HIDE 2
Friday, October 28 2005
 Proposals for multi-functional structures in open spaces discussed at the Hide 2 symposium. | On Friday October 28th, 30 people gathered in the Field Station Gunpowder Park for an interdisciplinary discussion on small, multi functional structures for open spaces. The HIDE 2 symposium brought together a range of creative practitioners and open space managers to present case studies and workshop new ideas. The aim was to progress new designs to prototype stage, through partnerships with artists, designers, materials suppliers, manufacturers and venues including Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
HIDE 2 considered:
> The physical context; design, architecture, construction, management.
> The social context; education, behaviour, interaction.
The notion of seeing without being seen and how artists, particularly live artists and environmental artists would collaborate to produce new work. And in turn, how that work would be received by spectators.
These notes summarise the discussions facilitated by Tony Beckwith, Artistic Director and Eileen Woods, Creative Director, Haring Woods Studio at Gunpowder Park.
Tony Beckwith and Eileen Woods introduced Gunpowder Park and Landscape+Arts Network Services (now Haring Woods Studio), describing the ethos of the Park as a site for exploring the physical and social aspects of open space through the 5 programming strands: Research and Development, Site Specific, Education, Community and Publishing.
HIDE: a true working example of the Gunpowder Park arts, science and nature programme policy to explore the use of open space through arts-led collaborations. As an ongoing research and development strand, HIDE brings together artists, designers, manufacturers, open space managers and park users to consider the physical and social aspects of small, multifunctional structures for use in public open spaces. These structures could serve as bird hides, kiosks, shelters or performance spaces.
Anita Rivera, artist, presented her experience of a successful collaborative project: Plover Hide in River Lee Country Park. Plover Hide was subjected to regular vandalism and a new approach was required. The process involved Ian Kendall, Country Parks Manager, Anita Rivera (who has produced work for Lee Valley previously), Tony Beckwith and the Sculpture Factory who fabricated and installed the new hide. Also, Anita worked with local schools to encourage ownership, responsibility and creativity. The finished design provides a facility to bolt on digital/video equipment to film to capture data about the site and its use.
The function of the structure and its relationship to the environment is very successful. Design concept selected was a bird wing and galvanised steel was chosen as the material, relating to the pylons throughout the Park. Andrew Palmer, former Landscape Architect/Project Manager for Lee Valley consulted on the organic relationship within the design. Requirements for disabled and child users were considered and incorporated providing low level viewing apertures.
Anita elected to work with the Sculpture Factory to aid in constructing and installing the structure (structural engineering tied into the design). TB noted that past practice involved separate contractors to install and who would cost more than the work/artist. Anita was selected partly because of her proven ability to control the installation process, again this provided value for money.
Eileen noted that research in to bird hide design proved there was very little work in this area. The exhibition showed examples of traditional designs and innovative ‘trans-species’ work by American artists Lynn Hull.
Tony acknowledged the criticisms and the Rangers’ responsibility to deal with the traditional bird hide user groups.
Tak Hoshino, architect and tutor at University of East London, School of Architecture and Visual Arts, presents ‘Animal Architecture / Symbiotic Houses and Artificial Nature’
Tak is an architect trained in Japan, now teaching and practising in the UK. His Oriental background informs his attitudes and perceptions. He first met the Gunpowder Park team through the London Borough of Enfield, Arts team, with whom he worked on a cultural mapping project. Interest in teaching: In the Spring of 2005, Tak ran a workshop exploring small structures with 16 second year architecture students from UeL, incorporating Gunpowder Park and the HIDE concept into the course module.
He started the morphing project as Weed/Structure before the animal/structure. Weed is a cultural problem – weed because we have gardens and garden fences. We impose cultural interpretation and values upon natural forms.
David Buck, landscape artist, ran the UeL programme with Tak, with an interest in diffusing the boundary and together set up Animal Architecture – artificial nature; 4 teams of 4 to develop own ideas and collaborate. Difficult with architects- to diffuse when they want to define and refine.
Multifunctional trend in 1970s and then abused. Multi functional came to mean not achieving any function well; Tak prefers the term environmentally responsive.
Thames Gateway – confusion about the sense of place: battle natural marshes against industrial past. Think about extension to Europe, expanding towards Rhine. Rethinking as one city - One point in global network
1953 destruction created natural marshland beauty
New Orleans - comparison to looking at our environments
Artificial Nature
Buckminster Fuller – global settlement
Do we stop evolving the species by artificial coverings?
Thinking about skin, extremities, and skeleton as elements of structures
Environmental Symbiosis – each animal independent of one another/ mutually dependant
Change environment – symbiotic relationship with the environment
Looking at London Zoo to spot animals and to learn from their ‘homes’, movements and environments
Learning how to adapt to environment – using the disadvantageous settings to help fuel and heat, and water dispursement, and be moveable.
Interactions between structure and environment can be mutually productive.
‘Co-evolutionary design method’
Terry Orchard, artist; ‘A Walk in the Park’ concept designs for special needs
Tony Beckwith introduced: team working
Terry introduced himself – dyslexia as an advantage to the work and the students he works with.
Making space between the bodies and the technology / needs
Tony had invited Terry to look at the Park – ‘A Walk in the Park’
Look at possibilities of independent experiences for the students [some extreme conditions]
Autism:
Example of Joe, extreme autistic conditions
Looking at the fear [of independence]
Bird Hide – a safe house
Include Technology ?
Special Needs – medical, etc- available
Extend the HIDE nature of the structure
Challenge the desire
Help the real people and real needs within the community
Support from school and head teacher
Tony extends Terry Orchard’s work to the level of consultation of others
Open discussion followed on creative ideas, international inspiration, new materials and performance, led by Tony Beckwith and Eileen Woods from Haring Woods Studio at Gunpowder Park. | |
