case as thesis

case: an instance of the occurrence, existence, etc., of something


The production of hydrogen is as simple as I have shown here. When applying a source of energy to water, the splitting of the two molecules that compose water creates a clean and natural source of energy. This process employs an opportunity to understand the creation of energy as potency at a tangible and physical scale, but also allows for an understanding of metaphysical implications of this energy. 

program as thesis_final

program

ideological:

- a body of ideas that reflects the beliefs and interests of anation, political system, etc and underlies political action

rhetorical:

- concerned with effect or style rather than content or meaning

gatherer:

- to bring together into one group, collection, or place

- to bring together or assemble from various places, sources,or people; collect gradually

- to pick or harvest (any crop or natural yield) from its place ofgrowth or formation

- to take by selection from among other things; sort out; cull

collector:

- a person or thing that collects.

- an object or device that collects

typological:

- a systematic classification or study of types

Based on the definitions above, the thesis accompanies the gatherer/collector as the main role of the program. The collection of the raw materials, water and energy, provide the only necessary ingredients to produce hydrogen as a clean and completely natural fuel source. The overall goal of the program is to filter polluted water naturally from a river, lake, or other body of water then stored on site for further processing. Then through the harnessing of electricity through photovoltaics, the water is split into separate ions, hydrogen and oxygen, and stored onsite. Packaging then takes on the final role of the program and exports the separated ions for distribution to energy dependent users. Deploying this model for energy production is possible in any location that has an abundance of water and solar energy, although not completely limited to energy extracted by photovoltaics. 

morphosis giant group project; showing capabilities of landscape as form to host the program

client

user:

- a person or thing that uses.

audience:

- the group of spectators at a public event; listeners orviewers collectively, as in attendance at a theater or concert

- a regular public that manifests interest, support, enthusiasm,or the like

witness:

- an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness

accomplice:

- a person who knowingly helps another, often as a subordinate

The role of the client throughout the thesis could take on many different definitions. On the site, the client engages the production of hydrogen as a witness. The client can roam the site and view the different stages of hydrogen production and witness the separation of hydrogen and oxygen. The client could take on a role of accomplice if they are active in the role of "donating" water to the site. Ultimately, the client onsite would take on the role of a witness and offsite they would then turn towards a client of consumer/user as they utilize the fuel to produce electricity.

outline

The program is quite specific and is broken down into three different processes. The first process tends to the collection of water. There are two opportunities to collect water for use in the production of hydrogen. The first opportunity is locally collected through a body of water on or near the site that is distributed through a natural water treatment system consisting of the following five necessary components as specified by OceanArks International:

1. A floating structure to support media, air distribution systems and dense arrays of higher plants, including shrubs and trees
2. The high surface area media for attached-growth (biofilm) treatment and support of diverse biological communities
3. The air distribution system for aeration and circulation
4. The energy system to provide electrical power to blowers and compressors that distribute the air
5. The biology and ecology of the Restorer, including native wetland plants, fish, bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa and a wide array of life forms from many different phylogenetic kingdoms.

This system can also filter rain water as well as onsite runoff to clean and distribute for the next process in creating clean hydrogen energy. The second opportunity utilizes the same principles for natural water treatment above, but as a collection agency for polluted waters from various corporations or communities. The ability to clean large amounts of polluted water depends on the size of the treatment system, but handling the collection of offsite polluted waters presents a unique opportunity to expand the role of the program.

oceanarks floating restorer technology implemented in fuzhou china

The next stage in the production of hydrogen requires an energy source that will split the water compound into Hydrogen and Oxygen ions that will be stored for the last stage of the program. Harnessing solar energy through photovoltaics for electricity provides the greatest capacity to capture natural energy. Electricity can also be generated through many other natural mediums, however solar technology provides the most flexibility and efficiency. There would not need to be any onsite storage of electricity because the process being deployed by the program produces only enough hydrogen that the capture amount of electricity will allow. This drastically reduces the toxicity employed to the rest of the program. After the water is split into the two separate gases, onsite storage demands will vary based on the quantity of hydrogen produced.

simple experiment showing separation of hydrogen and oxygen molecules 

The final stage of the program administers the distribution of the hydrogen to various domestic and occupational capacities. The process allows both the hydrogen and oxygen gases to be distributed separately for the deployment of energy. Typically the two gases would be distributed together, however the hydrogen gas could just be desired for fuel cell technologies that typically are utilized in transportation mediums. This last stage could take on a program of packaging and distribution, or just a program of distribution. Either would not require much space other than empty storage space. 

The thesis is still searching for a host program. The ability to transfer this program and adapt it with other programs is a popular strategy, however the thesis has not approached a decisive destination to handle this aspect of a host program. Sports stadias is still in consideration, however further exploration is needed to support the adaption of this process of hydrogen production and the conflicts presented through the combination of these programs. 

program as thesis_draft

role

The intent of the program is to collect ingredients for the production of clean hydrogen energy. Solar energy and water compose the main ingredients for this means of production. Water can either be directly delivered to the site, collected on site, or sited near a body of water and act as a filter to clean polluted waters. The program could take on the role of new urban infrastructure, a public space, or be adapted to exiting program (ie. sports stadia). This production will serve to fuel various means of transportation while minimally impacting the environment through the process of production or the use of burning the fuel. 

client

The client could take on any of the given list of clients but ultimately I believe that the client will serve as a user or audience in the process and production of the program. Currently, it seems that the client would have a passive approach to the program itself but I seek to challenge that and ponder how could the client take on a more active approach in the production of hydrogen in this thesis? A public space wouldn’t necessarily allow an active approach other then that of simply viewing the process of making. The production of hydrogen is not a highly visual performance so the viewer wouldn’t see the physical production of energy but would rather just see where the production takes place. Is their potential to allow or force the client to be active in the production of hydrogen?

