project idea

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The narrative I drew from the man's reflection and loss was that of a political prisoner (a former powerful leader or influential polemic) stripped of their power, exiled and imprisoned to a small building atop a rocky outcrop in the middle of the ocean. The building would not be a true prison, or a place of punishment, torture or darkness, but more a place of isolation and self-reflection imposed on the prisoner.

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Thus I set myself one of my greatest challenges in my architectural studies so far - I would essentially be designing a prison. Most architects are commissioned by someone to design a building like a home or a gallery for the person's use, and so it is a place of peace, relaxation, suitability, happiness, etc. In this case, the client would be the man's political enemies who would be asking me to design a place of imprisonment and confinement. This scared me a little; how would I design a prison? Would I actually want to?

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This is how I expressed my idea through the architecture:

1. Three spaces would be linked as an ironic journey of ascension. The smallest space is confined with minimal windows and light. The second space and its windows are larger and let more light in. The final space is the largest, highest and the culmination of the journey, and is completely illuminated by a mostly glass exterior. The roofs are all slanted upwards and the directional windows point upwards, directing the man towards the final space.

2. This journey of ascension and the all-seeing upper room hints at some feeling of control and authority for the prisoner. But on the contrary, the prisoner is completely isolated by the surrounding ocean and open air, and can only stare out into the nothingness and contemplate the freedom he does not have.

3. The greater illumination as the spaces ascend is usually associated with freedom, content and health. This openness may feel wrong for a place of exile, but allowing the prisoner a lookout space to stare at the all-encompassing ocean reinforces his isolation and his absolute loss of power, and gives him nothing but all day to think about it.

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