Parasite

Winter 2015

Studio Bracco

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in collaboration with: Fernando Astiazaran, Alex Buchanan, Brian Chan

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featured in the Parasite Showcase, and Cal Poly Open House

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Parasite is a functional piece that can easilydetach and attach to an existing building

structure. A response to context can take many forms, and we were assigned a staircase in the architecture building. Parasite focused on the experience of climbing up the site’s staircase. Using the regular movements made in escalation as a design driver, the parasite created a defined space. 

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 The development of the parasite first started with a form that extended from the rails and utilized the empty space. The form was shaped by the idea of engulfing a person into it. The form followed a person’s movement as he or she walks up and down the stairs. After several study models, the final parasite was decided. How the parasite connected to the site and how the parasite worked was then further developed. Parasite was then prefabricated and assembled in a night.