volume
01
a social ex•change
volume
01 _beginning investigations
[AN INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL & PHYSICAL SPACE: A CONTEXT & PEOPLE, EACH DEFINING THE OTHER]
walker the bartlett school of architecture 2010
university college london
the bartlett school of architecture masters in architectural design kim walker, autumn term 2009
electronic mail design work reference catalogue
kimberlycwalker@gmail.com www.kimberlycwalker.tumblr.com www.paperspaceinspire.tumblr.com
index 1
introduction
2
a series of explorations
4
air street people
6
lavender hill people
8
animate
10
social systems
12 choreography of a passing moment 18
diachronic/synchronic
22 ghost forest 24 eating, as a performance 32 reflections in train travel 36
reflected moment
38
concluding reflection
introduction This project is about people. Within that larger context of people, it’s about how the same space is perceived and viewed differently by different people; everyone sees varying things based on who they are, where they come from, their values, interests, a million things. It’s about dualities, two parts informing a whole, how the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. And it’s about the movement and activity that people give to spaces through their shifting body gestures and actions.
This develops into a human scale architecture about contrasts and similarities - the conscious & subconscious, the individual & collective, the now & memories of the past, physical & virtual - that inform and strengthen the other, neither part is autonomous, the existence of one is conditional on the other. The whole becomes greater than the individual parts. People exist in a the space of their own creation.
Architecture is used to construct the space which people inhabit and move in. The space informs people’s actions and the people inform the space.
1
a series of explorations
2
ecological
animate & inanimate
p le
revealing the invisible highlighting connections observing
te xt
p e o 1
environment & people are inexitricably linked movement, activity, together create life of a city
instructional who instructs whom? cause & effect
c o n 2
relationships, context, patterns, processes, values a specific moment as part of a larger social structure nothing is meaningful in itself
choreography of a passing moment
t
m e
n
notational
annotating a relevant data set
social systems
m o 3
repetition of similar actions and motions the Characters play a role in the dynamics of the everyday sequence of steps and movements create a language
synchronic/diachronic
ti m 4
project within a project
s p a
e
visual assimulations
seeing with two time scales synchronic, occurring at a specific point in time diachronic, occurring or changing along with time
c e
aesthetical
+ /5
ghost forest
this installation was choosen because the people were a part of the art piece, they surrounded and activated it, giving it life
n er
everyday universal event
enia
establish proposal
ti o n
type
strategic tactics confirm proposal
din
r
e fl e c 7
6
food speaks to culture, values, geography, health, enjoyment people gather together around a table rhythm of the process of a meal a spatial environment is created over a meal
reflected moments
an ever changing point in time fixed around a stationary object memories provide an identity for who we are idea of subjective realities
3
air street people an attractive young woman dressed in business attire is leaning against the arch off of Air Street, her long, dark hair tucked in between the stone facade and her shoulders, looking towards regents street, she stands motionless, only her hand moving to mouth, smoking. several construction men in their muddy boots, hard hats and neon vests take a cigarette break on the street, sitting legs crossed on a long piece of wood in front of the magenta pink wall that was put up around the site with advertisements of the new development on it. a man connected with the construction site, dressed in suit with neon vest over top, stands outside the gate looking important, pointing up high into the scaffolding, walkie-talkie in hand. a petite blond girl walks by, carrying several shopping bags, her boots clicking on the pavement, leading the way. a larger woman, dressed in a puffy white coat and holding some sort of small plant in her hands, perches in front of a white wall, chin in her hand. smiling, the brunette woman with dark hair and fringe over her forehead and eyes, looks across the street at a friend and waves. outside the chocolatier two elderly ladies are in conversation over coffee and sweets.
4
three people- a young man, a young girl, and a
short older woman- walk down the street side by side, none of them know each other. a business man dressed in pinstripe is entranced by his iphone, and not seeing anything around him he bumps into a girl walking her bike through the narrow confines of air street. several students are taking all sorts of pictures of whatever it is they find interesting in their observation of air street, click click click, mostly it is the buildings. a suave mid-age man in a long black coat strides under the arch, on his way from somewhere to somewhere else. outside the tapas cafe a larger middle-aged man comfortably rests, a coke and an empty plate sit on the aluminum table next to him.
jackets across air street and through the opened construction gates into the interior of quadrant 3 construction zone. a woman in a mustard yellow jumper digs through her purse to rescue her ringing mobile while a man watches her from the corner. a balding man peers through the glazing into McDonald’s and then glances at the ‘big tasty with bacon’ advertisement, the glow of the golden arches on his face. the bike messenger squeezes with his bicycle through the crowd. inside Piggys at Picaddilly cafe a woman orders a drink and the server behind the counter takes her money, returning change to her and then handing her a coffee.
leaning against a green doorframe, a lady in red sends a text message.
inside the Bureau of Change three workers exchange money behind protective glass and type into computers.
a woman and her son stop outside the newspaper stand, the woman buys a guardian paper.
up high in the sky, a man controls the crane that moves all day, picking up and putting down heavy materials.
cycling up on his blue cruiser, the youth locks it to the pole of a street sign and with satchel over his shoulder and scarf wrapped around his neck, saunters around the corner.
a group of tourists walking on regents street toward picaddilly cross air street, undiscovered.
a crowd of people wait for the light to turn green to cross busy regent street, a couple brave or just impatient ones scamper over during the red light.
a trendy girls nods her head to the music heard only by her through her headphones.
a cement truck is guided by two men in orange
a little boy wrapped in a green hoodie sits like a king atop his father’s shoulders.
walking slowly in front of an ornamented fence, the business man shuffles through his briefcase.
