Model I and Story Narrative

This is the second working model of the Carpenter's dwelling in the community with his dwelling sitting at the protected centre of the scheme with the process taking place over the top of it. The progression from gradual appearance in the forest to a defined public forum remains with a bit of further thought to it's resolution. Further thought to the views from each space, the relationship with the forest and how each space may be lit/shaded/ventilated has been included in a rough form.

This model is a physical manifestation of a further more story based narrative written to help define the purpose and experience of the building. From this some form of continuity in the story telling theme from the group stage of the project remains.

A Carpenter was one day walking through a woodland appreciating the beautiful surroundings, from the strong gnarled roots to the delicate tips of the trees fluttering in the breeze. As he walked amongst the natural colonnades he heard an argument from deep within the forest. Curious, he wandered through denser foliage in search of the disturbance to his peace.

It soon became apparent that the deep booming voices had come from the trees themselves. An Oak was arguing heatedly with a Scots Pine about how their brothers had been exploited and their cousins murdered. The Scots Pine retorted that it was necessary to share their gifts with the world despite the sacrifice that had to be made. The Oak disagreed and thought that no good could come from interaction with the little hairy moving trees.

Upon seeing the carpenter approach the two trees stopped arguing and turned their attention to him. The Oak was immediately angered and claimed the Carpenter had come to claim them for his own and destroy the woodland but the Carpenter quickly calmed him claiming he had no such intention and hoped that he could help their situation.

He laid out to them his plans to build a bridge between the forest and the humans in the clearing who wished to use it. The bridge would halt those who wished to purely take what they wanted from the woodland but allow what was needed to pass freely in both directions. The Carpenter offered to act as the guardian of this link so that he could protect the forest and teach the people how to nurture it and hone the gifts it gave them.

Cynical, the Oak questioned the Carpenter saying that this bridge would no doubt have to take the place of some of his cousins who guarded the forest boundaries and interrupt the rhythm of the wood; but the Carpenter disagreed saying that the bridge would be inconspicuous from the trees but stand as a beacon of knowledge to the people who wish to learn the forests stories.

In return the Carpenter only asked of the forest that he could walk freely through the forest, harvest only what was needed, return that which was unused, have support from the trees themselves and trust him to do what was necessary to allow the forest to grow and share its story with the world.

With the whole of the forest glad of the Carpenters help they began to build the bridge into the clearing with trees offering their columns and limbs where they might hold firm this bridge. Others offered shade where it was needed, privacy where it was desired and beauty where it was yearned for. The trees opened before the bridge to reveal the wonder of the view in the distance and the trees saw the people approaching to celebrate their story.

Both this narrative and the model need further refinement with more in depth research into the process of harvesting woodland and carpentry in general needing to be considered. A further idea currently being explored is the reflection of the buildings and it's materials story in their form and the occupants experience. In addition to this I hope to establish a more coherent and working structural system, develop the day lighting/passive heating strategy and in general tie the narratives written (and their refinements) more closely with the resulting building.