Full Transcript
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0I0Poe3qlg
[00:12] if there's any power in design that's the power of synthesis.
[00:17] the power of synthesis the more complex the problem the more the need for simplicity.
[00:22] the need for simplicity so allow me to share three cases where we tried to apply designs power.
[00:27] we tried to apply designs power synthesis.
[00:29] synthesis let's start with the global challenge of urbanization.
[00:33] urbanization it's a fact that people is moving towards cities and even if counter-intuitive it's good news.
[00:40] counter-intuitive it's good news evidence shows that people is better off in cities.
[00:44] in cities but there's a problem that i would call the 3s menace.
[00:49] the 3s menace the scale speed and scarcity of means with which we will have to respond to this phenomenon has no precedence in history.
[00:56] history for you to have an idea out of the 3 billion people living in cities today 1 billion is under the line of poverty.
[01:05] 1 billion is under the line of poverty by 2030 out of the 5 billion people that will be living in cities two billions are going to be under the
[01:13] two billions are going to be under the line of poverty.
[01:15] line of poverty that means
[01:17] that means that we will have to build
[01:21] a one million
[01:23] a one million people
[01:25] people city
[01:26] city per week
[01:30] with ten thousand dollars
[01:32] with ten thousand dollars per family
[01:35] during the next fifteen years a one
[01:38] during the next fifteen years a one million people sitting per week with ten
[01:40] million people sitting per week with ten thousand dollars per family if we don't
[01:42] thousand dollars per family if we don't solve this equation it is not that
[01:44] solve this equation it is not that people will stop coming to cities they
[01:46] people will stop coming to cities they will come anyhow
[01:48] will come anyhow but they will live in slums favelas and
[01:51] but they will live in slums favelas and informal settlements so what to do well
[01:54] informal settlements so what to do well an answer may come from favelas and
[01:56] an answer may come from favelas and slums themselves
[01:59] slums themselves a clue could be in this question we were
[02:03] a clue could be in this question we were asked 10 years ago we were asked to
[02:06] asked 10 years ago we were asked to accommodate 100 families that had been
[02:09] accommodate 100 families that had been occupying illegally half an actor
[02:12] occupying illegally half an actor in the center of the city of ikike in
[02:14] in the center of the city of ikike in the north of chile
[02:16] the north of chile using a 10 000 subsidy with which we had
[02:20] using a 10 000 subsidy with which we had to buy the land provide the
[02:22] to buy the land provide the infrastructure and build the houses that
[02:25] infrastructure and build the houses that in the best of the cases would be of
[02:28] in the best of the cases would be of around 40 square meters
[02:31] around 40 square meters and by the way they said
[02:33] and by the way they said the cost of the land because it's in the
[02:35] the cost of the land because it's in the center of the city is three times more
[02:38] center of the city is three times more than when social housing can normally
[02:40] than when social housing can normally afford
[02:42] afford due to the difficulty of the question we
[02:44] due to the difficulty of the question we decided to include the families in the
[02:46] decided to include the families in the process of understanding the constraints
[02:50] process of understanding the constraints and we started in participatory design
[02:52] and we started in participatory design process and testing what was available
[02:55] process and testing what was available there in the market
[02:57] there in the market detached houses
[02:58] detached houses 30 families could be accommodated
[03:02] 30 families could be accommodated row houses
[03:03] row houses 60 families
[03:05] 60 families the only way to accommodate all of them
[03:08] the only way to accommodate all of them was by building in height
[03:11] was by building in height and they threatened us to go to a hunger
[03:13] and they threatened us to go to a hunger strike if we even dare to offer this as
[03:17] strike if we even dare to offer this as a solution.
[03:18] a solution because they could not make the tiny.
[03:20] because they could not make the tiny apartments expand.
[03:23] apartments expand so the conclusion with the families and.
[03:25] so the conclusion with the families and this is important not our conclusion.
[03:27] this is important not our conclusion with the families was that we had a problem.
[03:29] we had to innovate so what would.
[03:32] problem we had to innovate so what would you do.
[03:35] well.
[03:37] well a middle class family.