5
lavender hill people a young mother is pushing her new born baby in a carriage, everyone they pass peers at the baby and makes that ‘oh so cute’ face. a pink scooter and matching pink helmeted driver sneak up through the line of cars and are the first off the line at the green light. a youth with a buzzed hair cut looks dressed for football practice as he saunters in the direction of the park. she get off the bus and is wearing a bright red scarf with matching red earrings. they walk down a side street and turn the corner onto lavender hill, mother and son hand in hand, enjoying being together. the large, black lady, braids in her hair and a fluffy, fake fur trim lining the top of her coat, glances at the local area map on the bus stop sign, learning where she is. the jogger winds his way down the street negotiating his path through the people and street furniture; wearing shorts and an adidas jacket, he is breathing hard. a toddler pushes his stroller while his father walks beside him, it is slow going as the little guy can’t see where he is going and continually hits posts and signs.
6
an elderly man, hunched over, uses his cane to assists him with balance, moving at half speed in contrast to the other people’s speeds
around him, he gets along though, slow and steady.
a ladder is leaning up against a tool shop, it is for sale.
a young mother weaning converse on her feet pushes a double stroller with two kids, boy and girl, seemingly a year apart; they pass the elderly man with the cane, heading in the opposite direction.
the napoli pizza delivery guy comes out of the store, puts a stack of pizza boxes in the back box of his motorcycle and zooms off.
the girl stands at the crosswalk waiting for the light to change green, talking on her mobile loudly. a couple of boys run out into the street, narrowly missing being hit by the bus, they just get to the other side safely. several people walk into The Italian Job Cafe, and then come back out and take their seats at a table on the sidewalk patio that is raised a step up. a small, silver, hatchback car is driven up onto the sidewalk and parked in front of an empty storefront. the driver, a man, get out and unlocks the store door, carrying some bags inside.
the full front of the cafe glazing is opened, the doors folded up accordion style, and two men sit in two reds chairs at the red table on the sidewalk, their bicycles leaning against the table, two tvs are playing inside. the man wearing a nike hat, stops for a second and looks behind him, then continues in the same direction. a group of school girls, dressed in their uniforms of plaid skirts and red jumpers and knee high socks, amble down the street, they are loud, chatting and giggling, and unaware of anything but themselves. a trolly full of boxes is pushed into the Lavender Hill Food & Wine off-license. two men peer into a red baby carriage, smiling.
a boy with a bright blue plaid shirt under a black jumper is carrying a large package, he walks just behind a tall black man in a similar black jumper who is listening to an ipod.
two woman bump into each other on the corner, they stand there, catching up.
a blond woman comes out the door of the Anthony Laban salon, looking fresh and put together after a hair style.
the business suited man carries bags of groceries in both hands.
biting her lip, the large woman seems concerned about something.
a man with thick hair that is becoming speckled with grey, leaves the comic shop.
7
animate/inanimate
8
The everyday choreography of a city as seen through people’s interactions with the urban spaces. The city is made of two parts that are choreographed together. (one) inanimate: the city ‘set’ - buildings, machines, tools, vehicles, streetlights, doors, windows, pavement, sidewalks, etc - which are used, created or made to operate by humans. These inanimate objects only become valuable through their users, (two) animate: the living people who in using, constructing and engaging with the inanimate objects create movement, activity, and progress. Together these two parts create a living system that evolves and changes, bringing life to the city. Movements are directed by the space and
objects of a built environment. And so architecture must be both parts, animate and inanimate, because architecture is not aimply the buildings, it is more than that, it also includes the use and engagement of people with their surroundings. In observing and experiencing the two sites, the people within them were found to be most interesting: their actions and movements, dress and habits, conversations and communication, their ordinary day to day coming and goings. Considering the ways in which the site or ‘set’ they were a part of made them act (bus stop, crosswalk, table and chairs, curb, road, sidewalk, scaf-
folding, gate). Watching how people were using and giving life to machines, objects and tools (walking canes, cars, strollers, cameras, bicycles). Being curious about what circumstances, ideas, needs, brought about the design of the set. Noting the cultural variation and individuality present and yet also the similarity and conformity to an assumed way of life. These two images speak to the two facets of a city: animate and inanimate, people and buildings, as separate but linked entities. In separating the two parts, extracting the people from their surroundings and vice versa, one can begin to better perceive the relationship between them and the dependence each has on the other.
sends a text message. a woman and her son stop outside the newspaper stand, the woman buys a guardian paper and . cycling up on his blue cruiser, the youth locks it to the pole of a street sign and with satchel over his shoulder and scarf wrapped around his neck, saunters around the corner. a crowd of people wait for the light to turn green to cross busy regent street, a couple brave or just impatient ones scamper over during the red light. a cement truck is guided by two men in orange jackets across air street and through the opened construction gates into the interior of quadrant 3 construction zone. a woman in a mustard yellow jumper digs through her purse to rescue her ringing mobile while a man watches her from the corner. a balding man peers through the glazing into McDonald’s and then glances at the ‘big tasty with bacon’ advertisement, the glow of the golden arches on his face. the bike messenger squeezes with his bicycle through the crowd. inside Piggys at Picaddilly cafe a woman orders a drink and the server behind the counter takes her money, returning change to her and then handing her a coffee. inside the Bureau of Change three workers exchange money behind protective glass and type into computers. up high in the sky, a man controls the crane that moves all day, picking up and putting down heavy materials. a group of tourists walking on regents street toward picaddilly cross air street, undiscovered. a little boy wrapped in a green hoodie sits like a king atop his father’s shoulders. a trendy girls nods her head to the music heard only by her through her headphones. walking slowly in front of an ornamented fence, the business man shuffles through his briefcase. the elegant, aging woman with blond-white hair, dressed all in black with a gold necklace, stands in the middle of the sidewalk, staring intently at her mobile, typing. two particular men, one younger one older, both wearing spectacles, walk down the middle of the road, looking like a grown up version of father son.
