Michael Lu's Blog

Preliminary massing study of architectural scope. Learning Center + Market + Plaza + Futbol Field = NODULO_004 Topographic Suture.

A string of programs weaving stairways. Proyecto Sutura | Suture Project.

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1. IMPORT GOOGLE EARTH AREAS INTO SKETCHUP.

2. TOGGLE TERRAIN ‘ON’

3. EXPORT 3D MODEL AS *.3Ds.

4. IMPORT INTO RHINO

5. SELECT SURFACE (IF MULTIPLE SELECT ALL SURFACES) AND ‘PATCH’ (FOR U AND Y TYPE 200)

5. DRAW VERTICAL LINE THROUGH HIGHEST POINT OF TOPOGRAPHY (TOGGLE B/W PLAN AND ELEVATION VIEWS TO CENTER.

6. TYPE ‘CONTOUR’ COMMAND (FOR BASE POINT CHOOSE BOTTOM OF VERT LINE, THEN SELECT TOP OF VERT LINE)

7. FOR INTERVALS CHOOSE DISTANCE DESIRED BETWEEN CONTOURS (I USE 10′ IN THIS CASE)

Programatic elements follow a single contour line. Begin and end with canopies over canchas de futbol. Demonstration housing rest atop gabion foundations. Urban agriculture fills the space between north and south hilltop communities while civic operations stitch together the stairways.

Courtesy of Panoramio and Ramiro Garcia: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41042239

While researching material palletes of informal Lima, a pattern of warp and weft was revealed. The estera wall, a woven mat used for rudimentary dwelling -when observed closely, suggests a language which reflects the skyline of built form massing. Peaks and valleys. Moreover, the concept of weaving is appropiate in the case of this concept of interconnections. A series of vertical stairs are stitched together with programs of civic operations.