Warmth has traditionally been achieved within architecture through deploying an envelope, which hermetically divides the interior from the exterior. Instead of separating one from the physical environment, our proposal examines the expansion of the envelope into a three-dimensional field condition that envelops the visitor. Constructed through a series of threaded loops, the further one moves into the installation, the more they are softly enclosed for intimate experiences while still remaining connected to their context. Colour-coded through layers of temperature nesting, the loops are hung at a series of heights to enable different forms of occupation and engagement — swinging, sitting, resting, hanging, climbing, leaning, etc. The existing lifeguard chair is used as an armature to support the roof canopy and creates a wind-shield within the installation. Program, structure, and envelope are merged into a fluid field condition that is constantly negotiating the subject — the environmental forces of wind and temperature and social forces of gathering.

PROJECT CREDITS

Project: Enveloop — Winterstations Competition
Year: 2014
Location: Toronto, Canada
Office: The Open Workshop
Project Team:
Neeraj Bhatia
Cesar Lopez
Jeremy Jacinth
Blake Stevenson