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Situated in Tijuana, at the border between Mexico and the United States, this community centre aims to reintroduce part of the biodiversity of the Tijuana River National Estuary to a site that has been ecologically marginalised in the last century.
This aim is achieved through the construction of impact-printed modular soil structures comprised of two distinct materials. The first material is structural and derived from locally sourced soils. The second material is embedded with native bacteria and is designed to erode over time to nurture the soil and promote plant growth. As this second material relies on moisture to be weathered down, it is placed in specific environmental niches and non-structural areas of the centre. In contrast, the main structural material is placed in dry and sunny microclimates. Overall, the assembly and locations of the soil-based geometries, alongside their mass and material allocations, differ from one microclimate to another.
Over time, the form of the community centre shifts, and the soil regenerates itself – repurposing the previously abandoned and polluted land for collective usage.
Detail of the bio-integrated process, showing the different material allocations and compositions.
Evolution of structures throughout the seasons. As certain areas get wet, it encourages material weathering and plant growth.
Detail of temporary structures showing the different materials as shown by different colours.
Sideview of the nursery with views of Tijuana in the distance.
The prototype was impact printed with two different soil-based materials, one designed to fulfil the structural purpose, the other designed to erode through time in a controlled manner.
The prototypes were produced with a robotic arm with a specially designed end effector, comprised of an acrylic tube and a pneumatic plunger.
A multi-material structure designed to partially erode through time was printed with the goal of releasing plant-growth promoting bacteria.
Solar Analysis of entire site done on Ladybug
Increasing shadow area by modifying surface texture.
Allocating specific materials based on solar data.