Time Garden
NYC AIDS Memorial Park
Competition: honourable mention
In Time Garden, we juxtapose two opposed yet equivalent qualities—the monumental and the temporal. AIDS is an ongoing matter of the present. Instead of approaching the park as a static gesture towards the past, our design incorporates a two-sided periscope for the projection of both historical and contemporary filmic works addressing AIDS related themes. We envision the park itself as an open platform to memorialize the victims, while also allowing for new ideas and artworks to vivify the space. As the history of the epidemic is still unfolding, the design serves as a vessel for future responses: an ever-changing, living monument.
The design of the park mirrors the shape of its boundaries, and focuses upon three connected, concentric triangular planes that serve as sloping pathways. A gentle ramp descends from street level to a lawn amphitheater at the center—a sunken garden that functions as a protected space for contemplation, as well as the seating area for public screenings. The above grade built elements offer both visual and aural respite and refuge from the cacophony of the city. The simple vocabulary of the design is augmented materially by a fine white steel mesh upon the walls and glazed elements, which affords views of the garden while also providing protection from direct sunlight.
From both the street and the garden, the monolithic form of the screen structure is the focus. This tower serves as a solemn and universal meditation on the crisis during the day, but also functions as a palimpsest for remembrances at night. Like a votive candle, the light of the screen gives motion to the memories of those already lost.
A sequence of three linear gallery spaces form a spiraling perambulation within the structure. Beginning at street level and culminating one level below, the galleries double as exhibition, learning and meditation spaces; their flexibility allows for various uses to develop. The penultimate space, the tower, is a darkened periscopic chamber reflecting the projected images. When the screen is folded back this room serves as a stage for performance.
The openness of our design should ultimately be reflected in curatorial programming that combines historical and educational documents on the AIDS crisis, films by artists who were victims of the disease, as well as contemporary artworks that reflect on longing, loss, community, and perseverance. These diverse materials, themselves of different temporalities, will offer engaging views to both the casual passer-by and the dedicated visitor. Time Garden is a continuous archive, a staging ground for purpose-made public works to be displayed in the future. With this new platform for outdoor projection and recreation, we are proposing to create a unique park where the local community can freely and openly contemplate, mourn, and celebrate the brave responses to AIDS and the ongoing questions it poses.
Technical Description
by Edward P. Arenius and Christopher S. Darland
The main visual element of Time Garden is the tower, which incorporates exterior-rated, front projection screens, mounted flush on its surface. Video content for Time Garden is provided by Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors, which are housed in a weather-protected module at the rear of the amphitheater area. The DLP projectors produce a brighter image than standard LCD projectors. The projectors are controlled by a central computer system and are fully programmable.
The sound system, integrated with the video projection system, consists of main loudspeakers mounted on the tower to provide “source” sound for video program on the screens, while distributed loudspeakers throughout the park will enhance speech intelligibility, help reduce overall sound levels emanating from the park and improve the sound quality uniformly across the park.
Because Time Garden is adjacent to 7th Avenue, and is located within a popular area for shopping and dining, there will be a substantial amount of noise from vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, shops and restaurants. The siting of the architectural elements will abate exterior noise and plantings along the border walls will help absorb exterior noise. Within the park the inclined diffusive wall surfaces and the architectural meshes will reduce noise. The diffusive surfaces will break-up and disperse sound as it reflects off them, while the architectural meshes, planting and trees will absorb sound energy. Loudspeakers distributed throughout will enhance intelligibility and reduce the need to increase the volume of the main loudspeakers – this has the benefit of reducing sound emanating from the park and intruding on the surrounding apartments, shops, and restaurants.
Consultants:
Edward P. Arenius and Christopher S. Darland, Artec Consultants Inc
Jens Gehrcken, Visualisierung+Architekturfotografie
NYC AIDS Memorial Park
Competition: honourable mention
In Time Garden, we juxtapose two opposed yet equivalent qualities—the monumental and the temporal. AIDS is an ongoing matter of the present. Instead of approaching the park as a static gesture towards the past, our design incorporates a two-sided periscope for the projection of both historical and contemporary filmic works addressing AIDS related themes. We envision the park itself as an open platform to memorialize the victims, while also allowing for new ideas and artworks to vivify the space. As the history of the epidemic is still unfolding, the design serves as a vessel for future responses: an ever-changing, living monument.
The design of the park mirrors the shape of its boundaries, and focuses upon three connected, concentric triangular planes that serve as sloping pathways. A gentle ramp descends from street level to a lawn amphitheater at the center—a sunken garden that functions as a protected space for contemplation, as well as the seating area for public screenings. The above grade built elements offer both visual and aural respite and refuge from the cacophony of the city. The simple vocabulary of the design is augmented materially by a fine white steel mesh upon the walls and glazed elements, which affords views of the garden while also providing protection from direct sunlight.
From both the street and the garden, the monolithic form of the screen structure is the focus. This tower serves as a solemn and universal meditation on the crisis during the day, but also functions as a palimpsest for remembrances at night. Like a votive candle, the light of the screen gives motion to the memories of those already lost.
A sequence of three linear gallery spaces form a spiraling perambulation within the structure. Beginning at street level and culminating one level below, the galleries double as exhibition, learning and meditation spaces; their flexibility allows for various uses to develop. The penultimate space, the tower, is a darkened periscopic chamber reflecting the projected images. When the screen is folded back this room serves as a stage for performance.
The openness of our design should ultimately be reflected in curatorial programming that combines historical and educational documents on the AIDS crisis, films by artists who were victims of the disease, as well as contemporary artworks that reflect on longing, loss, community, and perseverance. These diverse materials, themselves of different temporalities, will offer engaging views to both the casual passer-by and the dedicated visitor. Time Garden is a continuous archive, a staging ground for purpose-made public works to be displayed in the future. With this new platform for outdoor projection and recreation, we are proposing to create a unique park where the local community can freely and openly contemplate, mourn, and celebrate the brave responses to AIDS and the ongoing questions it poses.
Technical Description
by Edward P. Arenius and Christopher S. Darland
The main visual element of Time Garden is the tower, which incorporates exterior-rated, front projection screens, mounted flush on its surface. Video content for Time Garden is provided by Digital Light Processing (DLP) projectors, which are housed in a weather-protected module at the rear of the amphitheater area. The DLP projectors produce a brighter image than standard LCD projectors. The projectors are controlled by a central computer system and are fully programmable.
The sound system, integrated with the video projection system, consists of main loudspeakers mounted on the tower to provide “source” sound for video program on the screens, while distributed loudspeakers throughout the park will enhance speech intelligibility, help reduce overall sound levels emanating from the park and improve the sound quality uniformly across the park.
Because Time Garden is adjacent to 7th Avenue, and is located within a popular area for shopping and dining, there will be a substantial amount of noise from vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, shops and restaurants. The siting of the architectural elements will abate exterior noise and plantings along the border walls will help absorb exterior noise. Within the park the inclined diffusive wall surfaces and the architectural meshes will reduce noise. The diffusive surfaces will break-up and disperse sound as it reflects off them, while the architectural meshes, planting and trees will absorb sound energy. Loudspeakers distributed throughout will enhance intelligibility and reduce the need to increase the volume of the main loudspeakers – this has the benefit of reducing sound emanating from the park and intruding on the surrounding apartments, shops, and restaurants.
Consultants:
Edward P. Arenius and Christopher S. Darland, Artec Consultants Inc
Jens Gehrcken, Visualisierung+Architekturfotografie