‘El concurso de la rehabilitación de la Catedral de Notre Dame de Puerto Príncipe en Haiti, organizado por la Escuela de Arquitectura de Miami en colaboración con la Archidiócesis de Puerto Príncipe y la revista forma, se antojaba atractivo por varias razones. En primer lugar, la económica. El ahorro que supone el envío en formato digital y no en papel hay que considerarlo a la hora de minimizar los costes que supone elaborar un concurso de arquitectura. Por otro lado, tener la excusa de pensar en una realidad tan ajena a la que vivimos es una motivación extra. A miles de kilómetros de distancia, en un país devastado por el terremoto de enero de 2010, que también es azotado de forma continuada por las temporadas de huracanes, el proyecto de la rehabilitación de la Catedral lo entendíamos como un faro que pudiera guiar a una población católica practicante en su gran mayoría; un edificio que pudiera arrojar un rayo de luz a tanta desdicha.
La tipología a la que nos hemos enfrentado es muy específica y nos ha llevado, más que en cualquier otro concurso, a estudiar sus diseños históricos, programa, funcionamiento, construcción y materialidad, entre otros. Esta singularidad nos ha obligado a esforzarnos en aportar nuestro minúsculo grano de arena en adaptar este tipo de construcciones, que suelen ser propias de otro tiempo, a una realidad contemporánea.
Finalmente, más de 130 diseños fueron presentados para el concurso y alrededor de 30 de los mejores diseños, entre los que está nuestra propuesta, están ahora en una exposición hasta el 8 de marzo en el Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center Irvin Korach Gallery, Miami, Florida, EEUU.‘
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption is situated in the western part of Port-au-Prince. It is close to the waterfront area and visible from the coast. Thus before its destruction the cupola of the north tower also functioned as the front light of a pair guiding mariners into the harbor.
After the 12 January 2010 earthquake only the lower parts of the walls of the Cathedral remain standing. We propose to preserve the ruin and to integrate new parts to complete the building and return its function. Meanwhile the historical parts will serve as a constant memorial of the catastrophe, commemorating the thousands of people who perished in the Earthquake and giving hope for those who survived.
For our design we see the destruction of the Cathedral as an opening of a new condition. Before the disaster the space inside the building was divided into three naves: a central nave and two lateral naves separated by pillars and arches which supported the two-sided roof. Now this historical hierarchical plan has been dissolved and the space has become non-hierarchical. We maintain and develop this situation within our design proposal. That is why the new roof is formed by a horizontal tessellation of a surface dome base unit, scaled and interconnected. Regardless of any hierarchy the plan distributes combining a series of these domes to cover the Latin cross plant. The grid is scaled in plan to span larger or smaller dome shapes and arches are formed by the intersection of the domes. Accordingly, the old and new pillars which bear the roof create a forest of pillars effecting a dematerialization of the limits of volumes and space. Entering the Cathedral the visitor finds himself in a contraction of columns which form individual, spiritual spaces underneath each dome. As the visitor proceeds the density diminishes opening and enlightening the space towards the centre of the Cathedral.
A glass material completes the destroyed old walls and connects them with the new roof. The fragmental structure indicates an image of broken pieces and reminds of the destruction but also the new reconstruction. Additionally the new parts of the façade can be seen lightening from the harbor, so the Cathedral could serve again as a lighthouse.
EVOLUTION
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (1884-1914)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption was the first building of its type in Haiti. Using modern technology it was one of the first structures of that size. To carry out the task the firm introduced equipments that were never seen before in the country: a sand crusher powered with steam and concrete mixers, as well as molds and presses to fabricate “artificial stone” were put in operation.
The Cathedral is formed by a Latin cross plan. The space inside is hierarchical, divided in three naves: a central nave and two lateral naves separated by pillars and arches which support the two sided roof cover. This last condition is not typical in cathedral of this category.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Post-Earthquake – 2012)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
The situation after the Earthquake has opened a new condition. The space has been dissolved and has become non-hierarchical. With our project we preserve and develop this condition.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (2012- )
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
We propose to preserve the ruin and to integrate new parts to complete the building and return its function. A new roof is formed by a horizontal tessellation of a surface dome base unit, scaled and interconnected. Regardless of any hierarchy the plan distributes combining a series of these domes to cover the Latin cross plant. The grid is scaled in plan to span larger or smaller dome shapes and arches are formed by the intersection of the domes. Accordingly, the old and new pillars which bear the roof create a forest of pillars effecting a dematerialization of the limits of volumes and space. Entering the Cathedral the visitor finds himself in a contraction of columns which form individual, spiritual spaces underneath each dome. As the visitor proceeds the density diminishes opening and enlightening the space towards the centre of the Cathedral.
A glass material completes the destroyed old walls and connects them with the new roof. The fragmental structure indicates an image of broken pieces and reminds of the destruction but also the new reconstruction. Additionally the new parts of the façade can be seen lightening from the harbor, so the Cathedral could serve again as a lighthouse.
STRUCTURE EXPLANATION
The vault is decomposed in pieces obtained from a voronoi diagram. With this operation we aim a double purpose: we can control the structure design using a thrust network analysis, modeling the structure piece by piece; every part will have an adequate size for manufacturing, thus simplifying the execution at the building site.
The new structure will transmit efforts from the top of vaults to the foundations through the old and new pillars. This structure must fullfil the most strict regulations about seismic and gale-force winds resistance.
Fuente:http://accesit.org/
Entradas
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