Anna Puigjaner: The continuous Interior (2018)

Fig1: Intepretes wall-less spaces in surrealist manner
Photo credit: https://www.archdaily.com/894658/how-surrealism-has-shaped-contemporary-architecture/

Nowadays, digital technologies are often seen as the ultimate solution to conducting lives in a cooperate and globalized world that connects people together and increases efficiency. However, the increased use of these technologies arise questions about privacy, security, sustainability and dependency. This also changes the relationship between individuals and between people and the environment as technology also builds boundaries between one another. 

In the article, Anna Puijganer talks about breaking boundaries and creating "wall-less" environments that doesn't revolve around technology. (Fig1) She argues that the spaces are now defined using technological objects like televisions instead of being defined by the architecture or the quality of the space instead. The solution to thinking of the world as one continuous infinite space is by enabling space through objects. This in turn could merge interior and exterior spaces as well as private and public spaces.

In today's world, it is fair to agree that technology is the biggest driving force behind the design of interior spaces. Considering that the workforce is getting more mobile, spaces are to be more experiential and more human. Designs like pods are made to create more private spaces in the human scale. (Fig2) There is a blur between interior and exterior spaces that cater to the physical and social well-being through its functions. More technology means more connectivity and flexibility. This means that while we can work from anywhere, we still need human interaction, ofcourse. With access to Wi-Fi, charging ports and power sources, even meetings could be conducted from anywhere. However, while we are being exposed to technology more than ever, our exposure to furnishings have reduced. Comfort is defined by camouflaging technologies rather than a mindful conversation. 

Fig2: Private spaces in human scale
5th year Design built - Pod
Photo credit: Dania Darra

'Endless City'

This project is a Utopian ideology of a giant 300m skyscraper in London built with its own ecosystem. It consists on intertwining ramps through business, shopping, entertainment and residential areas (Fig3a&3b). In addition to that, it also proposes parks and technologies that are aimed at reducing environmental impact and increasing sustainability. This vertical city is an approach towards creating a much needed space in crowded cities. "The building would include many of the features that can be found in a city environment, including parking, green spaces and parks, shopping districts, housing and entertainment" (Dailymail) This typology also saves space in dense cities where the architecture is spread sideways rather than upwards. Alina Valcarce, associate director of SURE Architecture, said: 'There is no break anymore, neither between street level and the skyscraper, nor between the skyscraper floors themselves." This brings us back to Anna Puigjaner's idea of blurring the lines between the spaces and creating "wall-less" spaces. 

Link: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2735522/City-sky-Ambitious-tower-block-house-thousands-people-schools-offices-shops-parks.html

Fig3a: Endless City project render
Photo credit: https://www.dailymail.co.uk

Fig3b: Endless City project section
Photo credit: https://www.dailymail.co.uk

In conclusion, these new approaches promote flexibility and faster adaptation of domestic/household spaces to various conditions and thereby lessens the need to pre-define specific spaces for specific functions. In this way, the domestic space adds onto a bigger whole that is seen as an infinite, expanding ground (Fig4). Ultimately, technology does create a well connected world by inter-linking our private and public lives together. 

Fig4: Utopian interpretation of infinite wall-less expanding ground connecting the world together
Photo credit: http://blogs.sunvalleygroup.co.za/2014/05/28/sma-design-anti-design/