pics from final crits

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Palenque-Situation Room Site map

Overall view of landscape and constructions.
Topography shown through the use of charcoal, ink wash, the method of scoring and folding watercolor, and a structural rib system
The Intervention, which is a situation room located underground.
Closer look at the Palace.
Closer look at the Temple of Inscriptions.

Closer look at the Temple of Inscriptions, the Palace, and the intervention.

Plan view of site map.

Palenque-Situation Room

The “City” Project was originally initiated through the presentation of a site, in our case, Palenque, Mexico. Specifically two constructions were chosen on this site, the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace. Without knowing the direct correlation between these two and exactly why they were chosen among hundreds of other constructions, students were challenged to theorize and hypothesize their own conclusions of why these two were associated with one another not only in its original existence among the Mayans but also their existence today.

One possibility to why the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace are linked to one another is due to their core, structural and situational similarities. First off, the structural similarities are primarily shown through the relationship between the piers of the temple and the houses of the palace. Technically, when looking at the statistics, there are seven different sectors of the palace that relate to the seven different piers of the temple. Each one of these sectors in the palace, are presented as confined spaces which can be considered both public and private. Specifically when first glancing at floor plans of these sectors, one could see how they are leniently considered to be public. All of the houses as well as the tower show to be occupiable spaces that more than one person can experience at a time (thus hinting the public space). However these spaces, with the exception of part of the tower are all confined from those located on the exterior. Therefore all of the occupants within the Palace’s interior are physically sectioned off from any activity in its exterior space.

Furthermore, though there are numerous entrances to both the temple and the palace, the main ones are situated on the northern face. This specific situation of entrances provides a sense of uniformity not only between the two constructions but also within the general site. This uniformity can primarily be shown through the sun, which was regarded as a very critical element in the Mayan culture, and its path of travel through both of the constructions.

This then leads to the situational similarities between the two. It was common in Mayan architecture that when a site was developed it would first be divided into various sections. These sections would then serve as a grid-like system in which the constructions were situated. Specifically in Palenque, it is apparent that the two largest constructions, which are conveniently placed almost perpendicular to one another (perhaps to emphasize the grid-like system) provide a point to which the western side of the site almost draw to. This type of uniformity, once zoomed into, provides us with a site within a site which is then broken off by the river. It almost seems that this uniformity from the western side of the site is almost disturbed by the river which ultimately causes the language of the site to, in a way, almost change. In other words, the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace both present a critical role within the site of Palenque however are also able to stand alone within their own field/zone. In conclusion, it is theorized that the sheer core, structural and situational relationship between these two constructions is what truly ties them together.

After these theories were fully structured and developed, they lead to various overlaid drawings. These diagrams were a combination of the study of topography and manmade structure within the site and how they were successfully incorporated with one another and within nature. The following progression was a site plan model which presented a mixture of various types of model making. This specific model sat on a system of ribs which helped define the topography that played a direct role in this theory (situational). Also through the use of relieving and constructing volumetric spaces, the theory was yet clarified.

In addition, one of the criteria for the next pass was to incorporate an intervention within the site that served some type of purpose. The program that I had created had spawned partially from the theory and partially from the Mayan

community and arguably their greatest ruler Pakal the Great. I had taken into consideration the political status of Pakal during his time and the true power that he had encompassed. Then I took the theory to be a generator in the sense that it had tied the two structures together analytically and conceptually and now there was going to be a physical constructed connection.

While keeping in mind that Pakal was a person of power, an intervention that would sit underground seemed to make the most sense. It would provide a place where Pakal was out of the eye of the public which consequently would ensure more safety for the ruler. This underground dwelling would not only provide a literal connection between the two constructions, almost as a network system, but also provide a gathering space that served various purposes. It would be a meeting/decision making space for Pakal and his peers or possibly a bunker type construction for safety. All of these ideas finally lead to the confirming construction of the “situation/meeting room” that is located directly under the “backyard” of the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace. This additional plaza like confined space, which has been referred to as the “backyard” provides an ideal space for some sort of decoy spaces above ground while the true intervention is situated underground out of the public eye.

Once the program of these interventions were strengthened and constructed in the site plan models, they were to be blown up at 1/8^th scale to not only emphasize the detail and purpose but to also physically link to the site model made in class. This expansion of scale also helped strengthen the original theory by showing how the same language is carried through the intervention and how core, structure and situation all play a critical role in this model.

In addition to this intervention, was to be a further constructed site model. This site model was to help pinpoint the purpose of the intervention and literally show a site within a site. Specifically concerning this intervention a step model of the ground/topography that was directly located above the intervention was created. This physically showed the characteristics of the plaza-like “backyard” of the two constructions. Also it helped site the literal edges of the two constructions in relation to the underground intervention.

While keeping the intervention in mind and imagining the experience Pakal would receive by the moves made in the model, it was evident that there had to be a third moment(in addition to the gathering space, which is shown through the situation/meeting room and the underground network, which is shown through the bunker-like tunnel). This third moment came in the form of a light vessel that physically helped funnel light into the tunnel connecting the room to the palace. This funneling of light also helped Pakal site himself while traveling through this underground corridor. Since the vessel had to be a physical structure that extruded from the Earth, it had to serve a dual purpose so the people of Palenque wouldn’t become suspicious. Therefore the extruded part of the light vessel created a shaded, resting/gathering area above ground for the public. This occupiable space perfectly ties in with the idea that the “backyard” is an implied plaza type space that is created through the negative space left by the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace.

In conclusion, through the use of such techniques in creating both the site model and the intervention, the idea that the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace were originally chosen due to their core, structural and situational similarities was to be strengthened.