Initially my investigation took the form of a study of London’s existing transport infrastructure from a range of perspectives including energy use, experiential qualities and efficiency, alongside a theoretical overview. It was during these studies that the focus of my interest became clear. What is needed is a change of perspective. A different approach that can challenge the predominant 20th Century trend of personal automotive transport, but also help people to fully embrace a rapidly burgeoning urban lifestyle, advances in the speed of digital technology and the seeming contradiction presented by a necessary emphasis on a more sustainable life choices.
Architecture that champions a cultural sustainability could start to address these criteria, balancing the fast changing and seemingly inhumane nature of the city with our want, need and desire to live in such a place.
Early investigations into this notion of cultural sustainability led me to the Slow Movement. This established and popular alternative encapsulates many of the aspirations of those torn between the desire and motivation to speed up in tune with the world around them, never missing a second, and the untold psychological and physiological benefits of pausing, just for a moment, to take in your surroundings.
Essentially, slowness is not something that can exist without speed. It is a relative concept, and yet it’s just the small things in life from which people can often gain the most pleasure. Whether it is walking that last leg of your journey rather than jumping on the tube on a sunny afternoon, or removing yourself from the daily rush to relax and do a crossword for five minutes, the benefits can be plentiful, ranging from increased concentration to greater composure when under pressure. The aim of my architectural proposal is thus: to provide a pervasive opportunity for calm, escape and the other benefits that this may bring to the central areas of London.
DS16 