[03:40] a middle class family lives reasonably well.
[03:42] lives reasonably well in around 80 square meters but when there's no money.
[03:46] what the market does is to reduce the size of the house to 40 square meters.
[03:55] what we said was what if instead of thinking of 40 square meters as a small house why don't we consider it half of a good one.
[04:13] when you rephrase the problem as half of a good house instead of a small one the
[04:19] a good house instead of a small one the key question is which half do we do?
[04:22] key question is which half do we do and we thought we had to do with public.
[04:24] and we thought we had to do with public money they have that families won't be able to do individually.
[04:31] we identified five design conditions.
[04:33] we identified five design conditions that belonged to the heart half of a house.
[04:35] and we went back to the families to do two things joint forces and split tasks.
[04:40] to do two things joint forces and split tasks.
[04:42] tasks our design was something in between.
[04:46] our design was something in between a building and a house.
[04:48] a building and a house as a building it could pay for expensive well-located lands.
[04:51] as a building it could pay for expensive well-located lands and as a house it could expand.
[04:53] and as a house it could expand if in the process of not being expelled to the periphery while getting a house.
[04:57] if in the process of not being expelled to the periphery while getting a house families kept their network and their jobs.
[04:59] to the periphery while getting a house families kept their network and their jobs.
[05:02] families kept their network and their jobs we knew that the expansion would begin right away.
[05:04] jobs we knew that the expansion would begin right away.
[05:06] begin right away so we went from this initial social housing to a middle-class unit achieved by families themselves within a couple of weeks.
[05:09] so we went from this initial social housing.
[05:12] social housing to a middle-class unit achieved by families themselves within a couple of weeks.
[05:13] to a middle-class unit achieved by families themselves within a couple of weeks.
[05:16] achieved by families themselves within a couple of weeks.
[05:18] families themselves within a couple of weeks.
[05:21] Weeks this was our first project iniki 10.
[05:23] This was our first project iniki 10 years ago.
[05:24] Years ago this is our last project in chile.
[05:28] This is our last project in chile different designs same principle you.
[05:31] Different designs same principle you provide a frame and from then on.
[05:33] Provide a frame and from then on families take over.
[05:37] So.
[05:38] So the purpose of design.
[05:41] The purpose of design trying to understand and trying to give.
[05:43] Trying to understand and trying to give an answer to the 3s menace scale speed.
[05:46] An answer to the 3s menace scale speed and scarcity is to channel people's own.
[05:49] And scarcity is to channel people's own building capacity we won't solve the one.
[05:52] Building capacity we won't solve the one million people per week equation unless.
[05:55] Million people per week equation unless we use people's own power for building.
[05:59] We use people's own power for building so with the right design.
[06:01] So with the right design slumps and favelas may not be the.
[06:04] Slumps and favelas may not be the problem but actually the only possible.
[06:06] Problem but actually the only possible solution.
[06:08] Solution the second case is how design can.
[06:11] The second case is how design can contribute to sustainability.
[06:14] Contribute to sustainability in 2012 we entered the competition for.
[06:16] In 2012 we entered the competition for the angelini innovation center and the.
[06:19] The angelini innovation center and the aim was to build the right environment.
[06:22] aim was to build the right environment for knowledge creation.
[06:25] for knowledge creation it is accepted that for such an aim.
[06:28] it is accepted that for such an aim knowledge creation interaction among people face-to-face contact it's important and we agreed on that but for us the question of the right environment was a very literal question.
[06:37] we wanted to have a working space with the right light with the right temperature with the right air.
[06:46] so we ask ourselves does the typical office building help us in that sense?
[06:53] well how does that building look typically?
[06:57] typically it's a collection of floors one on top of each other with a core in the center with elevators stairs pipes wires everything and then a glass scheme on the outside that due to direct sun radiation creates a huge greenhouse effect inside.
[07:21] in addition to that let's say a guy
[07:23] in addition to that let's say a guy working in the seventh floor goes every working in the seventh floor goes every single day through the third floor but.
[07:28] single day through the third floor but has no idea what the guy on that floor has no idea what the guy on that floor is working on is working on.
