Name: Rocco Piantelli
Track: Architecture
Studio: Form Studies
Year: MSc2 / 2024
Type: Design project
Tutor: Mieke Vink
Description:
Located in the Zwarte Polder in the region of Zeeland, the project explores the physical boundary between an inner state protected by an artificial dike and an outer one at the mercy of the forces of nature. Referring to the typology of bunkers and their particular relationship to the dune landscape, the building partially sinks into a dune that directly faces the void of the sea. The different functions are exploded into individual geometries, conceived as single bunkers and designed specifically for each. The building is divided into three parts along the dune, which gradually slopes towards the sea: day living spaces at the highest point, guest rooms arranged along the dune's curves, and workspaces aligned with the coastline. A network of corridors and stairs links these three spaces primarily beneath the sand, making the building's parts appear independent. The spaces are protected by thick walls that stabilize the building with their mass, without the need for deep foundations that would damage the structure of the dune. This thickness also offers the possibility of digging various elements such as seats, horizontal surfaces and shelves into the wall, reducing the need for physical furniture. This structural typology allows the bunker to be gradually eroded by natural forces until it disappears.