AETHERSPIRE
Semester : Fall 2024
Instructor : Jose Ibarra
Location : Windsor, Detroit
Located near the River Rouge and Detroit River, this post-industrial site in Detroit sits at the nexus of environmental challenge, urban renewal, and industrial legacy. Once central to automotive and steel manufacturing, the area now faces flood risk, air toxicity, and urban fragmentation, while offering opportunities for ecological restoration and public engagement. The design vision transforms this hybrid landscape into a sustainable, community-centered zone through green infrastructure, adaptive public spaces, and integration of AI and automation. Drawing from ecological and cosmological frameworks, the project emphasizes long-term remediation, resilience, and balance between past industrial systems and future regenerative development. This statement is evolving, informed by ongoing research into the site's spatial, climatic, and ecological conditions.
Performative Construct
To gain a deeper understanding of the airflow mechanism, a performative model was constructed. In this setup, a candle was placed at the center to generate heat, causing the surrounding air to expand and increase in pressure. This pressure differential drove the heated air outward through the designated openings. Incense was positioned at the mouth of the coil-like structures to visualize the airflow patterns. These coiled forms functioned as air channels, enabling the observation and analysis of the speed and direction of air movement through the system.
Given that air is the primary element of focus, a comprehensive purification system was developed. This system consists of three key components: an ammonia filtration unit that facilitates the breakdown of ammonia into nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, followed by specialized purification chambers designed to treat each of these byproducts. The system includes pressure-regulating valves, an energy-supplying pump, and an integrated waste collection mechanism. Notably, the collected waste is redirected back into the filtration system, creating a closed-loop cycle. In the final stage, the air passes through large-scale mesh purifiers before being released back into the natural environment, ensuring maximum purification and minimal environmental impact.
