SLOW DOWN TIME
RISD Constructed Landscape Studio: South Boston Gateway • 2015
INSTRUCTOR: Michael Blier + Mary Lydecker + Sae Kim
Time is about leisure, a non-spatial continuum that is measured in terms of events that succeed one another from past through present to future. Time is about rate of speed and rhythm. Time is about experience, a person’s experience during a specified period or on a particular occasion.
South Boston Gateway is located in a complex zone of the South Boston neighbourhood. The I-93 highway, rail yard of South Station and South Boston residential areas meet at this place. Cars on the highway, trains on the rail yard and people living around are all passing by the site quickly without stopping. As a gateway of South Boston, the site has a sublime view of the downtown Boston skyline. It should be a great place to pause and relax.
South Boston is rapidly developing. The site is located at the gateway of South Boston over the Boardway subway station. From the top of the existing subway tunnel, people can see a breathtaking view of the Boston downtown skyline. Site analysis revealed people, cars, trains and wind passing by the site hurriedly. No one would stop to see the beautiful view. The concept is to slow down time when people experiencing the site. In order to achieve this, two strategies were applied. The programs provided different events to slow down time; used multiple plants to evoke memories and pause visitors time in this urban context. When people experience this site, they can find stories and create multiple readings from different points of view. Their time will be slow down.
Different programs and events happen on the site leting time pause.
Different plants changing seasonally by time. Different texture an color of plants evoke memories make time visible and lower it speed.
The sound of water rushing down the pond creates a world away from the noises of the surrounding city. The honey locust trees that enclose the space enhance a feeling of separation from the chaos city. Different plants changing seasonally by time. Different texture an color of plants evoke memories make time visible and lower it speed.
