Archigram Cities Moving

 
 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.