A tree walks, a house walks, too
Architectural Design / Daejeon, South Korea
The palm trees of Costa Rica may look solid and unchanging, but they are actually taking part in a slow migration. As their roots grow, the trees move across the forest floor at a rate of up to two or three centimetres per day.
We dreamed of a home that would adapt to the behaviour of its inhabitants. As the trees move slowly, so too does the physical form of this living space.
Where, How do you live?
A walking palm tree in Costa Rica
These trees may look solid and unchanging, but they are actually taking part in a slow migration. As their roots grow, the trees move across the forest floor at a rate of up to two or three centimetres per day. Peter Vransky, a paleobiologist from the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Bratisla, has documented this phenomenon.
As the soil erodes, the tree grows roots that regain its footing on more solid ground. As these roots settle in the new soil, the old roots lift slowly into the air. Through the process, the tree will gradually relocate to a place of better sunlight and more sturdy ground over the course of a few years.
How the sheath opens
A sphere is a three-dimensional figure made of one circle with the diameter of a semicircle as the axis of rotation. Since the sphere is a rotating body, when cut into a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the cross section is circular. Spheres have the same shape when viewed from different directions, so that the cross section is always circular, even when cut in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
The sphere is also the most basic figure, the most primitive form of all life. It is also the most perfect form. Unlike triangles and squares, which are basic figures, they can be combined without breaking any basic shapes.
How the sheath opens
How the outer shell is completely open and the inner shell is visible
How units meet and how they form an aggregate
Floor Plan
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Floor
In existing dwellings, the form of the floor is fixed. It creates one particular impression that cannot change. The division of floors is also settled. Movement between floors is only possible via stairs and elevators.
Now we propose a changing bottom floor. Users can customize their homes by re-arranging the structure of the floor.
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Skin
The most common shell we see in a dwelling is concrete. It is strong in external resistance, but lacks fluidity. Light can only enter through glass. The placement of lighting in the home is already determined. The fixed outer form also limits the behavior of those living inside.
We suggest the use of a garment-like jacket. This makes it possible to re-arrange and to express one’s tastes.
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Wall
In existing dwellings, each room is separated by a wall. It is fixed at that location and can no longer move. Each room has only one particular purpose.
Now we propose a light wall. Light walls can moved to suit the needs of the user. Lighter walls allow for a more flexible use of space.
The Shell
The shell can shift between the properties of a fully transparent, semi-transparent, or completely opaque glass, making the interior invisible. The user can freely change this skin according to his / her mood. It’s like choosing clothes. As clothing is a means of representing oneself, the outer shell expresses the user’s personality.
All circular windows of the shell are ports for connection with other spheres. When not meeting with other spheres, it acts as an existing window through which the wind blows. But when connecting to other spheres, the circular window acts as a door. These openings, which act as windows and doors, allow people to move between spheres. Instead of talking online, you can talk face to face and share space together.
The outer shell rotates. It can be freely rotated to connect with other spheres. The small window in the sphere fits into the large window of another sphere. And when the windows open, the network is established.
The Platforms
The platforms making up the floor are split into half sections. The two platforms divided into semicircles can be rotated around a cylinder to become a semicircle, a circle, and a platform halfway in size. This is up to you.
The platform can be moved up and down. The divided platforms can be moved vertically on a column. The vertical movement of the platform allows the user to divide the space into two or three floors.
When it rains,
rainwater is collected in the skin and circulates inside the skin. Rain collected from the skin is used for living water, and also used to grow plants. Water also brings internal warming effects through various chemical reactions. It is cycled through the system.
