Contract Draft: Making the map

Why Seoul? Why Free?
The opportunity to study in Seoul was not to be missed. I am interested in cities and their contexts. Korea has recently emerged as a world city after a tumultuous past, something that intrigues me. After a month of living in Seoul, some preconceptions have been confirmed whilst others have been scrapped. An initial interest in the socio-political and historical context of the city naturally led onto the subject of the landscape here. This subject was touched on just before leaving London and has emerged as the central theme for the project since arriving.

Making the map: a test

The Contract
This document takes the form of a map book, something everyone needs to find their way around a new city. The idea is that the map will be added to throughout the year, culminating in a story of my process; where I’ve been, what I’ve seen, what I think, what others think.. The contract will be referred to repeatedly throughout the project. It highlights the interests, research and aims of the project. A copy for tutors and friends provides an overview, the hope being that they will be able to advise, support and hold me accountable to the following statements. Although there will inevitably be changes and deviations from this original contract, the core values and intentions must remain:

1 A project routed in a fascination for cities and their contexts

2 Landscape as the thread of research and exploration to form a proposition; how mountainous landscape influences the city and its people

3 Consideration of three moments where city meets landscape: city context, periphery / edge, and detail

4 The inclusion of the poetics and symbolism of landscape, not just physical but various manifestations of itself in the city

5 Provision of a place that enhances and celebrates city meeting landscape

The final contract signing will be on Wednesday 9th November. More to follow..