Refraction of the mind
Camera Obscura
2085 Narrative
This Project, which occurs in 2085, envisions Papplewick Pumping Station as an escape for young individuals suffering from dementia and early-onset Alzheimer's. The building, which was once used for industrial purposes, is now a place of care where artificial intelligence and architecture work together to restore what times started to destroy. The area listens to, learns from and reacts to each user's distinct memory patterns using AI-powered sensory spaces. It creates customised soundscapes, fragrances, projections, and tactile settings that subtly arouse memories that have lain dormant. The five senses are used in the design not just as triggers but also as connections, linking people with aspects of their identities. AI in this potential future is instinctive, emotive, deeply human.
Spatial Concept
The spatial concept of the project centres on the therapeutic reactivation of memory through a sensorial journey embedded within the historic context of Papplewick Pumping Station. Each space is carefully curated to stimulate one of the five senses, guiding users through a sequence of immersive environments that awaken dormant memories. The entrance begins this journey with a tunnel of shifting projections, sparking visual recollections. Within the Boiler House, tactile columns encourage touch-based interaction, while the repurposed boilers alternate between auditory and visual installations. By reimagining the architectural fabric of the site such as the use of exposed concrete in the boiler room for its raw, textural qualities the design merges historic preservation with futuristic care.
