Rahul Ciby_Thesis_16012021

Ephemeral fun place Architectural design thesis report in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B.ARCH)

Submitted by RAHUL CIBY 4CM16AT020

Thesis Guide R. Kiran Kumar

WADIYAR CENTRE FOR ARCHITECTURE MYSURU JANUARY 2021

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aknowledgement

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all those who gave me the possibility to complete this report.

A special thanks to my thesis guide, Prof. R Kiran Kumar and my thesis co-ordinator Prof. Julie Ann Tharakan for their immense support, motivation and the guidance they provided me. I would also like to thank everyone who gave me the encouragement to complete my thesis.

Besides my advisors, I would also like to thank my parents, who have always believed in me and motivated me to work hard.

Last but not the least, a huge, warm thanks to my friends John, Anusha, Bapu, Ani, Aiyappa and Roshni for their quick help.

A special thaks to Varun Pais and Niranjan P, for always providing me with constructive criticism and encouragement.

I take this opportunity to express gratitude to all of the Department faculty members for their help and support. I also thank my parents for the unceasin encouragement, support and attention. I am also grateful to my partner who supported me throught this venture.

Rahul Ciby

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TABLE OF CONTENT

01 THESIS OVERVIEW

ABSTRACT Ephemeral architecture is an architectural space that appears and disappears in a short period of time.

The ephemerality of such a place suggests that there are components that are not permanently available in the built environment. The question then arises as to what these components are, in what way they are present or available, and how they relate to each other to temporarily form a certain architectural space in the built environment.

This study aims to critically analyse and study the perpetually changing impact of a city, by taking into account the constant flux of the people and appropriate a flexible space which can evolve and be modified with ease.

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INTRODUCTION Interruption, incoherence, surprise are the ordinary conditions of our life. They have ever become real needs for many people, whose minds are no longer fed by anything but sudden change and constantly renewed stimuli. We can no longer bear anything that lasts. We no longer know how to make boredom bear fruit.

So the whole question comes down to this; Can the human mind master what the human mind has made?

-Paul Valery

Everything the light touches goes through important changes in this world. Change is inevitable and it can be agreed that there is nothing anyone can do to prevent change. Over the past few years, this change has accelerated and grown at an exponential rate due to the rapid advancement of technology. The industrial revolution played a role as a change where people slowly shifted to an industrial economy, where the idea of permanence and stability came weaved together with it. The change was gradual but revolutionary. At some point in time, we as people found solace in the ‘illusion of permanence’ through the demand for stability. The changes that occurred during that time could be responsible for such comfort. But, currently, we’ve come a long way from there into the time of information technology.

Change is rapid and change is unpredictable and now people are more transient or nomadic. Anything designed for the present will render obsolete and like that our culture soon will become disposable.

We reach a point where we have to cater to the needs of this constant flux and not provide relatively permanent solutions to relatively temporary solutions. (Mehrotra R. , 2018) This thesis pertains to dissolving the present idea of permanence and relating it to the idea of liquid modernity where the rigid framework becomes obsolete which in term makes the system be free and be guided like how a liquid adapts to its surroundings. (Bauman, 2000)

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With this study, I do not wish to prompt a solution for anything but to introduce an ambiguous opportunity in making changes that can make someone relook at the way one assimilates their surroundings. My thesis will investigate and study a more pragmatic response as a type of built form to appropriate it to the needs of the site, through the lens of sustainability.

OBJECTIVE To alter the perception of public parks from that of recreational space to an activity generator which changes based on time.

Develop a temporary configuration which can be deployed at different sites.

To invoke the concept of ephemerality in a place with great historical importance.

LIMITATION Due to COVID-19, the site activity could not be studied to the desired amount.

The probability of identifying fixed function for an architectural solution that could support the research of the thesis.

HYPOTHESIS An architects role in the functionality of a public space can be pivotal for the future of the place if triggered in the right sense.

A place can have various functions and still evolve completely to adapt to situations. Making the significance of the place regenerated every time.

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part one

EPHEMERAL IDENTITY

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BINGO, GORDON MAT TA-CL ARK Trained as an architect, Gordon Matta-Clark calls his work “anarchitecture”, the term for the attacks he staged on the structural foundations of the built environment. He carved up a codemned hous in a decaying neighbourhood around Niagra falls. The result, 8 seperate building fragments by drawing a grid on facades to obtain equal rectangular individually. In Matta-Clark’s process of subtraction and destruction, attributes that are conventionally associated with a house—domesticity, comfort, privacy—were displaced by a disorienting physical experience: the house became strange, a simple container for space now opened and incomplete.

CINNAMON BOUTIQUE, BANGALORE Originally a colonial bungalow that was set up as an orphanage. The building was abandoned and unused, having highly damaged foundation and roof. It was later rennovated by Matthew and Gosh Architects and made into a luxuary lifestyle boutique.

