Out of the Soil, Architecture From the New Modernist Forrest

Nick Gelpi Master Project Studio
From a Formal Basis to a Material Argument
This studio will explore new material concepts for architecture derived from deep investigations into the tectonics of trees, and the particular behaviors of wood as an organic building material. Beginning with early examples of mass produced steam-bent furniture, students will analyze the relationships between forms and this novel fabrication process. Steam-bending will be explored in the context of hands-on, exercises to demonstrate the “intensive” properties of wood tissues, shifting the typical considerations of materials, from the extensive properties of wood into the intensive realm. Projects are for the design of a new recreation-center, along the Miami River near Lummus Park. On the site sits William Wagner Homestead, arguably Miami’s first all wooden house, constructed in 1857 of only Dade County Pine. From this prehistoric precedent, students will utilize new technologies and conceptual approaches at two scales. First by diving into the materiality of wood, zooming in and extracting micro-spatial concepts, and second, by zooming out, considering wood.

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