Derationalizing the Fujian Tulou
Section Cut Architectural Model
February 2020
The Western gaze has rationalized and exoticized the Fujian tulou, constructing mythologies of social structure from a decontextualized reading of their physical language. A myth of defensive, insular, militaristic egalitarian societies arises from a preoccupation with the thick retaining wall and centralized circular geometry, evident in the architectural drawings from their UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination. In reality, these buildings defy the rigid categorization of international organizations: their fractally iterative forms transcend time; their inherent repetition provides infinite reconfigurations of socio-cultural spatial practice; their vast variety resists reduction.
Our model deconstructs this structural mythology, developing a new representation of this iterative and adaptive architecture. It undermines the defensive myth and materializes the porous relationship between the building and the “outside" world. Through the transparency of its acrylic frame and a structure that allows the building to release from its topography, our model invites the user to consider the intricacies of its interior. This, along with the wandering section cut, highlights the non-circular geometries of the tulou which are often overshadowed by popularized representations. By rethinking the purpose of the traditional section cut the model develops narratives of social hierarchy that exist despite the strict symmetry of the tulou. Finally, the opportunity to fold and refold the structure speaks to ways in which social-cultural connections can be formed independent of spatial dimensions and barriers.
This project was completed in collaboration with Helen Dugmore for Arch 200b: Scales of Design.
A Device for Seeing
Architectural Concept Piece
January 2020
In the past decade, as demand for environmentally responsible design has grown, architects have begun to churn out lush renderings full of trees and other natural elements. However, these eco-fantasies of tech campuses, apartment high rises, and civic buildings framed by new glowing landscapes fail to consider the radical changes to the built environment needed to counter the climate crisis. Constructed from transparencies of generic plant life, our device uses similar cliche techniques to import a “natural” rendering into the user’s everyday life. In turn, the user recognizes that simply pasting trees into the built environment is not enough to counter architecture’s contribution to the Anthropocene.
This project was completed in collaboration with Will Suzuki and Mary Buckly for Arch 200b: Scales of Design.