L ’Unite Flottante | Irene Rodriguez Alvarez

LOCATION: The catalyst in the creative process of this project is Le Corbusier´s trip eastwards. He traveled to Athens by boat in 1911. The site for this project is located in a cargo ship named (the) Alexander docked in the Port of Paleo Faliro, located in southern Athens. This site was chosen in an effort to both commemorate and emulate Le Corbusier´s inability to dock when he arrived in Athens. The Alexander is a container ship of 140 m in length , which is currently in disuse and is ready for the scrap yard.
Honorable Mention |  RTFA 2014 Awards
Category: Mixed Use Concept 
Participant  Name: Irene Rodriguez Alvarez
Country: España 
CONCEPT: The project is regarded to be a study of geometrical form and space using Voronoi´s three-dimensional structure to fill the preexisting shape of the ship. The Voronoi form fills and exceeds the limit imposed by the structure of the ships´ bulkheads, overflowing and breaking the straight lines imposed by the ship´s hull.
DESIGN: At the same time, it has been contemplated how one might live in this structure, taking into account the oblique nature of the Voronoi form. This design endeavors to make the user aware of the importance of gravity through the imbalance and instability of the Voronoi form found within the building. This concept is further underscored by the fact that the structure is found within a boat.  In addition, the planes found within each of the cells of the Voronoi shape offer a more efficient use of the space found within the building.
Various strategies can be employed to convert the unique nature of the Voronoi geometry into an advantage to the user. For example, furniture can be built-in to the horizontal or vertical faces of each cell or they can be folded or unfolded from the wall, thus allowing the user to maximize their use of space.
PROGRAM: The use of each space within each cell lends itself to the oblique angles of its walls. The mixed program of Hostel-Le Corbusier Foundation makes L ’Unite  Flottante a building in constant activity which would be a cultural attraction for the city where it is located.
ENERGY EFFICIENT: Athens Climate analysis reveals the need to protect the boat from high summer temperatures and direct exposure to sunlight. The project seeks to maximize energy efficiency and rely on passive systems for the cooling, heating, ventilation, and temperature control of the interior space.
For example the choice of building enclosures depends on factors such as orientation and sun exposure. The enclosures incorporate solar control systems. Furthermore the 4 skylights allow achieving thermal comfort (greenhouse effect), allow natural ventilation (chimney effect) and natural lighting.
FACILITIES: Taking the aviation world and a high-tech naval architecture that integrates into their envelopes and their furniture facility is proposed. In the design of the electrical installation and lighting has given special importance the ground plane. The lighting draws paths on the floor. Besides furniture modules incorporate their own light and electrical installation.