a nalogies between the human body and architecture have often been thought of in polarized ways, separating clearly structure from skin, the rigid from the soft, wet from dry. This is not necessary. We can think of structure as flexible, skin as rigid. More than this, we can begin to think of the structure and skin as one, a surface capable of changing, at times rigid, at times flexible, becoming thick in certain areas, humid in others, and sensitive in others. The skin can become more alive than ever, full of scars, sensitive hair, breathing, adjusting,, recomposing itself, capable of being not only an envelope, but the structure of the space itself.The skin has acquired depth, has become a deep surface capable of generating space between itself. t his project is about one of these skin inter- ventions, a skin that separates itself into three layers in order to accommodate different con- ditions. Layer 1: a solid surface This concrete surface generates the floor, changing texture to distinguish the circulation area, a smooth area to permit sliding, from the waiting area, a rough area to restrict the movement of the chairs. The surface has a series of small dents and bumps to permit the introduction and mainte- nance of electrical systems. The dents are covered with river stone capable of removal when needed. Layer 2: a soft surface This wooden surface generates the furniture, becoming smoother in the areas in direct con- tact with the inhabitant’s body. The surface folds in itself to accommodate a meeting table, a working table and a storage space. Layer 3: a permeable surface This plycem surface generates some of the walls as well as the ceiling. The surface is perforated to varying degrees in particular areas to permit strategic accesses, natural and artificial light, ventilation and views in and out of the space.
Deep skin
ps offices Cuernavaca, Mexico
manoo
David Hernàndez Quintela, Universidad Iberoamericana, 1989. Lecturer at Universidad Iberoamericana since 1991. Ivàn Hernàndez Quintela, University of Texas, Austin, 1999. Lecturer at Universidad Iberoamericana since 2000. Manoo We, David and Ivàn, formed manoo in 1999, to mantain contact with the city while stuck in the office, to avoid our work becoming an element of isolation. Thinking this way, we set up our offices as a caffè-gallery-laboratory open to the city, where people can freely enter and transmit opinions, ideas and actions to our work and possibly initiate a collaboration.
S urface
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