Portal Links
A Vertical Post-Industrial Garden
Istanbul, Turkey
Portal Links aims to identify portals as objects (nodes) hybridizing relationships between existing threshold barriers from the street to basin level. To achieve such associations, odd-kin (odd + kinship) strategies of unexpected combinations are found with the application of EBRU paintings revealing unexpected vertical and horizontal connections within conditions of isolation. The sites extreme topographical change calls for such hybrids revealing a diverse set of architectural programming at numerous heights. Unexpected extrusions reveal a vertical port-industrial garden building networks at numerous horizontal plates. As rigid movements begin to intersect and soften with the sites natural moss and algae like materials, spatial conditions are carved producing vertical and sunken gardens, seating terraces, overlooks, and weaving switchback networks. Such strategies inspire a link between existing portals separated on site to a disconnected shipyard basin back to Istanbul, Turkey’s urban environment.
Ebru Implication
Paper Marbling to Site Integration
Ebru painting techniques with the combination of digital alterations to create 2.5D imageries are studied to create architectural spatial qualities. The painting is then overlaid on site leading to a discovery of extrusions, driving a logic and sensitivity towards topographical changes. Techniques of carving and sculpting begin to bridge vertical relations with an understanding of the ebru in plan. Colors also generated from the ebru exercise including orange, brown, and green finally combine a soft relationship with the site’s existing moss, weathered rusty steel-like materials and other natural conditions inspiring a vertical post-industrial garden.
Seasonal Experience
Soft and Hard Associates
When entering the basin, a shipyard for building and repair, one becomes enclosed by moss and algae like conditions due to the filling and disposing of seawater. These natural conditions create striations of vibrant colors and growth as they are cleaned out on a monthly basis. With the integration of existing portals onsite, the proposal would include a new opening at bottom level, fully immersing people through fuzzy-like environments. Such moments would be able to change seasonally giving viewers the opportunity to vary experiences between soft and hard resolutions. Programs including sunken, vertical, and hidden gardens take adventage of the sites natural wetness and seasonal operations into a post-industrial garden.
Part to Whole
Powder Print Model
Portal links is carved in parts building relationships at different levels later seen through powder printing. Chunks include a direct connection between onsite existing portals, a graceful switchback transverse from street to top basin level, and existing basin steps to a sunken garden at bottom level. The execution of carving these parts allows for a clearer understanding on how a vertical post-industrial garden could begin to manifest. Like Mont Saint-Michel, the idea of Portal Links begins to see architectural and landscape architectural elements as one never really understanding which came first. With the implementation of the ebru, how and where to cut such moments, the basin is understood and strategically integrated as one mass.
University of Pennsylvania
Studio: ARCH 704
Professor: Ferda Kolatan
Individual Project: Christian Cueva
Fall 2019