What would we want to convey to an alien civilization if it suddenly decided to visit Earth? What achievements are we proud of and how to represent them through architecture? These were the questions posed by the organizers of the Pavilion of Humanity competition . First contact. Paulina Grosicka, Daria Lewandowska and Sonia Szydlowska from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk created the installation Eye Contact Matters in response to the given topic. Their project made it to the finals of the competition.
The Bee Breeders platform, in view of the sad information reaching us every day - pandemic, climate change, uncertain future decided to bring some positivity by organizing the Pavilion of Humanity competition. First Contact. The task was to design a place, depicting the achievements of humanity, which we would like to present in the event that our planet is visited by another life form. The place, as well as the building materials used, were arbitrary, the only limitation being the observance of the basic laws of physics. The challenge was the form of conveying humanity's greatest achievements through architecture.
The proposed building is a spatial architectural installation
© Paulina Grosicka, Daria Lewandowska, Sonia Szydłowska
ASP students in the finals of the competition
The competition entry Eye Contact Matters was created in the 2nd Studio of Fundamentals of Interior Design at the
Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk under the direction of ASP Professor Anna Wejkowska-Lipska, PhD.
As the authors say about the design inspiration:
Man, as an intelligent individual, over the course of evolution has learned to manipulate through body language, to hide his emotions and to echo them. However, our eyes convey information that we cannot control. They reveal the whole truth about what we are feeling at any given moment, even though, for example, we try to hide this information meticulously. Friedrich Hebbel said, "The eyes are the point where the soul meets the body." The first contact is always eye contact, that is, the most honest, unadulterated, emotional contact.
As the authors say - first contact, is always eye contact
© Paulina Grosicka, Daria Lewandowska, Sonia Szydłowska
installation in the city center
The students chose the city as the place for the installation, considering it one of the greatest achievements of mankind, showing the development of civilization. The inconspicuous, cuboidal body of the proposed object from the outside resembles one of the many city buildings. However, it is not just another building in an urban development quarter, but a free-flowing, spatial architectural installation consisting of vertical aluminum elements whose accumulation and continuity is interrupted at the line of sight. It is this treatment that makes it possible for its viewers to observe each other. The translucency of the solid supports the ephemerality of the space and prepares gradually for the approaching encounter(first contact). The installation culminates at the center with two semi-circular stone seats to encourage people to stop and engage in direct conversation.
cetrum of the installation is a meeting place
© Paulina Grosicka, Daria Lewandowska, Sonia Szydłowska
Two opposite roads lead to the center. While following them, participants have the opportunity to maintain eye contact at all times. This is possible thanks to a gap placed at eye level. It is this treatment that builds the tension and anticipation of the encounter, which is the highlight of the installation.
The structure and vertical elements are made of aluminum, which will corrode over time
© Paulina Grosicka, Daria Lewandowska, Sonia Szydłowska
The vertical, flat elements, as well as the structure on which they are suspended, are made of aluminum. Its corrosion and complete decomposition take about 150 to 200 years. This will occur as a result of ordinary, biological external factors, so the object will not pose a threat to the environment. After the decomposition time, the stone center will still fulfill its most important function - a meeting place.
