In a future 50 years from now, how might architecture be made? Perceived? Experienced? How do humans coexist with each other and their environments, both synthetic and natural? This speculative project developed an architectural proposal for the addition of dwellings and communal spaces located at Arcosanti, AZ.

Description:

It’s mid-July of 2072 in Arizona, and the temperature has soared to a scorching 128 degrees. With a temperature increase of 0.8° per decade, we anticipate an average state temperature of 117° during the summer months of June and July. The depletion of natural resources and the absence of safe gathering spaces for residents have led to a scarcity of habitable environments. In these challenging circumstances, there is a pressing need for an affordable, low-labor, and adaptable habitat. The Discrete Dwellings project is an architectural proposal that acknowledges the irregularities of the environmental system and the complexities of the socio-economic conditions facing the inhabitants of Arcosanti in central Arizona. It compartmentalizes the building system using digital computation, robot assembly, and serial fabrication. This concept aligns with the discourse on the discrete method of architectural design, wherein structure components are designed with simple parts and organized using specific syntax. The dwellings are designed with this approach in mind, employing larger parts and simpler connections to reduce expenses and on-site fabrication and assembly time. These connections consist of four parts that stack to create three different unit arrangements: single-person, two-person, and three-or-more-person units. To further enhance the user experience and emerge from serial repetition, the hexagonal units feature varying apertures, angles, and heights to allow sunlight in, maintaining optimal temperatures within spaces. They can also be utilized for planting and water collection, supporting the development of communal spaces and the preservation of natural resources.