The Amazon Research Network

This book discusses the challenges imposed on architectural design by the very specific and complex reality of the Amazon Forest. Departing from an investigation about the current threats to this delicate ecosystem caused by the problem of deforestation, this work draws attention to the historic roots of this issue as well as to possible strategies to face this situation. It then proceeds to a discussion about the contextual aspects of the Amazon Forest that are relevant for environmental design, concentrating on the study of design strategies for achieving environmental comfort in this particular climate. This work hypothesizes a new form of territory occupation based on nomadic units that are able to move around the forest, taking advantage of its existing river network. This hypothetical Amazon Research Network would be comprised of two types of research facilities: fixed research stations and mobile research units . In order to substantiate this proposal, the architectural projects of these two types of facilities are developed, with particular attention to the principles of sustainable environmental design.