Skybarn
Standing in the way of a third runway at Heathrow was a small plot of land called Airplot. In January 2010 Greenpeace launched an architectural competition to design a 21st century fortress capable of resisting BAA Heathrow’s bulldozers and halting construction of the runway. Just days before the competition winner was announced, the new government scrapped the plans for the new runway.
Our proposal, Skybarn, was inspired by the fragile expression of the scaffolding tripods seen at protests such as Camp for Climate Action. The building soars high above Airplot supported on delicate steel columns, retaining as much green space as possible. The design carries a positive message about the contribution community buildings can provide to a less carbon intensive society. It also carries a wider message by extending the cultural identity already created at Airplot. The building form is inspired by the tithe barn at Harmondsworth, which would be penned in by a third runway, suggesting fertile land and community gathering. An alternative reading of the building is that of the symbolic ark, a receptacle for life, raised above the land as a warning of the impending floods.
The landscape strategy is to 'defend in depth' using notional lines of defense like a medieval castle. The innermost ring, a nest of scaffolding erected around Skybarn is intended to impede access from cherry pickers. The nest incorporates temporary bat roosts, intended to provide a legal obstacle to dismantlement or disturbance of the nest. The scaffolding fence is an iconic artwork, placing Skybarn in an assembled nest of ready-made scaffolding poles that suggests numerous ideas of home, safety, man working with, and being inspired by nature, flight, and birds.
SKYBARN, was nominated as a long-listed runner-up and will be exhibited at the Greenpeace exhibition at the Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank. The exhibition is open to the public between 2 June 2010 and 6 June 2010. Admission is free.
Click on image to enlarge
Our proposal, Skybarn, was inspired by the fragile expression of the scaffolding tripods seen at protests such as Camp for Climate Action. The building soars high above Airplot supported on delicate steel columns, retaining as much green space as possible. The design carries a positive message about the contribution community buildings can provide to a less carbon intensive society. It also carries a wider message by extending the cultural identity already created at Airplot. The building form is inspired by the tithe barn at Harmondsworth, which would be penned in by a third runway, suggesting fertile land and community gathering. An alternative reading of the building is that of the symbolic ark, a receptacle for life, raised above the land as a warning of the impending floods.
The landscape strategy is to 'defend in depth' using notional lines of defense like a medieval castle. The innermost ring, a nest of scaffolding erected around Skybarn is intended to impede access from cherry pickers. The nest incorporates temporary bat roosts, intended to provide a legal obstacle to dismantlement or disturbance of the nest. The scaffolding fence is an iconic artwork, placing Skybarn in an assembled nest of ready-made scaffolding poles that suggests numerous ideas of home, safety, man working with, and being inspired by nature, flight, and birds.
SKYBARN, was nominated as a long-listed runner-up and will be exhibited at the Greenpeace exhibition at the Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank. The exhibition is open to the public between 2 June 2010 and 6 June 2010. Admission is free.
Click on image to enlarge
