This project narrates the evolution of a millennial story; It responds to that ancestral life necessity making the impossible possible: thus granting a permanent dwelling in a place with extremely unbalanced resources.
We have created a human-friendly machine; you could call it a ‘guest-ecosystem’ installed into a ‘host-ecosystem’, the Nevada desert. Drawing from the latter, resources that are promptly restored and using the existing energy sources without affecting the host-ecosystem.
We have combined existing techniques and technologies to recreate a glassless “terrarium”, designed to provide energy, food, water to support the life of a community of 15/30 people who could live around it.
We define POOHA a smart semi permanent architecture conceived as a modular structure.
It has the function of balancing itself in its environment and, in doing so, allows the well-being of the human community.
10,000 years ago in the Nevada Desert lived Paiute tribes; they were forced into a nomadic lifestyle, imposed by the scarcity of food and water. Despite adversities and the necessity to roam, the natives' strong faith and devotion towards nature was the elements that gave them life.
They called the supernatural force which made things happen beyond their capacity of comprehension - POOHA. And with extreme reverence, they respected its action, almost divine.
Type: LAGI2020 Competition . Collaboration ZISO x PXLs art collective: Marco Cisaria, Carlotta Orioli, Michela Belli, Paola Rossetto x Consultants: Siemens + Giorgia Ponetti
Habitat, Fly Ranch x Burning Man
Nevada Desert, USA
Pooha
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2020
Type: LAGI2020 Competition . Collaboration ZISO x PXLs art collective: Marco Cisaria, Carlotta Orioli, Michela Belli, Paola Rossetto x Consultants: Siemens + Giorgia Ponetti
POOHA’s development uses the golden ratio as a module for the design of all volumes. The circular shape promotes equality and is based on the old way people used to settle and gather (i.e. fire camp).
The main body consists of an inclined halo (16.5%) oriented to the South. It has a diameter of 25m, grafted into the ground with a minimal depth of foundation in order to preserve balance and to have the least impact on the host- ecosystem's terrain.
We have optimized the foundation's counterweight needs by including a 1000lt water basin. This basin is POOHA's water source and storage.
The inclination is chosen for a dual function: the first to recreate a shaded area and a shelter, the second to allow, in its exposed part, an optimal solar radiation consumption throughout the day.
The central part of the structure is a circular walkable solar photovoltaic panels, this is POOHA’s primary source of energy. This panels can also produce energy from human movement, so it is imperative to dance as much as possible.
The main body (halo) is designed to accommodate a multilevel hydroponic glass greenhouse on its entire circumference divided into 5 parts, suitable for hosting 3 different types and cultivation techniques.
Access to the greenhouse is via a gentle staircase that makes the entire structure accessible, offering a panoramic viewpoint at the top (6m high).
The entire architecture is covered by a telescopic structure that makes the greenhouse area fully sheltered thanks to a heat shield made with aerospace technical material, functional to the thermal stabilization of the greenhouse and its protection.
POOHA’s design is ingrained in the 10 principles of Burning Man: anyone can be part of POOHA. Wheelchair guests can access the halo part by using the snaps at the bottom of its path. A braille indication and blind path are integrated into the whole POOHA to make it accessible for visually impaired visitors.
POOHA halo will have an ergonomic handrail designed to suit all ages, and the main body of POOHA has punctured holes for views of the outside in various heights and locations.