outline

The program can create its own habitation or inhabit an existing structure. The program itself is a function that needs space to complete its necessary function. The space needed for occupation is unknown and will be determined through further understanding and research of the required processes of the production of hydrogen. What is known is the necessary ingredients as stated above. Dependent on the footprint of distribution in the urban environment that the hydrogen plant is situated will determine that amount of overall square footage for the necessary components of harnessing solar energy and the capacity to store and possibly filter water for production. 

paradigm map version_final

final version of the group assignment paradigm mapping entitled Variant Ecologies

The mapping diagram establishes quadrants that situate subtopics of variant ecologies based on urban/rural (vertical) and natural/artificial (horizontal) axis. The colors (orange, blue, and green) represent three individual thesis ideas and maps connections between each other that identify where they locate in the grid. The gray represents topics that relate to all three thesis and act as a moment of connectivity. 

paradigm map version_draft

The map combines three similar thesis ideas from three different students through a mapping exercise to help provoke and situate the individual thesis'. The mapping, entitled Surface Processes, identifies research for various topics including: engineered and constructed grounds, landscape urbanism / ecological urbanism, agriculture / aquaculture, terrestrial and aquatic systems, agency of landscape / water. My thesis, categorized in this mapping as Landscrapers, Active Ecology, and Energy as Potency, examines each topic separately through case studies and various research. Connections and relationships were determined within my thesis, then also linked to the other two thesis's to examine further connections in an attempt to re-situate my own thesis in the mapping exercise. 

thesis abstract version_final

landscrapers.energy.spectacle

Utilizing building landscapes to harness, produce, or recycle energy. A provocation to understand the exploration of the earth’s surface through the creation of program.

Lebbeus Woods defines building landscapes as simply the possibilities of fusing buildings and landscape. Thom Mayne has coined this definition hybrid landscapes. Antoine Predock talks about building landscapes as a process through a term called landscrapers which explores the process of a building unfolding the land instead of being placed on top of it. Predock also considers this an “act of making a new nature rather then replacing nature with human order.” I seek to take all of these aforementioned design tools to a level of greater detail that provokes the superficial intent of employing the surface of the land to create program. Additionally, I intend to investigate the ecological responsibilities of the earth to promote unity, harness energy for use or distribution, and exploring how this process will define the space that will contain architectural program.

How can an exploration of the earth’s surface create program for necessary functions? How can  this design innovation create the production of “clean energy”? How can building landscapes create both an utilitarian understanding of the program of architecture and the ability to create/recycle energy? What program could play out this idea and require enough space to contain the production of energy on a urban scale? 

Lately, an interest in sports and the spectacle of sports has aspired to work its way into the thesis. Stadia might contain possibility to analyze and play-out the idea of the thesis above. Typically in urban settings and normally a seasonally occupied structure, the availability to incorporate the thesis into this program may present an idiosyncratic approach to the investigation of the thesis. This will present new questions to probe and analyze. How would the spectacle of sports change? How could the spectacle change? What other ideas of the spectacle, energy, and landscape present itself through this exploration?

My overall interests lies in an understanding of how the discipline can utilize the surface of the earth itself to define program for our current culture as well as the adaption of future cultures. However, this idea could take on another role in understanding how the formation of building landscapes seek to form the program of occupied space instead of the typical role of defining the occupied space and then forming the landscape around it. The idea of sport may contradict this idea, however the thesis may choose to explore just the social interaction with people, landscape, and program as well. 

A greater understanding of the composition of the layers of the earth’s surface will yield multiple artifacts. Through various mediums and techniques, the artifacts will assist in understanding the thesis at scale unreachable through words. Investigating the materials and the process of excavation of various materials that compose layers of the earth in building landscapes as well as multiple explorations of energy and composition of energy is desired. Energy may be explored through chemical analysis which will be graphically or physically interpreted.

thesis abstract version_draft

harnessing energy through building landscapes

Utilizing building landscapes to harness energy and/or to explore social interaction and culture between landscape and spectatorship in sport. 

Lebbeus Woods defines building landscapes as simply the possibilities of fusing buildings and landscape. Thom Mayne has coined the term hybrid landscapes to define this. In any way you define this idea, the underlying intent of the idea is quite superficial. How can building landscapes create both an utilitarian understanding of the program of architecture and the ability to create/recycle energy? I seek to explore the greater extent of utilizing landscape to promote ecological unity as well as an opportunity to harness energy for use or distribution. I also have the idea to play out the culture of spectatorship in sport and how that could be influenced by the landscape and the possibilities of conflicting or harmonious relationships between the two.

The initial idea is broad, however it combines the three passions I have in regards to architecture. I do not know if the three will create a solid thesis nor do I care to force the three together unless they are naturally willing to formulate a solid foundation for thesis. My overall interests lies in an understanding of how the discipline can utilize the surface of the earth itself to define program for our current culture as well as the adaption of future cultures. However, this idea could take on another role in understanding how the formation of building landscapes seek to form the program of occupied space instead of the typical role of defining the occupied space and then forming the landscape around it. The idea of sport may contradict this idea, however the thesis may choose to explore just the social interaction with people, landscape, and program as well. 

The process of developing the thesis will yield multiple artifacts. Making objects has always played a vital role in the exploration and solution of any creative challenge that is presented. Through various mediums and techniques, the artifacts will assist in understanding the thesis at scale unreachable through words. Investigating the materials and the process of excavation of various materials that compose layers of the earth in building landscapes as well as multiple explorations of energy and composition of energy.