several construction men in their muddy boots, hard hats and neon vests take a cigarette break on the street, sitting legs crossed on a long piece of wood in front of the magenta pink wall that was put up around the site with advertisements of the new development on it. a man connected with the construction site, dressed in suit with neon vest over top, stands outside the gate looking important, pointing up high into the scaffolding, walkie-talkie in hand. a petite blond girl walks by, carrying several shopping bags, her boots clicking on the pavement, leading the way. a larger woman, dressed in a puffy white coat and holding some sort of small plant in her hands, perches in front of a white wall, chin in her hand. smiling, the brunette woman with dark hair and fringe over her forehead and eyes, looks across the street at a friend and waves. outside the chocolatier two elderly ladies are in conversation over coffee and sweets. three people- a young man, a young girl, and a short older woman- walk down the street side by side, none of them know each other. a business man dressed in pinstripe is entranced by his iphone, and not seeing anything around him he bumps into a girl walking her bike through the narrow confines of air street. several students are taking all sorts of pictures of whatever it is they find interesting in their observation of air street, click click click, mostly it is the buildings. a suave mid-age man in a long black coat strides under the arch, on his way from somewhere to somewhere. else outside the tapas cafe a larger middle-aged man comfortably rests, a coke and an empty plate sit on the aluminum table next to him. leaning against a green doorframe, a lady in red
lavender hill people. a young mother is pushing her new born baby in a carriage, everyone they pass peers at the baby and makes that ‘oh so cute’ face. a pink scooter and matching pink helmeted driver sneak up through the line of cars and are the first off the line at the green light. a youth with a buzzed hair cut looks dressed for football practice as he saunters in the direction of the park. she get off the bus and is wearing a bright red scarf with matching red earrings. they walk down a side street and turn the corner onto lavender hill, mother and son hand in hand, enjoying being together. the large, black lady, braids in her hair and a fluffy, fake fur trim lining the top of her coat, glances at the local area map on the bus stop sign, learning where she is. the jogger winds his way down the street negotiating his path through the people and street furniture; wearing shorts and an adidas jacket, he is breathing hard. a toddler pushes his stroller while his father walks beside him, it is slow going as the little guy can’t see where he is going and continually hits posts and signs. an elderly man, hunched over, uses his cane to assists him with balance, moving at half speed in contrast to the other people’s speeds around him, he gets along though, slow and steady. a young mother weaning converse on her feet pushes a double stroller with two kids, boy and girl, seemingly a year apart; they pass the elderly man with the cane, heading in the opposite direction. the girl stands at the crosswalk waiting for the light to change green, talking on her mobile loudly. a couple of boys run out into the street, narrowly missing being hit by the bus, they just get to the other side safely. several people walk into The Italian Job Cafe, and then come back out and take their seats at a table on the sidewalk patio that is raised a step up. a small, silver, hatchback car is driven up onto the sidewalk and parked in front of an empty storefront. the driver, a man, get out and unlocks the store door, carrying some bags inside. a boy with a bright blue plaid shirt under a black jumper is carrying a large package, he walks just
behind a tall black man in a similar black jumper who is listening to an ipod. a blond woman comes out the door of the Anthony Laban salon, looking fresh and put together after a hair style. biting her lip, the large woman seems concerned about something. a ladder is leaning up against a tool shop, it is for sale. the napoli pizza delivery guy comes out of the store, puts a stack of pizza boxes in the back box of his motorcycle and zooms off. the full front of the cafe glazing is opened, the doors folded up accordion style, and two men sit in two reds chairs at the red table on the sidewalk, their bicycles leaning against the table, two tvs are playing inside. the man wearing a nike hat, stops for a second and looks behind him, then continues in the same direction. a group of school girls, dressed in their uniforms of plaid skirts and red jumpers and knee high socks, amble down the street, they are loud, chatting and giggling, and aware of only themselves. a trolly full of boxes is pushed into the Lavender Hill Food & Wine off-license. two men peer into a red baby carriage, smiling. two woman bump into each other on the corner, they stand there, catching up. a man with thick hair that is becoming speckled with grey, leaves the comic shop. the business suited man carries bags of groceries in both hands. a young man in bright red trousers, walks with large strides in front of a vividly painted lime green facade of the a wood fired pizza restaurant. a boy in a green hood sits on a bench that is just off the sidewalk in a small, slightly overgrown plaza. he is alone there. a pretty mother stands at the crosswalk, holding a hand of each of the three kids - two identical boys and a girl - that are with her. a couple stops to looks at the adverts in the window of an agent’s office. an elderly, nondescript woman sits on a low brick wall under a large ASDA Superstore sign. a bouquet of white roses and red daisies and little yellow flowers are being carried by a lady. a group of men, with pints in hand, are leaning against the stone facade of The Falcon. a rush of people exit from clapham junction train station, flooding onto the sidewalk.
air street
lavender hill
9
social systems The notion that ‘no individual can exist in isolation1’ and that living systems are dependent on and linked with non-living systems, which are generated by the living systems. This leads to the study of social systems: the relationships, context, patterns and processes that are generated through networks of communication that are fundamental to human societies. In these images of the sites, focus was put on motion and movement of people. These images become a documentation of what has passed in the matter of a minute or two on a street corner, forming a virtual community of people who passed by each other within that specific moment that it was captured this recog-
10 1
the hidden connections, fritjof capra
nizes that they are part of a larger social structure in which this occurs over and over every moment of every day. People are constantly passing strangers whom they don’t know on the street but, all being part
of a social structure, are connected with each other in one respect through simply sharing the same environment.
