The birth and rebirth of the wall
Team
Name: Delyan Georgiev
Nationality: Bulgarian
Institution / Company: Welsh School of Architecture
Name: Dongchen Du
Nationality: Chinese
Institution / Company: Welsh School of Architecture
Name: Miaocai Jia
Nationality: Chinese
Institution / Company: Welsh School of Architecture
-FINALIST of FUTURE PUBLIC SPACE Competition
The project represents a critical and radical response to the contemporary privately owned public space in the UK. Shopping malls which function is solely focused on overconsumption, have neglected the public needs of many and have transformed into exclusive land. Instead of providing unconditional access, the walled privatized public spaces relegate people and create social divisions. In this condition, the walls of the malls act as a social boundary.
In our future scenario, a shopping mall in central London has become fruitless due to the development of online shopping along with the circumstances of the pandemic. The walls are demolished to be rebuilt metaphorically. The ruins of the mall have been lifted and stacked up forming new gigantic walls with walkway platforms. This dystopian monument symbolizes the fall of the shopping plaza and configures a new inclusive space. Within the latter, there are different areas for public events. A trade market serves to revive the small businesses of the local community. On a multifunctional desert space, folding weather control devices are installed on a showground laid out with sand. Where spaces intersect is a hot bathing pool where people strip off their social identities, bathe, and communicate without feeling divided.
#Capitalism & privatized spaces #Accessibility & Land use planning #Regeneration #Discrimination & inequalities #Integration of diverse social groups