[07:32] is working on so we thought well maybe we have to turn so we thought well maybe we have to turn this skin inside out.
[07:38] this skin inside out and what we did was let's have an open and what we did was let's have an open atrium a hallowed core.
[07:45] atrium a hallowed core the same collection of floors but have the same collection of floors but have the walls and the mass.
[07:50] the walls and the mass in the perimeter in the perimeter so that.
[07:52] in the perimeter so that so that when the sun hits.
[07:54] so that when the sun hits when the sun hits it's not impacting directly a glass but.
[08:00] it's not impacting directly a glass but a wall when you have an open atrium inside.
[08:05] when you have an open atrium inside you're able to see what others are doing you're able to see what others are doing from within the building and you have a.
[08:09] from within the building and you have a better way to control light better way to control light and when you place the mass and the.
[08:14] and when you place the mass and the walls in the perimeter walls in the perimeter then you're preventing direct sun.
[08:18] then you're preventing direct sun radiation radiation you may also open those windows and get cross ventilation.
[08:25] cross ventilation we just made those openings of such a scale that they could work as elevated squares.
[08:31] outdoor spaces throughout the entire height of the building.
[08:37] none of this is rocket science you don't require sophisticated programming.
[08:41] it's not about technology this is just archaic primitive common sense.
[08:48] and by using common sense we went from 120 kilowatts per square meter per year which is the typical energy consumption for cooling a glass tower to 40 kilowatts per square meter per year.
[09:05] so with the right design sustainability is nothing but the rigorous use of common sense.
[09:13] last case i would like to share is how design can provide more comprehensive answers against natural disasters.
[09:21] you may know that chile in 2010 was hit by an 8.8 richter scale earthquake on
[09:28] by an 8.8 richter scale earthquake on tsunami
[09:29] tsunami and we were called to work in the
[09:31] and we were called to work in the reconstruction of the constitution in
[09:34] reconstruction of the constitution in the southern part of the country we were
[09:36] the southern part of the country we were given 100 days
[09:38] given 100 days three months to design almost everything
[09:41] three months to design almost everything from public buildings to public space uh
[09:43] from public buildings to public space uh street grid the transportation housing
[09:45] street grid the transportation housing and mainly
[09:47] and mainly how to protect the city against future
[09:49] how to protect the city against future tsunamis
[09:51] tsunamis this was new in chilean urban design
[09:54] this was new in chilean urban design and they were in the air a couple of
[09:56] and they were in the air a couple of alternatives first one
[09:58] alternatives first one 4-bit installation on ground zero 30
[10:01] 4-bit installation on ground zero 30 million dollars spent mainly in land
[10:03] million dollars spent mainly in land expropriation
[10:05] expropriation this is exactly what's being discussed
[10:07] this is exactly what's being discussed in japan nowadays and if you have a
[10:09] in japan nowadays and if you have a disciplined population like the japanese
[10:11] disciplined population like the japanese this may work
[10:13] this may work but we know that in chile this land is
[10:15] but we know that in chile this land is going to be occupied illegally anyhow
[10:18] going to be occupied illegally anyhow so this alternative was unrealistic and
[10:20] so this alternative was unrealistic and undesirable
[10:22] undesirable second alternative built
[10:25] second alternative built big wall heavy infrastructure to resist
[10:28] big wall heavy infrastructure to resist the energy of the waves this alternative
[10:30] The energy of the waves. This alternative was conveniently lobbied by big building companies because it meant 42 million dollars in contracts and was also politically preferred because it required no land exploitation.
[10:44] But Japan proved that trying to resist the force of nature is useless.
[10:50] So this alternative was irresponsible.
[10:53] As in the housing process, we had to include the community in the way of finding a solution for this and we started a participatory design process here.
