Stealing space.
fragment #1 of master degree project.
spring 2017 (14 weeks)
Reconnection with childhood energy and experiencing something for the first time. Exploring the joy of trying something out with little concern to goals or consequences.
By exploring spaces and ignoring the imaginary boundaries of program, we can recreate space in our own image. Their void of design is filled with the connection we make and the actions we engage in, These spaces gain life and value through our memory of them.
“What meaning shall we assign this?” or “Is this place important?” We rely on the voice of a guide or narrator, an expert, to translate our relationship, to explain what’s meaningful. We rarely have a chance to let spaces speak to us directly.
According to Aldo Rossi, richness of the history is the characteristic of an urban artefact, it’s character makes it an indispensable part of the city. He defines urban artefacts as primary elements because their existence has contributed to the morphological and cultural evolution of the city. Any element capable of accelerating the process of urbanisation in the city is a primary element, including an empty space.
A city is a collective memory of its people, and like memory it is associated with objects and places. The city is the outcome of the collective memory.
Project.
As a form of empirical research to expose unseen potential of the existing elements on the school roof. Existing outside of designed space, this secluded part of the KTH school works as a novelty. One visit is enough to satisfy the curiosity, once explored the space needs a more specific use. Basis for a program need to exist. Relating to the typography of the structure a subtle program is sketched out.
Tired of of spreading information through social channels. I decided to place a tripod holding pamphlets, presenting the playful act with an invitation to participate. The “secure“ school project became a testing ground for a spatial game that would later used in “real life”. The tripod was monitored but never moved by me, I only refilled the pamphlets once they where gone (10-20 at a time).
After several visits to the roof with different pamphlets for each time the rope ladder was left up, one pre-announced sunny day. The ladder hung from the roof during lunch time, when most students where outside. Only those who had been on the roof previously, climbed up again. No new visitor made the choice to explore the roof.
The choice lies with the individual and their inclination to explore potential space. Those who have the inherent will to break spatial boundaries are free to interact with their surroundings. The rest seem to be content with spatial design they are presented with..
