© Joseph Kennedy

Most visitors to the Galapagos Islands point their cameras towards the exotic animals and away from the local people. They direct their full attention to the natural landscape, as if to intentionally deny the existence of the urban space of the city, since the presence of any form of architecture would seem in logical conflict with the islands’ identity as a protected wildlife reserve.

The architecture of the Galapagos is both a conceptual and physical contradiction. Like a Piranesian joke, the San Cristobal typology of the proto-ruin falls somewhere on a spectrum between construction and dismantlement. With their “permanently unfinished” construction state seemingly in flux, it is unclear whether many of these buildings display a common optimism for vertical expansion or are instead symptoms of a process of urban decay.

"Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy

"Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy

The unique shapes of these pseudo-informal constructions are the product of a tax loophole found in many South American and even Southern European countries that allows residents and landlords to defer property taxes on buildings in the process of construction. (Another contributing factor to this practice is their residents’ existence in a liminal state of poverty.) The result is a strange, unintentional aesthetic of the purposefully incomplete that has a tendency to dominate many lower income neighborhoods. An especially large concentration of these building types can be found in the capital of the Galapagos, San Cristobal.

"Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy

"Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy

In leaving open the possibility of future construction, these semi-shelters invite the casual observer to imagine divergent possibilities for the completed construction that reflect an imagined future direction for the Galapagos Islands as a whole. Will the roofs of these homes become the penthouses of the wealthy Ecuadorians seeking a vacation home on the islands, high rise hotel towers to house the increasing flood of international tourists, or aviaries for accommodating the world-famous Galapagos finches, so as to integrate these birds into the matrix of human development?

"Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy

"Unfinished" construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno. Image © Joseph Kennedy

Mapping the urban area of Puerto Baquerzio Moreno allows us to quantify the percentage of inhabitants that are actively taking advantage of this tax loophole. 1,800 buildings can be counted in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno from satellite photos. 1,253 buildings were surveyed from the ground in total: of those 960 appear to be mostly completed, 207 appear to be in a state of incomplete habitation, and 86 are apparently currently in construction. From that data, 76.5% are “completed,” 16.5% are “incomplete,” and 7% are “under construction.”

Map showing the status of construction in Puerto Baquerzio Moreno on Isla de San Cristóbal. Image © Joseph Kennedy

The somewhat larger and more developed Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz suggests one possible path in which Puerto Baquerzio Moreno may develop. The survey of site statistics shows 2,925 buildings in the main city: of those 2,633 appear to be mostly completed, 233 appear to be in a state of incomplete habitation, and 59 are apparently currently in construction. From that data, 90% are “completed,” 8% are “incomplete,” and 2% are “under construction.”

Map showing the status of construction in Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz. Image © Joseph Kennedy

Joseph Kennedy is a Fulbright grantee conducting research and teaching at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. He graduated with a B. Arch from Cornell University in 2015.

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Thinking of continuing your studies but don’t want to start a master’s or a doctorate just yet? Around the world, short-term courses taken remotely are increasingly popular alternatives, and platforms such as edX, created by Harvard and MIT Universities make it even easier to dive deeper into the most diverse topics. 

Of course, for long-term and undergraduate courses, the face-to-face experience cannot be replaced by online classes. However, being able to follow lessons and participate in discussions with people from around the world online is definitely an important advantage offered by the internet.

We have compiled a few courses in areas ranging from video game design to bio-cellular engineering, and from the history of Japanese architecture to courses in architectural imagination. See our list below:

The Architectural Imagination

The Architectural Imagination
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Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Technology

Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Technology
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The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development

The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development
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Principles of Designing for Humans

Principles of Designing for Humans
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Evaluating Designs with Users

Evaluating Designs with Users
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Video Game Design and Balance

Video Game Design and Balance
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Data Analysis: Visualization and Dashboard Design

Data Analysis: Visualization and Dashboard Design
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Biological Engineering: Cellular Design Principles

Biological Engineering: Cellular Design Principles
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Gameplay Programming for Video Game Designers

Gameplay Programming for Video Game Designers
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Design in Healthcare: Using Patient Journey Mapping

Design in Healthcare: Using Patient Journey Mapping
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Technological, Social, and Sustainable Systems

Technological, Social, and Sustainable Systems
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© Leonardo Finotti

• Architects: MAPA
• Location: Maldonado, Maldonado Department, Uruguay
• Architects In Charge: Luciano Andrades, Matías Carballal, Rochelle Castro, Andrés Gobba, Mauricio López, Silvio Machado
• Area: 115.0 m2
• Project Year: 2015
• Photographs: Leonardo Finotti

• Team: Pablo Courreges, Mauricio Müller, Emiliano Lago, Diego Morera
• Construction And Installation: Nebimol
• Transport: Carrión
• Interiors: BoConcept

© Leonardo Finotti

From the architect. Dwell in productive landscapes

Made to maximize new landscape experiences, Retreat in Finca Aguy was prefab-born in a factory near Montevideo and transported 200km to its final destination in Pueblo Edén on the edge of an olive field. Perfect combination of industry and landscape: new kinds of landscapes deserve new ways of dwelling.

