Comments on: Island of Memory by Britton Chambers http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/ architecture and design magazine Sun, 19 May 2013 06:37:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Amelia http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/comment-page-1/#comment-925699 Amelia Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:46:07 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/#comment-925699 I noble effort but the aesthetic sensibilities seem slightly schizophrenic - fluttering between Middle Eastern/North African mud structures to prison cells - neither of which encapsulate the principle of slavery in the American tradition. One room in particular was incredibly striking, with the square hole panels of light in the roof forming a grid over the statues of slaves with their backs faced to the entrance. Slavery was a very much out in the open, from the iconic prairies and cotton fields to the shops American citizens would frequent and of course, their most intimate spaces, their home. Perhaps the spacial structure needs to reflect the familiarity of an environment Americans inhabit now, but the feeling of not being a recognised part of it either. Slaves were either machines to be tooled and worked or mindless parts of the scenery akin to furniture to their masters and the public - the building doesn't necessarily evoke this. I noble effort but the aesthetic sensibilities seem slightly schizophrenic – fluttering between Middle Eastern/North African mud structures to prison cells – neither of which encapsulate the principle of slavery in the American tradition.

One room in particular was incredibly striking, with the square hole panels of light in the roof forming a grid over the statues of slaves with their backs faced to the entrance.

Slavery was a very much out in the open, from the iconic prairies and cotton fields to the shops American citizens would frequent and of course, their most intimate spaces, their home. Perhaps the spacial structure needs to reflect the familiarity of an environment Americans inhabit now, but the feeling of not being a recognised part of it either. Slaves were either machines to be tooled and worked or mindless parts of the scenery akin to furniture to their masters and the public – the building doesn't necessarily evoke this.

]]> By: future http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/comment-page-1/#comment-177930 future Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:05:58 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/#comment-177930 it looks like our new project. so i catch some idea! it looks like our new project. so i catch some idea!

]]> By: Dekodex http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/comment-page-1/#comment-134252 Dekodex Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:25:33 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/#comment-134252 A little bit pathetic. To much things in one place. A little bit pathetic. To much things in one place.

]]> By: Roy http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/comment-page-1/#comment-131947 Roy Fri, 30 May 2008 17:16:19 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/#comment-131947 The history of slavery in the USA is embedded in the thoughts and culture of the place and the people. The memorial is around us and in us and we all are a part of it. A memorial park can be just as effective as a building complex. The FDR Memorial comes to mind. The history of slavery in the USA is embedded in the thoughts and culture of the place and the people. The memorial is around us and in us and we all are a part of it.

A memorial park can be just as effective as a building complex. The FDR Memorial comes to mind.

]]> By: piet faloppa http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/comment-page-1/#comment-131018 piet faloppa Wed, 28 May 2008 18:25:54 +0000 http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/25/island-of-memory-by-britton-chambers/#comment-131018 Ok for a project. But to think of it seriously, I say no, don't trivialize Africans' suffering the same way the Jewish victims' suffering was. Especially since, as Vico said, this is recycling the same ideas we have in our heads from other models of what a memorial should be. I just think most normative memorials end up being trivial in their architectural dramatization and museum-visit agenda. It's the Hollywood effect applied here; is this necessary, or is there an alternative, less marketable, way to remember? Ok for a project. But to think of it seriously, I say no, don’t trivialize Africans’ suffering the same way the Jewish victims’ suffering was. Especially since, as Vico said, this is recycling the same ideas we have in our heads from other models of what a memorial should be.

I just think most normative memorials end up being trivial in their architectural dramatization and museum-visit agenda. It’s the Hollywood effect applied here; is this necessary, or is there an alternative, less marketable, way to remember?

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