Allegorical Infrastructure ~~ Toward a SERVANT ARCHITECTURE

EVOLO SKYSCRAPER COMPETITION

2011

Overview

The annual eVolo Skyscraper Competition is an open-ended exercise in pure fantasy. Constraints are minimal and entrants advised there are “no restrictions.” The stated purpose of the competition is “… an investigation on the public and private space and the role of the individual and the collective in the creation of a dynamic and adaptive vertical community.” This 2011 submission was intended as somewhat of a parody on “form follows function” as well as a theoretical satire of modern housewifery/househusbandry. The entire premise was built around the notion of the futility of repetitive domestic labor and how an apartment skyscraper might capitalize on the inherent economies of stacked apartments, in conjunction with the creative use of water flow and pressure, to reduce human “work.”

The central thesis of this project is that vastly increased energy resources could potentially emancipate people (primarily women) from time-intensive drudgery. I chose laundry as the paradigm. The entire skyscraper is designed as a hydro-electric generator of energy. The energy thus produced powers a piped infrastructure system for handling the washing/drying of the entire building’s laundry. You might say it is crafted as an organic-style system mimicking a biological organism.

Energy Production

The main concept of energy production revolves around a new invention — a type of water pipe lined with ball bearings connected to friction fabric so that water passing through the pipe creates electricity via friction. Miles of pipes are thus constructed within the building. In addition, streams and waterfalls with waterwheels ring the perimeter of the building’s terraces, capitalizing on gravity in producing a more conventional type of hydropower.

Labor Conservation

A vast water duct and conduit network connects all closets to a giant ultrasonic laundry cleaning system which is controlled by microchips embedded in items of clothing. Similar in concept to vacuum tubes, this network identifies, removes, cleans, dries, and returns items of clothing to closets, as programmed by the owner. The apartment dweller, thus emancipated from endless hours of toil, is free to devote her or his creative efforts to the evolution and advancement of humanity, society, and culture.