canales
In the east edge of the patio a formed stainless steel gutter is introduced which
integrates a fixing rail in its edge. This gutter allows the regularization of the patio
geometry and the organization and presentation of the existing rainwater
management. An inverse form of this element is located above the highest edge of the
membrane to cover an opening that allows the escape of the smoke produced by the
barbeque below.
03.04.07 performance
The k_skin generates an environment that receives direct solar radiation in the
morning, heating the material fabric and passively generating agreeable temperature
on winter days that continues into the night, being complemented by the heat from
the barbeque. At night the membrane offers a projectable surface, forming a large
immersive screen that is visible inthe outide patio and the upstairs bar, relating all of
these space.
03.04.08 evacuation. The form of the membrane registers and guides the
evacuation of the smoke and combustion gasses of the barbeque through a chimney
created between the membrane and the dividing wall.
03.05
palapa deployable suspension home
03.05.01
habitational system.
palapa is a mexican word for a living space configured from an overhead structural
shade from which hammocks are slung. reinterpreted by ARQZE, the palapa applies
geodesic geometries in the generation of a habitational system that generates 90m2 of
interior space with constant sectional variation.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
03.05.02
suspension
The system is designed to be deployed on a natural floor surface, replacing the
certainties of a horizontal plane with the exceptional strength of the geodesic frame,
allowing the suspension of artifacts and furniture.
03.05.03
palapa 01
The palapa is a generic product with multiple applications, and ARQZE has produced
two prototypes in different constructional systems adapted to different conditions. The
first application was in a natural location under the peinetas mountains in southern
chile. It provided a spacious and luminous living environment for a family holiday
protected from the habitual summer rain.
03.05.04
structural system
palapa 01 was fabricated in galvanized steel tubing with compressed bent and
perforated terminals. The system weighed 300kg and could be easily transported in a
pick up.
03.05.05
earthdance
The same prototype was subsequently sold to the earthdance festival organizers who
use it each year to contain a bar and exhibition space during the three day festival in
isla del Maipo.
03.05.06
palapa 02 klab
The second prototype was developed as an infrastructural support for the K_Lab, a
real time pavilion exhibited during the MUTEK.CL cultural Bienal, presenting the
appropriation and integration of digital media occurring within the department of
architecture of the Santa Maria University.
03.05.07
interface
The k_lab investigated the contamination of categories produced by the hybridization
of on line communication culture and the person to person interaction of music
festivals. Equipped with an integrated system of hardware and software, the k_lab
implemented interactive interfaces between the festival public
investigating the
emergence of new forms of urban culture.
03.05.08
structural system
The structural system was developed using a bolted system of stamped steel discs and
galvanized tubes adapted from components developed for the shockwave hangar.
03.05.09
membrane
the membrane was designed integrating a grid of transparent circular panels that
established a frontal visibility and reflected the brand identity of kent cigarettes who
sponsored the k_lab during the MUTEK.CL festival.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
03.06 Incuba soft urbanism infrastructure
03.06.1 soft urbanism
incuba is a project for a deployable pneumatic infrastructure that permits the
temporary transformation of vacant urban sites into habitable spaces with a rentable
value, allowing the emergence of innovative programs in the development of new
commercial and professional practices. The project was a produced through a
collaboration with the organization of developmental reengineering UNO in Santiago
Chile. Incuba is an architectonic response to the uncertainties of contemporary
planning agendas, allowing speculation through actions that are reversible.
03.06.02 pneumatics
Pneumatic tecnologies offer a solution to the large clean span of the infrastructure
together with the requirements for economic assembly. The pressure difference
between the interior and exterior is aproximately 0.1 atmospheres and is maintained
by standard ventilation fans. The seal between the walls and the floor is effected
through a channel that is excavated on the site then filled with water used in the
cooling strategies. The pressure difference is maintained through the use of rotating
doors in the public entrances and a pressure chamber in the service access allows the
introduction of large scale components into the main space.
03.06.03
flexiblity
incuba is generated from a sectioned torus, establishing a large unitary void of 2000
m2 with a constant variation in its section that potentiates different forms of activation
supported by the introduction of smalller scale components adapted to specific
programme requirements. The entrance is articulated through a large sunlit patio that
opens the traditional hermetic geometry of inflatable structures, and allows for the
introduction of a food court that establishes an active interface with the street.
03.06.04 energy
The external membrane is double, generating a layer of air that can be managed in
response to different climatic conditions, producing heating and cooling strategies.
When solar radiation is excessive the air in this layer can be vented directly minimizing
the pasage of energy into the central void. This extraction of energy by airventing is
complimented by a system of sprinklers distributed across the outer surface of incuba
that produce a film of water during the summer that results in cooling through
evaporation. Heating of the central void in winter is produced during the day through
the direct introduction of the preheated air from this outer layer.
03.07
F.01
03.07.01 fidae expo
F.01 is a proposal for a system of modular clear span tents that was developed in
colaboration with WIENECKE CAMPING Ltd as an infrastructural support for the FIDAE
bienal aeronautical expo in Santiago Chile. The system is lightweight and has a
minimum number of in situ elements. It is easily demounted and transported, allowing
it to be used in other locations for other events in the interval between expos.
03.07.02 module
F.01 is based on a clearspan module of 30 x 30m that can be linked in series to
produce larger volumes, and can incorporate support programmes in its perimeter
through an annex that is 6m deep. Laterally the interior spaces can be left open or
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com
[ architecture for extreme zones ]
closed and controlled through the introduction of traslucent membrane screens.
Entrance to the interior is articulated through the legs of the pedestal.
03.07.04 tensegrity
The structural system is organized around four perimetral compression masts that
incorporate an articulated connection to a base pedestal, and support a network of
tension cables that serve to raise the membrane. In the centre of each module there is
a tenegrity mast that establishes the vectorial force flow necessary to give shape to
the membrane. The tension forces are transmitted from the masts to the membrane
through a series of compression rings that are open and permit the ventilation of the
spaces.
Products
00.4 Geodesics
00.4.1 Bungydome
00.4.2 Domes
00.4.3 Palapa
00.4.4 Shockwave
- Sw 200
- Sw 300
00.5 Tents
00.5.1
00.5.2
catabatic
fish
00.6 Skins
00.7 Pneumatics
01
Team
partners::
Pol taylor
Architect RIBA , Striathclyde University.
Marcelo Bernal
Architect, Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.
::Arqze contact::
pol@arqze.com
|
marcelo.bernal@arqze.com