Mediating the Borders
Three Border Conditions in Bogotá, Colombia
Role
Tool
Duration
Collaborator
Master Thesis Project, TU DELFT
Autocad, Photoshop, Rhino
2015-1016
Eve Hocheng
CONTEXT
The research on the urban conditions of Bogota is on stratification zoning which illustrates different income neighborhoods of the city. Our interest and curiosity lies on the topic of borders which define these socio-economic zones on the municipal map. Our question prior to the field visit to Bogota was: How do these invisible borders occur in the physical world?
MY POSITION
Through our investigation and fieldwork on these Strata borders in Bogota, we understood that in the contemporary city and global context various types of borders exist. These mechanisms are generated by physical, geographical, political, social, cultural and economic differences. They have various strength and influences on their surrounding. Some of these mechanisms act restrictive between parties so that we see them as “boundaries”. And some perform as communication and interaction zones between the parties which we consider as “borders”. Concluding our fieldwork and research, we identify Boundaries which are territories, limits from obvious to invisible and Borders as trans-zones that create potential grounds for exchange as resource for public activities.
- The Three Intervention -
San Martin Neighborhood
Bullring
Modern Art
Museum
Independence
Park
Plenetarium
International
Center
1 Modern Art Museum of Bogota and Independence Park
“Mediating Through Adaptation”
2 San Martin Neighborhood
“Mediating Through a System that Enables Adaptation and Growth”
3 Encounter
“Mediating through Guiding”
Intervention strategies are focused on mediating the borders between the fragments in order to re-articulate the area and enhance the urban experince by pedestrian level. The word “mediate” definitions such as to settle as an intermediary between the parties, acting through an intervening agency and exhibiting indirect causation, connection or relation. Our intent for the interventions,
where the site offers opportunities, are supported by definitions of “mediate”. We identified two important locations with three axial relationships in the area as the site of our architectural interventions. Location of Calle 26 between Modern Art Museum of Bogota and the Independence Park, and location of the San Martin neighborhod area. Three sites for intervention on mediating the borders.
1. Modern Art Museum
The first area of intervention covers the 26th street which has become a big obstacle for the pedestrian movement since 1940s. A museum extension crossing over 26th Street reaching to the Park is proposed. The public route continues from the entrance platform of MAMBO and provides access to the Independence Park for public.
A continuous movement is aimed towards the park. The technique uses lightweight structures to create the exhibition space. The frameless glass facade is the minimal separation of interior and exterior, providing the visitors panoramic views towards the park, mountains, and surrounding buildings, adding on to the overall visual experience of the city.
Sunken Garden extension to the existing museum
New extension towards the Independence Park
Cross section from the Museum Extension
Model pictures
Exploded axonometric diagram
2.San Martin Neighborhood
San Martin's masterplan is created from the contextual conditions and characteristics, transitioning from a closed and introverted walled-block typology (Colombian National Museum) to an open and stage-performance typology (Bullfight Ring). To enhance the symbolic meanings of the historical landmarks, an axial route connects both buildings. Another layer of organization disperses solid structures into platforms, passages, and open spaces towards the park.
