Cemí de Bohi
Off-grid living allows for architecture and people to be self-sufficient. We hope to apply off-grid farms to detach people's lives from the city. By resting on the skin of Mother Earth, off-grid farm offers a new way of living, letting people away from the city and close to nature. Cemí de Bohi is inspired by the traditional Cemí shape of the Taíno people, aiming to revived the indigenous spirit conveyed by Cemí on Samana. The Taíno, the indigenous inhabitants of the Dominican island, called their island Kiskeya or Quisqueya, meaning "Mother of the Earth." The Cemí is an important spiritual symbol for the Taíno; each Cemí represents the soul of a deity or ancestor, brought to life through carving. The tri-point shape of the Cemí is inspired by the sacred Tres Picachos mountain, symbolizing the home of the creator Yaya, the land of the dead Coabey, and the land of the living.
Therefore, our team were inspired by the shape of the Cemí and would like to transform it to a place for people to get their own new spirit. According to the site's topography, we designed a more fluid streamlined shape while adhering to the traditional form. We hope Cemí de Bohi will serve as a modern farm for Dominicans, blurring the boundaries between the natural environment and architecture, and achieving mutual coexistence. The architectural principle is no longer to separate the land with walls but to create an extension and connection between the interior and exterior. Cemí de Bohi features semi-open walls, allowing nature to be a main part of people’s life. Interior partition uses curved designs, with earth walls and wooden pillars forming individual bubble-shape spaces, matching the overall external shape while adding a sense of light and fun to the living environment.
The farm and buildings are connected by walking paths, creating a new symbiotic relationship. Outdoor fields surround the building complex, extending down the slope to the sea. Residents can look out through the screens formed by multiple wooden pillars to see endless farmland and the distant coast.
We believe that Cemí de Bohi can achieve a perfect integration of people, nature, agriculture, and living. Through the off-grid lifestyle, Cemí de Bohi will inspire people to yearn for a simple and pure life. We hope to create a self-sufficient environment, reconnecting the bond between people and the land, and allowing everyone to feel the inclusiveness and strength of Mother Earth.
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