TIMEFRAME

Yuyi Jiang (Year: 2)

The project intends to discuss the relationship between technique and collaboration in construction, between people and their environment. Certain technologies allow architects to precisely control and accelerate each step of the construction process, it efficiently implements the architectural imagination into an actual finished product, but at the same time architecture may lose other potential possibilities. Does technology only plays a serving and controlling role, that as an object we passively obey to, or is itself can be an important part of the life of an architecture?
Rather than designing a building as a final completion, I attempted to design a thirty years-long construction process along the timeframe and longevity of the silver birch trees instead.

Rather than designing a building as a final completion, I attempted to design a thirty years-long construction process along the timeframe and longevity of the silver birch trees instead.

On this land, a thirty years-long construction is about to begin. It starts by planting trees at both sides. Over time, more trees will be planted and spread to the middle, forming two boundaries.

On this land, a thirty years-long construction is about to begin. It starts by planting trees at both sides. Over time, more trees will be planted and spread to the middle, forming two boundaries.

On the second year, The excavation of the land begins, excavators enter the site. Same as the construction method six thousand years ago, the underground begins with the excavation of the courtyards.

On the second year, The excavation of the land begins, excavators enter the site. Same as the construction method six thousand years ago, the underground begins with the excavation of the courtyards.

After the courtyard was excavated, they will be connected by corridors, ramps and stairs, Forming a circular underground space.

After the courtyard was excavated, they will be connected by corridors, ramps and stairs, Forming a circular underground space.

By this time, the vigorous construction process will be interrupted for 17 years, waiting for the silver birch trees grow to 15 meters high, and people will also carefully smooth and polish the wall.

By this time, the vigorous construction process will be interrupted for 17 years, waiting for the silver birch trees grow to 15 meters high, and people will also carefully smooth and polish the wall.

When the tree is grown, they will have to be thinned, to keep a 4.5 meters spacing, tree trunks will be transported aside, cut into panels and be transported back to the centre of the site.

When the tree is grown, they will have to be thinned, to keep a 4.5 meters spacing, tree trunks will be transported aside, cut into panels and be transported back to the centre of the site.

On a certain day, a ceremony will be held, with people standing in the middle of the forest park to witness. The wood formwork will be removed by burning it which also hardened the rammed earth wall.

On a certain day, a ceremony will be held, with people standing in the middle of the forest park to witness. The wood formwork will be removed by burning it which also hardened the rammed earth wall.

When the fire goes out, people return to this land, the building is formed, the forest is occupied again, the land back to alive after the fire.

When the fire goes out, people return to this land, the building is formed, the forest is occupied again, the land back to alive after the fire.

All the space are underneath the ground, it consists of 3 parts. At the centre is the most significant space which is the theatre and the stage. On the right is the space for recreation.

All the space are underneath the ground, it consists of 3 parts. At the centre is the most significant space which is the theatre and the stage. On the right is the space for recreation.