Project year: 2018 Winter Semester
Studio advisor: Professor Carlos Chacon
Team members: Carlos Cenamor, David Dillana, Sergio Rodríguez, Vic Lee, Yu-Han Chao
My main contributions to the project were the production of architectural development and drawings, and the recreation of a Grasshopper definition for pseudocode (updated in September 2022).
Abstract
This project is focused on how city noise affects toddlers in kindergartens.
The kindergarten is located in the middle of Madrid, Spain, where working parents can easily drag and drop their kids. However, the massive noise pollution in the city can have a negative impact on children, and creates stress in young ages and thereby affects their health drastically. Based on noise data provided by the city of Madrid we created a suitable infrastructure for children which is noise-proof at the given decibel levels in the area, exhibits a comfortable temperature and large amounts of natural daylight in the morning and midday hours. A technical womb, for toddlers to stay when their parents are at work.
Analysis
The kindergarten is designed for toddlers who in their growth development should be protected and cared for but also be able to discover the world by themselves. Techno Womb not only provides safety pods for preschoolers. Also a greenery pathway for children to learn their way to the outdoor areas as provided.
Noise Measurement data from: Ayuntamiento de Madrid, 2018
Vegetation map data from CloudCompare LiDAR-based point clouds generated with Volvox (by CITA).
Pseudocode
Yu-Han Chao made the recreated version of one nursing pod, updated in September 2022.
Kindergarten Plan
The pods are highly protected by the façade which has light control for children to rest well in their REM cycle along with noise control to provide a quiet space. The optic fiber offers a comfortable temperature inside the pods during the heat waves in summer and low temperatures in winter. The project creates a healthy space for toddlers comparable to the the safety, naturing environment of the wombs of their mothers.
Master Plan
The outdoor bridge extends the activity areas where our team created 6 functional centers for children to have more access to multi-function spaces to learn, play, and be neighbors in more natural areas. The center's opening times are divided into in-school time for children and the weekend for the neighborhood.
The Contact Centers
The centers have 6 functioning rooms respectively are the sketch room, gallery, library, observatory and pick-up area, communication center, and guide center. The centers are for the purpose of creating diverse activities and spaces for toddlers.
Project Roles and Responsibilities:
Concept developed and analyzed by C. Cenamor and D. Dillana.
Noise and vegetation analysis diagrams were made by Yu-Han Chao.
Modeling with Grasshopper, and Pseudocode diagrams made by Yu-Han Chao (updated version, updated in September 2022).
Architectural developed and drawings made by V. Lee and Yu-Han Chao.
Techno Womb (updated version) © September 2022
