The People's Archive
Swiss Army Knife
2086 Narrative
The People’s Archive is set in an abandoned Lace Market in Nottingham in 2086, where widening wealth gaps and authoritarian government control have caused manufacturing towns to decay. Creativity is heavily restricted, with only government-approved activities permitted.
In response, a rebel group known as The Foragers uses craft and communal making as acts of resistance. Operating from a derelict car park, they recover abandoned objects, experiment with materials, and give back to the local community.
The group is divided into three roles: Elders, Inquisitors, and Explorers, each contributing to the survival of the collective. Their philosophy is grounded in a symoblic relic - the Swiss Army Knife - representing versatility and hope of restoring creativity and freedom to society.
Spatial Concept
The concept was driven by a linked theme of ‘support’ found in the Swiss Army Knife, the car park and the rebel group, whether it was metaphorical or literal. For example, the Swiss Army Knife is literally supported by a series of pins that hold all the tools in place, whereas the Foragers’ roles are all important in supporting one another. Ideas of interdependence and physics wove their way into the fabric of the building through the adaptive re-use of existing columns and beams.
