Intro

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Here we go!

We finally got permission to start working on a workshop that we were all looking forward to participate in. After being selected to the lucky group of twenty-one students, we immediately started preparing the workshop that was coming in a month and a half. The team divided in four groups – the first group had the responsibility to provide all the building materials, the second one to provide us with tools, the next one to prepare the building sites`s technicalities and the last one to tackle the financial background of the project. The first thing we had to do was to find a suitable location. There were several proposals and ideas, but also several obstacles in manner of obtaining all the needed building permissions in such a small time window. In the end we successfully concluded a cooperation with the Faculty of Social Sciences and chose the central atrium of the building for our archis tectural installation. Great deal of a challenge was also providing the needed financial funds for material, tools, deliveries, etc. Therefore we visited different companies that could help us with material or financial donations for the workshop. Some companies expressed a great interest in participating and helping with covering the costs which followed.Before the actual start we passed the test of safety at work and the introduction to the use of tools, so we learned how to act responsible at the construction site. Full of eagerness we were awaiting for a chance to cut wood and to build with our hands. So, let the work begin!

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I. day, Monday, 04/04/2016

 

Today we met Mr. Sami Rintala and officially started the workshop. We gathered at the site, where we took in the ambiance and divided into work groups of three students. Today`s goal was to develop a main idea of the spatial structure and to organize the workflow through the week, as there were provided only three days for the actual building. For a good kick off, Mr. Rintala prepared some initial thoughts on the (bio)diversity in architecture and how to regard the human-built space analogously to the natural forest. After reflecting on the lecture, we began to design our first ideas on the spatial structure. Students have been developing ideas through sketches, physical models and computer tools in a 3d environment. By discussions with various groups Mr. Rintala encouraged creativity and pointed out the potential structural problem of the first design ideas. Since there is a nicely grown beech in atrium, that started to turn green at the start of the workshop, we have decided to integrate it in the design in an experiental way that allows the highest possible quality. Therefore the idea of constructing a spatial structure that would evoke the same feelings to that of being in a forest became the theme of our designs. The first presentation of groups and their work brought good and different approaches. In order to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, Mr. Rintala reorganized the smaller groups in larger groups of 3 - 6 students, depending on similarity of their design approach. After considering the future goals and design possibilities, we continued to work late into the night, since only Tuesday`s morning was left to complete the conceptual design.

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II. day, Tuesday, 05/04/2016

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Early in the morning the new conceptual designs of individual groups were reviewed. The overall objective of proposals was a spatial experience composed of vertical and horizontal wooden beams that evoke the impression of being in a forest. Proposals were interesting and as such they pointed out to new questions concerning design and construction. Up to this point, the design of the spatial structure was developed unconcernedly and experimentally, regardless of the bom of precut wood. Mr. Rintala warned us about our next step, because the experience was similar to a construction of a shelter in the wild nature. It was about designing in accordance with the limited natural resources, in our case the bom of precut wood and the absence of an architectural plan, which was replaced with researching, learning and testing the material throughout the building process. Therefore, we reorganized again into five final groups and to each of them was given the same amount of the precut wood, an exact surface on the platform in the atrium and the same requirements for constructing a basic, load-bearing, self standing unit with the dimension of 1,25m*2,50m*2,75m. Inside the basic units of the same dimensions each individual group would research different spatial impressions and play off the light as a result of compositional arrangement. The objective was to create a basic load-bearing structure, which will be uniform to all of the first four units, and to create a height adjusted fifth unit, since was it envisaged that it would be standing at the platform 0,5m lower. In this manner, the basic units are organized in accordance with the common idea of spatial structure and at the same time orchestrating a unique spatial experience congruent with the plan scheme. The design was not only the result of architectural design principles, rather it included the defined rational limits. Thus, in the design process itself we took into account the current access and fire escape route of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Therefore, in order to ensure the adequacy of safety, the recommended offsets of spatial structure were respected. By the afternoon we had, with the help of a practical demonstration from Mr. Rintala on the elaboration of a detail of possible joinings, defined with a sense of static adequacy, the primary load-bearing structure. So, in the afternoon we started the preparation and cut out of the elements needed to build the sides of self standing load-bearing units. By the end of the day some groups managed to produce all the necessary elements, especially those in which students already had experience handling tools and woodworking. Despite the lack of time, safety at work was of primary importance.

