The Affix
TEAM: Nadia Kasno, Lidwina Gunawan, Jungwoo Ji – Iowa State University
Ocean is constructed as an asocial space, unlike the land in which economic, political, and social activities occur. This perspective of seeing ocean as a great void between two lands became the inspiration to pursue the terrorization of the sea and blur the boundaries between the two lands; two cities, two states, two countries, and two continents.
With globalization, traveling has become trivial. The proposal of scaffolding modules that are arranged linearly in between two lands will bring in a sense of a subtle transitions into travel experience. It is meant to slow down the pace of traveling, which often time seen as a dreadful experience. The Af x offers a friction free space above the ocean and activate neutral zone for the travelers.
The fact of being an “escape” zone between two boundaries require this piece to be self- sustain. It needs to be independent from its adjacent lands in which it is nested. The energy is generated from the wind turbines which are placed along the top of the structure. It is taking the advantage of its geography location; above the ocean to capture the sea breeze and turn it into power source.
While the traveling experience can take time from hours to days, the Af x makes sure
to accommodate the traveler’s needs and entertainments. The Af x contains sleeping chambers for travelers, transportation platform, and active spaces. Acting as a linear network that will bring travelers from one node to another. Activities are set up to accommodate these constant linear movements. The rst oor is occupied with many different active spaces including theatres, galleries, playgrounds, observation decks, etc.
It also acts as the main circulation axis that able to accommodate bikes and Segway. The sleeping chambers will take up the whole second and third oor, enforcing exibility to take a rest for the travelers whenever they need to during the journey.
Sleep is an essential and neutral activity for human beings to do and this proposal helps to accommodate this neutral element while having another layer of functions. Located above a neutral zone, all people regardless of their backgrounds will able to collaborate without having to mind any rules and restrictions from the society. While the ocean was once considered as a void between two lands, this project will transform the view and seeing the ocean as a destination.