11
choreogra 2
c. a. headphones the mover quite similar to the ‘mobile’ character and also fits within ‘the mover’ category. thisperson personisisslightly walking removed solo, they on is thehappening way to somewhere and seem to have a this fromare what in this world because of the clearplaying idea ofthat where that is,can there is it no is hesitation, they are passing through, music only they hear; like a personal soundtrack, a kept usually at a quicker pace than others but some are not in such a hurry. they are not secret. too interested in what’s around them. the majority of people fit this description.
choreography of a passing moment d. two’s
two’s are usually in conversation. they can consist of couples, two women, two men, friends; it is as yet undetermined if a person and their dog counts in this b.twomobile category, but is being considered. many times they are shoppers, carrying bags full as this that person speaking on or their mobilemen to wearing someone their who could be anywhere in of stuff wasisjust bought, business pinstripe suits and the world, they are usually participatory in to this world thatnumber they are looking importantish. they arenot outfully for coffee or a bite eat, or any of physically in. for allup. we can see, they are having a one-sided conversation with things you might think a little device, although we in fact know there is someone on the other end. the ‘texter’ also falls into this category, instead of speaking into the phone and seeing where they are heading, the ‘texter’ is often staring down into a little e. three’s screen and typing a message to send to another mobile device as they walk, thus theyalso havecan noinvestigation notion of what happening them, arepeople morethis likely totogether, there occasionally be is found groups around of three (or and more) walking specific to time and This begins bump in front of a as car. this caninto makesomeone walkingelse nextortowalk eachout other difficult one person usually has to walk place but with a universal with observing and recordbehind. a group of three tends to be less decisive, they can be found to stop on the the where social quality to them. corner ing to discuss they interactions are headed.
its seems this character(s) get to the middle of the street anda then suddenly a mother pushing her baby in a stroller, a toddler wobbling along, father with realizemunchkin that they don’tpiggyback. know wheremuch theyofshould be heading, they get distracted his little riding the time it is theormother or the with something elseonce around them, and stop, right there inthis the togethmiddle. father with the child, in awhile theythey are just all togetherI imagine stopping inmost the often middleon isthe sort of okay because at this of location as there notto high erness happens weekends. the child, they is tend move traffic and others the street is them, small,stopping but without fail a to vehicle will drive upcrossand slower than the around on corners hold hands before honk their horn to get this character moving again. they are not necessarily ing the street, etc. tourists. many times they will stop, then turn around and head back the same way that they had come from.
foot
1
direction of move
ACT 1 man1: walks in front pushing a stroller man2: stops on near corner for truck to pass, then continues across the road diagonally man3: points, from opposite corner man4,woman5: stand, look at a map
3/g head
3
4,5
shoulder hip
2
c. headphones of people and movements Each of‘the the characters bequite similar to the ‘mobile’ and also fits within mover’ category. occurring withincharacter the small f.this family person is slightly removed from what is happening in this world because of the
gan to take on their own intersection of Air Street music playing that her only they hear; it is like a personal a kept a mother pushing baby incan a stroller, a toddler wobbling soundtrack, along,the a father withof a movement, parts secret. and munchkin Glasshouse Street much just his little riding piggyback. of the time it is the mother or the body following a sequence father behind with the child, once inRegent awhile they are all together- I imagine this togeththe busy erness happens most often on the weekends. because of of the child,and they movements tend to move to steps and Piccadillly Cird. two’s slower Street than the others around them, stopping on corners to hold hands before crosscreate a language. After ing thecus street, etc. on a Monday in November two’s are usually in conversation. they can consist of couples, two women, two men, defining these Characters, two friends; it is as yethour. undetermined if a person and their dog counts in this at the lunch Here, structure of bags dance category, but is being considered. many times theythe are shoppers, carrying full there was a repetition by of stuff that was justlost bought, business men wearing their pinstripe suits to and g. pointing, & or confused notation was used different thecoffee or a bite to eat, or any number of relooking importantish.people they are of out for much of you the might time these show up together, but specific sometimes a ‘pointer’ can sequences of things think three up. same motions andtraits ways ofperson(s) cord be separate from ‘lost & confused.’ this is generally a tourist as they their movements through the are outmoving of their through known setting are more keen to notice what is around them with orandinterintersection; this becoming fresh e. eyes. they tend to have a guidebook or map that is taken out to reference and three’s acting with the space ocget them back on track, while referring to the book/map they also choreography tend to move out a written of a curring. particular of thealso way can against aThese building’s edge.groups sometimes they (or willmore) ask another character for there occasionally be found of three people walking together, passing moment to bewalk perdirections, initiating interaction among strangers. sometimes a photograph this can makethis walking next toaneach other difficult as one person usually has to qualities started to sort is made.a group of three tends to be less decisive,formed. behind. they can be found to stop on the different corner themselves to discuss whereout they as are headed. Characters, with each Character a role in the stop, in playing the middle of the street f. h. family dynamics of the everyday,
knee
knee foot
1
direction of move
ACT 2 man4,woman5: stand,look at a map men6,7: walk side by side, left to right woman8,man9: couple holding hands, walking closer man10: crosses left to right
3/g
8,9/d 6,7 4,5 8,9 10
12
ACT 2
choreography of a passing moment eography of a passing moment front pushing a
near corner for then continues d diagonally er from opposite corner p tand, look at a map
1/f
1
head
head
4,5 shoulder
shoulder
hip
hip
knee 2
knee
foot
foot
1/f
1/f
1/f
1/f
2/i 1/f
2/i
2/i
2/i
4,5/g
4,5/g
2/i3/g
2/i
8,9/d
8,9/d
2/i 4,5/g
2/i 4,5/g
direction of movement direction of movement
3/g
3/g 2/i 4,5/g
2/i 4,5/g
2/i 4,5/g
2/i 4,5/g
2/i
2/i3/g
3/g
2/i 3/g
2/i
tand,look at a map to ide by side, left to
s, ouple holding hands, left to right
8,9/d 6,7 4,5
6,7/g 8,9/d 4,5/g
6,7/g 10/a
8,9/d 10/a 4,5/g
6,7/g 8,9/d 4,5/g
6,7/g 10/a
4,5/g
8,9/d 10/a
8,9/d 10/a
10/a
4,5/g 6,7/g
8,9/d 4,5/g 10/a6,7/g
8,9/d 10/a
9 10
13
3 ACT ACT 3 woman11: street heading woman11: crossescrosses street heading away, on mobile away, on mobile woman12: stands on far left corner woman12: stands on far left corner man13:bicycle walks bicycle around far man13: walks around far left corner left corner man14: crosses street man14: crosses street left toleft to right, texting right, texting men15,16,17: in a away group, away men15,16,17: walk inwalk a group,
e-
12 13 12 13 14 14 15,16,17 15,16,17 11 11
ceir :
o ng
showing act one, stanza one, a script of the passing moment, dance notation used as reference
14
12/i 12/i11/b 11/b 13/j 13/j
12/i 12/i 11/b 11/b
the characters the characters the characters
the characters the mover This person is walking solo, they are on the way to somewhere and seem to have a clear idea of where that is, there is no hesitation, they are passing through, usually at a quicker pace than others but some are not in such a hurry. They are not too interested in what’s around them. The majority of people fit this description.
