Look

For my final design, I chose to study the areas of Boundaries & Views, Flexible Space, and Architecture as Sculpture. Through my case studies, I discovered that I wanted to make a small building that framed views for the voyager, awakening them to their surroundings. I also wanted it to be a versatile structure that could be placed just about anywhere, for anyone to experience. Finally, I wanted it to be a site for contemplation and reflection, where the architecture informs the spectator of their surroundings and does not detract from the view.

When entering the structure, the visitor will slowly ascend up the ramp and into the first “view port” - beginning the experience by ‘looking in’. The first “view port” functions to draw the visitor in. When within, the visitor is faced with an array of views - continually ‘looking around'.
Each port begins with a small opening. A feeling of tension is caused, reminding the visitor of the boundaries created by walls. For a moment, the visitor feels the periphery of the structure before adjusting to the transition and looking beyond the sheer facade. The visitor moves on, catching mere glimpses around and beyond the structure before entering the second port. The
second port opens wider, permitting better views that culminate into a view of the sky - ‘looking up’. The third port finally frames an unobstructed view of the context as the visitor reaches the top of the ramp. The experience is completed with a descent down a ramp and back to ground level. The entirety of the experiece is meant to awaken the visitor to their surroundings; to stir the notion of their existence and to recognize the plasticity of many boundaries with the phenomenon of complete awareness. By teasing the visitor with blurred and inhibited views that slowly unfold along the way, they become intrigued by their surroundings, ‘looking’ for the views and images that encircle them. The ascent up the ramp creates anticipation for the visitor as their view of what lies beyond improves. Reaching the top, a view of the context is framed by an elevated vantage point. This permits a look ‘into’ the context above eye-level, allowing the visitor to contemplate their environment in a new light. Coming back to ground level down the ramp, the visitor is freed from the boundaries of the structure and aware of their liberated existence. This evokes self-assurance because of the awareness and rite of passage between
constraint and liberation and inspires the individual’s beliefs and aspirations. Awareness is enlightened, promoting change and the desire to do away with boundaries. Whether placed within a park, among an urban context, or even within another building, this structure forces the visitor to consider the context of the environment it is in and challenges them to consider their existance within it.

Being a versatile structure that can be placed anywhere, it had to be of very light construction, able to be transported as well as assembled and disassembled easily. It is a tensile structure made of steel and fabric for the “view port” and steel decking for the walkway, supported with concrete blocks and bolted in place. The fabric would be sheer so that passersby could see the people within the structure and feel inclined to experience it first-hand by going in.

Jacqueline Pereira