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0 Architect: Ricardo Orts – Ulises Studio
Scope: Small community
Location: Southeastern Asia
AI tools used: Midjourney, Other
Other tools used: I scaled the images on Runway to 4K. No other postproduction methods used.
Bamboo Bubbles is a dynamic solution for cities facing the challenges of urbanization. By combining bamboo sticks and poles with recycled plastic, this constructive system offers an array of benefits, allowing infinite spatial combinations due to its modularity and flexibility. The system is designed to be modular, meaning it can be used on a small scale for a single dwelling or expanded to larger scales to support communities. The modularity also allows for customization and flexibility.
Bamboo Bubbles presents a desirable future because it offers a sustainable and affordable solution for the challenges of urbanization.
Scenario considerations: Bamboo Bubbles is designed to be scalable, making it suitable for a single dwelling or an entire community. The use of collective spaces, including rooftops and terraces, reinforces community activities and provides space for growing food to sustain the community. The rooftops are not just for housing solar panels, but are also social places for leisure, and include enough spaces to grow food to sustain the entire community living in the dwelling.
Regional considerations: Regions in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, have large reserves of bamboo and a significant plastic waste problem. By using this system, they could repurpose the plastic waste into a useful material for building, while also promoting the growth and use of bamboo as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials. But another advantage is that this system could be applied in many regions of the world, but regions with a significant plastic waste problem and a large reserve of bamboo may be particularly well-suited for its implementation.
Regenerative design considerations: The ease and speed of construction make it possible to build new structures without the environmental impact of traditional construction methods. Additionally, the use of recycled plastic helps to address the issue of waste while providing an affordable and sustainable housing solution. The combination of these materials creates a unique aesthetic that blends traditional and modern design. In a world where we are facing an ecological collapse, it is crucial to explore new ways of building and living that support local biodiversity and reduce our impact on the environment.
Personal experience: As someone who has lived for many years in collective living spaces around Europe, I have experienced firsthand the importance of adaptable and flexible design solutions that can accommodate diverse needs and lifestyles. My interest in vernacular construction systems and materials has led me to travel across the world, studying how different cultures have used natural resources to build sustainable and resilient communities. These experiences have informed my proposal by emphasizing the value of local materials and techniques, as well as the importance of incorporating communal spaces that encourage social interaction.
Why is this a desirable future? Bamboo Bubbles presents a desirable future because it offers a sustainable and affordable solution for the challenges of urbanization. Its regenerative design principles support local biodiversity and create thriving communities while preserving traditional skills and supporting local economies. The combination of bamboo and recycled plastic creates a unique aesthetic that blends traditional and modern design, and the modular system offers customization and flexibility. The use of collective spaces, including rooftops and terraces, reinforces community activities and provides space for growing food to sustain the community.
Design process
First I conceptualized the idea and sketch to visualize myself the desire results, and the I started prompting. I focused at the beginning to find the exterior image I had in mind of the building, and once I was satisfy with the result started to modify the prompt to achieve other perspectives (detail, interiors, rooftop, elevetions..) Finally I scaled the images to 4k in Runaway. I didnt used any impainting or photoshop for a personal reason, I like nowadays to show my text-to-prompt images as they come out from Midjourney as an statement to show where these technologies are nowadays.
Architecture sight