mobile As this person is speaking on their mobile to someone who could be anywhere in the world, they are usually not fully participatory in this world that they are physically in. For all we can see, they are having a one-sided conversation with a rectangular piece of plastic, although we in fact know there is someone on the other end. The ‘texter’ also falls into this category, instead of speaking into the phone and seeing where they are heading, the ‘texter’ is often staring down into a little screen and typing a message to send to another mobile device as they walk, thus they have no notion of what is happening around them, and are more likely to bump into someone else or walk out in front of a car.
headphones Quite similar to the ‘mobile’ character and also fits within ‘the mover’ category. This person is slightly removed from what is happening in this world because of the music playing that only they can hear; a personal soundtrack.
two’s Two’s are usually in conversation. They can consist of couples, two women, two men, two friends; it is as yet undetermined if a person and their dog counts in this category, but is being considered. Many times they are shoppers, carrying bags full of stuff that was just bought, or business men wearing their pinstripe suits and looking important. They are out for coffee or a bite to eat, or any number of things.
a. the mo a. the mo thisa.person wa the is mo
clear idea of whe this person is wa ally a quicker this at person iswhe wa clear idea of too interested in clear idea of whe ally at a quicker ally at a quicker too interested in too interested in
b. mobile this person i b. as mobile b. the mobile world, they
as this person i physically in. i f as person thethis world, they a little device, the world, they physically in. f ‘texter’ also physically in.fa f a little device, seeing where the a little device, ‘texter’ also fa screen and typin ‘texter’ alsothe fa seeing where they have no not seeing where the screen and typin bump into someon screen andno typin they have not they into have someon no not bump bump into someon
c. headphon
c. headphon quite similar to th c. person headphon this is slig quite similar to th music similar playing that quite th this person isto slig secret. this isthat slig musicperson playing music playing that secret. secret.
d. two’
two’s are d.usually two’ d. two’ two friends; it i two’s are usually category, but is two’s are usually two friends; it i of stuff thatit was two friends; category, but isi looking important category, but of stuff that is was things you might of stuff that was looking important looking important things you might things you15 might
e. three’s there e. alsothree’s can occ e. three’s this can make walk
there also can occ behind. a group of there also can occ
they have no someone notion of what happening aroundofthem, and are more likely to bump into else or is walk out in front a car. bump into someone else or walk out in front of a car.
c. headphones c. headphones quite similar to the ‘mobile’ character and also fits within ‘the mover’ category. c. headphones this person is slightly removed from what is happening in this world because of the
quite similar to the ‘mobile’ character and also fits within ‘the mover’ category. music playing only they canfrom hear; it also is personal soundtrack, a kept quite similar to the ‘mobile’ character and fitsa within ‘the mover’because category. this person isthat slightly removed what is like happening in this world of the secret. this person is slightly removed fromhear; what it is is happening in this world becausea of the music playing that only they can like a personal soundtrack, kept music playing that only they can hear; it is like a personal soundtrack, a kept secret. secret.
d. two’s
d.usually two’sin conversation. they can consist of couples, two women, two men, two’s are d. two’s two friends; it isin asconversation. yet undetermined a person dogtwo counts in this two’s are usually theyif can consistand of their couples, women, two men, category, butit isin being considered. many times theyofare shoppers, bags full two’s are usually conversation. they can consist couples, two carrying women, in two men, two friends; is as yet undetermined if a person and their dog counts this offriends; stuff that wasas just bought, or business menthey wearing their and twocategory, it is yet considered. undetermined if atimes person andare their dogpinstripe counts insuits this but is being many shoppers, carrying bags full looking importantish. they are out for coffee or a bite to eat, or any number of category, is was being considered. times men theywearing are shoppers, carrying suits bags full of stuffbut that just bought, ormany business their pinstripe and things you might think up. of looking stuff that was just bought, or out business men wearing their suits and of importantish. they are for coffee or a bite to pinstripe eat, or any number looking theyup. are out for coffee or a bite to eat, or any number of thingsimportantish. you might think
things you might think up. three’s e. three’s e.can three’s There also occasionally be found three (or walkingpeople together, this together, there also can occasionally begroups found of groups ofmore) threepeople (or more) walking e.canthree’s can make walking next to each other as onedifficult person usually hasperson to walk usually in front orhas to walk this make walking next to difficult each other as one
there also can occasionally be found groups of three (or more) people walking together, behind. acan group of three tends to decisive, be lessdifficult decisive, they can be on found to stop onwalk the behind. A group of three tends to be less they can be(or found to stop thewalking corner there also occasionally be groups of three more) people this can make walking next tofound each other as one person usually hastogether, to to where they are headed. tocorner discuss where theyofare headed. this can make walking next to each difficult as one hasstop to walk behind. a discuss group three tends toother be less decisive, theyperson can beusually found to on the behind. group of three less decisive, they can be found to stop on the cornera to discuss wheretends they to arebeheaded. corner to discuss where they are headed.
