Immersion: An Architectural Translation of Big Bend

Exhibited as an installation in the seaport area, this project utilizes a field of PVC pipes to depict immersion through density.

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A group of 12 students, 1 instructor and 1 wood-shop technician traveled throughout New York City, Big Bend National Park in Texas and Marfa Texas, the location of the Chinati Foundation founded by Donald Judd. We have set out to design and build an Architectural Installation inspired by our experiences of our ten-day travel.

Samantha Altieri

Viviana Bernal

Erblin Bucaliu

Kate Bujalski

Alex Cabral (wood shop technician)

Brittany Carey

Kristen Giannone

Ryan Kahen

Mark Morin

Bao Nguyen

Samantha Partington

Charlie Simmons

Liem Than

Robert Trumbour (instructor)

Location: Atlantic Wharf, Boston MA

Exhibit Site Installation

Duration: To Be Announced

Exhibit On Site

To Be Announced

Exhibit Removal

Monday March 11 "“ Friday March 15

Exhibit

Description:

The exhibit is a student-designed project for ARCH-916 Special Topics Studio, Fall 2012. The work is the product of a collaboration between twelve graduate students and is in response to an intensive 10-day travel component conducted at the start of the semester. The trip included visits to design and fabrication studios in New York City, the landscape of Big Bend National Park, Texas and to Marfa, Texas to see the work of the artist Donald Judd.

The Exhibit on site, as described in the attached drawings, is comprised of approximately 960 13-foot vertical members of 1/2 in. x 10 ft. PVC piping. The members are assembled with 10 foot PVC pipe attached to an additional 3 feet of piping with 1 in. PVC coupling. The members are connected in modules of three and assembled at three connection points; one at grade, one at 10 feet, and another in the middle with a flexible vertical range. All ground connections are to be comprised of a 6 in. triangular assembly while the top connection consists of three variations; the first consisting of 9 in. horizontal members, the second of 20 in. members, and the third of 41 in. members. The variations will be determined based on the configuration and placement of the modules within a 6 in. triangular grid in which the members will be installed into the ground.

The ground connection consists of 7/8 in. x 20 in. Steel Thinwall Conduit piping attached to each member and placed into the ground with 8 inches of exposed metal piping above grade. The steel pipes are then connected with 6 in. x 3/4 in. x 1/8 in zinc plated steel flat bar and arranged equilaterally in a triangular assembly. The middle connection consists of three Steel Thinwall Conduit pipes at 3 in vertical length each, welded together to form a triangular connection allowing the PVC pipes to be held together at a focalized point. The top connection will be placed 10 feet above grade and consist of 3 steel conduit pipes (sizes mentioned above). Each pipe will be flattened on both ends and bolted to the PVC members with ¾ in. metallic tube two-hole straps and 5/16 in. x 1-1/4 in. galvanized steel carriage bolts.

During the evening hours the exhibit will be artificially lit. Boston Properties will supply power for the lighting on site and the hours of lighting will be controlled with a timer. The location of the exhibit is away from required snow removal and as a result will be away from any equipment used to remove snow.

The hours of the install will be throughout the morning into the early evening. The installation will require 1" by 12" holes into the grass for each of the vertical members. 20 in-ground well lights will be installed and will require 3" round holes 4" deep into the existing lawn. Materials and tools will be stored on site within the BP parking garage during the install period. Vehicular drop off area will be coordinated with BP and will not require any long term parking permit. Signage will be placed around the exhibit stating that the exhibit is not be climbed on. At the end of the exhibit the entire project will be dismantled and removed from the Boston Properties site.