A TALE ABOUT OUR CHANGING COMMUNITY
PROJECT BY Shayne Noronha & Vaughan MacKenzie-Browne
Kingsland Urban Design Competition Entry
Dealing with any
space has always left us apprehensive
about its spatial boundaries. We feel restricted to design within a small site,
or even overwhelmed with the opportunity to impact a larger project. Rarely do
we ever engage with the depth of a landscape, and the hidden virtue. Every site
holds some sense of history or a particular way of life. It might bear
significant heritage qualities; act as a small fraction of a larger story, or
simply just the way it functioned in the past and the contemporary culture it
accommodates presently. When we design with the aspect of beauty, we move away
from merely retrofitting objects into a space, but instead share a communal
past and display the growth of culture. As landscape architects, we have the
ability to propose solutions as well as an opening to apply the definition of
beauty. We create spaces for different generations, communities and cultures,
but also places that influences the mind, body and soul. We do not create a sense of place; we complement
it through design to allow people to understand the space and encourage them to
express themselves whilst also providing an appreciation of ownership.
The importance of
analysis can never be expressed enough. We observe functionality, interrelationships,
obstacles and opportunities. A particular factor that we focused on throughout
our Kingsland project was the heritage qualities held by the Trinity Church and
Jubilee Hall, which created the driver of this design proposal. We produced a
vibrant space that reflects the character of the community today, but
acknowledging the story of its architectural history is what contributed most towards
the contemporary sense of place. Gaining perspective is generated through observing.
Once we understand and interpret what we have collated, applying it in a new
way defines the beauty of a place. As a team, we focused on creating a place,
not a design. Whilst design is an important component of creating a place, it
is not the only factor. Creating active use, accessibility, programmed events
and economic opportunities are often more important than design.
The true experts
behind this idea of Placemaking are not the professionals in the industry, but
instead the community. The most valuable perspective and insights are obtained
through consulting people who use the space regularly. Incorporating and
understanding their ideas and talents are essential for creating a successful
and vital communal place. The idea
behind our Kingsland proposal, within the displayed boundary, was not solely to
create a particular focus on people of the community, but also to create a
vision and an opportunity that could be carried throughout the entire
commercial zone.
All landscapes are
compiled of layers, some more visible than others. In order to create a sense
of place, we need to drill down into the story the place holds, and share the
tale through design. We are not exposing these hidden layers for commercial
value. Instead, we focus on a strategy that allows people to connect
emotionally to a place. A space that accommodates the requirements for a
community is what I believe gives contemporary quality to a place. Creating a memorable experience that one can
carry away with themselves, is the true greatness of a place.
