PERMANENT TEMPORALITIES retreats in the speculative city
CHAPTER ONE
from permanent city toward temporal city
CHAPTER TWO
the boundary between street and void
CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN
a streetscape of enclosed voids void of retreat retreat for those alone in the crowd retreat for those crowded and wanting to be alone retreat for memory
CHAPTER ONE from permanent city toward temporal city
The contemporary city is a collage of construction of past and present, each building predisposed to a finite lifespan that today is largely governed by two factions; The Architect and The Developer. The Architects’ Dream for the city is rooted in permanence and identities of both building and voids. The collection of which is to the gain of the citizen. The Developers’ Dream is built on temporary speculation which is visible on the building form from tabula rasa but often absent of permanent void. Their gain is one of economics, thus the void holds only value in its development.
As a result the contemporary city is in constant modification, either by means of renovation or renewal. London specifically proceeds at a rate of construction that challenges even the most present memory. Its current identity now seems to be “a lack of clear identity - is perpetually becoming even less London, more open, less static.� (Rem Koolhaas, The Generic City)
Regardless if one views these modifications as positive progress or an abolishment of past histories, the constant construction provides a new temporal identity on the city that is expressed by cranes, fences and inaccessible voids.
CHAPTER TWO the boundary between street and void
Identity of the fence: From the street, all voids are cut off and enclosed by the fence, completely inaccessible to the citizen.
Identity of the crane: Only the cranes with the presence of their identity show that a void space is present.
Identity of the void: Within the city voids can range from the speculative temporal free ground, to the empty vacant plots, to the more particular voids on hold because of their memories.
The abundance of these temporalities become elements where any citizen can retreat.
The condition of retreat happens between street and void. It becomes an occupiable extension of the fence, which in turn acts as a type of surrogate facade. Assimilating the void back into the street scape and at once reaffirming the density of the city.
These place holders within the streetscape acknowledge that temporality in terms of construction is often a condition of years. The use of tradition scaffolding might be reconsidered for its role in long term construction. The architect could begin to implement design solutions more suitable to serving the construction site and the citizen. The developer might appreciate this due to the foreseeable possibility of further economic gain from the void by means of varying advertisement.
CHAPTER THREE a streetscape of enclosed voids (the present, the development, the crisis, the retreat)
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CHAPTER FOUR void of retreat
The retreat is accessed at the edge of the void Citizens enter the retreat either by means of a staircase which provides access to the more public spaces or by a single occupant elevator which leads to the very top of the retreat. The stair serves as a type of double sided scaffolding. The enclosed area is used primarily by citizens, while the exterior can be used by construction workers to move vertically..
The retreat provides three types of spaces for the citizen. Space for congestion, a space for isolation, and a space for memory.
The retreat’s retention at the voids edge allows for the construction process to continue unimpeded while at the same time re-staking a claim for enclosed pubic space.
Time and scale of construction run in direct relation with how the retreat is used and maintained by both the citizens and the workers. The retreat is active throughout the entire construction process; demolition, site preparation, structural framing, cladding, etc. Until the new building is completed and opened for use.
If ever the construction within the void stall or become abandoned due to circumstances of crisis the retreat can remain in its place. Operating entirely for public use.
CHAPTER FIVE a retreat for those who feel alone in the crowd (the space of congestion)
The retreats are always entered directly from the sidewalk, allowing the citizen to slip directly into the space.
The retreat for those who feel isolated hovers just above the street level. It offers a space for a short break from the busy pace of the city while still remaining closely linked to it.
The retreat is at once a stage in two directions. Citizens are able to fully observe the sometimes hidden processes of construction. While the workers play a type of voyeuristic guardian for the retreat’s well being.
The retreat provides an open forum for individuals to collect and share ideas while also merely serving as a canteen for those to just enjoy a prawn sandwich next to a stranger.
CHAPTER SIX a retreat for those who feel crowded and want to be alone (the space of isolation)
The secondary retreat is space for a single occupant to escape from the sometimes overwhelming congestion of the city. It stands at the absolute furthest point from the street in order to feel removed from city. The space can be accessed for a period of up to one night.
Because this space is in many ways about escaping from the contemporary city, only a single aperture provides a view out of the room which focus on a moment of London’s past.
The space itself is meant to provide a time of self reflection and thus should only provide the bare necessity of furnishings. A desk for work and a bed for rest.
At the end of the day if the individual does not yet feel ready to join his fellow citizens, he can chose to stay inside of the retreat for the duration of the evening. At the point in which the work day ends, an one site construction crane will lift this space high above the city.
Like the crane, the individual temporarily joins the skyline.
With all of London below the individual is given a full night to contemplate the city and their place within it.
CHAPTER SEVEN retreat from memory
In instances of large demolition, historical relevance or nostalgia one instance of the retreat infringes on the void, embedding itself within the ground.
The interior of this space resembles a type of large time capsule. Housing artifacts from the site (building material, furniture, etc) as well as collecting vestiges left by visitors. The space remains open throughout construction but is ultimately sealed once the new building is completed.
These spaces become a singular permanent element within the foundation of any new construction which ultimately become a lasting artifact throughout the ever changing city.
A city for congestion, a city for isolation, a city for memory.