Are parasites really that bad?

 Seth Oliver

“Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all aloft.” - Audre Lorde. This statement is true to almost everything in life. But the real kicker is where it can apply to our wondrous profession of architecture. The word “parasite” often has a negative connotation surrounding it like a fog of toxic fumes. However, in architecture, the building and design of a parasitic piece should only be to help and engage the original work. My favorite examples of this are of similar nature but executed in different ways. The first is called Legal Illegal by Manuel Herz Architects . The second is called the Didden Village in Rotterdam by MVRDV. Both are great works and make a difference in the way I think about the word parasite and how to use it when designing in existing conditions.

                Legal Illegal. The name even suggests a dichotomous relationship to make anybody take another look.  The very red and very obvious addition to this apartment resides in Cologne, Germany. It follows all the building codes but also breaks the normal convention of thought when putting an addition to a house. It added significant amount of space but also the extra “wow” factor that the architect was really aiming to achieve. Sitting between the existing walls makes it a real part of the building rather than just a plain addition. The floors it added are all concerned with natural light and openness between all the existing and new levels. It not only sits on top, it actually engages the core of the existing building. So it acts as a true “parasite” and attaches itself into the building to act as once cohesive unit. Yes the new part stands out with the different angles, shapes and then the bold primary red, but it works as a complimentary part of the overall neighborhood. It adds to the apartment rather than distracts from it. I believe this is an excellent look and something to aspire to in the future. Working with the history to celebrate it as well as the foreign piece it the mark of a well developed design.

                Different but yet the same thought, the Didden Village by MVRDV captures the attention of those everywhere in the city of Rotterdam. Rather than being an abstract form between existing walls like Legal illegal, the village is literally 2 “cottages” on top of an apartment building. They look as if they are just sitting there to match the blue walls to the blue sky. The three houses are actually bedrooms for a family; a master suite and two children’s rooms. They fit like a village with door opening to the roof to convene for meal times and such, but also connect to the apartment below. The stairs are what impress me the most from this project. The children’s staircases function as a double spiraled stair that ends up being a center piece in the living-room below. The stairs are covered and come down through the ceiling but never actually touch the floor. I feel it is a way of respecting the existing architecture. I can appreciate for trying to fit into the apartment but also standing out to rest of the world. It uses the same function of color as the last project, but it becomes a separate piece. Instead of judging the work as a whole, the houses on top lend themselves to be the spectacle. I still love this work and it makes me consider how to address a different way of parasitic architecture.

                 

                So in I have figured out that I am a fan of parasites. The point of them it to engage what was existing and make them better. The styles may be different but I think that is the true art of architecture.