subverted song: tower protection

Calling back to the “beacon,” I wanted to signal how an iconic element, which is also the most vertical and by extent visible beyond the site, can be used and/or subverted: the bell tower.

I imagine the tower to operate as a kind of control tower and viewpoint, in which the oppressed population may begin to subvert surveilance tactics on harmful bigots who have no intention to engage peacefully or make conversation. It is important to note that the tower is not intended for permanent surveillance, but rather reacts to the temporal realities of the social landscape.

In time, the bells may toll songs and not sirens. At left, two volunteers man the system and take note of suspicious activity in the landscape. Once the suspicions are confirmed as threats, an audible alert is sent and data is taken for future protection against repeat offenders to the sanctuary.

Community Timeline

Following thoughts on subversion and protection, I found it both helpful and challenging to imagine a social timeline of the project’s construction and survival; how could this proposal come to exist?

What may start as two community leaders finding a need may turn into a concerted effort to make tangible change for queer populations. As in any community, rumors are bound to spread. Target populations may begin to take note. As programs get up and running, word is spread and protection must begin. Once the armory is constructed, a larger network may emerge. The landscape becomes its own kind of ally, as well, and the complete processes of the proposal may begin to work holistically.

This timeline is what inspired the start of the final presentation, in which I “presented,” or “performed,” the project as if I were pitching the proposal as a literal church using only architectural conventions and coded design.