© Leonardo Finotti

Remote Landscapes

To build in far away territories from the surroundings in which we usually live is a great challenge. Remoteness not as a limit but as a possibility, as a value, as a generator of fields and conditions. Remote landscapes confronts us with the awareness of immenseness. It puts us in our role in reality.

© Leonardo Finotti

© Leonardo Finotti

Prefab

In landscapes of high natural value, it is fundamental to respect their original condition and so it is essential a reversibility condition. Prefabrication allows us to work with industrialized materials that enable high-precision processes. Thus amortizing the impact of construction on the ground, minimizing waste, staff in situ and displacement: a perfect combination of nature and industry.

Floor Plan

Eppur si muove!

Houses do not move. They are made of heavy materials, put together with mortar, concrete must be used. These prejudices are hard to break, as the immobility of constructions.

© Leonardo Finotti

Section

© Leonardo Finotti

On the other hand, Prefab Houses are produced in a controlled environment and carefully made. They are born in a factory and taken to its final destination. Houses do not move, however…

© Leonardo Finotti

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© Christian van der Kooy

• Architects: VVKH architecten
• Location: Doornweg, 2243 GS Wassenaar, The Netherlands
• Design: Ronald Knappers
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Christian van der Kooy

• Project Team: Ronald Knappers, Mark Verdoold, Hans Schepman
• Landscape Architect : West 8, Adriaan Geuze
• Structural Engineer : Breed Integraal Ontwerp
• Advisor: ingenieursbureau Halmos
• Building Contractor : bouwbedrijf Kon

© Christian van der Kooy

From the architect. A dense forest opens to a dune valley. Sunlight casts shadows of branches and leaves against tree trunks. In the distance, a golfer walks through the empty surreal landscape. This unique environment – trees, light and dunes – influences the design of “villa Meijendel” in such a way as if it has sculpted the house.

This in concrete constructed house is literally built into the dunes. The entrance is on the midlevel, where an office and two bedrooms are situated. The next level opens to a huge living room and kitchen. On ground level are a wellness room and the master bedroom. Encapsulated in the dune is a garage and technical room. The concrete construction of the villa establishes the vigorous character of the house.

All materials are unpolished: concrete, steal, wood, burned wood and anodised aluminium. They refer to the unspoiled landscape. The burned wood at the exterior, and the wood used for the ceiling of the main space is Douglas-Fir, a specific wood type growing in coastal areas. In the flat sawn pieces used for the interior of the house, the wood exhibits wild grain patterns. The burning procedure, influenced by Japanese tradition, conserves the wood in a particular way. The blackened façade seems to change by the light. Sometimes the house is almost invisible against the dark edge of the forest, sometimes it sparkles in the sunlight because of the glittering charred wood as such forming a background for the play of shadows of tree trunks and branches. The villa hides and reveals itself in the landscape.

© Christian van der Kooy

Level 1

© Christian van der Kooy

Regulations stipulated that only a small and compact volume was allowed to be built on this relatively narrow parcel, on the edge of nature reserve Meijendel. Therefore, the house is half buried in a high dune, with the effect that every side of the house can be experienced in a different way. This is enhanced by the contrast between open and closed facades. The height difference of the dune and the various split levels inside the house create interesting spatial and visual relations from interior spaces towards the environing dune landscape. Each opening in the house has been shaped, sized and positioned in a certain way, related to the functions associated to each space and its relationship with trees, light and dune. From the living room, located at the top floor, there is a breath-taking view over the dune valley in front of the house, but through a low window the forest at the back is visible as well. In addition, roof windows provide special light effects. The bathroom is half-sunken into the ground and has a window along the slope of the dune, generating a view from eyelevel on sand and grass. The master bedroom is situated next to the garden. A set-back and an alternation of burned wood and openings in de façade create a buffer zone providing shelter. Through the opening between the dark trunks, the pool and dense forest are visible.