QUEEN’S STABLE, MYSORE The horse stable in Mysore was a building built by the Queen but now completely abandoned and now redundant. In the future plans of MUDA, this is listed as a residential zone for 2031.

fig : 18

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SOLID TO LIQUID MODERNITY Overall, buildings change and in many diverse ways and for many diverse reasons. But evidently, there has been a drastic speedup in all aspects of the world.

This can be seen in the rate of change of fashion, technology, and the various trends that occur.

Zygmunt Bauman, a Polish sociologist, in his book “Liquid Modernity”, argues that over time we get to observe how the world moved from a phase of what he terms ‘solid’ modernity to a ‘liquid’ phase. ‘Solid’ modernity is based on a belief that it was possible to make a fully rational perfect world where change was only temporary. All that was needed to make a fully rational world was acquiring enough information, knowledge and technical skills. As the rigidity of solid, the various factors in this type of modernity were constant and the molecules tightly packed.

There was a constant reliance on stability.

In contrast, this phase of ‘liquid’ modernity comes from a realization that a state of perfection will never be achieved. Instead, change is constant and thus leads to increased ambivalence and feelings of uncertainty in the world. (Bishop & Williams, 2012).

Deriving from the properties of a fluid, this type of modernity adapts to the situation and cannot easily hold their shape. It has this property of lightness along with inconsistency.

For example, the transition of the economy. The world moved from an industrial economy to an Information technology economy.

Throughout the solid stage of the modern era, nomadic habits remained out of favour. Absence of a ‘fixed address’ or ‘statelessness’ meant exclusion from the law-abiding and the law-protected community and more often discriminated. Over time we have seen people question the need for this notion of permanence or stability and the dominance of the settled over the mobile was looking questionable.

(Bauman, 2000) The early beings were nomadic to start with, had no attachment to property nor other objects in their life.

They would just leave it all behind when called upon.

It’s only later people started settling, creating an illusion of stability through the need for settlement and other materialistic requirements. (Mehrotra, 2018)

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In this era of rapid changes then, cities and districts must also adapt their zoning practices. Traditional Euclidean zoning fails at being able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Zoning and planning must now be focused on creating resiliency.

Along with more flexible zoning and planning practices, there is a need to recognize that buildings and programs are not permanent, but temporary.

Although there is little statistical evidence to back this up, buildings do seem to be intended, more than ever before, to fulfil a market requirement and be abandoned as circumstances change.

Planning for temporary uses then becomes essential for effective zoning and master plans.

Allowing and promoting these temporary uses can also be extremely beneficial for a city or district.

A temporary activity represents a reaction to a world where the future is more uncertain and less secure, and a response to rapid economic, societal and technological changes that are shortening the present into smaller and smaller time frames. Our loss of faith in a stable, ‘solid’ world, our increasing sense of the fragility of our existence, our reluctance to face our uncertain future or to build a more sustainable lifestyle, our growing indifference to the lessons of the past, our short attention spans and our focus on instant satisfaction are all trends which favour indulgence in ephemeral, fleeting experiences. And perhaps they represent an emerging global mind-set in which temporariness in all its forms and experiences will flourish. (Bishop and Williams 2012, 213)

“We humans are obsessed with permamnence. We resist change inspite of the fact that change is perhaps the only constant in our life. Everything has expiry date, including our planet. Making permanent solution for temporary problems is not the only solution.”

- Rahul Mehrotra

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03 SITESTORY

Fort Kochi is one square mile jam-packed with a plethora of heritage, culture and numerous communities.

Though not a city, Fort Kochi shows many attributes to convince one that it can be a microcosm with the history and culture the town radiates. The microculture of Fort Kochi is what is being highlighted in this thesis and strategies on how to conserve it and help in accentuating the story of their resilience.

HISTORY OF FORT KOCHI The history of Fort Kochi dates back to more than 500 years, even before the Europeans entered the land. It all started back in 1341 AD when heavy floods closed the port in Pattanam (the fabled Muzuris) which was a centre of trade in the South-West coast. Ships were no longer lured into Muzuris, but Kochi invited them with open arms.

The closing of doors of Muzuris later became the beginning of the chronicle of Fort Kochi.

The Arabs and the Chinese set sail and reached Kochi bringing honey, horses and much more in exchange for jars of black pepper. Even though there are no records of the Chinese had settled in Kochi (but the existence of the ‘Chinese Fishing nets’ may presume they were here briefly), the Arabs, however, settled in Mattancherry and had a community in Kochi called the “Mappilas”. Hence you will find areas in Mattancherry which look ready to combat a sand storm. Mattancherry remained a robust trading hub attracting traders from all over the place because of the quality of the spices they had to offer. The Maharaja of Cochin also welcomed traders from afar, offering refuge around his palace.

This provoked traders from various parts of the country to come to settle in Kochi to practice a trade.

