Embracing infrastructure: A re-interpretation of architectural design and ornamentation on a water tower in Tranås
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Architecture and urban design (MPARC), MSc
Publicerad
2024
Författare
Gindahl, Jennifer
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
This thesis examines how architecture can establish relations between water infrastructures, society, and water consumers. Based on this examination, including a typological study of the development of water towers, as well as current architectural thinking around infrastructure, the thesis culmimates in the design of a new water tower for the city of Tranås, located on the border between Småland and Östergötland, a municipality that currently has no water tower. Water infrastructure was one celebrated through decoration and ornamentation because access to water could not be taken for granted. With time this has disappeared as water provision is taken for granted, something not good for climate or symbol of city which the design aims to solve.
Infrastructure is a precondition for cities to exist and modern infrastructure creates a huge maze of structure underneath the ground. Water infrastructure is life obtaining as a vital source of water and the infrastructure system can be used as a both including, excluding and colonial tool to bring together or separate parts of a society, this is taken in consideration during early design phase. Water towers are important for the society’s resilience against unpredictable happenings. Its purpose is to storage water that is enough to provide the city for a specific period. Water towers are low-tech buildings that only uses the laws of physics to function.
Taking cues from research presented in Infrastructural Love (Frichot et al., 2023), the thesis explores the significance a water tower can have from three perspectives, as a landmark, as a symbol, and as a salience for citizens and visitors of a city. How can architectural thinking be applied to water infrastructure objects and buildings? The research charts the emergence of water towers in the late 19th century until today, and investigates the hidden workings of the water infrastructure system as well as its objects and buildings.
The design examines and discusses how understanding of architecture in relation to water infrastructure above ground can expand the subject of architecture and to the society.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Water infrastructure, hydraulic engineering, landmark, symbol, urban planning, salience, water towers typology