Un:Veil – Cloud City | Masters Design Project on Fictional Architecture

Site Context

The Cloud City studio offers a radical reimagining of potential future uses for the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Could radical ecological and architectural experimentation be occurring on the bridge? Is it a place where people, plants, or animals can find refuge or sanctuary? Could it develop into a public space, a place that unites people, and evokes wonder, ritual, or significance?

Design Process

The process started with exploring aggregate and cellular forms that were obtained computationally and found in nature. Subsequently, these spatial form-making experiments were integrated with components of the “collective” programme, such as parks, communal areas, edible gardens, and shared living, working, farming, and recreational spaces. These new combinations served as the foundations of a larger visionary project.

The students made use of advanced tools for fabrication, design, and computation. They placed a strong emphasis on using parametric modelling and simulation software in conjunction with the resources of the Digital Craft Lab to explore and iterate through a multitude of potential futures. They were able to physically interact with CCA’s digital fabrication tools and associated technologies in the studio.

Final Outcome

The design takes shape through the following phases: 

1- Complex Programming: The work is developed through rigorous representational techniques of model-making and drawing that unite processes of analysis, programming, and design.

2- Use of Precedents & Theory: These include precedents for programmatic strategies, massing strategies, material or envelope strategies, and representational strategies.

3- Logics of Material and Assembly: Developing synthetic approaches to architectural detailing, connections, and joints that address technical needs for weatherproofing, structure, and building performance, but also reflect broader architectural ideas of circulation, program, and public access.

4- Awareness of Cultural Diversity: Exposed to a variety of viewpoints and contexts which begins with what each student brings to the learning environment as well as new diverse cultural references.

5- Methods of Critical Analysis 

6- Written and Verbal Communication

The final outcome of the project was presented in the form of a mini comic book with an interesting design narrative that takes the reader on a journey.

Scene 01: The Search

The unresolved case of Ellory May’s disappearance caused Detective Luna Maya a lot of restless nights. She had always been intrigued by the enigmas that surrounded Ellory’s Disappearance and the Bay Bridge. 25 years after Ellory disappeared, the redwood park opened to the public, but no one could comprehend how the bay bridge could ever have a forest growing considering the lack of nutrient-rich soil and the fact that it was on top of a bridge!

Not only that, nobody ever had access to the part that was hanging from under the bridge. Luna was compelled to dive deeper into this investigation not only by all these questions that were rising up but also the lack of any proof indicating the project’s connection to Ellory.

She thus made the decision to look into the rumours of a top-secret project being carried out under the bridge, very well knowing that the redwood park was a cover-up.

Scene 02: The Approach

In an effort to discover another piece of information that would help her locate Ellory, Luna made the decision to take a stroll around the redwood park over the bay bridge. Luna is surprised to see the size of the project as she gets closer and how it has encircled the bridge and turned into one of the bay’s most well-liked attractions. She couldn’t wait to learn more about the project, which appeared to be an extraterrestrial being cleverly camouflaged as a public park.

Scene 03: Strolling Around

When Luna finally arrived, she was amazed by the size of the redwood trees that were growing. While walking around she noticed that the top of the bridge was holding the soil but she was still confused as to where the soil came from! With the aid of Juno, her dog, she discovered that the soil’s PH was over 7, indicating that it was rich in nutrients and that rich soil was not present anywhere in the world.

Scene 04: Restricted Access

Everything on the bridge felt suspicious, and Luna wanted to find out more. She chose to go down the ramps that were constructed between the soil beds and realized she had no access to go any farther. However, she realized that there were two sets of veils, one underneath the other, and that these almost sphere-like structures were really biospheres dangling from the outer veil, each of which contained what looked like an ecosystem. She made the decision to approach one of the biospheres closer after being astounded by what she observed.

Scene 05: Who let you in?

Luna attempted to approach one of the biospheres, but the security wouldn’t let her through. But she wasn’t one to give up and was able to swipe a key card from one of the researchers walking past. She was able to sneak into the biosphere B-212, where she learned that it was built to support a self-sustaining ecosystem for preservation of a certain species. She ran across a researcher who mistook her for a trainee and began outlining the goals of the experiment to her. 

