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NEO-ZOOMORPHIC ARCHITECTURE: The Decaying Whale Pavilion

Sustainable design has recently become a hot topic in the field of architecture. With advancements in technology, sustainability has become more accessible to designers. However, instead of relying solely on various high-precision sustainable technologies, nature can be the best teacher. Learning from the cyclical patterns of life can help us better understand nature, become a part of nature, and even design projects that are renewable.

This thesis aims to explore the process of decay and regeneration, utilizing the Neo-Zoomorphic concept and drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of a whale fall. It borrows from the external form of whales and their internal life cycle patterns to design a pavilion at the boundary of Pandapas Pond wetland and forest. The whale's skeleton becomes the main wooden structure, and the decaying flesh is represented by a woven bamboo fabric. The skin is simulated by a transparent wood shelter. All the connection points use traditional wood Joinery. Only natural biodegradable materials are used throughout while concrete or metal are avoided. As time passes, this project will gradually decay and eventually will return to nature without requiring any intervention. / Master of Architecture / Sustainable design has recently become a hot topic in the field of architecture. With advancements in technology, sustainability has become more accessible to designers. However, instead of relying solely on various high-precision sustainable technologies, nature can be the best teacher. Learning from the cyclical patterns of life can help us better understand nature, become a part of nature, and even design projects that are renewable.

This thesis aims to explore the process of decay and regeneration, utilizing the Neo-Zoomorphic concept and drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of a whale fall. It borrows from the external form of whales and their internal life cycle patterns to design a pavilion at the boundary of Pandapas Pond wetland and forest. The whale's skeleton becomes the main wooden structure, and the decaying flesh is represented by a woven bamboo fabric. The skin is simulated by a transparent wood shelter. All the connection points use traditional wood Joinery. Only natural biodegradable materials are used throughout while concrete or metal are avoided. As time passes, this project will gradually decay and eventually will return to nature without requiring any intervention.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115946
Date28 July 2023
CreatorsLi, Qiuyi
ContributorsArchitecture, Jones, James R., Becker, Edward Gentry, Mangual, Isaac Alejandro
PublisherVirginia Tech
Source SetsVirginia Tech Theses and Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
FormatETD, application/pdf
RightsIn Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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