| dc.description.abstract | Recognizing that the Western Tradition of Architecture has been perpetuated through the passing on of stories through the creation of primarily symbolic artefacts, this studio emphasizes students’ ability to imagine, work, and communicate through creations, which generate poetic dialogue and architectural thinking beyond the direct transcription of isolated objectives and visual representations alone. Working obliquely through the entwined creation of artefact and narrative, students’ are challenged to draw upon the plasticity of lived knowledge not accessible through objective information but which nonetheless makes our experience of architecture alluring and resonant. Each student, responsible for developing their own architectural program, were asked to use these creations to reveal particular qualities, stories, events, and circumstances that metaphorically evoke essential qualities for the coming architecture. The overarching goal of the studio is the creation of empathetic connections between varying people, places, and cultures, brought to life through the experience of the artefact—an installation, performance, or assemblage—which like literature or film, provide things through which we may imagine.
The main idea of the project is to create a space that heightens architectur¬al experience by drawing one in, then submerging them within a world of knowledge. The metaphor of a sinking boat helps express the experiential quality of this space. The artefact created to inspire architecture captures all the qualities experienced in cast concrete: layers, weight, and history. The traditional functions of the library should act as the foundation for today’s libraries. With the world changing at such a rapid pace, libraries are increasingly becoming places of continued education, a place for life¬long learning. Ken Worpole says “imaginatively designed and responsive public library services can play a pivotal role in promoting greater social cohesion and a stronger sense of civic pride and local identity”. | en_US |
