PLUS 523 June 2012

“Tabula Rasa in Egocity”by The Why Factoryand Berlage Institute, completes the Anarcity vision presented on Abitare.

The Why Factory / Berlage Institute

A TRIAl In sEvEn AcTs

A narcity, a research studio run by Winy Maas and The Why Factory at the Berlage Institute,

explores relationships between urban planning and anarchic thinking by creating and testing a series of models and case studies, produced in the space of a year by a student team and teachers Winy Maas, Felix Madrazo, Daliana suryawinata, Jeroen Zuidgeest and Adrien Ravon.The research has two interrelated stages. The first, “Paris 20__”, which Abitare 523” examines in detail, is a simulation of a fictitious urban landscape grounded in accurate data that uses the Tv series format to build the Paris 20__ scenario of a future

city in a state of anarchy. The project develops thematically and through time steps.The second is Ego city in tabula rasa, an urban structure parallel to the one of anarchic Paris. People who fail to adapt to the new urban situation move 100 km out and build separate living units, each with an “engine” able to satisfy an individual’s food and energy requirements.

The Ego city case study is the outcome of the “Anarchy” project developed by The Why Factory at TU Delft and led by Winy Maas with Felix Madrazo and Ania Molenda. The Ego city project is by Dalia Zakaite.

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STEP 1

Living alone, my Anarchist needs no effort in producing vital resources.All his attention may be concentrated on safety issues and his favourite ways of spending time.

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STEP 2

Some of inhabitants of the city may desire to lead a common household.By joining several engines to one housing unit, separate elements of does not need to be duplicated.Therefore some extra space is gained. This space can be used for growing animals, more diverse plants, storing or producing energy, etc. The more engines are put together, the more diverse these possibilities are.

4m2 = 4 chickenpoultry 1.5 kg/week

eggs 7/week

OR4m2 = 8 accumulators

energy storage 160 kWh

4m2 = 4 chickenpoultry 1.5 kg/week

eggs 7/week

+4m2 = 1 goat

milk 12 l/week

OR8m2 = 1 pig

pork 90 kg/12 weeks

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STEP 3

Dom-Ino housing unit is analysed in ways of personalizing and joining them. Although the combinations are numerous, they are still restricted. Here I notice, that really anarchic building should not have any restrictions on it’s size, architecture and spatial character. Further improvements of the engine are made to overcome this and to provide the engine with structural capabilities.

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Therefore the engine is upgraded and magnetic impulse generator is implemented. It generate magnetic fields of prefered strength and size. These fields interact by pushing and attracting each other and so sustains prefered distance between the houses as well as prefered density of the area. This feature alows Dom-Ino to be replaced and the engine to be attached to any kind of architecture.

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Working area of the magnetic field, generated by the engine

Personal area, representing densities of different living environments

Results of Comunity Preference Survey, 2011

STEP 4

Once every inhabitant is able to decide the density of his neighbourhood, the view of the city changes.If the population of this city would have same preferences as American society (according to Community Preference Survey of 2011, USA), the city would be dispersed and single housing would prevail.

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STEP 5

Magnetic field is strong enough to keep higher engines floating above.This feature is exploated once there is not enough space on the ground.

1 000 population

536 925 built area (ground level)

21 477 000 built volume

1 860 density

3 000 population

542 325 built area(ground level)

40 567 666 built volume

5 531 density

7 000 population

865 321 built area (ground level)

78 748 998 built volume

8 089 density

10 000 population

1 075 268 built area (ground level)

107 385 000 built volume

9 300 density

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STEP 6

There is nothing to keep the inhabitants living in one place. They are free to move where the view is better, the air is more fresh, the company is more friendly, or anywhere else.

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The Ego city case study is the outcome of the “Anarchy” project developed by The Why Factory at TU Delft and led by Winy Maas with Felix Madrazo and Ania Molenda. The Ego city project is by Dalia Zakaite.

STEP 7

One million city is unpredictably dispersed in all territory, creating areas of hyper connectivity, promoted by unlimited movement between the housing units. Moreover none of the units is attached to it’s location – it is always free to move, to start to live collectively or to divorce, to communicate or to retreat to loneliness.The city is connected, voluntary, anonymous and individual as internet itself.

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