Project: Iconography, FALL 2019

Collaborators: Marco Adly, Chi Un Lee, Teodor Mlynczyk, Alexey Vasiliev

Gaia is a science fiction exploration of how architecture may look in a dystopian society. In this project, we take the perspective of a people fully immersed in their world, presenting Gaia as a parody of an advertisement for a current-year urban condominium development, complete with dramatic renderings, and a text which oversells the project. Gaia sells itself as a the world we would like today—one with renewable and recyclable resources—however, it does so in a very dystopian manner: human bodies are harvested, consumed and used as a material and commodity. In the society of Gaia, all of the grotesqueries which we would consider morbid and unfathomable today, are normalized and accepted as a beneficial and basic part of society. In fact, these societal norms have allowed the people of Gaia to survive their dying world and surpass previous generations. Gaia challenges to reader to let go of their presuppositions of what is normal and sacred, and to imagine what the world would look like, through its architecture, under different axioms.

“Welcome to Gaia, where we bring to life the newest generation of inspired living. Nestled between 80 square kilometres of distinct landforms, the rocky peaks of the Ourean Mountains and glimmering waters of Lake Thalassa, Gaia is born of it’s spectacular geographic setting.”

“At Gaia, you will always be connected to what matters most. Whether it be neighbors, family or beyond, you will be part of a close knit and amenities-rich community, teeming with life and activity. All of Gaia’s amenities are located within walking and biking distance.”

“Housing at Gaia elevates everyday living to luxury. Each complex at Gaia begins with the structural power of braced ossite frames which combine the dignified appearance of marble with durability of ossite steel... This exposed skeleton frame is thoughtfully punctuated by precast carnite dwellings placed within. Surrounding these units are a multifaceted arrangements of terraces and community spaces for shared amenities.”

“For nearly all of history and prehistory, we have allowed our biomass to be underutilized, and it’s potential energy untapped. By continuously, reclaiming and reprocessing human potential energy, Gaia harnesses the renewable resource of human biomass.”

“Biocrops are grown within Mother and planted at a specific location depending the biocrop strain. From here, a blend of fertilizer and energy is injected directly into the growing crops, to increase their rate of development. The biocrop also directly fed minerals as well as carbon extracted directly from the atmosphere. Once the crop has grown, it is aborted and the harvest is complete.”

“Each moment in Gaia is a carefully crafted experience, designed to be the pinnacle of ease and convenience. All our residents can enjoy the expansive selection of diverse experiences, both indoor and outdoor. Urban spaces at Gaia are active, safe and of human scale. With a variety of public spaces, as well as a diverse geological setting, we encourage the people of Gaia to explore the city with boundless possibilities.”

“Helping humans thrive in the unispecial world, you will be part of a project which helps to realize and safeguard humanity’s full potential as the only life-form remaining on Earth. Gaia turns away from the failed methods which had extinguished all non-human life before, focusing, instead, on a new lifestyle of reuse and recycling.”