Provocative Pattern, Reykjavik

PROVOCATIVE PATTERN

"The pattern itself is provocative, as well as the journey of discovering its special quality."

Peng Yu Lai

University of Sheffield Department of Landscape Final year field trip Destination: ReykjavĂ­k, Iceland Date: September 25-30, 2016 Weather: Sunny

- Quality.

- Mood. I feel...

PROVOCATIVE PATTERN Format

Location

- How is this pattern achieved?

Why this special quality provokes such feeling?

Extensive, simple strips of view: wide sea surface, monotonous rocks, extended path.

Sudden bloom of nature in the artificial stone coastline.

A surprise in a flat journey

- Contrast.

- Surprised.

- Tiny bloom of soft, delicate flower in the chink of massive, rough-textured rocks.

Although it is a small detail, such dramatic contrast in texture, form, colour and scale surprises people.

Viรฐey Island

Textured strips unexpectedly created by shadows of tree branches,

which are planted in clusters to emphasise the threshold,

and at the same time create a reminder of transition to a different space.

- Transition.

- Encouraged.

- The pattern with a transition from dense to sparse, enclosure to openness encourages people’s sight to follow its gradual change and inadvertently motivates their movement.

MiklatĂşn Park

Compared to the smooth surrounding landscape

this recreational facility interupts the coherance and provides a rather uneven pathway.

However, people seem to be more engaged by a little

adventure.

- Instability - Adventurous - The repeated sharp edges and irregular shapes in the pattern deliver a message of challenge. In this case, its quality is amplified by the contrasting context.

MiklatĂşn Park

A focal point, a glympse, layers of attraction.

A window of light, an enlightenment of a guyding clue.

A suddenly shrouded isolation, an overwhelming trepidation.

- Penetration.

- Hopeful.

- Densely distributed small dots of light penetrate the saturated black backdrop.

Hope, as bright as starts in the night sky, infiltrates the thick darkness. This provocative pattern is especially enriched by the journey of discovery.

MiklatĂşn Park

Temporary tracks of bicycle and footprint on frosted grass

determine the threshold.

It is also intriguing that even a very narrow, informal threshold concentrates so much movement and attention.

- Direction.

- Determined.

- The converging lines draw people’s attention towards the destination, even with just a light touch. The fact that such pattern is time-limited makes it more special and private.

MiklatĂşn Park

Located at a busy pathway, the pattern can be easily discovered when approaching.

Distorted shades on the rugged stonewall enliven the characters of the space.

- Twist - Vitalised - Bold change in straight lines enlivens the pattern.This new, vivid pattern is generated by an unexpected combination of two existing patterns: The shadow of the straight handrails and differently angled stones.

Car park, Garden and Public space Kringlan Shopping Mall

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. — Walt Disney

- Hidden.

- Curious.

- Looming pattern in the strip of shade intrigue people’s curiosity to zoom in more to explore its secret. Although the pattern appears to be simple, the mysterious atmosphere enriches its quality.

ReykjavĂ­k Botanical Garden