An abstract of my treatise

The Urban Interface
Anke de Wit, s20428740    
Imagine a space where the seeming boundaries between the Urban landscape and Agricultural vegetation is merged in a centre, with an end goal of producing interactive experiences that will unlock the principals of sustainability to a community.

The following design proposal is of a centre that will be home to a new type of community. A community forged with careful consideration to the sensitive contradictions, which exist between nature and manmade structures. A community that fully understand both spheres and has a desire to protect and prolong the resources available.

For such a community to be relevant it cannot only exist in the physical or in real time, it should encompass the virtual spheres of web-based communities, which exist in boundless, timeless cyber space. For such a space/centre to be relevant, and usable, it should form a successful integration between the natural and Urban, as well as the virtual and physical worlds. In essence, an interface where these contradictory elements not only exist together but jointly synthesize a new space. In search of formulating the principals that will guide the structure of such a space one can turn to nature and the basic physical principals hidden within.  

The WORD and IDEA of photosynthesis is the rather captivating principal, which might find application in such a centre, for example photosynthesis. Photo - meaning light; and synthesis meaning to create from. The interface will resemble the interdependence that exist between the physical and the virtual by creating volumes, spaces and boundaries organised and synthesized by light, and optical illusions achieved by the manipulation of light within the proposed centre. In essence, a PHOTO-SYNTHETIC space that is both synthesised and defined by the manipulation of light and that can synthesize and cultivate valuable agricultural produce.

Imagine the varied interactions in such a space, connections with nature, man, community, virtual experiences, reality obscured by the invisible reality of light, which becomes the witness that provides testimony of the proof and existence of life.