Submission 1- Equus

I began the process of designing a dwelling for my character, Keeper of the Records of Rilke by deeply analysing who I believe my character is and what are his needs. The Keeper is a highly introverted character that has been isolated from the outside world his whole life. He has become accustomed to living a solitary existence within a cathedral and feels at ease within confined spaces and its familiarity. Ideas of introverted versus extroverted, open versus closed, positive space versus negative space etc. became the reoccurring themes. I broke the basic requirements of the design into private space, public space ad a transitory experiential element which bridges the two. I categorised the personality characteristics of my character that must be reflected within these spaces. Private contained: safe, comfort zone, a reflection of self, a collector and protector, introverted, pre-programmed existence, solitary confinement, a comfort in ones own presence. Public could be defined as: a need to share with others, to tell a story of his past to the future and to connect. The transitory experience must involve: stepping out into the unknown, and experiencing what the mind cannot conceive.

These principles strongly influenced my initial designs on Google SketchUp. My first concept consisted of three elements: a private residence containing a bed, study table and chair, bathroom facilities and toilet. A public pavilion housing the kitchen facilities, dining table and chair, fridge, living seat. The private residence is a highly introverted structure with few fenestrations to the outside world. This allows the Keeper to reflect within himself within his own private retreat. The raised structure is ‘tower’ like and holds a mirror within the void space of unit 7. The idea is a play on the words “self reflection” in both a physical and philosophical sense. The public space is open, and welcoming, to encourage interaction. Natural light is abundant, and the facilities are incorporated in an open plan.

The second design on SketchUp further explores a labyrinth like structure which is elaborated on from the first design. The empty space of unit 7 is positioned underneath the structure. The idea is that the Keeper can walk in the open for the first time; however the path never connects with the mirror. The Keeper can see his old self; however he cannot reach back to it, disconnecting himself from his solitary past.

Within the analogue model concepts, I began a deeper analysis of the Keeper in order to refine my design approach.

The Keeper withholds centuries of historical documents. This sort of exposure would have shaped him as a man of wisdom. I broke up the elements of wisdom and applied them in the design process. The qualities were knowledge, understanding and experience. Knowledge is what he already has; experience is what he must undertake in order to achieve his goal of greater understanding of the world around him. One tower, “knowledge” can be described as an introverted structure with a mostly concealed internal structure. “Understanding”, the second tower is open, resolved, interconnected, related to its surroundings and is filled with light. A bridge known as “Experience” is the crossing over sensation between the two. The tower is the opening at the top of “Knowledge” and contains a mirror like surface which reflects light down the structure to the bottom.

The Gates of Dawn

Rilke, an ancient neighbourhood established as a safe-haven where German Traders occupied a far outpost for trading with far eastern Europe. It became a private world and the foundation stone upon the great city of Riga as it is known today. With time, most of the traders left Rilke, however a small sect of dedicated monks maintained a monastery within, enduring years of hardship at the hands of savage tribes. Observors of this hardship collected and documented their day to day struggles within existance and encounters with the outside world. The monks became isolated documentors within Rilke and formed the foundation of its historical identity.

To this day the lone descendant of this sect, an introvert dubbed, 'The Keeper of the Records' lives in anonymity as a collector and protector of Rilke's past. He lives a separate existance to mainstream society and is too afraid to leave his familiar neighbourhood . He fears the unknown and holds onto what he knows and is familiar with as his own self identity. A sense of self worth is maintained within the walls of familiarity and the Keeper finds empowerment through his ability to control what he archives and protects.

Even though the Keeper has never been given a name, nor had other human contact, he has maintained purpose in his life and lived a content existance. Though never challenging his pre-determined lifestyle, the Keeper does feel a sense of longing inside for a significant other to share his life with. How can the story of Rilke be truly appreciated and justified if he remains a storyteller with no audience?

The Keeper of the records of Rilke finds that despite his programmed existance, he has deeper desires just like anyone else on this planet. Desires to share, to give and to explore the unknown.

'First light beams down in broken shards upon the deserted Rilke courtyard. Large oak doors creak and rusted hinges give way for the first time in centuries. When the dust settles, the Keeper stares wearily out towards the unknown. Today he will experience an outside world beyond the constructs of his wildest dreams. A great storyteller on a quest for his audience, the Keeper takes a step forward through the gates of dawn, toward an uncertain fate'

The dwelling of the Keeper will be a domain divided between both public and private. Private will be defined as the Keeper's sense of identity, an area where he will feel familiarity, safety and self worth. Public space will be an extension of the Keeper's self identity and his inner desire to share with others and explore the unknown. Public space will encourage sharing and become a narrative transition between the Keeper's current existance and what he desires to become upon his final destination.