A desire for a panoramic view of Vancouver is one of the reasons for the purchase of a Podium-Tower flat. Our project, which remains a mere suggestion, plays with this idea of view by having a concrete tower without any views somewhere in Vancouver's downtown core. A tower of noteworthy height will be erected on and through a house built according to a standard POTO-Type floor plan. This intrusion allows the house's inhabitants and others to ascend the tower which top is lit to give the illusion that there are openings and thus 'views' of Vancouver at the end of one's climb. Upon getting there, however, our climbers will only find electric lighting fitted in recesses on the walls. The image of skylight and 'view' were there to deceive.
This 'view' cast by artificial light at the top of the tower is both a conceit and deceit. It tempts us to see a view that is not there, that is explicitly manufactured. The conceit-deceit makes explicit our desire for view and imagery. But in its tempting and deceiving it also acts as a reminder that architecture is more importantly an existential form, that the journey up to the tower's end is what constitutes the architectural moment. True, architecture may be composed of 'scenes' but is not trespassing and engaging with these scenes physically expressive of architecture's non-scenographic nature? Amidst its deception the poiesis of inhabitation is brought forth.
(From competitor's text)
6 scanned / 4 viewable
- Presentation Panel
- Photograph of Model
- Photograph of Model
- Photograph of Model
