Atlantropa = Europe + Africa

In the 1930s, Herman Sörgel proposed the largest technical utopia of the 20th century. The proposal included a partial dewatering of the Mediterranean and the construction of an embankment to connect Europe and Africa at the Gibraltar Strait. Publication was limited during World War I, especially regarding ideas that encouraged European forces to unite in construction. The basic idea for this project included an enormous dam capable of providing its own power and a 400 ft high tower designed by supporting architect Peter Behrens.

In regards to the specifics of the project, Atlantropa would involve the closure of the Strait of Gibraltar and reduce the Mediterranean Sea by 30 percent. In addition to promoting economic and social integration, the dam would generate hydroelectricity from the 88 cubic meters of water shooting through each second. Through evaporation and the break from the Atlantic Ocean, 3.5 million square kilometers of land would be created as the water level of the Mediterranean drops by 100 meters. It would have a significant effect on the surrounding seaport communities, preventing port operations after a 30 meter decrease. The diagrams below make comparisons based on the new land created and the water displacement.









Water displacement would not only affect surrounding Mediterranean cities, such as Genova, but also cities and communities around the world. The water displaced from the Mediterranean Sea would cause the water to rise 1 meter around the rest of world. Water is a powerful force with the strength to destoy development or completely wipe away land, just as it is being created. The photos below illustrate the possibilities for a port of Genova as well as the effects of water deplacement either to or from region. Who can benefit from reclamation land or even reclamation present structure? To what extent is the displacement of water powerful? How might displacement develop into a Mega Structure?

History of Gibraltar Strait Dam

wednesday thoughts

I might just be speaking for myself but I feel like I'm still learning how to best communicate and clarify my ideas. The video can be a little intimidating and the chat a little hard to follow but both will improve with time. The chat can be an effective way to talk with the class but tough to maintain conversation over several hours. The video chat feels just like a personal desk crit- maybe if we could just figure out how to enable that to take place in the studio.

As far as the studio project itself, I have really become interested in the Japanese Metabolism after selecting the Ocean City. The ideas are closely related to several projects that I have always admired and am interested in possible connections. I think the idea of Modularism and the temporary, which is something that we explored a lot in the Barcelona studio, is interesting in relation to the megastructure. As evident in my MegaBlog entry, the case study left me with a lot of questions. I am finding it more motivating to further explore individual ideas of interest with the additional freedom this year.

Development of Ocean City

Developed by Japanese architect Kiyonori Kikutake, the project Ocean City centers on the idea of a marine city composed of high towers with interchangable units. While this particular proposal sited the towers on floating circular pads, other models also explored the idea of partially submerging the towers. Instead of bridges, the city is linked together with small capsults with the flexibility of being plugged into the towers or replaced as needed. The design deals with the permanent and flexibility for change and growth with the towers and capsules respectively.


The city houses around 5000 inhabitants, the same size as the city of Charlotte, North Carolina,seen in the image below to the right, with each tower being around 25 meters in diameter and 140 meters in height.

Kikutake was one of five architects and designers that were a part of the Metabolist movement. In their book Metabolism 1960, these architects published a new set of concepts based largely on the ideas of Kenzo Tange's Plan of Tokyo. The goal was to provide structure for the rapid growth of Japan's cities by exploring solutions to the megastructure and changing urban environmental elements. Ocean City is categorized as an "open system" comprised of separately fabricated systems. The idea of modularism is introduced as an attempt to lend structures as a whole more permanence with less permanent substructures. Adaptability to change is an important Metabolic ingredient.

These ideas open discussion as to what are these elements that prompt more rapid change. Which aspects of the environment require frequent change and which ones are long lasting? Kikutake was significantly influenced by architects such as Le Corbusier, Ando, and the latest technology. How can today's new building technology impact modularism? Can newer styles such as organic architecture, the idea of reuse, and technological ideas by Rogers and Piano add to a style for design of prefabricated elements? The sketches below isolated elements from relative projects that could possibility extend to new prefabricated elements.

Here goes

Back at Clemson now and it looks to be a year of many decisions. It’s finally time to determine what I want to take from my six semesters of studio and time in Europe and what is the next step. I am looking forward to having the chance to define my personal style. I have been exposed to many different perspectives and types of design and want to utilize what I have taken from those experiences. In previous studios, I was not allowing myself the freedom of design, the freedom to explore creativity apart from others’ expectations.

This semester I want to embrace that freedom and my personal interests in sustainability and functionality. The concept of the Mega consumes our lives; between communication, design teams, networking, the internet, and the demand for often larger yet more efficient structures, society is becoming more connected. I am looking forward to exploring how the required infrastructure can become an integral part of the design with the goal to produce efficient and functional Mega structures.

my goal...in a while