S-01
SCENOGRAPHY
01_VENICE BIENALE
W/ LACATON & VASSAL ARCHITECTES
At the invitation of Yvonne Farell and Shelley McNamara, we have endeavored to understand and define “free space” in the light of our projects. We have endeavored to locate where free space is found and to pinpoint how to make it emerge in design, and what volume it occupies.
What is “free space”?
The memory of the desert, a search for the horizon, no walls or barriers, the feeling of freedom, space that slips away, that let’s escape the air, the light, the sight, and the imagination ...
The impression that space is a prisoner, behind bars, closed facades,
insulating walls and thicknesses, behind economic constraints, programs, architecture, town planning today...
Free space is:
space that is not constrained,
space under pilotis,
space of balconies and winter gardens,
space on accessible roofs,
deep inner space, which never exists in standard spaces as it is considered too deep or useless, extra space, which makes the “programmatic” space smoother, more fluid, less expensive, space free of program, eluding a specific de- fined function,
space that avoids rules and regulations,
space that isn’t asked for, but that we find in-dispensable,
space that is created additionally but that doesn’t cost more, space that costs nothing...
Our approach:
making do with
In all circumstances, starting off from what exists Never demolishing or removing, but making the most of existing resources, making do with the poetry, fragility, qualities and defects, shortcomings, the natural ground,
Considering existing situations as capacities and project materials.
Creating greater surface area by using less territory.
creating the double space: filled space / free space
A simultaneous process of condensation-dilatation, densification-extension
To shake free from budgetary constraints, mini- mum-standard programmes, efficiency coeffi- cients, urban regulations.
making floors like ground,
on pilotis to release the natural ground,
on open frameworks of posts and floorboards; The largest possible, to provide the program with space around
Linking these floors with staircases, elevators, slopes, gentle flows.
Until the last ground – the roof, always accessible.
Domino house, the polykatoika in Athens, Thinking about the subtle relationships put to-
gether Cédric Price, The Invisible Sandwich
releasing space on every ground,
from the inside towards the limits of the floors and simply filtering out through transparent sliding bay windows, curtains, blinds, depending on the climate or season, through winter gardens, balconies,
No walls, so no windows. Moving from the outside to the inside and finding again the outside from inside out.
the Villa Katsura, the Case Study Houses,
separating indoor space with light, removable partitions
Independent of structural elements
enlarging, dilating, extending, doubling
Constructing double with the project’s given budget, without spending more,
to generate space to the program and for usage.
LINK TO ARTICLE
PHOTO CREDITS: KARINA SACHER
TEXT CREDITS: ANNE LACATON