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III. day, Wednesday, 06/04/2016

 

Today`s goal was to assemble the basic load-bearing frame and to place it on the planned position. It began with construction out of yesterday´s prepared elements of the longer side of the units on a flat terrain. When the two groups managed to prepare both sides and transverse the roof beams of the units, they helped each other in assembling the elements into a unit. When assembling scaffolds were used for working at height. Good coordination within groups and accuracy of the joints were very significant for further quality work. While some were solving the assembling of the units, others took over the important work of levelling the ground under the fifth unit in order to ensure stability. Due to the limitation of  apillary absorption of the timber wood, concrete plates of dimensions 0,3m*0,3m were laid on the newly levelled terrain so that they supported the load-bearing unit frame of the fifth unit. Height of the spatial structure is was unified, therefore the fifth unit is the only one higher since it is not standing on a raised platform as are the rest. Although the highest, it was the only one that was assembled without the use of the scaffolding. In order to prevent the structure from overturning, temporary diagonals were attached to the units. Within the breaks Mr. Rintala demonstrated a new
way of woodworking, so that we could in our work groups already investigate the new possible details of joints of spatial arrangement in the units.
With persistent and dedicated work today`s goal of positioning the units on their final places on the platform was accomplished. Optimistic and satisfied we went to dinner near Rožnik, where Mr. Rintala in a more relaxed atmosphere shared with us his experiences, personal views, social criticism and gave us some well-intentioned advice.

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IV. day, Thursday, 07/04/2016

 

Thursday was by far the longest but also the most exciting day of our workshop. From the very meeting in the morning until midnight we were all aware that the spatial structure has to be fully constructed by the next day, especially since the opening ceremony was scheduled for 11 a.m. From early in the morning and until midday we devoted ourselves to unify the design ideas, which were taken out of our common spatial scheme. At this phase each group had the liberty to research possible composition of wood elements and ways how to assemble them. All five groups had taken the tree for their focus point in a way to include it into the spatial structure with different approaches. The starting point common to all groups is an attempt to interpret the ambiance of being in the woods. With the support columns of basic structural units we wanted to interpret trunks of trees and with the wooden construction we explored possible interpretations of the treetops and the play of light through spatial  ompositions. The remaining material was distributed among the groups and through the process the final design was developed. Before every key decision Mr. Rintala called us in, either the whole group or individually, in order to discuss a collective solution to guide us onward. The spatial structure was built gradually and soundly, so that the wood was used in an economical way.

The more that the course lecture at the Faculty of Architecture was approaching, the more enthused we became. We came to Plečnik’s lecture room in our work attires and left immediately back to the construction site after the end of the lecture, where the last phase awaited. With the help of a reflector, we decided to continue until midnight but finish on Friday morning - and so we left for a well-deserved rest.

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V. day, Friday, 08/04/2016

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On Friday the spatial structure was almost built, but it still required some additional final works. We started early in the morning because it was necessary to complete the last details of the ambient. We managed to finish on time, although we were under constant pressure because of the lack of time through the whole workshop. Hard work left behind a mess that had to be cleaned up before the opening. The opening was attended by Mr. Rintala and Mr. Eggertsson from Rintala Eggertsson bureau, doc. prof. Tadej Glažar from the Faculty of Architecture, prof. doc. Alexander Kanjuo Marčela from the Faculty of Social Sciences, sponsors of the workshop, professors and students of the hosting faculties and the general public. In the introductory lecture Dagur Eggertsson emphasized the importance of practical teaching and research within study curriculum and expressed his appreciation and admiration for the quality result that has been achieved in such a short window frame. A brief lecture was also prepared by students on the principals of the design and the guidelines that were followed in forming a spatial structure. Presented work was accepted with enthusiasm and positive feedback. We celebrated our common success with an aperitif on the premises of the Faculty of Social Sciences where we mingled in a relaxed atmosphere and shared our thoughts on workshops. Late in the afternoon we invited Mr. Eggertsson to the Museum of Architecture and Design, where works of Saša Mächtig were exhibited, and later on we continued with a visit to Plečnik`s House under the professional guidance of the architect Maruša Zorec.

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- We are proud of being able to participate in the workshop, which has given us some valuable experience. -

 

 

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