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Circular Prototypes:
F.E.W. Rooftop Infrastructures

The ultimate purpose of this research is to propose new models of urban infrastructures and collective spaces for social interaction based on the integration of material, structural, and environmental systems. The project lends itself to operate as a prototypical flexible module with the potential to be deployed onto any pre-existing urban rooftop or public area. The modular system is comprised of hollow ceramic pieces acting as structural columns and water collectors, a modular ceramic floor elevated on pedestals, a lightweight space truss structure, and a waterproof membrane that captures and cleans rainwater through its expansive surface. Subsequently, the rainwater would be channeled through the hollow ceramic columns, from which it would be diverted to pipes below the elevated floor and collected into modular water tanks uniformly distributed within the elevated floor. The water management system as proposed would work to alleviate the effects of flooding and drought through storage as well as release and reduce runoff by capturing water and redirecting it into the tanks. Besides, the materiality of the modular ceramic columns, with their low thermal conductivity, could potentially provide energy-saving cooling benefits. The resulting prototype integrates structural and material strategies to optimize construction aspects related to transportation, assembly and disassembly of building components, as well as thermodynamic questions related to heat transfer and water cycles while helping to foster a sense of community and social interaction.

Video Summary



Global Studios Making Film



Interview with Juan José Castellón



Conceptualization and Experimentation



Fabrication



Assembly


Location

Dongdamun Design Plaza
Seoul, South Korea

Time

2021

Principal Investigator

Juan Jose Castellon
Dr.Qilin Li (Co-PI)

Team

Estefania Barajas
Carolyn Francis
Sebastian Lopez-Cardozo
Yao Wang
Beixi Zhu

Collaborators

Toni Cumella (Ceramica Cumella)

Ricardo Pittella (Arup)

Sponsors

Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism
Rice University
Rice School of Architecture
Rice Design Alliance
Carbon Hub

Related Research

F.E.W. Structural Prototypes: Retrofitting residential buildings with ecological rooftop infrastructures

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