Gent Belgium : Wim Goes

Wim Goes , Gent, Belgium

Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2006 : New Zealand Master Class 2008

[temporary structure : palative care : refuge : community build : straw bales : timber]

Temporary Refuge in Flanders

Wim Goes Architectuur

Wim Goes, Anja Houbaert, Tim De Messemaeker, Johannes Berry

Winner of the 2017 AR (UK) 'Pop-up Architecture Award.

SPRING

We were asked by our client, diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), to adapt his house with an eye on the future. After meeting with the ergotherapist, we knew we had no time to spare considering the aggressive nature of the condition.

Refuge is a temporary project. The existing concrete carport was chosen for the project as a result of the limitation in adaptability of the existing house. A barrier-free floor plan was a major concern, but what was more important was mental accessibility. There is no hope to heal.

There is a need for a universal hope, helping each other, involvement, engagement, friendship beyond limits. How can we make architecture with this? Why not building with friends and family? With materials everybody knows from their childhood. Straw and sand referring to the playground, the smell, the memory…

SUMMER

More than a 100 friends and family contributed in constructing Refuge. With more complicated jobs done by professionals, like the sustainable heating and ventilation (with heat recuperation) system or the domotics to manage the doors, curtains, lighting,…

controllable by the client. While building, coffee, tea, food, beer and wine, were served to celebrate life.

FALL

Everyone being involved recognized him/herself in Refuge. They were part of it, It created a mental accessibility. The focus changed from sickness and death to hope and future.

A WINTER

Everything will be taken away.

83% of the project (straw and loam) will be spread out over the landscape as fertilisation. Technical equipment (sponsored) will be returned.

Glass, metal, wood,… will be recycled. Parallel to this attitude, and above all there is a human investment. The ritual. The cycle of life.

Photography : Filip Dujardin

Wim Goes Architectuur -

http://www.belgium-architects.com/en/wim-goes

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org

Lindsay Johnston23 December 2016

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

www.ozetecture.org