This thesis proposes the construction of three temporary pavilions at Place Francois Mitterrand in Lille, France. The pavilions will be part of the event “Lille World Design Capital” of 2020.
“Everything is a matter of perspective”. Place Francois Mitterrand, the public core of the 1989’s Euralille Masterplan by OMA, is seen by many as a residual and ordinary space, however the use of perspective can change its perception, and reveal it as the result of an innovative project that wanted to break with the traditional urban planning.
This project proposes interactive pavilions that work as classical optical devices, the goal is through framing relevant views of the site facilitate its reading as a symbol of urban design. The proposal is presented as a dialogue between the ambitions of Rem Koolhaas for Euralille and the pavilions. The selected views illustrate fragments of the architect discourse.
The superimposition of the classical perception of space in this postmodern project raises the confrontation of many ideas, such as: inertia x movement, simplicity x complexity, order x fragmentation, singularity x plurality, and reveal perspective as a matter of ideology.
Propositions
1. The juxtaposition of different infrastructures gives the identity to Euralille. Place François Mitterrand, the public core of the masterplan, was designed to reveal all the complexity of the program. Despite its potential, the square is perceived by many as an ordinary space.
2. The coherence of Place François Mitterrand is not formal, but perceived through movement, opposing the classical principles of composition of space. The perception of this space is translated in a fragmented sequence of blurred images.
3. Rather than calling Place François Mitterrand an ordinary and residual space, the experience and perception of this space
could be altered to reveal it as a symbol of post-modern design.
4. Linear perspective is used as a tool to change the role of the commuter to the observer of Place François Mitterrand. Through framing a unique and static view, the one-point perspective provides a linear understand of a space.
5. Camera lenses are the new eyes, and photography is how we experience space and time.