Solus 4, an architectural studio headquartered in Kittery, Maine, shared with us their proposal for the International Design Competition for a Marine Research Center in Bali, Indonesia. More images and architect’s description after the break.
The recent international design competition for a marine research center in Bali Indonesia gave firm solus4 an opportunity to study and architecturally interpret the structure of tsunami waves. The competition, sought to address the need for tsunami research and preparation in response to the devastation caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The 2500 square meter Marine Research Center would be located 150 meters off shore from the of Kuta beach. It is an imposing fluid structure that seamlessly adapts to its natural aquatic environment and allows visitors and scientist to have a direct visual connection to the exterior. The program which consists of research labs, bedrooms for scientist, seawater pool, aquatic garden library and an auditorium would be distributed under and over the surface of the sea.
The solus4 design team sought to understand the wave dynamics and the resulting wave force patterns that are generated as tsunami waves are created and radiate out from an epicenter. The wave forces, when translated to linear patterns, inform the shapes that are integrated into the building form and result in patterns that seem to be born of the sea. Building forms are then used to respond to the programmatic requirements of the facility for both on-board scientists and the interested visitor.
In keeping with the nature of the universal ocean, the project is intended to be wholly energy efficient. Large glass-based panels form the skin – both transparent and opaque as well as embedded PV cells. The close in to shore location allows for tidal/current generators to serve the power requirements. Rainwater collection and seawater conversion systems take care of the domestic water requirements. Deeper source seawater is circulated through the skin for radiant cooling and temperature control of the overall anthropomorphic shape.
The unique shapes and programmatic requirements would serve as an icon for scientific study and tourism in this location.
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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- © Tangram 3DS LLC
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“hey look ma i got t-splines!”
Haha..exactly what i was going to post! :P
…Looks like somebody was doing t splines shoe modeling tutorial, but office college drop by and informed about the competition, and the guy said: hey man,i could recycle this stuff into a research center! :)
Well I love it!
Where the identity of Bali?? I don’t see the concept or any design related with the culture of Bali, Bali is very strong with the rules of the form of buildings, I’m sure hard to be accepted. Please do not ruin..
There is a 99-word article on this:
http://www.99fallingapples.com/design-concept/tsunami-wave-shaped-marine-research-center/
Zaha copy much?
Curved faces such as these are not explored enough in architecture, it seems most architects stick to straight lines because that is the only way they know how to use there computer programs. I wish the ability to design like this was taught in school, stuff along this lines of Hadid and Calatrava.
get a grip sdavis. 1 – how much would this cost? how does the glazing work? and the structure? and the skin? ever costed a monocoque? 2 – ever worked in the real world? building this is REALLY difficult, and you’ll only find a handful of engineers in the WHOLE world to structurally and mechanically make this work in that environment (ever been to Bali – its HOT…) 3 – architects stick to straight lines because they’re cost effective, generally inoffensive, buildable, and most clients/statutory authorities/engineers/contractors won’t lose the plot. 4 – this isn’t taught at school, because it comes from within. it’s called creativity. You either have it or have an inkling and develop it; school can help, but not if you’re not inclined that way. If you’re inclined, and weren’t taught in school, teach yourself. That’s what the rest of us have done…
From the link above, “The building will have an exterior shape of tsunami waves”. I was in Bali on Boxing Day 2004, and I can’t imagine the local population – or anyone in Indonesia finding that metaphor particularly sensitive (or tasteful).
I agree about it being completely out of tune with the formal aesthetics of Balinese architecture. I also wonder if the architects have ever seen a white building in a tropical climate that wasn’t covered in mould withing 6 months of construction.
Lovely render though.
Nerds
I understand exactly where people are coming from when they say ” it does not reflect its surroundings” etc, but common guys! how are we ever going to evolve in the architecture world without a few of these designs being made…
http://caulacbo.tk – the best social web for architects .
a bad copy of asymptote’s guggenheim in guadalejara
Check out the pavillion of the “Floriade 2002″ exhibition – made by Asymptote.
My question: try to make a render that reflects reality? In other words: when are we going to understand that architecture is more than “design”?
In the arial view look`s like a Protoss carrier.
think about what some of the local people might think… tsunami = death, suffering, loss, unhappiness….? maybe? good point of departure? not in this circumstance. nice try though.
really amazing.. fantastic..
Nice design… if it was for a 3D sci fi movie. But for real? It’s just wrong for so many reasons…
Shapes generates from Tsunamiwaves?! Maybe I should make a proposal for a German city plan, shaped as a swastika. Or maybe Liebeskind could have made the new World Trade towers shaped like two airplanes crashing into each other. So much unused potential, using disasters as shape generators!
Seriously, What was going on in your mind Solus 4?
im inlove with ittttttttttttttttt
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