1st Draft “The Beacon of Morpheus’s Soil”

1st Draft “The Beacon of Morpheus’s Soil” by ignatioputra

April 19, 2016, 11:53 am
Filed under: 2015-16, Ignatio

The Beacon of Morpheus’ soil

“The soil is not simply dirt. It is a surface and an interface that connects the earth, water, air, and living things on our land. It absorbs and releases water and air. Movement of earth is directly affecting the soil configuration and living organism feed off from things which grow on the soil and when they die they become part of the soil. Soil mediates us with the land. But it is not simply a platform where we stand on. It lives, it breathes, and it negotiates with us. If we nurture it, it will return our favour.”

Those are the words my Grandpa always tells me. Today that soil of our land is stored in that massive beacon that soar and span more than 200 metres. The host structure resembles a dragon like creature and contain an important piece that constantly defines our land.

I often go to the deepest part which we named it the sacred soil chamber. I work there as a soil nurturer, every day we monitor the soil condition. For me, doing this has become a ritual to remind myself of the spiritual connection between us as people to the soil and the land.

In order to get to the soil bank I have to go through the narrow corridor, the market hall, and the public hall. It never ceases to amaze me, when you walk into it everything seems so narrow, humid, filled with stench from the vegetable and meat market, the ceiling is low and enveloped by patches of steel almost like a scene from an apocalyptic world. Cables hanging low from the ceiling making it feels more suffocating to go through the corridor. There is just enough sunlight that penetrates through the gaps between the elements. This long linear journey of stairs is then welcomed by a 4 storey hanging market hall where the Jumma and the Bengali trade their goods. Beyond the market hall we can see the famous public hall where authority give speeches on the future of our land, each time masses would gathered. Ceremonies such as traditional dances are also held there where the public can see from the street. The bridge beyond leads to the chamber. Sacred soils from disputed land are collected and nurtured here. Some are buried, some are hanged. They are the important piece that defines and mediates our land.

The enveloped made of cables covering the chamber like a veil. Allowing shimmering light to penetrate and illuminate the chamber during the day. As night comes together with the misty fog covering the town, the soil “dreams”.  The data of their condition are relayed to the network system underneath through the sensors which in turn are processed into a projection that pulsates through the membrane of a colossal belly-shaped and the mist. The beacon illuminates the town by projecting the future vision of our land. This projection can be seen on the spot or accessed through mobile network. Every night the Beacon of Morpheus’s Soil keeps on dreaming, reconnecting what land truly means for us and observing it became a ritual where we constantly check the progress of vision of the land. It reminds us what we should focus on- building the future and not destroy it.

 

*This is the first draft of the section, plan and text. The text currently still a bit too long as I am trying to convey the project theme, the architecture and the experience.

Thank you

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