The idea of a “smooth” and “striated” space -free interpretation of Deleuze and Guattari concepts* is the starting point of the space analysis of Campus de Azurém. The university area of Guimarães it’s more a textured reality than a structured reality, that we called “striated space”: such as in Deleuze’s text, this kind of space is synonymous of contradictions and limits, accumulating factors, resulting from accidental happenings. These properties lead to “striated spaces”, that, at the same time, are an instrument of healing.
We propose a “striated architecture”, able to dialogue with the evolving area of the Investigation Institute of Engineering. “Textured architecture” as metaphorical interpretation of the striated urban space of the Campus. The guideline of the whole project is to propose a method where morphogenesis process is not subdued by merely esthetics and economic factors, but helped by them in order to achieve a formal object as a result of a working process that is not controlled only by circumstantial and functional aspects; as Gilles Deleuze would says: the version of “shallow ontologies” pointing to a “background independent” of auto-organization.
Once this theoretical basis was set, we could define the “striated building” as a pacificator symbol of this fractured reality we are working in, finding an abstract and utile starting point able to give a shape to the morphogenesis process. The first formal experiences, starting from the “environmental design” idea, established the geometric basis to plan the functions requested by the competition. The exploration of the “striated patterns”, such as in the SEM image (electron microscope) of a muscle, helped to develop the coating system generating the final silhouette of the building.
The entire process reproduce the relation of proximity of the functions’ spaces with the natural light (achieved mapping all the possibilities in order to carry the best final solution), a solid volumetric organization able to become a coherent whole and a antidote against pre-conceived architecture.
* Referring to conceptual schemes of “smooth space” and “striated space” and conservative function of architecture in society of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Mille Plateaux.
Location: Guimarães, Portugal Architect: Arquitectos Anónimos® Date: 2010-2011 Project Type: Investigation Institute of Engineering Project area: 2.200 mq Promoter/Event: Minho University Design Team: Diogo Teixeira, Tiago Santana Engineering consultant: Newton consultores Project and concept: Arquitectos Anónimos + José Carlos Lino