VISHAL MISTRY

Project outline

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This proposal aims to bring elements of a bizarre fictious world to ‘our’ reality to reveal the ways of a mysterious ancient culture within a site of great history. Based in Turin, the body agent ‘Deus Sensuum’ (god of the senses) has returned to the site of the Palatine gate where his cult followers, the Taurini, were defeated in battle by the Ancient Romans for what is now modern Turin. Deus Sensuum can record and store scents, reading them as memories. Still full of anger after 2000 years, it plans to return to re-establish the cult on the land that was rightfully theirs. Through the creation of a new shrine, the Taurini cult can grow again and come out of hiding.

Through the initial investigations which developed the body agent, it could be seen that the building proposal would be formed through symbolic fragments, which each fragment utilising a different architectural language derived from the development of the investigation. Fragments utilise aspects of intricate Scarpa interventions and castings, Taurini weaponry used to fight the Romans and classical elements inhabited by the presence of the body agent.  Overall the building will present an architectural eclecticism.

The building will have multiple purposes; firstly, to educate and allow people to explore the Taurini culture. Secondly, to re-establish the Taurini cult in the site where they rightfully belong. Thirdly, to be provide an ‘uncanny’ portal – being a tourist information kiosk when you initially enter. As a result, the proposal becomes a reflection of the existing Roman gate, suggesting the notion of re-writing history, to impose itself in Turin once again. Through the weaponry fragments, historical elements of the site are framed with the intention to be ‘visually’ attacked and deconstructed, being revealed through reinterpretations of various Taurini weaponry mechanisms.

The combination of fragments overall creates an unusual experience which aims to engage with the senses, with highly contrasting spatial zones and activity. I explore the initial establishment of the proposal and how by using the senses, the Taurini plan to throw and event to draw interest into the building.