The Jews who were settled around the old port of Muzuris fled to Cochin to improve their trade and to avoid conflict between the Portuguese and the Arabs.

Welcomed by the Maharaja with open arms, the Jews grew to become an important trading community who were extremely conservative in culture, customs and religion. This in turn induced migration of more Jews into the city from other parts of the world.

Even today you find the Jew community living in harmony with the rest of the communities in Kochi.

fig 19 : Original Emblem of Estado da Inde - First bastion of Fort Immanuel

Pedro Alvarez Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, later a military commander was the first European to set foot in Kochi and the country of India in the year 1500 while on his expedition to find the continent of South America. Following him, Vasco da Gama set sail and visited Calicut in his first tour and then Kochi on his second. Later, setting up a base in Kochi for trade and commerce. In order to secure their trade from other competition and invaders, the Portuguese who had a healthy relationship with the Maharaja built 8 bastions and a fort wall around what they called “Cochim de Baixo”. The fortification around Kochi was called Fort Immanuel (named after the King of Portugal – Manuel 1 de Portugal). The Portuguese left an indelible mark on Fort Kochi settling there for a century. Fort Kochi was gifted with new architecture, economics and social development. Asia’s largest library, a printing press and a thriving trade market put Fort Kochi and Mattancherry on the map. They were also determined to integrating with the society, marrying local women (according to certain norms) and bearing children with them bringing rise to another community of people, the Luso-Indians.

fig 20 : Capture of Fort Kochi by the Dutch for Portugese

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Around 1661 onwards, the Portuguese strength was weakened due to the constant fights alongside the Kochi Maharaja as part of his military. Opened up a possibility of penetrating the Portuguese fort of Kochi. This was capitalised by the Dutch as they were after all of the Portuguese possessions. During 1663, the Dutch took over Kochi fort from the Portuguese and expelled all the Portuguese residents who later settled in Goa. The Dutch were a brute force, murdering Portuguese men and women, destroying the fort walls (except the walls that separated Mattancherry from the fort as the Dutch did not want to associate with the locals), burning the libraries and construction the Portuguese had built and renamed the fort to “Fort Stomsburg” and made it the capital of Dutch India.

They did not want to indulge freely with society and were mainly interested in commercial activities. Fort Kochi ended up losing the enchanting prominence it once had under the Portuguese. But in return for all the havoc they had caused, the Dutch had presented Kochi with a gift which still remains a very important botanical study in the world, the compilation of Hortus Malabaricus. A book of 12 volumes, an expert manual on tropical plants and their medicinal properties. They also contributed by converting the Fort of Kochi from a Garrison town into a residential town.

fig 21 : Plan of FK by Portugese

fig 22 : The City Plan of Cochim De Baixo Fort - 1505

A century later, the British grew strength in European dominance. The Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1814 made the Dutch let the British take over The fort of Kochi in return of the Java islands in Indonesia. This forced the Dutch to flee and the beginning of the English Supremacy reign. They destroyed the remaining fort walls which separated Fort Kochi from Mattancherry and coined it “Fort Kochi” to indicate that the land was under British rule. Under the British Empire, Fort Kochi started shifting from a trading town to a protesting town for a free India. In order to fight the British, all communities of Kochi united and rose to fight the English rule. The relentless work for the freedom movement in Kochi led for almost a century and during Mahatma Gandhi’s visit, he was pleased to see the tenacity of the people and called Kochi “The Queen of the Arabian Sea”. After Independence in 1947, Fort Kochi was admired for being the small town that fought for the country’s rights.

fig 23 : Official City plan under Council of Dutch - 1664

fig 24 : City plan 1700

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SPECIALITIES OF FORT KOCHI Fort Kochi oozes with specialities that keeps one ever engaged in learning from the different influences it has had on the people. Mainly the vibrancy of cast, culture and ethnicities that play a major part of the history and culture of the town.

Even with the variable background one would suspect would cause conflicts, it works a little differently in Fort Kochi. For example, there exists a clock tower in Mattancherry with three faces, in ancient Malayalam, Arabic, and in Hebrew numerical.

The story of Fort Kochi does not start or end with the influence of European rule. The impact of around 15 ethnic communities like the Jews, Konkanis, Gujaratis, Jains, Memons, Marathis, Tamils and Kashmiris have maintained their distinct culture.

This distinct culture with multiple ethnic backgrounds and the unity of these groups to make Fort Kochi a whole is the real speciality of Fort Kochi. This microculture makes the town something bigger than what it is. It’s the amalgamation of differences in perfect harmony.

fig 25

THE HERITAGE AND ARCHITECTURE Even though most of the buildings in Fort Kochi are build pre-colonial times, there is a pattern in the construction techniques. Use of timber as roof members as well as certain structural members are widely observed throughout the town. There is a language followed in the streets where the walls are plain and high, which currently has given life because of the ability to see them as big canvases for wall murals.

