Author: Wesley Ratliff

Similar to the Orquideorama Gardens, the new Telecommunication Agency Headquarters, designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, uses a singular form to tie its human occupants to the surrounding environment while functionally making use of environmental forces.  Biomimicry was applied in the Gardens to emulate the surrounding forest.  At the ARPT Headquarters, the dunes were mimicked instead.  The advantage of this form, aside from allowing it to create less visual impact on the surrounding landscape, is that it creates “sustainable, bio-climatic” cooling.  The convex, aerodynamic North face pushes away hot winds during the day, and the concave South face funnels and collects the cooler night breezes from the other direction.  By linking these natural principles with the human principles of program, historical reference (the pointed Islamic arch was a factor in the shape), modern technology, and symbolism (being a visible representation of importance), the ARPT Headquarters uses biomimicry as a strategy for all design factors.

–Wesley Ratliff

 

RESEARCH RESOURCES

 

Bojovic, Marija. July 7, 2013. “Sustainable Synergy of Form, Energy, and Tradition: ARPT Headquarters.” eVolo.  Accessed September 4^th, 2013. http://www.evolo.us/architecture/sustainable-synergy-of-form-energy-and-tradition-arpt-headquarters/

 

Evolo published a short article on the ARPT Headquarters explaining the basics behind the competition and the winning design.  It gives a general sense of the goals of the architects and the clients, and shows renderings to further demonstrate the organic form.

 

June 29, 2013. “ARPT Headquarters by Mario Cucinella Architects.” Dezeen Magazine. Accessed September 5^th2013. http://www.dezeen.com/2013/06/29/arpt-headquarters-by-mario-cucinella-architects/

 

Dezeen Magazine shows much the same as Evolo in terms of imagery and information.  It is slightly more detailed and gives more insight into the purposes of the form aside from the organic function.  It also contains a useful diagrammatic section.

 

Mario Cucinella Architects. Accessed September 6^th, 2013. http://www.mcarchitects.it/

 

This is the website for MCA Architects, the designers of the ARPT Headquarters.  Aside from showing more detail on the building itself, we can also learn about the firm itself, their goals, and their other projects that may be similar.

 

In Medellin, Columbia, Plan B Architects and JPRCR have successfully incorporated organic architectural aesthetics with a functional design that interacts with both people and its surrounding environment.  The Orquideorama Gardens are made up of 14 interconnected modular structures which serve as public spaces, event halls, butterfly and bird reserves, flower gardens, as well as shade and shelter for tourists and residents.  The tree-like forms portray organicism through their form, materiality, and function.  The form uses the “petal” canopy to provide shade and to collect rain water, diverting this water downward to be used by the pavilions below.  This natural irrigation process allows for plants and animals to be kept within the structure, further tying it to nature and the forest surrounding it.  The choice of materials (a wooden cladding) enhances the imagery behind this.  Altogether, a singular organic form serves multiple purposes, bringing down the barriers between the natural and artificial visually and functionally.

 

 

— Wesley Ratliff

 

RESEARCH RESOURCES

 

“Organic Architecture.” 2013. TrendHunter.com. Accessed September 4. http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orquideorama-gardens-in-columbia.

 

This is a very short introduction the the Orquideorama Gardens.  It gives the basic information regarding the structure, but more importantly, has many photos of the Gardens and other similar structures which would be useful for continued research into the subject.

 

“Orquideorama / Plan B Architects + JPRCR Architects.” 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed September 5. http://www.archdaily.com/832/orquideorama-plan-b-architects-jprcr-architects/.

 

A much more involved and detailed description of the project, Archdaily did a full piece on the Gardens with many photos from different angles and vantage points as well as diagrams showing the layout and construction.

 

“ORQUIDEORAMA: A Beautiful Floating Meshwork of Modular Flower Tree Structures.” 2013. Accessed September 6. http://inhabitat.com/waxing-architectural-on-columbias-orquideorama/.

 

Inhabitat did a simple piece on the Gardens containing the basic information but also a number of photos showing the experience of the place.