f. family family f. family a mother pushing her baby in a stroller, a toddler wobbling along, a father with f. family A his mother pushing her baby in a stroller, a toddler wobbling along, father little or the little munchkin riding piggyback. much of the timea it is with the his mother
a mother pushing her baby in a stroller, a toddler wobbling along, a father with father withmunchkin theher child, once in they are all togetherI imagine togethriding piggyback. Much theawhile time it is mother or the father the child,this amunchkin mother pushing baby in aof stroller, athe toddler wobbling amother father his little riding piggyback. much of the time it along, is with the orwith the erness happens most often onin the weekends. they tend move once in awhile they all togetherthis togetherness isthe assumed tothe happen often on his little munchkin riding piggyback. much of because timeof it is child, theI most mother or theto father with theare child, once awhile they are all togetherimagine this togethslower than the others around them, stopping on corners to hold hands before father with the child, once in they arebecause all togetherI imagine togethhappens mostofoften on awhile the of the theythis tend tocrossmove theerness weekends. Because the child, they weekends. tend to move slower than the child, others around them, ing the street, etc. erness happens most often on the weekends. because ofetc. the child, tend to move slower than the others around them, stopping on corners to holdthey hands before crossstopping on corners to hold hands before crossing the street, slower thanstreet, the others ing the etc. around them, stopping on corners to hold hands before crossing the street, etc.
g. pointing, lost & confused pointing, lost & confused pointing, confused much g. of the time these lost three & traits show up together, but sometimes a ‘pointer’ can lost &show confused Much of pointing, the timefrom these three up together, but sometimes a ‘pointer’ be as they be g. separate ‘lost &traits confused.’ this person(s) is generally a can tourist
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much of the time these three traits show up together, but sometimes a ‘pointer’ can are out oftime their known setting andshow are more keena to notice what around with separate from ‘lost &these confused.’ This person(s) isup generally tourist as they areis of their them much the three traits together, but sometimes atourist ‘pointer’ can be of separate from ‘lost & confused.’ this person(s) is generally aout as they fresh eyes. they tend have aand guidebook orkeen mapthem that is fresh taken to reference and known setting and are more& to keen to notice what is around with eyes. tend be separate ‘lost confused.’ this is a out tourist as them they with are out offrom their known setting are person(s) more to generally notice what isThey around get back on track, whileand referring tokeen the book/map also tend to move out are outthem their known setting are more to notice what isout them with eyes. they to a guidebook or map that isthey taken to reference and to fresh have aof guidebook ortend map thathave is taken out to reference and get them back onaround track, of the way against atobuilding’s edge. sometimes theyiswill askout another character for fresh eyes. they tend have guidebook or taken reference getreferring them back on track, while referring to map the book/map they also tend to moveand out while tothis the book/map theyaan also tend to move outthat ofstrangers. the way against ato building’s directions, initiating interaction among sometimes a photograph getofthem on track, while referring the book/map they ask alsoanother tend tocharacter move out for the back way against a building’s edge. to sometimes they will edge. made. Sometimes they will ask another character for directions, this initiating an interaction of is the way against building’sanedge. sometimes theystrangers. will ask another character for directions, this ainitiating interaction among sometimes a photograph among strangers. a photograph is made. directions, thisSometimes initiating an interaction among strangers. sometimes a photograph is made. is made.
h. stop, in the middle of the street h. stop, inthis the middle get oftothe its seems character(s) the street middle of the street and then suddenly h. stop, inthat the middle ofwhere thethey street realize they don’t know should be heading, or they get distracted its seems this character(s) get to the middle of the street and then suddenly with something else around them, and they just stop, right there in the middle.
g. pointing, lo
much g. ofg. the time these lo th pointing, pointing, be separate from ‘lost & much of of the time these th time these aremuch out of the their known se be separate ‘lost & be separate from ‘lost fresh eyes. from they tend to are out of their se out of their known getare them back on known track, w fresh they tend to eyes. they of fresh theeyes. way against atend buil get them back on on track, get them back trackw directions, this initiati of the wayway against a buil the against a b is of made. directions, this initiati directions, this initi is is made. made.
stop in the middle of the street It seems this character(s) get to the middle of the street and then suddenly realize that they don’t know where they should be heading, or they get distracted with something else around them, and they just stop, right there in the middle. Stopping in the middle is sort of okay at this location as there is not high traffic and the street is small, but without fail a vehicle will drive up and honk their horn to get this character moving again. They are not necessarily tourists. Many times they will stop, then turn around and head back the same way that they had come from.
stop on the corner Sometimes this occurs because the person has run into someone they know and an informal contact ensues before they separately continue on, this is a fun scenario. Sometimes many people are stopped together on the corner to wait for a vehicle to pass, then en masse they continue on. Sometimes a person alone just stops for a moment, for whatever number of reasons they only know.
the cycler This person has two speeds, either he/she is cycling by which means they pass quickly, sometimes having to dodge the pedestrians (especially the ‘texter’) or he/she is walking their bicycle wherein the narrow sidewalk becomes an obstacle course trying to get around people and the street furniture, etc. When walking their bike, the person may be looking for an unoccupied pole or railing upon which he/she can lock their bike to and then continue on to their final destination via foot. Within the cycler category there can be found subcategories of: the ‘safety cycler,’ dressed in a bright neon vest and riding a ‘get you around town commuter’ bike; the ‘pro,’ very fit and riding a fancy, geared up, fast road bike; and the ‘too cool’ hipster in tight jeans riding a fixed gear, many times this is a bike messenger; among others.
h. stop, in the m
itsstop, seems chara h.h.stop, inthis m inthe the
realize that they do its seems this chara its seems this cha with something else realize that they do realize they stopping inthat the midd with something else with something els traffic and the stre stopping inhorn thethe midd stopping in honk their to mi g traffic and thethe stre traffic and st tourists. many times honk their horn to g honk their that they had horn come to f tourists. many times tourists. many tim that they hadhad come f that they come
i. stop, on the i. i.sometimes stop, this occur stop,on onthe th
and an informal cont sometimes this occur this ocs is sometimes a fun scenario. and an an informal cont and ca corner to informal wait for is a fun scenario. is a funa scenario sometimes person s a corner to wait for corner to wait foa reasons. sometimes a person sometimes a persoa reasons. reasons.
j. the cycler
j. j.the this person has two speeds, thecycler cycler times having to dodge the p this person hashas two speeds, this person speed bicycle wherein thetwo narrow times having tofurniture, dodge thethe p having to dodge andtimes the street e bicycle wherein thethe narrow bicycle wherein narro cupied pole or railing upon and the street furniture, e and the street furniture, final destination via foot. cupied pole or railing upon pole or railing up thecupied ‘safety cycler,’ dresse final destination viavia foot. final destination foo ever’ bike; the ‘pro,’ very the ‘safety cycler,’ dresse the ‘safety cycler,’ dres cool’ hipster in tight jean ever’ bike; the ‘pro,’ very ever’ bike; the ‘pro,’ ve others. cool’ hipster in in tight jean cool’ hipster tight je others. others.
