We are not defined by our borders, but by our bonds.
Type & Location: Western Sahara Border Infrastructure
Client: Immigrants and Refugees to Morocco
Size: Standard Site: 15000m², Building: 4960m²
Instructor & Time: Dan Li, MIT March; 2020 Fall Competition
Co-worker: Ningyuan Deng, Jinze Wu
The border is the bridge of mankind and the continuation of human civilization. But in the past few decades, borders around the world have become symbols of conflict, racism, fear, inequality and division.
This design is located in the berm zone controlled by Morocco and Polisario in Western Sahara. It aims to use the cultural elements of local arches and dye vats from a cultural and social perspective, which serves as bridges of opportunity to improve lifestyle of people, refugees, and entrepreneurs which could boost the two nations regional economy and cultural growth, not being treats anymore.
Project 1A1: Elevation View to the Dyeing Machine
Project1A2: Berm Condition with Main Spots
A Mapping Shows the Berm Border, Migration Route and Social Conflicts
Project 1A3: Inner View to the Dyeing Machine
What do people think of when they talk about borders? Under normal circumstances, the existence of boundaries means a set of contradictions. From history to the present, the border in Western Sahara has been the intersection of human rights, race, conflict and war, cultural and economic differences. While it is regarded as a dangerous place with the refugee problems by people, it also implies the possibilities and opportunities brought by border flows, which includes the economic development and culture exchange with berm.
Project1A4: Berm Standard Sector Design Overview
A site plan shows how berm service spots connected to form a crossing line.
Project 2A1: Inner View to the Corridor from the Upper Level
Project 2A2: Perspective View to the Central Plaza Garden
Project 2A3: Perspective View for the Immigration Office
The main building of Berm adopts the arch and circle of Moroccan architectural symbols to organize space and architectural form. The space is divided by curved shapes of different sizes, and a circular skylight is used to increase the indoor lighting and permeability. The arch shape not only constitutes an orderly space function, but also creates a strong agglomeration by using the same language to create unique features.
Project 3A1: Sequence of the Plan & Section
A plan & Section shown the spacial arrangement and the surrounding cultural landscape
The interior of the building is composed of the main function space and auxiliary communication space. The arch shape makes the light full of changes, and the corridor space becomes full of modeling and rhythm. After the immigrants arrive at the lobby, they can complete communication and affairs there and then enter the bathing or the events square for in-depth exchange. Finally, they can choose whether to stay and read before departure.
Project 3A2: Detail Design For the Dyeing Machine
The exterior is arranged in an orderly manner with shelves which can hang dyed cloth. The sequence of the frame and the dyeing vat is connected to the main building through a tunnel, and different paths and building combinations can be formed according to the different forms of each berm.
Each frame is arranged along the height difference of berm itself, from top to bottom, to help the arid desert area to collect morning and evening temperature difference water. In this way, the underground water network can be combined with the surrounding dye vat ponds to efficiently use the local water resources. In the detail design, the top surface of the rainwater collection system is mainly considered to prevent evaporation and the bottom surface of the anti-permeation. At the same time, the dyeing conveying device and the night lighting pole are considered, so that the entire building and the surrounding device system becomes organic, cyclic, efficient with full Regional characteristics and social responsibility, to achieve the purpose of cultural exchange and economic symbiosis.