Sustainability: The Alter Ego | Fall 2021
Columbia GSAPP
In collaboration with Anthea Henson Viloria and Francesca Doumet
Ecoponics
Focuses on reducing, reusing, recycling and rethinking spaces, materiality and architectural expression, Ecoponics aims to form a closed loop, weaving together entanglements of the various audiences it strives to cater to - as an attempt to revive Jamaican culture, landscape and ecology.
Tackling the climate crisis and envisioning the lands of Jamaica in 2100, the design understood the forces of nature and by running simulations on Blender, which it then took and incorporated into an augmented reality setting. As our clients were in Jamaica, and the only interaction we could facilitate was zoom calls and over video technology, using technology like The Oculus Headset, the design gave them ability to witness first hand their sites and our interventions. Based on these back and forth interactions and virtual togetherness, the final design came into shape as a collaborative effort from both ends.
Tools: Rhino 3D, Blender, Quixel Mixer, TwinMotion, Oculus, Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Zoom
A Carbon Neutral and potentially Negative Cycle
Taking forward the idea of generating closed loops of material and spatial use and re-use, the proposal aims to reduce waste to almost zero, thus rendering it a carbon neutral, if not negative cycle. The design proposes larger systems of engagement such as material production, ecotouristic plug in interventions and walkways and experiences that would bring the people closer to their surroundings.
Tangible architectural interventions bringing in positive intangible changes
Stemming from an idea of reviving and embracing the landscapes of the East end and Holland bay, the project branches out to into three major sites of intervention. Each of them are focused on reducing the carbon emissions, rethinking the carbon footprint and re imagining a new form of ecotourism - taking on a more holistic approach towards the lands and it’s occupants.
From, by and for Jamaica
Right from the initial stages of construction to everyday usage as well as with plugin designs to facilitate the reuse of the waste from each of the programs. Materials include bio-rock, sea Crete, sargacrete, salt 3d, crustacean and fiber waste.
Designing tangibles through intangible forces.
Following up on the current pioneers of various systems and startups in Jamaica, the design drew inspiration and aimed at addressing the aquaponic and aqua cultural development plan laid out by the government on one hand, while also studying the export and import of raw goods and construction materials as well as the current crisis of sargassum accumulation and other waste materials found both offshore as well as on the mainland - with an aim to re-imagine and introduce alternate means of construction, design expression and spatial organization.
The proposal spreads itself into three realized designs while also proposing larger systems of engagement such as material production, eco-touristic plug in interventions and walkways and experiences that would bring the people closer to their surroundings. With proposals of flood and hurricane resistant testing sites to the north, which could then potentially be converted into unique camping and hiking lodges, reviving the sugar factory and using it as brick kilns and for other material production, as well as mangrove awareness walks and meditation areas which would allow for both species to rejuvenate in harmony.
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Rethink
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Recycle
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Research
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Reuse
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Revive
Eco Village
By coupling up self reliant systems and embedding them into the bone of the buildings itself, Each design aims to be more accommodative of its audience, making sure to reach out to not just ‘visitors’ but also its own people, and at the same time not just ‘people’ but also its wildlife and flora.
The Eco Village aims to become a new model of living. A re-defintiton of both - home and tourism. One which caters to both the human and the nonhuman. Aimed at blurring the lines between the tourist and the local, the design structures itself around a self sustainable system of aquaponics, which would then translate into market places as well as farm to table dining experiences. Furthermore, the village would not only house residential units, but also education centers in order to educate the people on these new ways of living.
The project looks at research and testing to tackle the climate and eco crisis, focusing on flourishing the social engagement and interaction between the different actors on site at the same time. It takes cues from Donna Haraway’s “Cyborg Manifesto”, in order to form a symbiotic way of living, while also attempting to revive the coral and marine life through careful placement and design of the aquaponic systems.
Educational Visitor Center
The extension to the crocodile sanctuary with an aim to reinstate the need to form deeper connections to our fellow species, not just through physical interactions via human bodies but also through architectural embodiments, the visitor’s center is literally a journey through the environment, and not the building. With varying degrees of spatial and visual connections, it allows the users an opportunity to be one with nature, and provides them a platform to understand their fellow earthlings better.
Emerging from the ground, it almost acts as an artificial wetland extending the land, lifting it above, thus providing the much needed resistance to strong hurricanes and storms. It is an attempt at the rejuvenation of the FMJ estate(the clients) and its surroundings while still being respectful of what exists - not to ignore it, but to embrace its history and the present culture and wildlife and bring them all together - a space which allows you to be one with the people, the history and the environment. It also extends itself along the existing canals not only reviving them, but also forming a walkway which would connect the visitors to the eco lodge, education center and farm to table markets, thus activating its surroundings.
With an intent to be one with nature - as much as possible, the entire building would be made of recycled bricks, as well as wooden panels, which would not only reduce the carbon emissions, but also help generate jobs, while introducing the community to alternative ways of involvement, ownership and engagement -which in turn would promote a healthy relationship between the people and the environment, stopping it from turning into yet another capitalist driven scheme. The visitor’s center has a juvenile crocodile terrarium at its heart, carefully carving out the environment such that it may be suitable for them to grow. The goal would be to house the young reptiles, providing them a safe space while also creating an educational environment which would allow for people to grow with them.
Oceanographic Center
With an aim to reach out to a larger community- not only that of humans, but also the non human, the project attempts to address ecological, climactic, economic and social issues with an aim to create a more holistic, inclusive and sustainable environment.
Situated at the tip of the bay, the oceanographic center doubles up as a climate research center as well as resistance testing center. With docking stations for easy access, it provides a platform to house the impending need to address the coral crisis, as well as a stage to tackle issues of storm surges, sargassum accumulation, marine life restoration as well as mangrove restoration.
Encompassing the vulnerable stretch of the coral belt, the project scheme aims to be a model for new/alternative ways of construction, materiality, job creation as well as eco research and tourism, with light interventions that would only extend the landscape further. With observational diving pools and underwater walkways incorporated into the artificial coral reefs, the design aims at providing a shift in the way the Jamaican tourism has been approached in order to work towards a more inclusive and less harmful coexistence.
