STATION 3: ISOLATION

The third station in the series is unique among its peers. This station is an architectural manifestation of isolation. The social and cultural isolation created by slavery is obvious, however there is a formation of identity in that isolation. There is trauma in abuse and in isolation and in societal disregard. But isolated from that culture of trauma, from the endless stimuli created by a civilization’s culture, there can be the formation of a new identity. This station focuses on the ascetic aspects of space. The architecture is comprised of a simple extruded square, made of translucent channel glass, and topped by a glass plane. It is a space of meditation and contemplation, where one has the opportunity to step away from society of their own volition.

Atmospherically, the space indicates a lightness and a silence. This idea of solitude is manifested through the channel glass units as well as uniform and translucent elements. The sounds and chattering of the outside world are shut out at the door. The atmosphere facilitates introspection through the creation of a space which exists apart from the world, as well as all other spaces constituting the monument.

There are three of these volumes positioned around the immediate site. None of them are at the same elevation as any of the others. Also, none share the same orientation relative to the cardinal directions. The aesthetic similarities relate to the functional similarity of isolation, however the specific meaning of that isolation and its relationship to a visitor is unique to each unit in this station.

As for the site itself, there is no order or promenade. The landscape is apart from the building. It would be as if three giant crystals sprouted from the ground in an otherwise untouched forest. This disconnection heightens the sensation of solitude and magnifies the emotional aspect of being alone in a place with one's own thoughts and feelings.

The implementation of a study of icon was a unique condition, the lack of a form which is culturally representative of identity indicates that emotional aspects must constitute the icon of identity. The theme of solitude is referenced in the size of the space and the singular seat placed in the center. The space is whole and complete – additions to or subtractions from the volume are impossible. This is the formal indication of the concept of the One.

Using translucent channel glass, the vision of the visitor is directed upwards to the clear glass oculus that functions as the roof of the building. The solitude, as well as the focused view upward along the linear glass elements toward the clear, framed sky, gives the station an ethereal atmosphere.

Since there is no architectural aesthetic element to serve as an icon of benign solitude, various works of art and architecture whose themes centered around the idea of contemplation acted as aesthetic referents. Casper David Freidrich's Wanderer Above a Sea of Fog creates an excellent visual understanding of singleness and ephemeral beauty. Freidrich orients the subject with his back to the viewer. This is because the central figure in the scene is not one with whom the viewer is meant to identify, but identify with. It is a scene about the introspection achievable with isolation in the presence of splendor. Peter Zumthor's Bruder Klaus Field Chapel channels this atmosphere of isolation into a work of architecture. The focusing effect of the linear pattern created on the interior face of the concrete orients the eye to the oculus above. This demonstrates a singleness of form and a unifying spatial extension toward infinity.

It is these two ideas that form the basis of the design for the isolation station: introspection in nature and unity of space. Both relate to the ideas of solitude, oneness, and apartness. In this way, the primary design of this station is based around atmospheric and emotional aspects. The icon stems from these, rather than the inverse relationship in the previous two stations in which the icon, in some way, dictates the atmosphere, as well as the emotions that atmosphere conveys.