The Dutch had destroyed most Portuguese establishments and had left the church of St. Francis (The first European Church in the Sub-continent) because it was used by a sugar warehouse by them. Apart from the church, only a few other Portuguese establishments remain today. The remaining Bungalows you can find today are mainly Dutch establishments for their officials and guests. fig 26, 27 : Section through different streets

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Most houses were bungalows because they were originally catering for the Dutch or the English, and they had large properties with laterite construction and finished with lime plaster. At the interiors of the town, you will find the middle-class houses, where ideally you will find houses which originally belonged to the Anglo-Indians where the structural members are of timber, but due to maintenance and various other reasons, most houses had lost its strength and had to be renovated if not conserved. These AngloIndian homes had large halls on the ground floors because of their western social lifestyle. The halls would be used to accommodate friends and family for various occasions for celebration.

fig 28, 29 : Section through different streets

COCHIN CARNIVAL The art of celebration was something that has always been there with the people of Fort Kochi even with the exuberant past. The Portuguese had a tradition of celebrating the arrival of the new year.

They would decorate the entire town and have various celebratory events, feasts, vibrant fancy dress competition and other activities around the beach.

And due to the suppression by the following empires, this practice of new year celebrations rather diluted and was taken indoors. Since until the 1980s, Fort Kochi remained a sleepy post-colonial hamlet, while Mattancherry was active and busy. There were empty streets with English names, high walls/boundaries, most houses were also empty. Loud music and the smell of cakes hung in the air from the occupied houses, spreading the legacy of the colonial times.

fig 30 : A picture of the parade.

fig 31, fig 32 : Photos from the first Carnival

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In the year 1984, three youth friends came together to bring back this identity which was lost but in the name of International Youth year and not as part of the Portuguese new year celebration. Celebrations once had all the residents on their toes out of excitement. There was a reason to bring the people out of their houses and be together and live in harmony again. They brought together a festival which would bring back the died down the interest of the fancy dress competition, beach activities and all tied up with a parade. Since the colonial rulers kept many open grounds for various reason, it provided the space for public gathering in Fort Kochi, as well as for sports. All the residents in Fort Kochi will emphasise the importance of sports in Fort Kochi because of these grounds and that is how these three friends were able to get the connections and space to conduct “The Beach Festival”.

After the first festival, which had a response from the people which was more than anticipated response.

Later more than 150 groups, organizations, clubs came together to fund and to expand this celebration with some traditional additions like burning the Pappaji for New Year’s (Portuguese myth) and games.

Some like cycle race, rickshaw rally, swimming in the ocean, beach sports, other ethnic games like tug of war, kuttiyum kolum, kabadi, chakku (jute bag) race and fight, etc. This ended up being called “Carnivale Cochin” or “Cochin Carnival”. Cochin carnival had gained a lot of attention around the globe and has contributed to the flourishing side of tourism in Fort Kochi. This is one of the factors why The KochiMuzuris Biennale also occurs during this time Once in two years.

fig 33, fig 34 : Photos from the first Carnival

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EPHEMERALITY OF FORT KOCHI “You get the best biryani in this area, but it’s not complete without the papadums brought here first by the Konkanis, you get the best seafood – delicacies like pearl spot, white snapper. But they’re caught with fishing nets that the Chinese brought. The best vegetarian food is here – and the Marwaris and Gujaratis are to thank for that. It is a small congested area with many communities and shared history, not just of European powers but Indian migration. Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are the most multicultural place in India.”

One other thing that used to be a uniting factor in Fort Kochi was the fact that everyone co-existed by playing a certain role in society. Each religion had its baggage of their hereditary occupation. For example, most fish salesmen were Muslim and fishermen mainly Christian. So, for a Christian holiday like Christmas, both the Muslims and Christians would celebrate it because if the Christians don’t catch the fish, the Muslims won’t be able to sell it. That’s the same when it comes to Muslim festivals like Ramadan.

fig 35

Because of the pre-existing trade, a lot of migration had happened in the early years. This had brought about people from various parts of the countries as well as from abroad. The Tamilian Dhobi Khana folks who set up a modern community laundry in Fort Kochi originally to wash the clothes of the king’s soldiers. The Kutchies from Gujarat or the Memons has driven away from their homeland because of droughts and managed to flourish in Kochi as business communities. Military surge drove Kashmiri’s away from to Kochi at a good time for them to be able to start up trade and business communities in Kochi. The Jews existed in Kochi before there were any records and attracted more Jew migrants over the years.

The Konkanis, the Marathis, the Arabs, and many more communities have had their reasons to settle in Fort Kochi. Just like how Fort Kochi accepts and grows, every community was given a warm welcome.

fig 36

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SITESTUDY

KOCHI

CLIMATE STUDY

Average temperatures and precipitation over the year

Maximum Temperatures over the year.

Source : meteoblue

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Maximum Wind speeds over the year.

Source : meteoblue

Wind directions over the year.