© Christian van der Kooy

Through an intensive dialogue between the architect and client, a tailor-made design of the house was made. Sustainability and materiality were prevalent. The house is energy-neutral, because of the use of solar panels, heat pumps and the monolith concrete structure. Every detail, such as door handle or stairs, is precisely thought through and designed.  Villa Meijendel is a fascinating artefact, a sort of wooden forest hut fully integrated in the landscape and with a strong connection between the interior spaces and immediate surroundings. Trees, light and dunes have sculpted this remarkable house.

© Christian van der Kooy

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Courtesy of marte.marte architects

• Architects: marte.marte architects
• Location: Treietstraße 27, 6830 Rankweil, Austria
• Area: 303.94 m2
• Project Year: 2014
• Photographs: Courtesy of marte.marte architects

• Client: Dr. Robert Griss
• Master Builder: Thöni Hoch- und Tiefbau GmbH & Co KG
• Carpentry: Nesensohn Holzbau

• Electrical Work: Elektro Hartmann

• Tinsmith Work: Entner-Dach GmbH & Co.KG
• Wondow Construction: Hartmann Fensterbau GmbH
• Plumbing: Markus Stolz GmbH & Co KG

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

Sturdy, earthy, yet subtly sophisticated, the “Griss Equine Veterinary Practice” is located where the village of Rankweil (A) meets the wide Rhine Valley. On the horizon, the rugged peaks of the Alpstein massif pierce the sky. 

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

Floor Plans

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

The clear-lined building, made of rough reinforced concrete and untreated wood, is home to animals as well as humans. An apartment for the veterinarian is combined under one roof with the equine practice – including an in-house pharmacy, treatment rooms, lab and stables – in such a functional way that the private and public areas are able to coexist without any problem: In short, a finely tuned interaction between work and life, a place of bustle and wellness, both functional and comfy. 

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

To arrange all these different rooms on just one floor with a surface of 27 x 19 meters and still build it as one unit, the pavilion principle was applied. A base plate, a reinforced concrete floor of the same size and four solid vertical concrete wall plates – turned towards each other in an exciting composition – make up the supporting structure of the building. The partly recessed façade is made of prefabricated wood frame elements (spruce). The continuous surface is interrupted rhythmically by ceiling-high windows. A sheltered passage and a barn-like space separate the working area from the accommodation wing. The clean and direct form is continued in the interior. 

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

The clients and their horses enter the practice, which is set back from the street, from the north side. The big open sliding door, which is part of the façade, reveals the centre of the equine practice: the examining room. All the practice’s other rooms are grouped around this central point. Directly behind it is the operating room and anesthesia box, which are lined with black rubber mats. The in-house pharmacy, laboratory and office area, which is also accessible from outside, is located in the east wing of the building. All of the flooring, built-in furniture and single wall coverings in this area are made of silver fir. The warm and soft effect of this wood is an appealing contrast to the hard and rather cool concrete. The outdoor boxes, three in number, face west – towards wide meadows and fields, the round pen and the small trotting track. The above-average ceiling height of almost four meters keeps the animals safe even when they rear up and lends an almost sacred charm to this “place of healing”. 

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

The apartment faces southwest away from the access road. Big ceiling-high glass sliding doors in the living room offer a wonderful view of the natural landscape. The flooring and wall coverings, made out of silver fir, create a warm and safe environment. The glass elements and concrete wall plates are set well back from the edge of the roof, creating a covered veranda. The dominant base plate and concrete floor draw a clear boundary between inside and outside. Despite this, or perhaps just because of it, the sparsely furnished living room – which is rather small compared to the high ceiling – exudes transitory qualities: It brings the garden into the house and conversely extends the living space into the open air. 

Courtesy of marte.marte architects

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© Hiroshi Ueda

• Architects: O. F. D. A.
• Location: Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
• Architect In Charge: Taku Sakaushi
• Area: 237.8 m2
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: Hiroshi Ueda

• Assistant Architect: Hirotoshi Takeuchi
• Structural Engineer: Yoshiharu Kanebako

© Hiroshi Ueda

From the architect. This is a vacation home project in Karuizawa.  The project site sits on the south of Karuizawa train station, its north side borders on a local street, and the other sides are bounded by the neighbors’ properties.  Before the project started, there was a good view of a neighbor’s villa to the east.  A villa in the south was almost hidden behind the trees.  No building had yet been built on the west side.  An important request from the client was to keep the surrounding buildings out of sight from his home as much as possible.  After examinations of numerous alternative designs, the finished building has a megaphone shape, with its opening facing toward the south.

