Parasite?

By: Khris Kirk

When a person hears the word "parasite", they normally think about an organism that feeds off another organism, and normally causes serious health problems. A parasite is viewed in a very bad eye and must be immediately killed, that way a person or animal does not get sick. However, when an architect hears the word "parasite", they envision something completely different. An architect will view parasite in an architectural way, which is where parasite architecture fits in. Parasite architecture still exemplifies the term "parasite" by having a structure connect to a pre-existing building. Parasite architecture is a new modern style of architecture that builds onto a current building and takes a different style in comparison to the style of the original building.  

A great example of a parasitic building is Parasite Las Palmas by Kortekine and Stuhlmacher. This prefabricated house is an excellent example of how a parasitic building should be. The Las Palmas is an old industrial warehouse that is no longer used and is the host building for the Parasite house. The Parasite house latches onto a portion of the existing infrastructure and feeds off the life source of the host. In other terms, the parasite house uses the services of the host building; water supply, sewage, and the electrical insulations. The parasite structure can be seen for miles with its bright green painting against the gray surrounds. A person from far away can tell that the Parasite house is not a part of the original structure and can be viewed like biological term parasite, since it is growing off its host. 

The Parasite house was designed for an exhibition in Rotterdam. The building was built with prefabricated wood that was laminated for protection. The panels of wood were precut to size and delivered to the sight to be built. The construction of the Parasite house took three and a half days, which is extremely fast for building a house. The Parasite house was only suppose to remain on the site for a few months, but ended up standing from 2001-2005. During that time frame, it became a landmark in Rotterdam. When it was finally taken down, the Parasite house was taken into storage to be used again at a new location.

Kortekine and Stuhlmacher tagged the word “parasite” to mean prototypes for advanced ready-made amphibious small scale individual temporary ecological houses. They take the term parasite and give it completely new mean. The Parasite house still keeps true to the biological meaning while exemplifying the new meaning that Kortekine and Stuhlmacher have bestowed upon it.  Kortekine and Stuhlmacher are paving the way towards a new method of living. There is no reason to tear down structures that are already standing. One should just add onto the existing infrastructure. By having the prefabricated wood, the material of the parasite house is all recycled and sustainable to last through the years. Also, by having the living space smaller, it allows for more space for other parasite houses to be built. Parasite houses may start popping up everywhere as a new means of cost-effective living, reusing current structures, and ground breaking architecture.   

Links:

Parasite House, Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten.
http://www.kortekniestuhlmacher.nl/?q=/node/9