SHARED VULNERABILITY THEORETICAL ANALYSIS

The theory of shared vulnerability not only with non-humans but with the environment has provided a clear narrative for my primary aim for this project: to create a symbolic relationship in which the built environment becomes part of a larger eco-system.

My project is situated in Paintworks Bristol, in a site boundary that effectively consists of a concrete block positioned on a drastic change in level, sitting at a 5 meter drop from the adjacent Bath Road to the south. With the creation of a building that is 5 meters high came the possibility for visitors to access the building directly through the roof. This was symbolic as through embracing the theme of shared vulnerability, I began looking at my project through non-human lenses (Appendix, page 16), which shaped my emphasis on wanting this roof to express the environment with all the necessary conditions to support their prospering. Overwhelmed by a wildflower meadow, a flowering matter in which insects buzz and butterflies flutter (Dodington, 2013, p. 336) a matter that is uncontrolled and allowed to grow spontaneously, the roof allows for diverse habitats such as nests and insect hotels. Ultimately, this creates an extreme scenario of landscape, where chemicals are no longer used to treat weeds and allows the building to get overgrown. With this element being the main access point, visitors when entering the building will find themselves on a pathway embedded into the meadow, where they will experience what it truly means to coexist.