PROJECTS:
Game of Clones Sept/Dec 2021 / Episode II
Research / Spatial / Graphic Design
Game of Clones is an investigation conducted by Orchida Ahmed, Juana Mom and myself, Francesca Norrington in the Luxury Spatial Design Studio at ie university with Professor Igor Bragado.
Game of Clones is a two-part spatial design project. In the first part, or as we like to call it, ‘Episode I’, we carried out a journalistic approach to explore all there is to know about cloning today. After intensive research and exploring multiple existing spaces, such as a laboratory, yoga studio, and horse barn, we visualized today's cloning context on an A0 poster. In the second part, ‘Episode II’ we developed a thesis based on the primary and secondary research we carried out in ‘Episode I’. We then proposed a space in Madrid as a solution for the investigated conflict.
Episode II
"Should cloning extinct species be normalised, whether that be an extinct race of humans or an extinct animal? Why or why not?"
Through further investigation, the first phase of this project concludes that the social/cultural benefits of cloning for the sake of bringing an extinct species back to life outweigh the possible ethical implications. Our second phase proposes the space & methodology of cloning for the sake of species restoration.
We investigated the cases of human zoos globally, particularly regarding the case of a man named Ota Benga. He was a Congolese man who was captured by slave traders and sold to the Bronx Zoo. There, he was showcased as an example of the “early stages of human evolution”
In fact, in 1887, Palacio de Cristal in Parque de Retiro based in Madrid was made into a human zoo. It hosted natives from the various territories colonised by Spain, requiring them to put on a “show” of how they live their lives, an attempt to stir public fascination for the “exotic” world.
Due to this unprecedented information, the Palacio de Cristal became the ideal location for our proposal as a way to change the narrative, from oppression and humiliation to awareness and empowerment.
It is also important to note that The Palacio was essentially built to house exotic plants, which was perfect for our proposal.
We propose to use the controversial Palacio de Crystal as a setting to shed light on the Ngudradrekai culture, based in Taiwan. This culture was selected as a first proposal due to its close link to the Formosan clouded leopard which is considered a cultural symbol of significant importance. It represents an entity of moral positives which unites the human descendants of its culture. Unfortunately, due to overhunting by colonials within the region, the clouded leopard was declared extinct in 2013.
Coincidentally, in February 2019, a couple of clouded leopards were spotted by several witnesses in the wilderness of southeast Asia. This claim was further supported by CNA, Taiwan's most influential news organization. With this enlightened information, we observed the opportunity to use these remaining leopards as a cloning species set.
The outlined space is a proposed setting under which the procedures of ‘episode I’ could take place at the centre of Madrid. Removing the luxury mystique of this process and enabling its methodologies to revive entire cultures and communities.
Level 2 / Three spaces: a monitoring security room, a vet room, and a kitchen.
Level 1 / Three spaces: a storage room, a biopsy procedure room, and the lab space for culturing and harvesting samples.
Level 0 / The electricity and maintenance level. Maintains the rainy wet climate of the rainforest.
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The greenhouse is made of ETFE plastic and stainless steel to control the thermal conditions inside. A. drainage water system and air system have been installed in the palace to maintain the perfect climate. The interior of the Palacio is the animal’s habitat. It is the space where the animal will live, get pregnant and reproduce. Central to our exhibition is creating a perfect replica of the rainforest where our clouded leopard lives. Since the Palacio was built to house different ecosystems, its structure matches our proposal exceptionally. We focused on replicating a lowland rainforest, particularly the soil composition.
Pipemania, the ring around the Palacio,
The cultural exhibition, a space to educate the public on the peculiarities of the community presented. For the visitor to have a fully immersive experience we are incorporating all the senses within the space from smell as you climb the pipe, to touch as you traverse the upper walkway above the main entrance, sound through the constant echo of the pipes materials and openings throughout the walkway. We aim to create an interactive experience for visitors whilst maintaining a sense of crucial privacy for the animal in it’s ealry growth period.
The preliminary proposal touches upon significant themes of today, primarily the sixth mass extinction driven by human activity, coinciding with a technological revolution. It brings to question ethical conflicts of human intervention, to what extent do we have the right or liberty to revive extinct beings? Are these cloning processes ethical for animals? Considering the number of ‘failed’ pregnancies before one is successful, is this process more harmful than good?
The cultural exhibition, a space to educate the public on the peculiarities of the community presented. For the visitor to have a fully immersive experience we are incorporating all the senses within the space from smell as you climb the pipe, to touch as you traverse the upper walkway above the main entrance, sound through the constant echo of the pipes materials and openings throughout the walkway. We aim to create an interactive experience for visitors whilst maintaining a sense of crucial privacy for the animal in it’s ealry growth period.
The preliminary proposal touches upon significant themes of today, primarily the sixth mass extinction driven by human activity, coinciding with a technological revolution. It brings to question ethical conflicts of human intervention, to what extent do we have the right or liberty to revive extinct beings? Are these cloning processes ethical for animals? Considering the number of ‘failed’ pregnancies before one is successful, is this process more harmful than good?