North African Transgression | Prototyping Week Day 3

Prototype to explore vertical application, wall-floor/ceiling junction, internal and external corners

First coat of tadelkat dry

Applying second coat of tadelakt

Dry polishing of second coat of tadelakt with polishing stone

North African Transgression | Prototyping Week Day 2

Mixing tadelkat (ultramarine blue pigment) with water

Applying first coat of tadelkat to lime wall finish

North African Transgressions | Prototyping Week Introduction and Day 1

Introduction

Prototyping week is an opportunity for the Emergent Studio to actively learn about materials by producing a series of prototypes - as opposed to merely representative models - at 1:1 scale. I am exploring the tadelakt which a traditional Moroccan polished plaster, unique to the area of Marrakech owing to the unique lime found there. Tadelakt can be used internally or externally, horizontally or vertically and is completely waterproof. Over the next 5 days I will be experimenting with tadelakt in preparation for a presentation on Friday; in process of doing so it is hoped that my architecture will develop tectonically as a direct response to the very particular characteristics of this ancient technique.

Applying coarse primer

Mixing lime wall finish with water

Applying lime wall finish to coarse primer

North African Transgression | Children's Refuge Sketch Scheme

For my Major Thesis Project, I will be designing a Spiritual Retreat for the street children of Marrakech in the Atlas Mountains providing residential accommodation as well as education and healthcare facilities.

My sketch scheme is derived from the concept of the earlier Children's Cachette project, which provided a secret world for children. From the outside the retreat appears as an assortment of agricultural outbuildings; the only hint at the function being the coloured window reveals. The roof forms are derived from the surrounding mountains, effectively shrinking the adult world down to a child's scale, they also aid in natural ventilation through stack effect. The spaces for education, healthcare, eating and bathing are organised around a semi-circular courtyard orientated in relation to the path of the sun; whilst the bedrooms are buried deep in the hillside, maintaining a comfortable temperature in both the hot summers and cold winters. A colonnade runs around the perimeter of the courtyard to provide solar shading to the south-facing facades, whilst those to the north have small openings to minimise heat transfer. The plan is divided by the access stairs into accommodation for pre-pubescent children and staff, and that for pubescent children. The older children are able to dwell independently from the younger children whilst ensuring that adults are nearby if needs be.

I am currently looking at using colour extensively for this project, in particular applied to the walls in the form of a traditional Moroccan plaster called Tadelakt which I will be exploring in Prototyping week commencing Monday, 14 March 2011.

Writing | Sameness

North African Transgression | Sacrificial Scheme (with Joshua Kievenaar and Sam Sclater-Brooks)

A day-long charrette working with Joshua Kievenaar and Sam Sclater-Brooks to develop a sacrificial scheme for a Spiritual Retreat in the Atlas Mountains.

Using Heideggar's quote "...for building isn't merely a means and a way towards dwelling - to dwell is itself already to dwell" as a starting point, we devised a series of piled structures placed at strategic points along the Ourika Valley spanning from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert. A group of pilgrims would come along and dwell in the first dwelling whist building a new one for the next group and so on. As the dwellings grow along the valley the form and materiality will change according to specific site conditions, including readily available raw materials and vernacular styles.

The dwellings themselves span the base of the valley creating both a bridge to get from here to there, as well as a place in itself. Our design for a typical dwelling typology features a central hearth with sleeping alcoves around it, with the intention that washing is done by the stream and food is sourced from the local communities in exchange for help working the land.

Follow Joshua's blog at emergentstudiojk.blogspot.com

Follow Sam's blog at emergentstudiossb.blogspot.com

North African Transgression | Children's Cachette (with Nezha Alaoui, Natasha Butler and Rachel O'Neill)

A short project designed in situ for a place to play for the street children or Marrakech. The tower is placed in the Jamaa el Fna - the heart of the medina - so as to provide much-needed respite for the children who are otherwise confined to selling tissues and biscuits on the street.

I worked with Nezha Alaoui, Natasha Butler and Rachel O’Neill to create a series of spaces at the scale of the child, based upon our own memories of childhood; climbing, digging, gathering and hiding.

The levels are arranged in a hierarchy based upon height, starting with a door handle designed only for a child’s hand. These layers provide protection a give a sense of secrecy to the children; a chance for them to find their lost childhood.

Follow Natasha's blog at emergentstudionb.blogspot.com

Follow Rachel's blog at emergentstudioro.blogspot.com