PRISON ARCHITECTURE

After deciding to place a prison on the third site I researched some examples of old, new, successful and unsuccessful prisons. The first set of images show a number of prisons from around the world, over a number of decades.

I found the Caseros prison, particularly interesting as the inmates began to 'control' the social environment within the structure and they also adapted the architecture itself to fit their own needs. Removing cell doors and punching holes through the exterior walls are just two examples of the physical manipulation they placed upon the architecture.

“Caseros was conceived as a paradigm of ‘modern’ architecture: its form followed its function. Architecture was transformed into an enemy of surveillance rather than its primary means. Despite its extreme transformation its form remained related to function. What was inverted, however, was for whom form functioned for. The transformation of its façade from its original impermeable nature to its new porous condition revealed the inversion in architectural servitude.”

Gaspar Libedinsky

More information on the Caseros prison and its history can be found at:

http://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/caseros/

SITE 3

The third site, situated in the area surrounding Shoreditch High Street Station will house a prison.  This idea has stemmed from reading Michel Foucault's 'Discipline and Punish' and also because of the idea that prisons act as an antagonist to the banks.

SITE 2

The second site is within Spitalfields where a community building will sit.  The building will act as a halfway house and also, if possible, offer other services to the community.

SITE 1

I have chosen three sites within the area to place three new programmes that will eventually form a network to survey the financial system.  The first site is within Brick Lane where it will house a school.  I was originally thinking of a secondary school, however after some research into the area, according to the Tower Hamlets Council website, there are no nurseries in the immediate area.

DATA MOSHING

Something that came up during the portfolio review was 'Data Moshing'.  A process that involves altering the data of the image/film in order to create glitches or errors. Below are a number of tests where the original files have been altered.

CELL DESIGN

In order to begin designing the individual sites where the cells have landed, I decided to go back to the cell design itself, as I felt restricted with how I had previously represented the cells (as simple boxes)and how to develop them further.  I kept in mind the idea that the cells are collecting and processing information, so I began to look at things such as servers, circuit boards, computers etc.  The cells therefore have become a series of components and elements and because of this, no two cells will be the same.  These components can then be manipulated and adapted, creating new structures within the city.

STUCK CELLS

Continuing the idea of the cells becoming caught within the city, I have created 3 images to outline the general scenarios of the cells within their new positions, and the implications that they might have, in terms of the surrounding environment and their new programme.