Architectural Forest
Genesis Baque
Architectural Forest is a temporary pavilion proposal at MoMA PS1 that explores the environmental and experiential complexity of a forest network. The preliminary research that inspired this design studies the forest as a living organism unveiling an often called ‘mysterious territory’ as an asset to integrate into the human-made world. The investigation reveals that a massive intervention such as deforestation destroys the complex network that makes up a forest, disturbs natural ecosystems, and significantly reduces the carbon sink process from the atmosphere adding to the overall carbon problem.
Under the light of this knowledge, Architectural Forest proposes an abstraction of the forest network as an alternative solution that addresses the CO2 problem using cutting edge technology along with living organisms designed to store CO2 within its components. MoMA PS1, on the other side, creates the opportunity to educate visitors through an experiential journey on the effects of deforestation, finishing the pavilion at an exhibition in the interior of the museum.
Pavilion Proposal at MoMA P.S.1
language.
“There’s obviously a lively exchange going on down there. Whoever has an abundance of sugar hands some over; whoever is running short gets help.”
global forest loss.
According to Science magazine, between 2000 and 2012 the world lost 2.3 million square kilometers of forest and only added 800,000: a net loss of 1.5 million.
pine tree growth cycle.
A tree can capture up to 1mT CO2 in 46 years.
Germination
Seedlings
A pine tree grow at an avg. speed of 1.5 ft. per year
Sapling
A tree can absorb an avg. of 22 kg of CO2 per year
A tree takes 100 years to mature
carbon storage.
“Timber is a structural material that grows naturally.”
Total carbon storage 19 mT CO2
Total carbon storage 6,956 mT CO2
Apprx. 7,904 trees
solidia technologies.
An innovation in building materials that has changed the chemical components of cement to absorb CO2 in the manufacturing process. Resulting in a 94% carbon reduction when compared to Portland cement.
1. “Solidia® – Sustainable Cement Manufacturing and Concrete Curing Technologies.” https://www.solidiatech.com/solutions.html
2. “Solidia® – Sustainable Cement Manufacturing and Concrete Curing Technologies.” https://www.solidiatech.com/solutions.html
sustainable materials.
How much carbon can Solidia cement capture?
A tree can capture 1 mT CO2 in 46 years, Solidia blocks can do it in 5 days.
1 mT of C02 (46 years)
333 blocks (per day) = 240 Kg of CO2 storage
every block counts.
The subtraction of Solidia blocks affects both the carbon capture capacity and the balance of the cube.
The Cube (360 kg CO2)
Subtraction 1. (224 kg CO2)
Subtraction 2. (115 kg CO2)
Subtraction 3. (100 kg CO2)
Subtraction 4. (68 kg CO2)
Collapse. (42 kg CO2)
the mycorrhizal network.
Underground network of fungi and tree roots that keeps the forest communication alive.
Abstraction of Douglas-Fir forest trunks
Mycorrhizal network
1. Kevin J. Beiler, Suzanne W. Simard, and Daniel M. Durall, “Topology of Tree-Mycorrhizal Fungus Interaction Networks in Xeric and Mesic Douglas-Fir Forests.” Journal of Ecology 103, no. 3 (September 2015): P. 6.
Tree footprint
form finding.
Form inspired from the observations of the mycorrhiza network.
3D diagram
Form diagram
architectural forest.
Abstraction of the mycorrhiza network rising into a solid form.
01 Points configuration
03 self supporting shell configuration
Final proposal: Solidia & moss pavilion, sand garden, interior exhibition.
02 Network abstraction
04 surface configuration
Seating and water collector
Circulation Diagram
Site Plan
Solidia Shell captures appro. 283,447 Kg CO2