Every biosphere included a carefully regulated environment to protect the lifeforms that would flourish there. In order to demonstrate that the biosphere B-212 is a high alpine habitat in the fall, the researcher hands Luna a raspberry to taste.

She began to delve further into the idea since it captivated her. She found that the bridge was the perfect place for the experiment, and the biospheres were a means of sustaining and preserving life.

Scene 06: The Marvel

In an effort to learn more about Ellory’s absence, Luna is given the opportunity to explore the inside of a different biosphere, B-401, where she meets the founder, James. Her attention peaked when she entered this chamber and saw individuals interacting with mycelium. She discovered that the veil was made of 3D printed mycelium forms with tension cables running through the center and that it served as a wind and water harvesting mechanism for the ecosystems. She stumbled upon a wall of never-before-seen plans for the project. She was perplexed when she saw the scope of the endeavor while staring out the window and seeing a robotic arm put another biosphere together.

Scene 07: Catenaries

A tiny graphic on the blueprints caught her attention and she realized that a web of catenaries was the project’s main structural component. The fact that the catenary geometry was used both on the front and the sides of the project explained why it was so structurally solid!

Scene 08: The Map

While Luna tries to understand why this project was kept a secret in the first place, Juno scans the designs as evidence. She is puzzled by the plans since she is still unsure about the project’s growth. Was everything done to help the redwood park?

She is perplexed by a segmental cut in the 50-year perspective. The illustration displayed biospheres with controlled access, holding capacities, chambers that were physically connected to the biospheres and living pods for researchers. She noticed that she was in one of the biospheres outlined in the drawing and decided to use the section as a map to guide herself through the project.

She found herself in awe of the project’s intricacy when she saw an actual display of a section of it that featured the veil, biospheres, living pods, and a redwood park.

Scene 09: The Mudmen

After making repeated trips to the facility, Luna won the founder’s trust and began contributing her ideas, not realizing how strongly she felt a part of the project. The project managers were astounded by Luna’s skills and dedication. They decided to tell her that in addition to mycelium, the biospheres employed human composting to produce nutrient rich soil for supporting these biospheres and the redwood park.

The experiment’s purpose was to preserve a diversity of species, the soil produced amazing results. Initially, the food was only produced to feed the researchers who resided in the veil, but today it is also sold at the Redwood Park farmer’s market. Luna found this to be a startling realization, but on learning more, she was certain that this was the only way to feed the masses. She began to interact with more people in order to be a part of the project, losing sight of the original motivation for her visit.

Scene 10: Found?

When Luna encounters someone who remarkably resembles Ellory while strolling through the redwood park with James, James reveals that they established the initiative together. She and James were among the initial partners and he explains why this endeavor was kept under wraps until the redwood park’s launch.

James introduces Luna to Ellory and Ellory explains why she went missing 25 years ago, after Luna bombarded her with questions which ended up revealing her identity as a detective.

“This began as a project to preserve a variety of species for the future which meant employing controversial ways of getting things done, which is why we had to go into hiding. We quickly realized that getting nutrient-rich soil was necessary for achieving the objective. We partnered with experts in the field and chose to keep it a secret. We started distributing the food to the masses after we fed at least 100 researchers as part of our phase 1 and had seen changes in their bodies. The records revealed astounding outcomes!”

Scene 11: Case Solved?

James discusses how the project will grow over the next couple of years and how investors from all around the world are collaborating to implement this idea on a worldwide scale owing to the lack of nutrient-rich food and preservation of species for the future. Luna is escorted out after signing a non-disclosure agreement, and is unsure about how to share this knowledge as they were doing this for the greater good. She glances at the bridge while being taken away on a patrol boat and thinks how this project adopts a new approach to the cycles of life in order to preserve earth’s ecosystems for the future and provide the world with a better chance at existence.

Did she really solve the case?

Conclusion: Through a fictional narrative, the project presents an innovative perspective on life’s cycles in an effort to preserve the planet’s ecosystems for coming generations and increase mankind’s chances of survival. The narrative showcases how a team effort from researchers and designers will be beneficial to these ecosystems’ longevity.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]