The Blank Canvas

The Blank Canvas Sandip Singh

Contents • Welcome to Brighton • Brighton - Urban Fabric • Brighton’s Conundrum - Street Art or Street Scar?

• Realm Disruption & Raised Concerns • Formal & Informal - Murals & Tags • Street Narratives - Murals & Tags in Brighton • What about the Future? Public Art Strategy 2022-2032 • Host Sites - In-between Spaces • Understanding - Ivory Place • Understanding - Providence Place • Bernard Tschumi - Parc de la Villete • Parc de la Villete - Folies • Parc de la Villette - The Inexhaustible Catalyst • Event Flexibility - Folie de l’Aventure • Bernard Tschumi - Spaces and Events • Mapping Media - Street Art • Translating media - Through Modelmaking • Translating media - Physical Models • Host of Events - The Blank Canvas • What is The Blank Canvas?

• A Greater Realm - UNSDG • Deconstructed Fragments - Signage • Signage Amongst The Public Realm • Signage & Sites - Distribution • Brighton’s In-between Spaces • In-between Spaces - Conceptualising Canvases • Community Synergy - Emmaus & Build Brighton • Procuring Resources & Community Involvement • The Making of a Blank Canvas • Blank Canvases - Composition Catalogue • Host Sites & Catalogue Adoption • Providence Place - Blank Canvas • Model Making - The Blank Canvas

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Welcome to Brighton

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Brighton - Urban fabric

Balearic Sea English Channel

English Channel

Figure Ground 1 to 20000 at A3

Land usage 1 to 5000 at A3 2

Brighton's Conundrum - Street Art or Street Scar?

Street Art in Brighton 1 to 5000 at A3

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Realm Disruption & Raised Concerns Our city is currently under attack from an unprecedented wave of graffiti vandalism. But there’s good news…

Article by Julia Basnett 17th July 2023 Table 1 - Issue and Propositions Identified Issues

Brighton Society's Propositions

Rapid increase in graffiti over the last two years.

/

Current ETS strategy from Suggested an alternative 2018 is considered ineffective. strategy.

Insufficient funding and / manpower for current Council's graffiti strategy.

The council's focus on fining Patrolling specific central areas property owners for not heavily affected by graffiti. cleaning graffiti.

Clear categorization between Difficulty distinguishing acceptable and unacceptable between acceptable and graffiti. High-quality murals are unacceptable graffiti. deemed as acceptable.

No active efforts in educating Launch a public awareness or making the public aware of campaign: graffiti issues.

General Propositions • Promote designated graffiti spaces.

• Engage the community in mural decisions.

• Reach a compromise between locals and artists.

• Showcase the difference between destructive tags and highquality murals.

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Formal & Informal - Murals & Tags Tagging and Commissioned Murals Venn Diagram

A

KEY A : Elements unique to Tagging A B : Elements common to both Tagging & Murals B : Elements unique to commissioned Murals U

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B

Street Narratives - Murals & Tags in Brighton Table 2 Comparison of Tagging & Commissioned Artwork/ Murals in Brighton Criteria

Tagging

Commissioned Artwork/ Murals

Permission

Typically unauthorized

Authorized by property owner or governing body

Purpose

Personal expression, marking territory, spreading a message, protesting, advocating

Beautification, convey a message, community engagement

Public Perception

Often viewed as vandalism

Generally accepted and appreciated as public art

Legal Consequences

Risk of fines, community service, or imprisonment

None, if done with permission

Location

Any accessible surface

Predetermined locations, often prominent or community spaces

Artistic Technique

Quick, sometimes rushed due to legal risks

Often detailed, planned, and uses varied techniques and materials

Community Engagement

Has led to resident groups like BRAT, Graffiti Go, and initiatives for reduction

Communityinvolved; e.g., White Street Community Garden and Russell Martin Foundation collaborations

City's Approach

Brighton & Hove City Council aims to reduce tagging

Brighton promotes and celebrates its commissioned street art scene

JOHNNY CREW TAGGING FOR CHANGE

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What about the Future?

Public Art Strategy 2022-2032

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Host Sites - In-between Spaces

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Understanding - Ivory Place

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Understanding - Providence Place

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Bernard Tschumi - Parc de la Villete Table 3 Location Architect Landscape Architect Client Site Size Uses

Paris, France Bernard Tschumi (original design) Bernard Huet Government of France Approximately 55 hectares Cultural Facilities, Playgrounds, Green Spaces, Event Venues

The Parc de la Villette's design centers on the concept of superimposition, artfully intertwining points, lines, and surfaces with distinct logic. These elements, described as 'autonomous,' represent varying ways to perceive reality.

Their harmonious convergence yields a unique sensory experience, guiding visitors through the park. The point grid system, derived from an explosive diagram, scatters the park into clusters of mixed experiences, spaced 120 meters apart. These points serve diverse programmatic functions, encouraging dynamic engagement with the surroundings. Lines, such as sidewalks and immersive frames, facilitate movement and exploration, while surfaces provide spaces for diverse outdoor activities, allowing for spontaneous and random uses.

Canal de Saint Denise

This inherent convergence is then considered superimposition.

As three formal elements function cohesively and contribute towards the park’s overall design, thus supplying a sensory experience that guides a visitor’s journey.

