DESA1002 'Continuous City' Fred Jixiao Fang

Abstract

Isfahan, a city amidst a desert, an oasis of nature and history. My initial approach is to create a place of mystery and escape from the city. The four mysterious courtyards in the middle of my site are my central focus. This building is a museum of archaeology to capture the essence of Isfahan’s rich history and the garden on top reveals the natural beauties of the city. The building generates a sense of mystery and escape from the here and now to a place of natural and historical wonders. The building serves to preserve the recently discovered historical site revealing tales of the ancient city unknown before.The concrete base floor provides excellent shelter in summer from the heat. Sunlight is refracted into the building through the glass on the bottom of the river surrounding the top garden. As the traveller takes step into the building, through the thick concrete walls, he is transported to the forgotten lands of the past. The shimmering light increases the mystery as the traveller wanders through the historical sites and artefacts. The top garden takes the traveller into a natural realm. The garden represents an oasis within the larger oasis Isfahan. The garden is separated into four different sections to correspond with the four courtyards. Each courtyard contains elements from each season, thus a sense of timelessness is generated by the visions of the different seasons. It symbolises an escape from time. What lies beneath the earth only reminds us to look ahead. Embrace the past and the natural, and you are ready for tomorrow.