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Deserta Ecofolie
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research project
The Biogenic Prefabricated Facade that is part of the Deserta Ecofolie A Prototype for Minimum Dwelling in the Atacama Desert and Beyond, will be shown at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale, 2025.
The facade showcases CINARK’s current research investigating the potential of biogenic materials in contemporary sustainable construction for multistory buildings. The facade system is designed for disassembly and demonstrates a prefabricated, compact thatched solution (Dutch technique), assembled in wooden cassettes with clay, eelgrass and cork profiles as fire-retarding solutions.
Few materials intended for the external protection of building structures have properties that can withstand the harsh climate of Chile’s Atacama Desert. The desert climate offers low relative humidity, large temperature fluctuations, and solar exposure of 90% radiation days. The extreme conditions place special demands on the surface properties of facade materials and their durability. Therefore, their environmental footprint in terms of maintenance, replacement or removal is crucial. In this context, 'prefabricated thatched facade panels' offer a proper solution for the residential unit; Deserta Ecofolie, due to reed’s physical robustness and the renewability of the biogenic building material, which offers low CO2 emissions and flexibility in the form of demountable facade panels.
Royal Danish Academy - Deserta Ecofolie Photo Rasmus Hjortshøj
Royal Danish Academy - Deserta Ecofolie Photo Rasmus Hjortshøj
Royal Danish Academy - CINARK - Deserta Ecofolie Photo Nicola Rigo
Royal Danish Academy - Deserta Ecofolie Photo Rasmus Hjortshøj
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Deserta Ecofolie: A Prototype for Minimum Dwelling in the Atacama Desert and Beyond
Will be exhibited at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2025, curatered by Carlo Ratti: Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.
CINARK’s contribution has been planned, designed and executed in collaboration with curators Pedro Ignacio Alonso and Pamela Prado; Atacama Desert Centre and Atacama UC Fog Oasis Research Station in Alto Patache at the Universidad Católica de Chile; SUMMARY architects and ArtWorks - Art Production & Manufacturing - from Porto.
The Biennale contribution is realized with support from Realdania, the Danish Arts Foundation and Dreyer’s Foundation.