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synchronic/diachronic On the same corner as used in the previous investigation, the environment of the site was studied, looking at how people see and experience their movement through the city on two time scales. These being: (1) Synchronic, occurring at a specific point in time, dealing with the right now. And (2) Diachronic, occurring and changing along with time, giving the meaning and reasons behind what we see. In the first, on the synchronic time scale, the specific moment notes what is happening right then at
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that point in time, with time as a constant. These are the typological characteristics: the time of day, the weather, the season, the location, who is around a person, what the person is doing, where the person is going. Experienced in parallel, there is the diachronic time scale, with time as a variable. Diachronic is concerned with the way in which something has developed or evolved through time. Why it is that way? How did it come to be that way? What one has experienced, knows, and learns
in their life gives shape to how one sees the world around them differently from the next. No two views are exactly the same. An example of these time scales is a newspaper: in it is printed the daily news, the now of everyday - the synchronic - concurrently through history the small incremental - diachronic -movements seen in a newspaper begin to speak of a culture’s development through time. A person’s movements and actions similarly shape their relationship with the city.
in my shoes, on the corner of one stop food & wine ways of seeing /two layers/ synchronic & diachronic
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20 two men
[right] physical thumatropes, two images combine to form one image when spun
[above, left] images on the thumatropes
under the hood
a pair
asphalt cover
sitting on the baulk heads is prohibited
ghost bldg
window tax, policy imprint
marks on the ground as a language
rubbish appears & disappears
on the corner of one stop food & wine synchronic/diachronic time
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ghost forest ‘The connection between deforestation and climate change, and the challenge to express that visually, is the basis for Angela’s most ambitious and logistically challenging work yet. The concept is to present a series of rainforest tree stumps as a ‘ghost forest’ – using the negative space created by the missing trunks as a metaphor for climate change, the absence representing the removal of the world’s ‘lungs’ through continued deforestation.
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Its location in Trafalgar Square is key: it is one of the world’s most visited tourist sites and the epicentre of Western industrialisation over the past 200 years. For the majority of visitors, the scale, beauty and diversity of the stumps will be unlike any1
http://www.ghostforest.org
thing they have experienced before. Nelson’s Column stands over 50 metres (169 feet) tall, the approximate height many of these trees would have stood at in the wild.’1 This installation was surrounded and activated by people, instead of people standing and looking at paintings hung on walls, they were in a public square looking from all angles and levels. People were a part of the art piece. The parts missing, what wasn’t there, the absence of the branches and the leaves, is what made the viewer perceive the deeper meaning. What is unseen reveals more that what is seen. The void has a presence that is felt. ten studies, overlap of positive negative space
top right, installation, ghost forest paper tree, remaking a treestump of newsprint
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eating, dinner as a performance The simple event of sitting down at a table over food is a common act that brings people together, making then stop for a moment and interact face to face. It is composed of the same actions and sequence, yet each iteration plays out a bit differently. In this investigation two corresponding parts are found: (one) the simple object of a table as an enabler that engages people, and (two) the analogy of a dinner that happens around a table to the purpose of an ideal city.
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Dinner is a commonplace, universal event; all people take part in this ubiquitous act each and every day the world over and yet it is also personal and specific to the individual setting. A meal tells of
culture, geographical location, values, and health. Eating is a daily necessity for basic nourishment, but it is also an act of enjoyment and pleasure. People eat with friends, with family, by themselves, people eat at home or in restaurants, they eat food from other countries and food from their homeland, people share and converse. If it’s summer there are barbeques outside, if it’s winter there are warm cozy stews and mashes inside. A meal - the food and people gathering around the food - constructs an invisible spatial environment. A meal can take place anywhere, but that anywhere has a context that is incorporated with it, that anywhere has a story behind it. The dinner which is record-
ed and played out here is a special event, a thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving, an American tradition taking place once a year on the fourth Thursday of November, began as a three day feast shared between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims as a celebration of thanks to God for helping them survive the brutal winter. The essence of this Thanksgiving, although celebrated in London and on Saturday, is the same as every year: cooking all afternoon, smells drifting from the oven, catching up with new and old friends over wine, eating far too much and then having pumpkin pie for dessert. It is one day, one meal, which is repeated every year by all Americans, one meal which has a story about how it
movement, action & rhythm of an universal everyday event
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came to be and tells of the beginnings of a country, and yet one meal which will never again be repeated in exactly that same place with those same people in that same context. Lawrence Halprin, a designer of urban spaces, writes: ‘Though we do not have a clear picture of the ideal form of a city, we do have a clear image of the purpose of an ideal city. This purpose is clearly to make possible a rich and biologically satisfying life for all the city’s people. What we are really searching for is a creative process, a constantly changing sequence where people are the generators, their creative activities are the aim, and the physical elements are the tools.’
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This purpose of an ideal city that Halprin speaks of can be compared to the purpose of a dinner. A dinner is also a creative process with a ‘constantly changing sequence’ of actions that
are generated by people using tools from the kitchen and tools that are grown from the land. A dinner invites the participation and interaction of people with each other, it is a carefully designed activity that also allows for spontaneous, unplanned moments. Halprin also states that, ‘The city comes alive through movement and its rhythmic structure. The elements are no longer merely inanimate. They play a vital role, they become modulators of activity and are seen in juxtaposition with other moving objects.’
As with the city, a dinner is actually a series of small, familiar events that have a rhythmic structure to them - buying, preparing and cooking, serving, eating, and cleaning up. Movement happens around the table; the table is
the stationary object about which the activity of dinner is juxtaposed. All the elements are used together to make the meal.
people in relation to the table, the table as a simple object that enables events to happen and activates a space.
