Tropical House 2020

Michael Jackson- a global icon, performer and musician

Introduction

Music is an indispensable part of our lives. Whether it's the beatbox in someone's car, the coffee house you going to, the mall, the road - it's everywhere.

So, every possible culture has something like music. A platform that connects a community of people and binds them through their shared experiences, even if there is nothing common at an individual level. A sense of homogeneity prevails among the diverse class of individuals and with time, becomes synonymous to their identity.

Music is universal. Despite it’s diversity influenced by countless cultures, human nature underlies basic musical structures. (Source) It is a language that transcends all barriers of caste, class or colour.

That’s how Montserrat, a small island in seas of the Caribbean looked like in 1970s.

 

 

Right - Building in Plymouth. Left - Hi-Tech Air Studios in Raymond Road. Source: Shane Thomas

Background

Montserrat, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom is a small island in seas of Caribbean. In 1970, George Martin (The Fifth Beatle) commissioned a studio. It later became the epicenter of the international music scene where musicians like Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney used to record their albums. Music maneuvered a communal experience and an unspoken bonding between the artists and locals.

But what happens when a place accidently losses it’s status symbol?

On July 18, 1995, Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat erupted after 1500 years. In 1997 the southern portion of the island including Georgian era capital Plymouth was evacuated and labelled as an exclusion zone. The music studio, once a landmark, lies abandoned as a ruin being swooped by vegetation.

 

Brief of the competition

After 20 years, things are changing for Montserrat. With the tropical island of 11km being inhabited by it’s locals again, the government is busy planning ways of turning ‘ash into cash’. Plans are afoot to explore the potential of volcano value chain. Drilling of three geothermal wells, animal husbandry, increase in population by 6.2% and several business enterprises investing for a property - the place is slowly being revived.

With Montserrat finding its ground, can the culture of music, once a landmark, be resurrected?

Brief: Challenge is to design a music retreat center that functions as a studio for artists.

Also creating a public platform for local community activities. Aim is to revive the ‘status symbol’ in a different language that promotes the culture of music, an element the place was once associated with.

 

Objectives

Precaution: Though volcano is in an excluded zone, it is active. Design for a possible uncertainty.

Nature: Respond to the nature and fabric of context. Design should be part of it, rather than overwhelm it.

Adaptive: Spaces that can be used for variety of activities beyond performances.

Inclusivity: Enabling dialogue between locals and artists coming to Montserrat to record, stay or perform.

The following objectives can be a point of beginning to conceive this design.

 

The proposal can be conceived as an artist retreat center center along with performing stage which could be used for community activities like music performances, festivals etc.

It will further act as a gateway for the old and new. Exchange of knowledge and ideas that initiate dialogue, in regards to the future of Monstreet.

 

Land use plan of Woodland with site demarcated

Woodland Area

Woodland created during the 1960s, covers 446 acres of the island. Majority of land is occupied by residential units and undeveloped lots. Today these villas are owned by a mixture of locals and expatriates. These residences make an important contribution to Montserrat’s economy. Villa construction, upgrades and maintenance employ a wide range of people. Other land uses in the area include offices, St Augustine’s school, a pre-school nursery, several guesthouses, and three restaurants. Woodlands beach is an important feature of the area and provides one of the Montserrat’s most attractive and well serviced beaches. Many recreation and social activities are held here.

Above - Plan of Montserrat.

 

Site Plan

Design site is right next to Palm Loop, Woodland, Montserrat. The place is known for its villas and properties owned by many business enterprises. The place is known for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and Irish ancestry of many of its inhabitants. Amidst the moist tropical climate of Caribbean, it has Tabebouia, a native broadleaf evergreen tree and Swietenia, an endangered mahogany tree.

For design purpose, data can be assumed wherever necessary.

• Site Area: 33700.72sqm
• Site coordinates: 16°45'55.8"N 62°13'15.6"W
• Climate: 21-30°C
• Ground Coverage : Maximum 14,000 sqm
• Built up Area: Maximum 20,000 sqm
• Height limit - 15m
• No design setbacks/site offsets.

 

WOODLANDS BEACH

 

Small scale music performance being held for local community, Source: Source

Program Outline

The following programmatic outline is recommended for this challenge. Participants are recommended to craft a schematic programme based on these given segments or they can propose something altogether new.

 

Judging Criteria

The entries will be judged by an international jury of the competition on the following criterions: