STEVEN MORLEY

Budapest, Hungary and the ruling Fidesz Party are currently experiencing problems both local, national and internationally. Since 2009 the Fidesz party and Viktor Orban the elected Hungarian President have come under fire for the reform and policy changes, it has tried and in some cases suceeded to implement. THis has resulted in protests to occur on a range of scales. These have been localised to en masse rallies. The ruling party have tried to police this and clamp down on the groups, to no avail. Second to this is growing economic crisis that the world and specifically the Eurozone are facing. Hungary has watched as Greece, Ireland, Italy and potential other EU member states falter. Hungary being on the fringe of the EU is not in a financial position to savour and is constantly looking over its shoulder. As a result of these two factors the government have incurred a growing image problem between themselves and the Hungarian public. 

In 2012 the Fidesz party earmarked a site in Pest as a catalyst to try and simultaneously stimulate growth in the economy, though on a macro scale, allow protest and freedom of expression to occur and as a result of this try to improve its relations with the Hungarian public as elections near. ACTIVIST 1061 tackles these factors through public space and retail. Firstly the site incorporates three public areas, these can be used for different functions as they differ in scale. For example the large pit at the rear of the building can be used for staged events organised by the retailers. However it can also instantly change into a zone where groups can meet to openly lobby the government on an issue. The spaces are designed to incorporate crossover between types of expression that do not naturely occur. Retail and Protest are both forms of expression. both explicit. However the nature of a protestors experience can be changed by adapting the sensual qualities of a space, this is done through smell in space 2. The user can also experience different moments whilst moving through a space. Space 2 incorporates a projection screen, niche’s where information can be found. There is a sense of revealing as you move through the building and spaces, a hidden restuarant turns the precedent of the food outlet being at the furthest point away from the retail, in this case, its hidden underground. The retail spaces themselves, operate a pop-up culture. Retail like the economy changes as does expression, therefore flexible units are needed. These spaces enable local boutiques and businesses to promote themsleves. The restaurant makes these spaces a destination amongst shoppers, and drags people from Andrassy St. A surveillance hub is in constant use as these spaces are monitored by stewards and government officials, these spaces can turn to riots at any given time and this helps to control this. 

As a result ACTIVIST 1061is very flexible space that invites expression, moments of individuality and creativity to occur. It would not be surprising to see graffitti artists spraying the rusticated concrete walls of the pit. Suited individuals moving through space 2 to have a business lunch at Baldaszti’s. Preachers standing in space 3 delivering a rousing speech to a seated audience. A lone protestor in the ramped access to the pit, sitting in their tent. However a large group of idealistic Fidesz party members could meet to have their annual rally. That is the nature of ACTIVIST 1061

Steven Morley - Part I Architecture

Steven Morley - Part I Architecture

Made in Siberia

The idea of looking at different tribes and peoples is something that has fascinated the Western world for decades. Programs have been televised for many years on how to survive in these harsh environments based upon the indigenous tribes and nomads that live there. However what would happen if the role were to be reversed so to speak. Letting the indigenous peoples see the Western peoples survive. However this is where the twist occurs, what would happen if the Western world came to the Siberian Plateau and the Taiga Forest and were told to survive there. Far out of the reach of their comfort zone. The nomad would bring high class living to the Siberian Plateau but would they be able to survive on their luxurious lifestyle. The quality of the equipment and food that the nomad would bring to the Siberian Plateau would be of the highest quality. The equipment would be survival based but would have the highest quality finishes e.g. a normal shower gel would be of expensive quality probably from Harrods. 

The nomad itself would be aware that the experience is on a real time feed to the local people. TV’s would be set up in the local area to watch the footage of the nomad in action. 

Whilst opinions on the nomad will be varied there is no obvious perception of how they will respond to him. Some villagers may welcome him with open arms yet some may not understand him and not like him being there in the midst. One thing is for sure, unless certain individuals are highly educated or can speak English; the contact between the nomad and the locals will be minimal and hard working. Indeed the villagers may teach the nomad skills that will be needed in these environments. It is highly unlikely that the villagers will notice the nomad regularly. 

The nomad himself will firstly think that this adventure is rather exciting, especially with the feeling of home from home. This comes through his equipment and food. However once boarded onto the helicopter and dropped in the Taiga Forest will realise that it is rather different. The sub zero temperatures will make the walk rather hard working, the feet will become numb and there is a possibility that the hands and face can get frostbite. Survival mode will certainly have to set in, if the nomad is to survive travelling. The kit that has been provided is no different to that of normal explorers and adventurers, however it has been purposefully ungraded for his luxury. The thought of the nomad will of course then turn to the fact that he is surviving in the wild on luxuries. This should then make him think that the luxuries are unnecessary and wonder how the local villagers (who are not lucky enough to have them) survive. The final feelings that the nomad will have are that of regret. The purpose of the nomad being there is to open the eyes of the local villagers to the Western World and allow them an insight into the way some people live. However a deeper message is conveyed in respect to the nomad. There is a message that he knows that in order to live within his means, he does not need luxury, he needs to focus upon comfort. 


Barbican Arts Hub

The Barbican Arts Hub is derived from the arts culture that currently exists at the Barbican. The Barbican Arts Group Trust were a group of artists, and sculptors that created works at the Barbican but in 1989 moved to North East London due to a lack of space. The idea of the Barbican Arts Hub was to give the artists another space to practice. The Arts Hub concentrates specifically on sculpture as a means of engagement with the community. In regards to how this is created, a temporary structure is erected in which sits accomodation for the scupltors and their works. Work is creating through various research carried out at each location. There are six research areas and the sculptors carry out research in the first of two weeks that the structure is erected in each location. In the second week the sculptors produce a part of a larger sculpture which is made in parts and combined together. The sculpture works it way through the hub as parts are added and finally is placed upon a plinth in the public space outside the hub. Work and research material is also exhibited in the smaller exhibition hub at the other end of the structure. There are plinths in which the production pods are located on when research is being carried out. Finally the structure will move to another location and the process will start over again. In the future the boroughs of London will have a sculpture specific to that area.