Religious Architecture is engaging and considered, through the manipulation of light and sensuous spatial experience it heightens people’s ability to believe in something, connect with stories, learn and be enlightened. The Hall of Democracy similarly uses enhanced, opulent architectural experience to engage its users with their own ideas, others, history, and culture. Current circumstances have made it clear that understanding and responding to history will be integral to democratic progression. We must first understand where we have been, what has worked and what has not, where there is discrimination and broken history before positive change can happen. We must address and be held accountable for our past to improve our future. The building is a physical manifestation of this, responding to and taking inspiration from the heritage-listed Mansions that sit on the north corner of the site.
The flowing, inviting form of the Hall of Democracy juxtaposes the blocky, angular Mansions, creating a complementary effect that enhances each of the building’s beauty and design. The intricate, complex detailing of the Mansions is exaggerated by the smooth, simplistic façade of the Hall, that hovers above the ground. The heaviness of the mansions is amplified, the Hall becoming a release, a breath of fresh air the invites people in.
How can existing Architecture be respected, reused, and reconsidered to enhance spatial experience, improve quality of life and contribute to a more sustainable built environment? Claudia finds passion in creating beautiful, sensory, architectural experiences that are rooted in historical understanding, juxtaposition and concept. - cjlevick@gmail.com -
