infra(structural)width

Code PAC067


Depending on the sea water thrust, weather conditions and a certain degree of susceptibility to unexpected changes, a continental formation would remain 'suspended' during a four to seven month period, just like an island in the middle of the water.


As from this moment, a swampy and changeable surface introduces itself in 'terra firma'. The in [or near to] presence of fresh water outlets and the rain or summer seasons will enrich the site's landscape.
Two programmatic actions take place at this amphibious landscape, as a manipulation mechanism, shaping up an 'artificiated nature" and an 'operative landscape".


Technical Width refers to the arrangement of a given 'vector's' position and direction, to 'lines of tension disposed as discontinuous series in the landscape, configuring a basic operative order'
A 'technology' which at the time of entering in contact with changeable surfaces, result in a programmatic topography. More than building isolated objects, these technical widths position the houses on the ground, thus integrating the habitat and the landscape.
An open system towards a diverse, variable and heterogeneous landscape configuration.
Tranching and folding are used to form infrastructure 'widths' along the ground, as a linking system of private and semi-private amphibious spaces.
These widths ought to be taken as horizon landmarks, tridimensional ground illustrations; as connecting outlines, depths among empty spaces, mounds and depressions. landscape 'streets'.
Circulation is organised through displacing routes-distances travelled. Short and more comfortable roads for residents
'in-scape' plus public amphibian ways made up of routes and open roads, itineraries going trough the gardens and natural distortions ... oaks on top of the sea and wind sounds under the bedrooms.
The idea of full control is replaced by the idea of auto- or 'self regulation' is not a matter of conditioning the landscape but rather of landscaping the conditions

The classical concept of "coexistence" (shared behavior), is gradually substituted by that of "cohabitation" (spatial contract of relationship).2

This landscape is crossed by infrastructural dikes and ditches, whose empty spaces between one and other house a 'new' topography which allows for controllable and civilized 'amphibian exteriors', floating gardens, artificial planting, terraces and water accesses, ponds, dunes and natural pools.
Volumes suspended in the air-water-earth will fill this new landscape, where the houses will be connected-anchored, with an infrastructural width attained through an equipped wall, which holds the bathrooms and the kitchen. All other components, social activity and bedroom spaces will be affixed
to the wall, aleatorily, following the land outline, while looking for given view or a better sun and wind position.
A light outside covering (metal sheets, glass, polycarbonates as a thermic facade) which will mark the limits between outside and inside, and rather than making up an exterior volume will shape up the empty space (double height, voids) between the house components; the inside configuration of the dwellings will be of spaces 'floating' within an empty space.
Open garden, kitchen-diner, bedrooms and utility space compose each unit. It also has a private garden on the roof as well as at ground.
The facade has a 'double layered' enclosure and the dwelling components incorporate mass produced industrial devices, not meant as a repetition of an element but rather as a construction principle, a 'tactical' prefabrication. In addition to low costs, this solution will increase the precision, efficiency, versatility and speed, plus reutilization (process reversibility] as a 'soft colonisation' principle, movement and displacement notions, ecology friendly process, dry (mechanical) assembly and disassembly tactics.

A densification over time (...) 'planting' starts simultaneously with the dissemble, as a "time schedule landscaping".3

Different infrastructural lines connected to the same area, conforming a denser texture, will then be capable of producing denser activities and community widths, with some 'urban level' services. Operative topographies, which organise and house commercial, office, manufacturing, recycling and leisure activities areas, along with parking and storage zone