© Hiroshi Ueda

One of the reasons to have chosen this shape has a lot to do with the consideration to the view from the home, as mentioned above.  As a matter of fact, from the beginning, I wanted to investigate a tunnel-like shape with an entrance to the north and the opening to the south.

© Hiroshi Ueda

Architecture is an immovable, inorganic object fixed to the ground.  It is different from organic matters such as plants and human bodies, or even from inorganic objects that are movable, such as a piece of furniture.  The difference between them are similar to that between a recorded image and a live image.  Live images are fresher, as they constantly change.  I wanted my architectural works to maintain this freshness, and this idea lead me to regard architecture as a frame that frames the scenery, residents, or furniture, as live images.  This is what I wrote in a book titled Architecture as Frame about six years ago.

Ground Level

In the process of developing ideas about architecture as frame, I was influenced by sculptures, paintings, and novels in which I sensed similar motifs.  One of them was a novel by Haruki Murakami.  In his early works, stories developed inside his closed world, but in later novels, various holes were created in his world to establish connections with other worlds.  A symbolic case is a well in The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.  It functions as a transporter, with which the main character moves from the world he lives to a different world.  Actually, in this novel, the worlds on both sides have more significance than the well itself.

© Hiroshi Ueda

In this project, I was thinking about creating a big frame – in this case, a tunnel-like structure – that goes from an entrance on the north side with a big roof, to the opening in the south facing greenery.  This tunnel is just like the well in Murakami’s novel, a transporter to take the residents to a nature-filled world when they arrive from the city.

© Hiroshi Ueda

Section

© Hiroshi Ueda

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© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

• Architects: 11architecture Ltd.
• Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
• Design Team: Fujimori Ryo, Xie Jing, Qiao Shi, Lian Zhi Wei
• Area: 650.0 m2
• Project Year: 2016
• Photographs: ZC Architectural Photography Studio

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

From the architect. A portion of the ground floor in an industrial building was renovated into a co-working space that consisted of small office rooms, individuals’ dedicated desks, and a series of shared spaces including a meeting room, a drink bar, and lounges. As the given space had a high ceiling, we partially made it into two stories while considering the reach of natural light to the deep area. The floating lounge or “cloud seats” was one of unique design features that made the best use of the ceiling height and created a dynamic scene in the space.

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

First Floor Axonometric

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

The afternoon sun light softly comes into the lounge through a lace curtain, creating a relaxing environment.

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

We purposefully used some outdoor construction materials for interior space. For example, lightweight concrete blocks were laid to the full ceiling height with patterns in order to create feature walls at important shared spaces; red bricks were paved for both exterior and interior spaces blurring the boundary and dealing with the level difference in between; and concrete columns standing in the middle of the site were shaved off and their original rough surfaces were exposed. These design decisions were certainly made to create a kind of taste, but it also reflected our design philosophy to resist the transient reality of commodified office environment. We used outdoor construction materials and their tectonic expression, and tried to create a stable identity to this project and anchor it to this specific location.

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

The space provided various types of working environment for the members to choose from: such as, an enclosed room, a duplex, with a private garden, and a desk at an open floor.

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

Second Floor Axonometric

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

The “cloud seats” is a relaxing lounge next to the drink bar. It was formed by steel members and covered by OSB boards, and raised to the upper floor level by a number of supporting steel columns. Through the design process, we tried to make this object visually detached from the space and float in the air. Firstly, we gave a unique form to the object, a zigzag passage with six finger-like seats attached irregularly. Its form refused to merge into the dominant interior perspective framed by the modernism factory building. Secondly, the edges of OSB boards were cut in sharp angle and joined perfectly without showing material thickness. The tectonic reality and construction process were purposefully hid, which visually detached the object from the site context. Thirdly, the columns were irregularly placed and painted in four different colors. They were dissociated from each other, and thus the whole object visually lost structural coherence. It was meant to reinforce the idea of floating. Fourthly, The bottom of the floating object was finished by mirror-effect material. Its reflection hid the structural reality and the floating object was dissolved in the air. All these designs made the “cloud seats” float in the air and detached from the working section, and created a relaxing environment.

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

The use of such design elements as water, greenery, concrete, and red brick brought an outdoor walking experience into the interior working environment.

© ZC Architectural Photography Studio

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