Atmospheric

Navn
Aimee Desert
Uddannelsesgrad
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Arkitektur
Institut
Bygningskunst og Teknologi
Program
Architecture and Extreme Environments
År
2020
Udmærkelser
VOLA

Immaterial elements: heat, light, and humidity, all effect our perception of space. The desert city of Antofagasta is in a relative state of meteorological stasis, this project introduces the luxuries of atmospheric heterogeneity and delight. Exploring immaterial elements to define architectural space within the bathhouse and the atmosphere which surrounds it - a curated meteorological landscape.

The atmospheric effects of architecture are often a consequence of the design process rather than a methodology. Taking the opposite approach this project considers how architecture can amplify the weather of the city.

The project considers a community bathhouse which seeks to provide a series of luxuries to the diverse communities within the city, bringing together wealthy mineworkers and those living in the unauthorised  campamentos through the shared luxury of bathing. Providing everything from luxury bathing to warm showers and laundry facilities. The spaces between provide a rich meteorological landscape which brings the community together around the luxury of the weather which cannot be experienced in the city.

Can design amplify the existing climatic phenomena to curate a dynamic weather, bringing the luxury of a meteorological landscape to the city?

Exposing services and structural elements allows the occupant to experience the climatic potential of elements. Materials go from monofunctional to performing a hybrid role in the space.

The volumes penetrate through the beams forming the void. Cloud like interventions are parasitic to the pipes, using the temperature to curate condensation and steam formation whilst also allowing occupants to climb up towards the cool soffit above.

The temperature of the water in the puddle fluctuates with a different rhythm to the air around offering the opportunity for delight and respite from the heat.

1
/4
The weather in the landscape
The weather in the landscape
The luxury of jumping in a puddle in the desert city
The luxury of jumping in a puddle in the desert city

The public bathhouse was originally designed for the common when bathing facilities were a luxury afforded by few, since then it has become a recreational luxury.

In the divided city of Antofagasta, where many do not have access to private bathing facilities, I consider whether the bathhouse can become a communal luxury once again. Thermal baths have a history of capitalising on climatic idiosyncrasies. However, through this project I will consider how the bathhouse volumes can act as climatic lungs curating the climate of the public space below. Generating heterogeneous conditions in an otherwise homogeneous city.

This conceptual section exercise explores this concept of ‘climatic lungs’ which distribute the luxury of atmospheric experience across the public park below.

Conceptual section study

In a divided city can common luxuries bring bridge across social strata?

 The project explores a series of luxuries which extend across social strata, access to clean and hot water, public space and oases, providing a space for the community to come together.

1
/4
The laundry paternoster
The luxury of materiality in the pool
The tram connects the site to the wider city
The pop up market provides a place to gather

A meteorological landscape

The moderate climate of the city allow the building to be unwrapped and unlike in a typical building the climatic exchange is decoupled from the envelope and pervades the plan. With walls signifying an area of diverse conditions rather than containing a climate – a manifestation of atmospheric boundaries. The conditions across the site vary according to the weather conditions which they are amplifying,

1
/5
The first floor accommodates the primary pool spaces
Contrasting atmospheres curate gradients of atmospheric condition
The public ground level is a series of carved spaces beneath the volumes above
The environment of the spaces above curates the space below, bringing shade, light, humidity, heat, cool and salinity
The range achieved allows the weather of the city over the year to be experience within the site across a single day.

Activity inhabits places of comfort which change throughout the day, as a result of shelter, humidity, shade and temperature conditions; a curated meteorological landscape.

 The most comfortable place to have coffee varies according to the weather conditions of the city:

1
/3
On a hot afternoon it is in the shade around the cool pipes bathed in cool humidity and exposed to wind.
On a cool, humid evening it is amongst the thermal mass of the columns adjacent to the hot pipes.
On a warm, dry day it is amongst the puddles.

Final thesis presentation

Final Presentation

Background research and fieldwork

How do architects embrace the broader definition, and potential, of the weather. Beyond finite design conditions to the ephemeral and infinite possibilities.

Visualising the complexity and ephemeral nature of the weather to identify idiosyncrasies, relationships and atmospheric potential. 

1
/5
Exploring daily weather conditions
A graphical system to describe the complexity of the weather
Daily weather conditions in Antofagasta
Annual weather conditions in Antofagasta
Hourly weather conditions during summer in Antofagasta

As architects how do we consider the microclimates which surround built interventions, the public impact of private conditioned space, often reserved for the wealthy.

During the fieldwork studies I designed and built a 1:1 prototype to explore the environment of the city as an atmosphere, investigating the discontinuities in the climate of Antofagasta the project explores the humidity and how we define comfort, challenging assumptions that drive existing comfort metrics. 

1
/6
Testing the prototype with local residents in Antofagasta
Visualising the curated microclimates
Exploring shading and water droplet capture
The fine mist has a cooling effect without a wet sensation due to the droplet size and climate
Detailed design of the misting elements
Testing and tuning the prototype

Thesis program proposal

Thesis proposal

Det Kongelige Akademi understøtter FN’s verdensmål

Siden 2017 har Det Kongelige Akademi arbejdet med FN’s verdensmål. Det afspejler sig i forskning, undervisning og afgangsprojekter. Dette projekt har forholdt sig til følgende FN-mål
VOLA

VOLA

I juryens begrundelse stod der bl.a.:
"The project considers a community bathhouse which seeks to provide a series of luxuries to the diverse communities within the city, bringing together wealthy mineworkers and those living in the informal settlements through the shared luxury of bathing. Providing everything from luxury bathing to warm showers and laundry facilities. The spaces between provide a rich meteorological landscape which brings the community together around the luxury of the weather which cannot be experienced in the city."