Source : www.urbanemissions.in

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FORT KOCHI Fort Kochi is a small town at the western end of Kochi/Cochin, a city in the district of Ernakulam.

Kochi is located in the south-west coast of India, in the southern state of Kerala. Fort Kochi is usually addressed along with its sister town Mattancherry sits adjacent to it and unites as one. Although these two towns have its own root in history, they become codependent and symbiotic in nature. They alongside Palluruthy and Thoppumpadi constitute the ‘Old City of Cochin’ or ‘Old Kochi’.

Connectivity to Fort Kochi has been made easier over the years. From Ernakulam, one can travel to Fort Kochi, primarily through roadways, otherwise by water ways. Water ways also include the Jangar, where you can board the water commuter with your vehicle.

Apart from the public ferry system which connects you to the commercial side of the city (Ernakulam), there has been the introduction of the Water Metro feeder system which connects the traveller to various metro stops in the city.

Estimate population : 2 lakh 49 thousand (2001 Census) Estimate Area : 4 square kilometers

fig 37 : Prominent places in Fort Kochi

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Source : www.culturalmapping.in

Figure Ground Map

Contour Map

Land-Use

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Sun path Diagram

Wind-rose Diagram

Vehicular Movement

Pedestrian movement

fig 38 : Extend of Fort Kochi 38

SITE SELECTION A total of 4 sites were identified out of which, there is one Square with a park, two grounds and one site which is privately owned.

This is because there is a limitation to build on heritage-listed sites, hence strengthening the need for ephemeral architecture.

VASCO DA GAMA SQUARE

CABRAL YARD

PARADE GROUND

SANTA CRUZ GROUND

Sighting possible 4 sites FOLKLORE CULTURAL THEATRE FORT KOCHI BUS STAND KOCHI TALUK OFFICE BASTION BUNGLOW/ ERNAKULAM DISTRICT HERITAGE MUSEUM

THE DELTA STUDY, SCHOOL ST, FRANCIS CSI CHURCH FATIMA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL SANTA CRUZ BASILICA

INDO-PORTUGESE MUSEUM

fig 39 : Connecting existing Activity Nodes

To generate activity and enhance the space, the site with most accessability and activity is recorded.

Parking, Influences and walkability from other centres taken into account.

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STREET CHARACTERISTICS These images show the different architectural and historical elements observed in the streets of Fort Kochi.

The organisation of the built creates the axis for movement.

Footpaths all around create a pedestrian friendly environment.

fig 40

fig 41

fig 42

fig 43

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417M

131M

SELECTED SITE Vasco Da Gama square was identified as the primary site for intervention.

SITE SECTIONS a’

5m 3m

B 0m

25m

50m

75m

100m

125m

150m

175m

200m

211m

SECTION AA’

a 2m

B’

0m

10m

20m

30m

30m

30m

30m

30m

30m

30m

100m

SECTION bb’

SECTION bb’

A slope of 2m was recorded along with both directions of the site.

2m slope along 100ms makes the site relatively flat.

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SITE BOUNDARY

The site is along the shore which stretches to about 417m long and the total area is about 5.4 Acres

NE ARBY HEIGHTS

BUILDING

Majority of the built around are not more than 2 storey tall

VEGETATION ON SITE

The site has abundance of evergreen raintrees which shade the site throughout the year.

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ENTRY POINTS

Entry is mainly through these three points. The whole site apart from the childrens park is free to entre.

CHILDRENS PARK

The childrens park is one of the main attractions of the site. It has two entry points and the rest is defined by fencing.

BE ACH WALKWAY

The existing beach walkway is quite distant from the water and it accomodates most hawkers and markets in the site.

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E XISTING BUILDINGS

There exists 2 unused dilapitated buildings and a restaurant. You also find the fish market along the beach walkway. That is one of the main elements of the site.

POP-UP MARKETS

Pop-up markets and carts all align along the market and the entrance to the site for most part of the year.

HARDSCAPING

The entire site apart from the childrens park is paved using granite.

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3

2

5 6 1

4 7

Key Map

fig : 44 1) View of the square

fig : 48 5) View from the fish market

fig : 45 2) View from the walkway

fig : 49 6) Parking taking over the square

fig : 46 3) View of the fishing nets

fig : 50 7) View of the square fig : 47 4) View of the market

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SITE OBSERVATION This is a study of the changes occuring on site throughout the years.

The inconsistancy of the beach and the consistancy of the positioning of the various fishing nets to be observed

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FESTIVALS AND EVENTS This is a record of the various religious festivals and non-religious events and activities that take place in the site.

fig : 51 Record of festivals celebrated in a year

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PRE-DESIGN

FRAMEWORK FOR THIS STUDY The idea of permanence, temporality and ephemerality can be perceived in many ways.

Architecturally this can be explained with the understanding of what is ‘fixed’ and what is ‘flexible’.

