PIN \ UP
PRESERVE. IDENTITY. NESTING- EVOLO SKYSCRAPER 2017
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“Without memory, there will be no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future.” - Elie Wiesel
Heritage building used to hold momentous value in societies. These important architectures such as churches, cathedrals often act as nodes, and civilizations flourished within their vicinity due to their symbolic, religious, civic and social functions. As civilizations continue to urbanize, developing into the cities we know today, heritage buildings now serve as reminders of the city’s culture and complexity.
Urbanization, particularly the growing number of skyscrapers, constitutes a mounting threat to cultural heritage sites in city areas. At risk are not only archaeological sites, but traditional architecture and other locations of cultural heritage. More often than not, we see buildings with rich cultural and architectural history being torn down in the name of development as space in city gets more scarce and expensive. This is because society as a whole is moving toward a model of high-rise and high-dense environment.
This phenomenon is predicted to be more prevalent in future cities, resulting in waves of histories being deleted, and cities in the future might end up being packed with soaring developments but void of past memories. This should not be the direction that cities should go as the loss of cultural heritage can affect multiple generations by permanently erasing their cultural memories and severing established links with the past.
The proposed solution P.I.N|UP, aims to address this imminent issue of future cities by allowing city development to co-exist alongside historical preservation. London is the financial centre of the world with rich cultural significance however UNESCO has named London as worst example of architecture preservation experience. The proposal will have its pilot implementation in London and goes globally upon seeing positive results.
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TYPOLOGY: Skyscraper
PROGRAM: Preserved Heritage Building, Gallery & Exhibition spaces
YEAR: 2017
STATUS: Concept
“Memories are the Architecture of our Identity”
- Gregory Dowell
PIN|UP is a new approach of heritage preservation that will influence the appearance and texture of future cities. It recognizes the detriment of heritage destruction, while acknowledging that societies, particularly in urban environments, are bound to expand and develop in such a manner that threatens cities’ cultural identity.
Skyscraper typology will become ubiquitous in future cities, and this vertical typology can also be utilized for heritage preservation. By lifting the heritage building up into the sky, it also frees up the ground floor for urbanisation. This method removes the dilemma for both urban planners and the heritage professionals. This means that developments can still continue underneath while the heritage building retains its preservation space above. In order not to lose the spirit of conservation and the memories associated to its surrounding context, the heritage building will remain pinned to its original site, and the pin itself becomes a symbolic icon which holds momentous value in the future.
Within the pin, the heritage building becomes the object to marvel and cherish. Galleries exhibited along the circular ramp enable visitors to better comprehend the history of the building. While traversing along the ramp, they are also able to view the physical architecture at various angles and the ever-changing urban landscape encompassing the pin.
