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Seascape Reef: Prototype #1

17Feb13

/Seascape Prototype #1 by Verena Vogler

Seascape architecture is an unexplored field of landscape architecture that holds promising potential for the future.

What is missing are strong implementations of seascape architecture in restoration. Here is where this project comes in, that I have developed over the last 1,5 years.

My “Seascape Reef: Prototype #1” is a parametric metal structure that mimics a natural reef. I have designed it as an additive system. It can endlessly grow in 3 dimensions, by adding pieces of the “Under Water 3D puzzle” and was launched during the 8th Biorock Training Workshop in Indonesia. In this way, linear, circular, high and low structures can be built. The small surface area of each piece made it easier for currents to pass through and the spiked edges to attach big corals- by just pushing them in. The structure was brought down in a basket and has been fully assembled under water in a short amount of time. Because of its nature- oriented geometry corals could be placed in different levels and fish were already able to hide in the gaps. In that case all pieces were designed with the same size which made it easier and faster to assemble and no complicated introduction was necessary. The push-fit connections become rigid through the limestone layer triggered through thegalvanisation process.

I have designed and generated the 3D Model of the structure digitally and then extracted the 2D CAD drawings for fabrication. All 100 pieces have been cut in a short amount of time out of sheet metal using a laser cutting machine at Laserpenta in Barcelona.

This ongoing research project will show whether this and other parametric structures are suitable for the local conditions at Gili Island and will guide the design of future artifical reefs.

Many thanks to Delfine and Tom to make the placement possible, to Karl for the help with the anode connection and to Rani and David for great underwater photographs and of course to Amanda for the fantastic documentation of the electrolytic impact on the model.

Global Coral Reef Alliance, BIOROCK ©, Eco Gili Trust, Karang Lestari Project @Permuteran Bali, David Enon

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Filed under: / Seascape Architecture, __2012 Biorock, Lombok, Indonesia, __2012 Launch Prototype #1 | 1 Comment
Tags: Adaptable Design, Biorock, Digital Fabrication, Ecological Design, Ecological Manufacturing, Laser Cutting, Material, Mineral Accretion, Rhino 3D, Self- Repairing, Self- Sufficient Design, VB Scripting

8th Biorock Workshop 2012, Indonesia

14Feb13

Coral reefs are declining across the planet due to climate change, pollution and locally due to anthropogenic damage like dynamite fishing.

The Global Coral Reef Alliance, Gili Eco Trust together with local diving centers have organized and sponsored the 8th Biorock Training Workshop that took place at the Gili Trawangan Island in Indonesia during November 12th – 18th, with the goal of helping to restore some of the damaged coral reefs.
What is Biorock? Biorock© is known as a Mineral Accretion Technology that was developed by Architect, Marine Scientist, Prof. Wolf H. Hilbertz and Biogeochemist and Marine Biologist Thomas J. Goreau. Commencing in 1974 they developed this technology through extensive experimental applications and demonstration projects, covering artificial reefs, coastal defense structures, shoreline stabilization – erosion control, mariculture, and marine construction.

During the Workshop we gained theoretical knowledge through lectures held by Thomas J. Goreau and practical hands- on skills on site: We were trained to build and weld metal structures out of rebar, to prepare and connect the anode mesh and became aware of the facts on site.
All structures have been shipped to a specific site and were put into place by divers. When the cables were connected, the structures were ready to function as cathode releasing H2 and growing a layer of calcium carbonate.
During various dive sessions, we volunteered as coral reef gardeners where we collected broken coral pieces and attached them later to the artificial reef structures under water. There they are going to function as habitat for marine life and attraction for divers.

I would like to thank the group of participants, Foud, Koman, Delfine and Thomas for this unique experience and the insight to a new medium to construct.

Global Coral Reef Alliance, BIOROCK ©, Eco Gili Trust, Karang Lestari Project @Permuteran Bali

Filed under: / Seascape Architecture, // W O R K S H O P S, __2012 Biorock, Lombok, Indonesia | Leave a Comment

Biorock reefs at Gili Trawangan

14Feb13

KSPN2′s Chris Nelson takes a look at the Biorock Reefs @Gili during our workshop.

Filed under: / Seascape Architecture | Leave a Comment

Marco Polo Terrassen- Restaurant

26Jan13

/ project in collaboration with Miralles Tagliabue Arquitectos EMBT Barcelona

Client Hafencity Hamburg GmbH

Architect: Benedetta Tagliabue
Project Director: Karl Unglaub
Collaborators: Stefan Geenen, Verena Vogler, Max Gunst, Gabriele Rotelli
Inauguration: February 2012

Location in Hamburg

Filed under: __2012 Restaurant Hafen City | Leave a Comment
Tags: EMBT, Hafen City Hamburg, timber construction

Fundació Enric Miralles

16Oct12

The beautiful space of the Miralles Fundation designed by EMBT Arquitectos has been inaugurated this year in the old town of Barcelona. The current exhibition shows Miralles at Harvard in 1993.

Filed under: /// EMBT Arquitectos Barcelona | Leave a Comment

Parametric Design and Fabrication Workshop @ METU Ankara

17Sep12

6th-9th December 2011

In collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture of the Middle East Technical University- METU in Ankara, Turkey, we organized a Parametric Design Workshop for Master Students and Nurus, an international design company located in Ankara.

Organisation:
Arzu Gonenc Sorguc, Ipek Gursel Dino, Verena Vogler

Tutors:
Maite Bravo (IAAC), Tobias Schwinn (ICD), Verena Vogler, Ioulietta Zindrou

Assistants:
Bilge Goktogan, Muge Krusa

Sponsors:

ESER Insaat
METU Department of Architecture
NURUS from METU Ankara

This 4 day intense workshop is dedicated to the development of techniques and concepts of parametric processes as instruments for architectural design and fabrication using the latest version of the parametric software Rhino Grasshopper. Students are going to develop parametric structures in a digital way and will then fabricate them in form of a physical model. The workshop includes a general introduction to Parametric Design and Fabrication, four professional Grasshopper tutorials, lectures about Architecture Theory and Non- Linear Design Strategies, short presentations about the recent work of the organizing staff, and finally, fabrication using the professional facilities at the NURUS Factory. A central part of the learning experience is to take a design all steps of the process – from idea to fabrication. The international team of tutors provided assistance and accompanied all individual projects from the initial idea and the digital modelling and to the final fabrication. The workshop was an intense and exciting experience for all participants.

Selection of student work METU