A permanent object or component can be defined as something with a fixed structure and a fixed function.

There is not going to be a change in any condition.

Meanwhile, temporary components have that sort of flexibility which make them flexible. Flexible structure and a flexible program constitute a temporary component.

In case you have a fixed structure, but varying functionalities which these days are a bit more common, you achieve a mixed component.

Mixed components have the functionality of a temporary component and the structure which can support it like a permanent component.

Flexible Fixed

The coming together of these 3 components to produce a functional and dynamic outcome can be how one perceives the notion of the ephemeral in architecture. It has the appearance of a temporary component but gives the impact of a permanent component.

TEMPORARY

+

PERMANENT

+

MIXED

THE OVERLAP

An entity which posesses qualities of of all three components and facilitates to change in a pragmatic manner can be called Ephemerality.

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PERMENANT COMPONENT A permanent component is something that is fixed and rigid. They represent strength and monumentality. They are built last for a very long time, sometimes longer than its significance.

These structures tend to outlive the program it inhabits.

For a very long time, this was the idea behind the built environment, the idea of stability permanence provides and the comfort of assurance.

fig 54 : Victoria Memorial Hall

fig 52 : Colloseum

fig 55 : IIM-A

fig 53 : Lakshmi Vilas Palace

fig 56 : Palace of Assembly

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TEMPORARY COMPONENT A temporary component is something that can be moved, assembled and dismantled according to the specific circumstance. They last for just a short period of significance. These structures are erected only when called upon for temporary programs and events. They leave very little to no footprint and possesses the ability of reconfiguration.

The instant appearance of such components creates an instant awareness on-site and this acts as an anchor for memory. Temporality is a quality of experience rather than the duration of use.

CONE XIDADE OCCUPATION, BRAZIL The architecture was developed by estúdio chão in close collaboration with the festival itself to create spaces in cohesion with the program of activities.

The concept behind the project was based on the idea of providing shelter for varying events while forming a dialogue with the urban context. fig 59

fig 57

fig 60

The temporary structures were all built using scaffolding to house the diversity of activities such as concerts, lectures, workshops, street performances and skateboarding. At night, LED tubes lit up the spaces, providing a different atmosphere for evening events, while water sprinklers were also incorporated to provide relief from the hot Rio weather. fig 58

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PAVILION OF HUMANIT Y, CZECH Moravské námestí is a busy town square in the centre of Brno. Since it is located on Brno’s main boulevard, thousands of people walk and drive through it every day .

The installation on the square serves to document dramatic socio-historical changes which have transformed the square throughout its history. it commemorates the figures, cultures, and nationalities whose imprints are retained in the history of Brno and across the Czech lands.

The installation sought to commemorate particular historical milestones as well as demonstrate unexpected connections to induce the desire for solidarity and unity, call for tolerance and initiate a debate about contemporary socio-political issues.

fig 63

fig 61

fig 64

fig 62

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INFERENCE SCAFFOLIDINGS The most flexible and efficient temporary component to use is the scaffolding system.

This system has the ability to assemble and disassemble at a very quick pace. It becomes convienent and economical at the same time because of its storage ability.

Scaffolidings can be entirely used to build necessary components and accommodate programns as well.

This could be one step towards how we dont have build for a lifetime and disassembly and reconfiguration can become the property of the direction of architecture.

The absolute flexibility of this structure becomes one of the most resolved ideas of temporary or transient architecture which can be deployed with reason.

fig 65

fig 66

fig 67

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MIXED COMPONENT

The mixed component is probable to change.

They can accommodate various functions based on the situation and return to the original state once the significance has been achieved. It comprises all the factors that apply to a temporary component but wit a definite structure to it.

It can be incremental, reconfiguring or any sort of improvisational as a program. This makes it easier to cater to change as it works with a system.

FUN PAL ACE,

CEDRIC PRICE & JOAN LIT TLEWOOD (1962)

fig 69

A fixed structural system is used to create adaptable spaces. The program is never constant, hence the program becomes flexible.

The Fun Palace was designed not as a building in the conventional sense but as a socially interactive machine. This project intended to adapt to the shifting culture and social conditions of its time and place. Fun Palace set out the definition of architecture by not having a building but a scaffolding or framework, enclosing a socially interacting machine - a virtual architecture merging art and technology.

It was not a museum, nor a school, theatre, or funfair, and yet it could be all these things simultaneously or at different times. fig 70

fig 68

It was for the common citizen to escape everyday routine and experience something completely different. A chance for them to embark a journey of learning, creativity and individual fulfilment. fig 71 54

fig 72 : Service Cores

fig 73 : Rotating Escalators

Cranes were used to assemble the desired space, moving prefabricated modules around.

