Exploration Into The Uncanny

Kayla MacDonald

Exploration into the Uncanny explores the potential of architecture to exhibit attitudes of indifference, ambivalence, and estrangement within the systems of the contemporary city.

The first term is indifference. For the purpose of this exploration indifference was defined as “individual insignificance in the face of overwhelming indifference.” Based on the Lovecraftian concept of cosmic indifference, this architecture aims to create architecture that is indifferent to the scale of humans.

The second term is Ambivalence. This attitude was described as “the pull of two opposing forces that represent duality and contradiction”. This architecture uses the form of the arch and reflection to play with the idea of complete and incomplete forms as a method of representing duality.

The final term is Estrangement. This attitude is defined as “a sense of unease and disconnection with the once familiar.” This architecture aims to take space that was once familiar and alter it in a subtle and uncanny way.

Indifference Estrangement Ambivalence