Interactive Memorials

This morning, in my History of Peace Movements class, while discussing Danish resistance to Nazi occupation, the documentary Paper Clips was brought up.

The film follows the project of a middle school in Tennessee who, in 1998, aimed to collect six million paper clips, representing the number of victims of the Holocaust, and consequently, gaining a better understanding of just how large of a number six million is. The school exceeded their goal and by last count are up to eleven million paper clips. The paperclips are currently housed in a German transport car and are available for public viewing at the Children's Holocaust Museum in Whitwell, Tennessee.

Public sculptures and memorials help create a sense of place in a community. I believe the most provoking memorials are those which are interactive. A prime example is the Berlin Holocaust Memorial, designed by architect Peter Eisenman, which opened to the public in 2005.

Berlin Holocaust Memorial

The concrete blocks vary in height, sometimes taller than the visitor, and the ground undulates.

Overall, the visitor is disorientated and uneasy, recreating what the victims of the Holocaust must have felt on their way to concentration camps.



Eisenman's design is very unusual for a memorial, and really, unusual for just a public space. It is effective at drawing people in, and it heightens the senses of the visitor.  Because of it's effectiveness, it should be interesting to see if the idea of an "interactive memorial" becomes more popular in cities the world over.


Pictures courtesy of tumblr.

Lest We Forget

Stratford Wreath Ceremony, 2011

Today is Remembrance Day, in honour of those that sacrificed their lives,who fought 

and those who are fighting for our country, thank you.

The Land Where Palm Trees Sway

Hawaii.

♥

Sand. Surf. Sun.

And history...

 

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

 

 Hawaii's wartime memorials, their victories and tragedies, are not the only significant historic landmarks of these small and wonderful islands.

Interior

Hawaii is also home to the only official royal residence of the country, Iolani Palace. The Hawaiian Monarchy lived and reigned in this National Historic Landmark from 1882-93.

Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.

Iolani Palace

It's odd to see this building, so influenced by European design, with palm trees in the front yard!

Interior: Central Hall

All these buildings you see here, you see on Hawaii 5-0 (Ba-ba-ba-bahhhh!).

 

***

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

LDN

You might laugh, you might frown

Walking round London-town

LDN by Lily Allen

"Big Ben" and the London Eye, London, England

City Plaza, London, Ontario

I'm often told that the streets turn into gold

When moon shines on Circus and Square

London by Night by Frank Sinatra

Churchill Monument, London

London Monument, Ontario

After all this, won't you give me a smile?

London Calling...

London Calling by The Clash

House of Learning and A Living Wall

I was lucky enough to tour the House of Learning today, during which time I stood staring and gawking the whole time! Was this beautiful building really my school?

House of Learning Exterior

The building will act as a library, with several classrooms and conferences centres.
But really, the living wall steals the show....

The Living Wall

The Living Wall spans the entire height of the building, 4 storeys, and is the first thing you see when you walk into the foyer. Composed of living greenery and flowers, water sprays the plants from behind the wall (it sounds like a waterfall) and has a water-sprayer attached to an electric crane that can spray water in front of the wall on the plants. As you can imagine, it smells wonderful...

Beautiful etched glass guards on all floors

Foyer

Study Space, 4th Floor

I think the new HOL will be very popular, I can't wait for all the books to be brought in.

Bookcases

All the bookshelves rotate, allowing for more use of the space and more storage for books.

Walking around the building, with all the curved walls, gave a feeling of exploration.

Even the modern and sleek study corrals, with their frosted glass and soft neutral colours, make studying seem like a zen experience.

 Group study tables, adjacent to fireplaces on every floor.

 

3rd Floor Group Study Space

View of 3rd Floor from 4th Floor

All of the wood used in this project was locally sourced (being from B.C., not too difficult).

This roof they're not quite finished with, but when it's all done, it will be finished as a Green Roof, complete with lush grass and plants. The metal beams you can see in the right hand corner are attached to the exterior and act as shades against the sun. Not only a practice of sustainable design, they also completely revamped the look of the buildings exterior, adding to the ultra-modern tone of the building.

Exterior Patio

A sculpture of the school mascot that graces the top of the building

 Go Wolfpack!

Skylight above Foyer

This building made quite the impression on me, and I can't wait to hang out there after it opens next week. The building is unique in that it appeals to the senses, sight, smell, sound...the University also plans to renovate the Old Main Building this summer, where most of my classes are held. It will definitely be exciting to see when I return this September!