Movement is controlled through rotating escalators thereby also allowing different experiences of the same space.

fig 74

fig 76 : Services

fig 75 : Platforms

Closed Activities Open Auditorium Observatorium Play Complex Open Activities Exhibition Closed Auditorium Restaurant

fig 78 : Programs

fig 77 : Vertical Circulation

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MANEK CHOWK Manek Chowk, originally a traditional business centre mainly for jewlery is one of the most notable city squares in Ahmedabad. Located within a heritage zone, the business there is as old as the city. The functions of this square changes completely throughout the day to perform specific needs so that the place is use effectively. It is active 20 hours a day, changing from a place for cattle grazing or a vegetable market in the morning to a very busy commercial square mainly a bullion market and at night it becomes a very vibrant food street.

A fixed framework of the shops create a defined space for various activities making the space flexible within.

Morning Activity

fig 79

Noon Activity

fig 80 56

Evening Activity

THE SHED (ART CENTER), NEW YORK DILLER SCOFIDIO AND RENFRO

Inspired by “Fun Palace”, the Shed is a cultural centre that commissions, develops, and presents original works of art, across all disciplines, for all audiences.

It consists of a hugh telescopic shell which creates a 1600 sq m hall that is light, sound and temperature controlled when fully deployed over an adjoining 1850 sq m plaza. This flexible space can respond to variable needs in scale, media and technology and can serve as a theater, seating 1,250 people or a standing audience of 2,700 people.

When the shell is nested back on the base building, the plaza can be used for outdoor events.

fig 81

Plaza

Base Building

Plaza

The moveable structure extended from the fixed base adds space to the base which can be used when needed. This makes it flexible.

fig 82

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fig 83

fig 84 58

fig 86

The building is able to expand and contract by rolling the telescoping shell on rails. The Shed’s kinetic system is inspired by the industrial past of the High Line and the West Side Railyard. Through the use of conventional building systems for the fixed structure and adapting gantry crane technology to activate the outer shell, the institution is able to accommodate large-scale indoor and open-air programming on demand.

The Shed’s open infrastructure can be permanently flexible for an unknowable future and responsive to variability in scale, media, technology, and the evolving needs of artists.

fig 87 fig 85

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SITE INFLUENCE CHINESE FISHING NETS The fishing nets found in Kochi are said to be brought by the Chinese back in the 14th century.

The Chinese nets, made of teak wood and bamboo poles, work on the principle of balance. Each structure, about 10m high, is fixed on the beach and has a cantilever with an attached net that is spread over an area of about 20 meters. Counterweights, usually stones about 30 cm in diameter, tied to ropes of different lengths, facilitate the working of the nets. Often, lights, attached to the teak posts. are suspended above the net to attract fish.

Each fishing net is operated by more than four fishermen and is made in such a way that the weight of a man walking on the main plank is enough to cause the equipment to be pulled down into the sea. Fishing is usually done in the morning and early evening. The net is descended into the water for a short time and then raised delicately by pulling on the ropes.

fig 89 : View of the Chinese fishing net

fig 90 : Photos of fishing net study model

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fig 88

Side View - Lowered

Plan

These huge, shore-operated lift-nets work on simple physics, much like the sides of a weighing balance go up and down according to the weights placed on it.

Traditionally, the wooden parts were made of teak, which are now being replaced by metallic poles or bamboo.

Side View - Raised Longitudinal Tie (Ambe) - Ideally made with teak or else coconut tree trunk or bamboo.

Vertical post (Bras Kuthi) - Made with aged coconut tree trunk

Tie Beam - Made with teak

Framework for net Made with teak

Fishing Net Changed every 6 months

The Pivot (Calusanthy) Supported on two hinges on the vertical posts.

A big tie beam made of teak.

Pivoted Angle (Bras) - Usually made of teak, now for economical reasons metal poles are used.

Counter Weight - Rocks tied at the end of the pivoted angle

fig 91

fig 92 : The Pivot - Thabeek

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SHIPPING CONTAINERS Used shipping containers are highly efficient in todays concept of upcycling materials. Usaually found in abundance near port cities. There are certain pros and cons in using this as a construction material.

The corrugated walls, frame, cargo doors, and cross members of shipping containers are all made from Corten steel. Corten steel, also known as weathering steel, is the primary material in shipping containers.

Container manufactures use this material because it possesses the physical properties that make it weldable and rust resistant. In practice, rust-resistance means that should a piece of paint chip off of the steel, rust will form at the surface but go no deeper.

fig 93

fig 94

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PROS

CONS

Green Building Cost Effective Structural stability Ease/speed of Construction Off Site Construction Safety

Insulation and Heat Control Refurbishing Ecological Footprint Health Hazards

KONTENERART 19 CULTURAL & RECRE ATIONAL SPACE WIERCINSKI-STUDIO

Kontenerart is a recreational and cultural public space in the center of Poznan located near the Warta River.

It is one of the most popular summer places for active recreation in the city.