[11:38] foreign
[11:51] i don't know if you were able to read
[11:53] i don't know if you were able to read the subtitles but you can tell from the
[11:55] the subtitles but you can tell from the body language that participatory design
[11:58] body language that participatory design is not a hippie romantic let's all dream
[12:01] is not a hippie romantic let's all dream together about the future of the city
[12:04] together about the future of the city kind of thing
[12:06] kind of thing it is
[12:08] actually it is actually not even with
[12:11] actually it is actually not even with the families trying to find the right
[12:13] the families trying to find the right answer
[12:15] answer it is mainly trying to identify with
[12:17] it is mainly trying to identify with precision what is the right question
[12:19] precision what is the right question there's nothing worse that answering
[12:21] there's nothing worse that answering well the wrong question so it was pretty
[12:25] well the wrong question so it was pretty obvious after this process that
[12:28] obvious after this process that well
[12:29] well we chicken out here and and go away
[12:32] we chicken out here and and go away because it's too tense or we go even
[12:34] because it's too tense or we go even farther in asking what else is bothering
[12:36] farther in asking what else is bothering you what other problems do you have and
[12:38] you what other problems do you have and you want us to take care now that the.
[12:41] you want us to take care now that the city will have to be think from scratch.
[12:45] city will have to be think from scratch and what they said was look fine to.
[12:48] and what they said was look fine to protect the city against future tsunamis.
[12:50] protect the city against future tsunamis we really appreciate but the next one is.
[12:52] we really appreciate but the next one is going to come in what 20 years.
[12:55] going to come in what 20 years but every single year we have problems.
[12:57] but every single year we have problems of flooding due to rain.
[13:00] of flooding due to rain in addition we're in the middle of the.
[13:02] in addition we're in the middle of the forest region of the country and our.
[13:05] forest region of the country and our public space sucks.
[13:07] public space sucks its poor and its cars.
[13:11] its poor and its cars on the origin of the city our identity.
[13:13] on the origin of the city our identity is not really connected to the buildings.
[13:15] is not really connected to the buildings that fell it is connected to the river.
[13:18] that fell it is connected to the river but the river cannot be accessed.
[13:20] but the river cannot be accessed publicly because its shores are.
[13:22] publicly because its shores are privately owned.
[13:24] privately owned so we thought that we had to produce a.
[13:27] so we thought that we had to produce a third alternative.
[13:29] third alternative and our our approach was against.
[13:32] and our our approach was against geographical threats have geographical.
[13:35] geographical threats have geographical answers.
[13:37] answers what if.
[13:39] what if in between the city and the sea we have a forest.
[13:49] we have a forest a forest that doesn't try to resist the energy of nature but dissipates it by introducing friction.
[14:00] a forest that may be able to laminate the water and prevent the flooding.
[14:06] that may pay the depth the historical depth of public space.
[14:11] and they may provide finally democratic access to the river.
[14:17] so as a conclusion of the participatory design the alternative was validated politically and socially but there was still the problem of the cost.
[14:26] 48 million dollars.
[14:29] so what we did was a survey in the public investment system and found out that we are three ministries with three projects in the exact same place not
[14:39] projects in the exact same place not knowing of the existence of the other.
[14:41] knowing of the existence of the other projects the sum of them 52 million.
[14:45] projects the sum of them 52 million dollars.
[14:46] dollars so the science power of synthesis is.
[14:49] so the science power of synthesis is trying to make a more efficient use of.
[14:51] trying to make a more efficient use of the scarcest resource in cities which is.
[14:54] the scarcest resource in cities which is not money but.
[14:56] not money but coordination by doing so we were able to.
[15:00] coordination by doing so we were able to save four million dollars and that is.
[15:02] save four million dollars and that is why the forest is today under.
[15:04] why the forest is today under construction.
[15:09] so.
[15:10] so be it the force of self-construction.
[15:13] be it the force of self-construction the force of common sense.
[15:16] the force of common sense or the force of nature all these forces.
[15:19] or the force of nature all these forces need to be translated into form.
[15:22] need to be translated into form and what that form is modeling and.
[15:25] and what that form is modeling and shaping is not cement bricks or wood.
[15:29] shaping is not cement bricks or wood it is life itself.
[15:32] it is life itself designs power of synthesis is just an.
[15:35] designs power of synthesis is just an attempt to put at the innermost core.
[15:39] attempt to put at the innermost core of architecture.
[15:40] of architecture the force of life.
[15:42] the force of life thank you so much.