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Spirit and Place

Part 2 Project 2008
Neal Collins
Simon Astridge
 University of Portsmouth | UK
Two sites formed our joint thesis, an Ancient Woodland Burial near Petersfield and Stokes Bay an historic strip of coastline in Gosport. To truly understand the spirit of each place, we immersed ourselves by working as coffin bearers. In using only materials found on each site, we created six art installations based upon Juhani Pallasmaa's Six Themes for the Next Millenium; Slowness, Plasticity, Authenticity, Sensuousness, Idealisation and Silence. This spiritual reading of the particular, allowed us to understand the heart of each site and from a phenomenological perspective we were able to propose a true architecture of the senses.


The Diploma 2 Thesis undertaken by Simon and Neal during the 07/08 academic session was from the outset a well coordinated and highly motivated team investigation. Both contributed according to their strengths and abilities, providing a united and holistic resolution to each stage of the development process. The intensity of the outcome reflected this approach.

Two contrasting contexts and client requirements were selected as vehicles for the study. Readings were carried out based upon Juhani Palasmaa's writings into a semiotic response to brief and context. The acquisition of the initial brief and its primary objectives were carefully considered and well related to the requirement for two realistic projects involving complex Clients and diverse contexts. The notion that it may be possible to provide a satisfactory resolution to a defined requirement by sensitive readings and architectural intervention, was rigorously addressed and fully tested. Their research into every aspect of the creation of an appropriate architecture of the senses was carefully recorded and presented, and distinct.

The final presentation was beautifully conceived and executed, providing a clear and concise documentation of their total investigation. The overall solutions for the two sites was underpinned with precise detail, enabling the assessors to evaluate the work at a glance or to probe at great depth and feel satisfied with the resolution of the objectives set.

The ambition of form, composition and sensitivity was fully resolved and integrated with sustainable objectives and context, and was well related to precedents. The work was recognised by the examiners as distinct, and was also considered worthy of a special prize awarded by RIBA Southern Region.


2008
Contemplation_After the woodland burial this offers people a place to consider their being in the world, in the Heideggerean sense.
Authenticity_Chalk was taken from the natural downland and crushed then only indigenous trees were circled.
Woodland Burial_Site proposals include Gathering, Reflection and Contemplation buildings. As you move through the precession, the architecture gradually opens up, like the emotions of the mourners.
Gathering_Mourners arrive and are comforted. The precession commences with the horse and cart inside the building.
Reflection_Upon entry seats are arranged to the left not to imply a religious layout and to allow the mourners to comfort one another.
Reflection_The mourners open the side doors for the horse and cart as the last act they can provide for the deceased. Once open, the side doors allow the only light into the building thus illuminating and giving importance to the deceased.
Reflection_Western Red Cedar shingles clad the building. Sourced from non-indigenous trees from the woodland aides the managing of the forest.
Reflection_The horse and cart enter the reflection building at a lower level, where the deceased is now at eye level for the mourner.
Community_Watercolous were used to convey the feeling of the place rather than merely how it will look. Relying on the narrow range of the visual aesthetic can result in a lack of climatic and cultural understanding.
Idealisation_At Mean Low Water Spring the concrete grid used for D-day embarkation is unveiled by the tide. The installation uses sand to temporarily re-constitutes a memory of those involved in D-Day.
Stokes Bay_Site proposals include Memory, Contemplation and Community. People visit the physical edge to contemplate the metaphysical edge of life and death.
Memory_This walkway disappears at Mean Low Water Spring. Poetry from local peoples experiences of the D-day embarkation can be read. The architecture becomes your feelings while reading.
Contemplation_The four existing beach shelters were transformed into energy collecting, sense provoking and contemplation providing architecture.
Contemplation_Boxes which house camera obscurers allow for observation through a second medium. This encourages a deeper understanding of the spirit and place.
Community_Purchasers of the tired homogenous beach huts are permitted 2mx3mx4m of space to create a heterogeneous identity for themselves along the coastline.
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