KEY CONCEPT:
Cities Moving, is a paper architecture work from the mind of
Ron Herron, resolved within the Arcigram group. Raised onto telescopic legs,
these cities venture across territories and borders depicted either singularly or
in pods, they deeply investigate Archigram’s concern with mobility,
flexibility, transitoriness, indeterminacy and technology as a tool to maximise spatial and
resource efficiency, intern providing a response to humanities deep social connections
as to which the idea of a city is testament to.
The most famous of imagery produced in the Archigram 5
publication in 1964 is the black and white elevation of these forms roaming through
the harbour just off from Manhattan. No indication is given to whether these
structures are coming or going, their intent, do they come in peace, to connect
or for something more sinister? Drawn from this perspective they take on the appearance
of giant insects. In others they appear more like the bastardised offspring of industrial
structures and military machines such as tanks. There was a whole family of
these vehicles, containing all the elements you would find in a functioning
city: business quarter, offices, housing, public and private services. Some had
detachable auxiliary units, such as hospitals and disaster units. As cities are
one of the most complex systems designers could encounter, comprised of a
myriad of stakeholders, each with individual needs and desires. Currently, the
city of Sydney is outgrowing its bonds, resulting in urban renewal on an
unprecedented scale, with the release of Sustainable Sydney 2030: Community
Strategic Plan (2013), Lord Mayor Clover Moore established the foundations not
only for development but for discussion, centric to urban development
governance.
“Think of what it
means for the population of a country to double in 25 years. In order just to
keep living standards at the present inadequate level, the food availabilities
for the people must be doubled. Every structure and road must be duplicated.
The amount of power must be doubled. The capacity of the transport system must
be doubled. The number of trained doctor, nurses, teachers, and administrators
must be doubled.”
Paul Ehrlich, The population Bomb (revisited) 1975.
Ehrlich claims, cities cannot accommodate
expected population grown in their current guise. Written some forty years ago,
and in comparison to Herron’s approach to a new typology of city, these
principles are still relevant today as the population has exceeded and
continues to develop at substantial rates. This alludes to the question; how
can architects and designers reshape the urban footprint in a manner that
capitalises on space, provides equitable opportunity, meets developer and
communal ideals, and yet provides a standard of living that has equal or
greater urban amenity?SELECTED DESIGN ELEMENT:
For this model, I have chosen to model one city vehicle in
its itinerary. Breaking down the object into four key elements: The façade, the
roof, the legs and the ancillaries. The façade comprises of a ship-like hull
structure with regular horizontal window relief patterns in various sizes. Larger
apertures at the top six stories divided by a singular row of larger elements, reflecting
the public use behind. Then a set of six bands of windows at a slightly smaller
apertures getting smaller as you go down to the belly of the ship. These
clearly reflect a social hierarchy of tenancy housed within the city much like
a cruise ship having balcony suites on the uppermost levels and small portholes
on the lower.
The roof form as a morphogenetic element growing like a tumour
between observation decks, antennas, and sky bridges. It reads in some
depictions as a fully glazed “sun room” most likely housing the most public
functions of the city and in others it’s an open mesh providing security and
wind relief to the functions housed below.
Protruding proudly from the lower third of the hull are the eight
telescopic legs with enormous ball pivot joints allowing each to move in an independent
motion to the rest. They provide the structure with the ability to move not as
a machine but as a living object, able to supress harsh motion and to navigate complex
material terrain without upsetting the running’s of the city. They seem to move
with such control and synchronicity, like a chicken keeping its head stable as
you move the body.
Lastly, I will model the most prominent ancillaries, notably
the antenna that stick out like stalactites and stalagmites from the hull.
CONCEPT INTEGRATION INTO THE DESIGN STUDIO
Being a person who does not see the value in modelling architecture
in an age where we can model digitally and rapidly test, alter and re-assess
our design and concepts within a computer that
provides a multitude of display outputs whether that be on a screen, in
virtual reality, renders or rapid prototypes (among other processes). The resolution
of these techniques vastly outperform (in my view) the ability for a physical
model to convey the same resolution of intent. However, to attempt to change my
own mind I have thought to use Cities Moving’s theoretical approach to urbanism
and an efficient use of natural resources to parallel my own thesis into
effective use of city space and the use of kinetic adaptable structures that
are efficient to the programs they house. These theories have driven almost
every project I have ever undertaken in my short architectural career and by modelling
one vehicle, I hope to create a tangible element to reinforce and investigate
how such a radical proposal has broken down the city and the human’s use for a
city.
PROPOSED SCALE, MATERIAL, & TECHNIQUE
As the project doesn’t have any scaled documentation, I will
endeavour to assess the proportions of each element as noted above in relation
to each other. The model will be sized around a 500mm length as to be manageable
to model out of metal shaping techniques where panel beating will form the hull
with embossed detail elements. Braised telescopic metal work for the legs and
antenna. I’m aiming to use found material from around the workshop and my own collection
at home keeping costs to a minimum and encouraging fabrication techniques to accommodate
irregularities in the materials.
HOURS & BUDGET:
I will be giving myself a strict budget of $30 for this
model. I feel it is realistic as the only components that will need to be purchased
may be the material for the ball joints.
This will be a time intensive work, I estimate
20 hours will be needed to complete this model.