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Carapace Communion
This Carapace Communion project investigates community interaction in the construction of shared buildings through the use of shared resources. Conceptually, this project investigates the relationships created when a community's need for a sheltered meeting space results in the creation of a stronger and more environmentally aware society. Awareness is created of how buildings impact on communities and how cooperative approaches can aid in the greater understanding of environmental issues.
Each Carapace Communion member owns a construction component. This study gives them each a metal rod with which to compose a structure. Only when multiple elements are assembled (through use of removable fasteners) can a functioning structure be created. These structures can be disassembled giving each member their element back. This system is based on the idea of re-use.
The Carapace Communion buildings must always be community structures; this is because it requires interaction for the assembly of components. This shows the primary intentions of the project as a means of demonstrating two issues, environment and community.
The adaptability is great as the structure can be assembled, disassembled or edited very quickly. There is a need for each element to be attached to a minimum of two other elements to maintain structural stability. The shell (or carapace) style structure is strong and allows large spaces to be created beneath it. It is possible to create many buildings out of the same set of components. This approach created a very adaptable form.
The use of reusable fasteners means that the structure can be disassembled with no impact on the material's ability to be re-assembled.
The idea here is not the prevention of disassembly but the celebration of it. This project demonstrates a community re-using to promote a more cooperative and greener future.
When considering environment I approached the design with the idea of re-use. To re-use a component allows us to use less of the world's precious resources and also to contribute to the heritage of future generations. To allow re-use the components are kept simple and strong. Ownership of the components also gives the sense of responsibility to the community. This is a form of prefabrication as the building is created out of already existing components.
When a community is given a building they will usually, in my belief, simply use it. When a community creates a building they will relate to it. Only through this sense of ownership over the built and natural environment can we hope to educate ourselves and future generations of the importance of care for our planet.
The environmental implications of the Carapace Communion project are more social than fabric. This is about creating awareness of important issues through using the techniques described.
The long term benefits of re-usable materials make economical sense if the technology is right. The ease of re-use is important, as can be seen by both good and poor examples from the past when structures are demolished and either re-cycled or disposed of. The important difference here is the expression that a community building is used by the people who both own and build it. This result is lower costs of construction as well as lower long-term material costs.
The concept of creating relationships and understanding through the creation of the structure is the significant benefit to this design. The design is driven by the desire to educate the users about their environment, their community and their relationships with both.
Through Building -
While contributing to the construction of the Carapace Communion structure the individual will gain an understanding of how the cooperation can allow more meaningful architecture which can be created through cooperation. This shows how prefabricated components can be used to make a cohesive design.
Through Existing -
Existing in the finished structure allows the inhabitants to see the relationship has been created between people and structure. This relationship, along with the environmental benefits of a re-usable structure promotes to other communities the concept of adaptability and disassembly.
From an open structure to a tight structure, a large single structure or a series of smaller pavilions, the use of a flexible frame can be adapted to meet the needs of the community which owns it. When the needs of that community change then so does the building. Through disassembly and adaptability the Carapace Communion expressed the importance of environmental considerations and the relationships gained and understanding achieved through exploring them.
