philadelphia PENNSLYVANIA
University of PENNSYLVANIA
Critic: Simon KIM
suckerPUNCH: Describe your project.
Gary POLK: This thesis tackles the sphere of nonhuman culture within the realm of architecture. It investigates design from the ontology of architectural characters by harnessing the behaviors, mechanisms, and new spatial realms that can occur from human, environmental and character interface, specifically that of the 6 designed characters: the Transfer Station, Kiln, Buoyant, Umbrella, Thermal Mass and Ark.
- Gary POLK, “Synthetic Cultures.”, Kiln Drawings
- Gary POLK, “Synthetic Cultures.”, Thermal Drawings
- Gary POLK, “Synthetic Cultures.”, Axon
- Gary POLK, “Synthetic Cultures.”, Compound Model
- Gary POLK, “Synthetic Cultures.”, Ark As A Nomad Render
- Gary POLK, “Synthetic Cultures.”, Buoyant Urbanism Render
Furthermore, it explores the cultural repercussions of these objects through two separate, but eventually intertwined fictions - whether it is their influence on human society, or their ability to manifest their own culture by derivatives that develop beyond human control. This is done by examining the characters as part of a compound whole (Fiction 1) and as solitary nomads (Fiction 2). Both fictions are set in a new conglomerated park made up of various United States national parks - the new frontier - and examine the potential of interwoven synthetic ecosystems, the frameworks that evaluate these ecosystems, and eventual urbanisms of compound and hybrid beings. Ultimately, it suggests answers to the following question:
Through what narratives and design strategies can humans co-exist with a culture of autonomous architecture - irreducible to people or to machines, but one that serves itself while interfacing with humans and the environment to create mutually benefiting hybrid realms?
sP: What or who influenced this project?
GP: First and foremost, my advisor Simon Kim of IKStudio, Manuel DeLanda’s excellent seminar, Annette Fierro, Jungjae Suh, Jason Payne, Kutan Ayata, the many works of John Hejduk, Roxy Paine, Jean Tingley, Philippe Rahm, and so many others.
sP: What were you reading/listening to/watching while developing this project?
GP: Hyperobjects and Humankind: Solidarity with Non-Human People by Timothy Morton, Vibrant Matter by Jane Bennett, Extrastatecraft and Subtraction by Keller Easterling. Watching Annihilation and listening to Dumbfoundead and Year of the Ox.
sP: Whose work is currently on your radar?
GP: NEMESTUDIO, Design Earth, The Working-Group on Adaptive Systems
Additional Credits: garypolk.com