Between the warehouses, there is a stage where concerts and artistic events take place. The area is closed with wooden boxes with seats and shading fabrics. The form of the whole was arranged in such a way as to create a safe internal space next to a busy bicycle road, which is the main advantage for guests with children. A large tree grows in the center of the space, which gives the expected shade during the day.

fig 95

fig 96

fig 97

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INFERENCE The site being located in a port city, there is an abundance of used shipping containers. Appropriate usage with great care can make this a very sustainable approach and be handled in a sustainable manner.

The other advantage for containers in a art city is the ability to see the blank facade of the container as a blank canvas. This could also promote the prominent street wall art of the town.

The ease of movement and renewability of this material was the main aspects to use this construction material.

fig 100 : Coming together of two containers

fig 98 : Basic insualtion method

Polyurathane foam filling for insulation, sprayed into the cavity to effectively seal the container.

Galvanised steel struts, increases durability and construction ease.

Particle or stand board panels to protect from harmful fumes.

Thin panels based on aesthetics.

fig 99 : Cross section of the inside of treated shipping container 64

DESIGN PROPOSAL

fig 101

PROGRAM DERIVATION Programs were derived based on the three types of components and its workability on site with the ability of change troughout the year.

66

Deriving Site Lines

Creating Linear Spaces

Decentralizing the Square

DERIVING CIRCUL ATION

The existing roads and magnets were extended and connected to create an experiential circulation.

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zoning and identification of ephemeral functioning

BAY 3

BAY 4

BAY 2 BAY 1

bay 1 Library / Meeting / Discussion bay 2 Pavilion (Flexible) bay 3 Workshops / Museum / Art Gallery / Exhibition bay 4 Market

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design process and development

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MASTERPLAN

9

3

8

7

4

2

1

5

6

10

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11 1. LIBRARY 2.PAVILION 3. OAT 4. WORKSHOP/YOUTH CENTRE 5. MUSEUM/EXHIBITION/GALLERY 6. PLAYGROUND 7. MARKET 8. PUBLIC TOILET 9. BOAT SHED 10. MAIN ENTRANCE 11. SIDE ENTRANCE

SITE SECTIONS C B’

A B

C’ A’

KEY MAP

SECTION AA’

SECTION BB’

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D F

E D’ F’

E’

KEY MAP

SECTION DD’

SECTION EE’

SECTION FF’ 72

LIBRARY jan

DEC

KEY MAP

AERIAL VIEW

The library is a permanent structure at the extreme west end of the site, provided with a seating/ discussion space. This structure can be completely removed only leaving the columns.

AXONOMETRIC

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+1.2m

in Rea d

g ro o

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A dm

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in

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B

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B oo

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SECTION AA’

SECTION BB’

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PAVILION

Pavilion is a temporary structure where its function also becomes temporary. It can be assembled and removed based on the situation.

jan

DEC

KEY MAP

AERIAL VIEW

AXONOMETRIC

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WORKSHOP / YOUTH CENTRE Y W

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The workshopis a mixed structure. The program varies over the day as its a workshop during the day and a youth centre at night.

The roofs can be changed to accommodate the situation.

KEY MAP

AXONOMETRIC

AERIAL VIEW

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DETAIL OF COLUMN TO TOP FRAME CONNECTION

DURING MONSOON - ROOF COVER

DURING SUMMER - ACTIVATING SPACE

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MUSEUM / GALLERY / EXHIBITION ART GALLERY EXHIBITION M

U

S

jan

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M

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KEY MAP

AERIAL VIEW

The market is the main block subjected to change.

The museum can change into a exhibition or even a art gallery based on the situation.

The art gallery being a possible site for the expansion of the Kochi Muzuris Biennale.

This changing structure is complimented with scaffolding structures which can accommodate shops, stalls, stands for various events.

Spaces are created with the movable / folding panels.

AXONOMETRIC 82

+1.2m

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EXIHIBITION

jan

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SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

ART GALLERY

jan

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ROOF DETAIL SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

MUSEUM

jan

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SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 84

PANEL DETAIL

MARKET F I S H M

A

M A R K E T R

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KEY MAP

AERIAL VIEW

The market is a structure which houses the local venders and hawkers who usually gather along the beach walkway.

The market structure is accompanied with scaffolding sub-structures to create spaces for formal sales.

AXONOMETRIC

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MAIN ENTRY

KEY MAP

The main entrance becomes the first point of interaction of change for the site as it consists of steel columns which are fixed with modular framework which makes the roof of the entrance. This roof can be moved and shifted based on the required situation.

AERIAL VIEW

-0.15m +0.3m

+0.2m

PL AN

0m

3m

9m

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PUBLIC TOILET

KEY MAP

AERIAL VIEW

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A VIEW FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE

A VIEW FROM THE MARKET LOOKING INTO THE SITE

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A VIEW FROM THE LIBRARY LOOKING INTO THE MUSEUM

A VIEW FROM THE PAVILION LOOKING INTO THE MUSEUM

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