Outside / Inside Islands
award: third place
Vivienda Pública para la EMVS, Academic project on Erasmus semester
With the guidance of Valerio Oriol Canals Revilla and Maria Auxiliadora Galvez Perez
Virginia Woolf was a leading figure in the literature of the XXth century. In her many books and essays, she emphasized the importance of equal rights and just treatment for women. During her childhood, she was sexually abused which severely influenced her mental health and work. Analyzing the words from the essay “Street Hunting”, we may come to
a conclusion that Virginia Woolf thought of the idea of two different environments forming our basic lives. Through a lack of other words I would like to call them: Inside and Outside spaces.
Basically, an Inside space is our known environment, adjusted to our habits and tastes, filled with items reminding us of some moments from the past and a place where we fill safe and comfortable. On the other hand, Outside space is an uncharted or everchanging place full of interesting and new things to observe and examine. Strolling through it, we might be filled with excitement and anticipation for more new experiences.
Nevertheless, Inside and Outside spaces are both equally important because they help us to find answers for questions such as: “Who am I?”, “What do I want from life?”,
“Am I happy?”, “What can I do now?”. Virginia Woolf thought that through exploring these two environments we might be able to find ourselves. And isn’t that what matters the most in life? After experiencing gender violence, it might even become a crucial element in one’s salvation. The project’s main idea is based on Virginia Woolf’s words. The site is divided into Inside and Outside Islands that together form archipelagos of multi-layered connections and different experiences.
The first step of the design process was discovering and describing Outside Islands. This part of the work was done partially in a group. If we take into consideration aspects connected with various senses such as noise, sight or scent, Outside Islands stand out from the rest of the site. They are the most characteristical areas and thus they form the site’s identity. They can serve a good role for places to explore because they ensure a vivid and sensual experience. However, for that to function properly their main elements need to be left untouched and only minor adjustments can be implemented. Outside Islands are also more open for the surrounding community and the city.
The second part was choosing areas suitable for living that could form Inside Islands. They were picked from the remaining area and afterwards they were redesigned. Their main purpose was creating an environment that can adjust to every person’s habits and needs. Contrary to the Outside Islands, identity was created through build surroundings. Furthermore, Inside Islands are less public from the rest of the site to ensure the safety and comfort of the people living in them.
Outside and Inside Islands are dispersed on the site, however, there are many direct and indirect connections between them, that make the project functional as a whole. The most basic form of connection is a path designed to engage various senses - the Sensual Path. It leads through every Outside Island, which allows for a full experience of them. Though not as directly, the path also connects with Inside Islands creating an opportunity for comfortable and simple transport.