Parc de la Villette Landuse 1 to 5000 at A3

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Parc de la Villete - Folies

Fig. 1. Explosive point grid diagram

Folies modelling exercise 12

Parc de la Villette - The Inexhaustible Catalyst

Fig. 2. Parc de la Villette concert

Public Installations

Fig. 3. Folies

Fig. 4. Parc de la Villette gathering

Concerts

Adaptability for various events 13

Performances

Event Flexibility - Folie de l’Aventure

Ground Floor

First Floor

Second Floor

Front Elevation 1:200 4m

Folie de l' Aventure 1 to 200 at A3 0

4m

8m

12m

16m

20m

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Bernard Tschumi - Spaces and Events

1. Media source

Figure 5 - Manhattan Transcript 4.

The Manhattan Transcripts explore the intersection of architectural concepts with the events and movements of everyday urban life. Through a combination of drawings, photographs, and narrative sequences, Tschumi challenges conventional architectural understanding by juxtaposing space, event, and movement in unconventional ways.

2. Derived movement

New uses, same spaces 3. Interpreted spaces

1. Abandoned Church 15

2. Repurpoused as a pub

Interpreting media into space diagrammatically

Mapping Media - Street Art

1. Media source

2. Derived movement

3. Interpreted spaces 16

Translating media - Through Modelmaking

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1. Extruded Media (Parkour)

2. Extracted Movement

3. Hypothetical Space

4. Assembled Media

5. Modelled Movement

6. Interpreted Space

Translating media - Physical Models 1. Assembled Media

2. Modelled Movement

3. Interpreted Space

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Host of Events - The Blank Canvas

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What is The Blank Canvas? a multipurpose, modular installation designed to REVITALISE IN-between spaces.

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A Greater Realm - UNSDG 11

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SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITUES

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REDUCED INEQUALITIES

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GOOD HEALTH AND WELL - BEING

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RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

Deconstructed Fragments - Signage

Inspired by the nature of street art, the steel signs are designed to fit onto existing sign posts around Brighton.

1 to 10 Street Sign Isometric view at A4 0

125

250

500

1 to 20 Street Sign Elevation at A4 1000 mm

0

250

500

1000 mm

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Signage Amongst The Public Realm

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Signage & Sites - Distribution

Urban Proposal 1 to 5000 at A2

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Brighton's In-between Spaces

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In-between Spaces - Conceptualising Canvases

revenue from Event bookings will be distributed to the needy amongst the hosting communities 26

Community Synergy - Emmaus & Build Brighton

Emmaus is a charitable organisation providing help and support to the homeless nationwide. The premise is to provide meaningful work and a place to stay whilst individuals rebuild their lives and gather confidence in their traits. Emmaus operate a series of social enterprises where donated goods are restored and upcycled back into their communities. These involve pieces of furniture, clothing, decor and other household items. The introduction of the Blank Canvases can provide further meaningful support to individuals whilst acting and sourcing goods and materials responsibly.

BUILD BRIGHTON

Build Brighton is a membership-based maker space equipped with a series of workshops for wood and metalworking. Supported by its community it allows individuals to learn by making unique artefacts with the tools and support available to them. Thus allowing one to create, repair and innovate sustainably . A partnership with Build Brighton would be very benefitital for a proposal like the Blank Canvases of Brighton, where users can contribute towards with these spaces based on their programmatic activites.

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Procuring Resources & Community Involvement KEY Build Brighton

Carpenters

Metalworks Builders/ Contractors Universities

Local Resources Acquisition 28

The Making of a Blank Canvas

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1. Resource Recovery

2. Materials Upcycling

3. Catalogue and Inventory

4. Purchase and Delivery

5. Collaborative Contraction

6. Hosted and Managed

Blank Canvases - Composition Catalogue

managing communities can select fixtures, structures, and amenities that best fit their site-specific needs and desired activities, enlivening and enriching in-between spaces.

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5 6

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7 28

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24 21

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KEY 22 Storage & cabinets 23 Plumbing amenities

1

Shelving

8 Foldable tables

15 Windows

2

Standing table

9 Shared seating

3

Repurpoused rebar

10 Pool /games table

16 Railing 17 GLULAM beam 200x200mm

24 Kitchen set-ups

4 Reclaimed materials 5 Floor make-up

11 Parkour furniture

18 Pine joists 75x225mm

25 Wall make-up

12 Brick/ plywood stairs

19 Emmaus decor

26 Signage

13 Bar set-up

20 GLULAM Column 200x200mm

14 Outdoor furniture

21 Indoor furniture

27 Energy stores and harvesting 28 Workshop tables

6 Lighting 7 Doors

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Host Sites & Catalogue Adoption

Providence Place

Parkour & Pub

Required components

1

2

3 Assembly on Site

KEY Activities Host Site Catalogue

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Providence Place - Blank Canvas

Blank Canvas Isometric 1 to 50 at A2 1:50 1m

0

1m

2m

3m

4m

5m

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Pub X Parkour Blank Canvas 33

Pub X Parkour Blank Canvas Night time 34

Live Tagging & Street Art 35

Parkour Area

Indoor Pub Area 36

Model Making - The Blank Canvas

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