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the last supper historical In the Christian Gospels, the Last Supper was the last meal Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles and disciples before his death. The Last Supper has been the subject of many paintings, perhaps the most famous by Leonardo da Vinci.
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the union christmas dinner
family & friends, gathering together
eat at a table, a table as a tool
In this illustration by Thomas Nast, The idea of the family dinner as a Abraham Lincoln, representing time when everyone sits down to eat the North, is holding out a hand of together, as a time to catch up on the friendship to the South. The image daily happenings. Today, family does shows Lincoln opening the door to not necessarily mean only the people a large banquet hall, and inviting you are related to, family can be old hungry rebels in from the cold. This friends and new friends, housemates, image is surrounded by images of classmates, officemates, etc. The scenes of surrender in the Civil War. family meal brings people together The lower left inset shows Robert over this simple act of eating, it is E. Lee Surrendering to Ulysses S. a moment to sit down and escape Grant. At the point Nast made this from busy lives, enjoying the drawing, this was simply a hope, company of others. but it did occur within the next six months.
A table is a simple object. It can come in all shapes, sizes an materials - square, rectangular, oval or round - with legs attached that raise the horiontal plane up around two and a half feet off the ground. The table itself is insignificant, simply an inanimate object, just a tool. But a table is brought to life through the ritual of eating food upon it. Smells, colors, foods, drinks, utensils, are placed on the table, people sit down around it and a meal ensues.
eat anywhere, food can travel
banquet meal, a celebration
food, cultural geography
motion of eating, movements
People generally eat on tables, at least in western cultures, but a table is not necesary for a meal. Eating can take place anywhere: on the grass, in a boat, in a car, on the curb of a street, or steps in a public space, there is a context but the context is changeable. What is important is the act of eating. The act of eating creates a spatial environment, a territory which envelopes the act.
A formal event which honors, remembers, celebrates an occasion will usually include a meal. The meal may be of several courses and have the proper table settings and people in fancy dress - it is elaborate and brings with it a ritualistic tradition. But this banquet ceremony is not so different from an everyday dinner in that at its core it includes people eating food together.
The food being eaten speaks to the culture and their customs, values, habits that are rooted in a long history and evolution. Much of this history has its basis in geographical location - the natural surroundings and climatic conditions - the tropics have a lot of bright fruits, cool and damp places eat warm and hearty stews. Food also depends on the season and what is available. The current movement for eating local, for organically grown produce and free range animals is an indicator of larger social issues.
The action and process of how people eat, hands and arms moving repeatedly back and forth from plate to mouth creates a motion that can be captured. The rest of the body is fairly still when eating.
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the table in four states of use; dinner as a creative process, a ‘constantly changing sequence’ the form of a table as an enabler, an engager of people
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preparation chop, cut, stir cook set the table
carve the chicken serve the food fill the plate sit
pour the wine cheers glad to be together eat
food from plate to fork, fork to mouth , and into belly plate empties
dessert coffee sit back, converse if necessary lie on ground to stretch
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reflections in train travel
In filming a journey on the train from hackney downs to liverpool street station, what was passing outside the window was captured as well as the reflection of what was happening inside the train. That reflection and the overlap it creates is something which could be measured and controlled in other ways. When it’s dark outside (building or tunnel) the reflection of the inside is greater and vice versa. The feeling that the short film evokes is one of traveling in slow motion through the city. Reflection is a consequence of something else, it is looking back, remembering.
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stills from the video of a train journey
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reconstructing a view using reflections in a mirror
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reflected moment The Reflected Moment speaks to an ever changing point in time fixed around a stationary object. The table stands still while people and the outside world move around it. A reflection is created by a body or surface throwing back light, heat, or sound without absorbing it; it arises from a consequence of something else. The wall that encircles the table captures the reflections of the people who have inhabited and may inhabit the space around the table, the memories of them.
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the components Table :: A universal, everyday object around which people engage with each other, memories are created and people are removed from the constant spinning of the outside world. The Table stays still in its place in the center, it is stationary but people move about it, around it, sit at it, reach over it, put things on it, crawl under it. The table is shown after or before the event, it is empty of people. Reflecting Wall :: The wall reflects and gathers the motions, gestures and actions of the people who have participated in a moment around the table. It collects these reflections together in a memory.
Train :: The train signifies repetitive movement through the world, of a person looking out and seeing the world go by through the window, not participating, simply watching. Trees :: Nature, the changing seasons, time moving in a annual speed. Buildings :: The city, human life, urban life, the constructed environment which humans build and activate and through which we move daily. Entry :: The hole into the Reflecting Circle allows one to access the memory of the moment from the world. Viewer :: This is the mind that is the storer of things remembered.
37 the reflected moment
concluding reflection
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The ways which individuals remember is curious. One person can remember something completely different about the same event than the person they experienced it with. A story about a time together with ten people will be retold by each in ten different ways. People don’t remember time in a chronological fashion, there are some moments which appear larger or get switched in time with other moments. People see varying things when experiencing the same moment.
Through time a memory of the moment can change, the details become blurred and we remember some parts and not others. A photograph holds onto the physical scene, which acts to spur a memory, but without having actually experienced the moment in the photo it has less value. A moment occurs when someone recognizes it as a specific time in the course of time, it is constructed in the mind of the viewer as the viewer catalogues their experience for future reference.
The moment is a point in time. It can be long or short. A lot and a little can happen in a moment.
Our memories provide an identity for who we are. This links to the idea of dual realities: of memory
and of real life, of local and global, of the individual and the collective, of the physical and the virtual. How each informs and strengthens the other, neither part is autonomous, the existence of one is conditional on the other. It is about living ‘in the moment’ but being surrounded by memories which create who we are and what we see, and the visions and desires of what the future may bring. At the same time that the world is becoming more global there is also a push towards what is local and knowing your community. This community becomes a reflection of the individual who plays a part in it.