The Place To Be

STUDIO ACTIVITY :: WEEK THREE

ARCHITECTURAL FICTION (VIRTUAL):

The parliamentarians start their days in different cities around Australia; some in Brisbane, some in Sydney... all members are dedicated to one city for one particular purpose.

The day in parliament begins as it normally does; an office is entered, that 'arriving at work' feeling is produced... the smell of morning coffee fills the air. Debates and discussions fly through the air as valuable connections are made. They appear on live telecasts, and parliamentary debates.

As the day draws to a close, members log off. They emerge from their work enticed coma; leaving the dark room behind and heading home to their reality.

In Canberra, the city is recovering and creating its own mark - the old and ancient parliament houses have become a tourist attraction; now deserted by all parliamentarians. The city has a life and soul again, with people moving from all over to the beautifully planned city. 

ARCHITECTURAL FICTION (DISTRIBUTED):

Canberra becomes a place to be. The city centre has been rejuvenated; people are walking, buses are moving. The city has become a campus of movement. Services have been spread; parliamentary services have been distributed. The connections between the parliamentary buildings create a liveliness to the city that hasn't been seen before. A planned city, that is obviously a planned city - that creates a central core - almost like a central park. The centre becomes the soul, and the city begins to recover.

ARCHITECTURAL FICTION (MOBILE):

The parliamentarians have left Canberra; they are on the road. Or the tracks. The "travelling circus" has moved on. Sectors break off and travel to different regions. They meet once in a while for major decisions. Connections are still strong, community input has grown. The parliamentarians are out there - in touch with the people, helping those in need. As they travel, the situation improves. Canberra is the meeting point; a central point between the major cities of the East. It becomes home to the carriages once in a blue moon; they have a presence and an identity, but it allows Canberra to grow into what it wants and needs to be - it's not over shadowed by the parliamentary shadow any more.

ARCHITECTURAL FICTION (FLEXIBLE):

Parliament has changed. It flips, it turns, it moves, it rotates... it's flexible. Offices are merged, separated, formed and broken; it changes each day, each week, each month and each year. Sectors get together and break up. Policies are formed, decisions are made. A huge open plan government exists; communication is more open - debates are beneficial conversations. The nation starts to watch the debates on television for once. The peacefulness of the parliament provides hope for the people; Canberra is seen in a new light. It becomes a place to be.