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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. PUBLIC PLAZA in Santiago, Chile by Architects of InventionJanuary 31st, 2015 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Architects of Invention CONTEST FOR ARCHITECTURE CONCEPT DESIGN OF A PUBLIC PLAZA OF TAJAMAR TOWERS AS A TRIBUTE TO FERNANDO CASTILLO VELASCO BY MUNICIPALITY OF PROVIDENCIA. The young London-Moscow-Tbilisi based practice Architects of Invention alongside with Chilean architects Archiplan has entered competition for a design of a public plaza in front of iconic Tajamar Towersas a tribute to the architect of towers – Fernando Castillo Velasco.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention
 Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention The Site The northern end of the Balmaceda park is obstructed by a traffic route,Huelen street, connecting Avenida Providencia and Avenida Andre Bello. Due to its short length and the heavy traffic of Huelenstreet, there is little possibility of submerging the road underground or having it pass overhead as a bridge. These length and weight considerations are the main obstacle to directly connecting the park and the territory in front of Tajamar Towers.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention The other important restriction here is the ground-level car park in close proximity to the Mapocho River,a river which includes underground waters running close to the site. The presence of these waters will make excavation difficult and expensive. Moreover one level of underground car park will only have capacity for the current number of cars, which arguably makes the underground idea redundant. So, the car park will remain at the same level but will be recombined into the new landscape design.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Origami Origami is an ancient art of Japan. It is a creative method of folding paper to develop beautiful structures. Japanese origami structures feature chiseled cones achieved by making multiple folds and layers out of a single paper. The resultants are beautiful shapes and forms resembling animals shapes like boar head, birds, etc., objects like ink bottles, air crafts and other objects.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Concept – Origami Highline The planting of 200 Sakura trees inspired the idea of completing the park with an origami-style structure. The interplay between the delicate and frizzy trees and the subtle but rigid Origami high line makes an appealing and graceful contrast. The abundance of cherry blossoms in the late spring is always highly appealing to park-users and the highline will provide a pleasing experience of the blossoms from a higher perspective. As a raised leisure area and connection bridge, Origami highline opens Balmaceda park in vertical and diagonal directions, resonating with Tajamar Towers, and bringing the territory into one whole. By folding a conical red plane three times, the flat form becomes a functional object. There are three main features of the object: – As a bridge connection of Tajamar Towersto the park; – As a slope on which public entertainment will take place, providing a seating area for open-air concerts, skateboarding and a viewing area from which to view the park, the Mapocho River and fountains; – As a ‘highline’ (like in New York City), a raised space with benches and other street furniture that acts like a first-floor-level park.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Landscape The landscape in front of the towers will be designed by mixing hardscape and softscape, blending Sakura trees through organised pedestrian paths. Sakura trees will also be integrated into the car park area. Huelinstreet will be paved with modern, flat cobblestones. There will be no level difference between the pavement and footpath so the park and the landscape will have a seamless flow for pedestrians. There will be illuminated safety bollards alongside the road.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Lighting There will be solar-powered LED lighting integrated into the landscape. Every Sakura tree will be lit from below. The bridge itself will be lit from below following the supporting legs and a red LED strip light will follow the recessed edges. At night the Sakura trees will be illuminated, and a red-light zig-zag will hover above ground as it follows the Origami highline.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Structural Philosophy The proposed structural form is a response to a natural curves formed in the crust of the earth. Timber is used as a natural material but in a form that is easy and fast to assemble on site and simple to dismantle. The key component is the use of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panel technology that is produced in significant quantities in Chile. The panels are produced and transported in sizes up to 3m x 18m and is a revolutionary use of timber as it is as strong as concrete but a fifth of the weight.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention The decking structure is formed from CLT panels cut to shape and laid on glu)laminated roof truss beams that are spaced at 6m centres. The main display wall is a solid CLT panel system that provides the key stability for the structure. CLT is registered for seismic design in Latin America.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Embodied Carbon – A typical CLT structure will require significantly less energy to manufacture than a steel or concrete building.For every 1000m2 of building built in CLT instead of steel or concrete, up to 350t of CO2 is saved/stored (this could represent up to 10 years of operational CO2 emissions).  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention Cost Comparison- A typical CLT structure is significantly cheaper than steel or concrete alternatives with the main savings being made in the construction phase itself. The construction programme is normally at least twice as fast as steel or concrete alternatives.  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention  Image Courtesy © Architects of Invention
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