Art and Heritage Online Database

Collection: School of Architecture Collection 2000 -
Object Type: architecture drawing
Artist/Maker: Munro, Ross
Date: 2020
Awards: RGU Architecture Purchase Award
Classification: Architecture

Description:

Arctic Council Headquarters and Masterplan
Project: Arctic Council Headquarters
This project proposes that Orkney could take advantage as a ‘gateway to the Arctic’, becoming the new home of the Arctic Council. The building’s design is based upon two initial ideas. The first idea is that the’ secure’ secretariat facilities are lifted off the ground floor, providing a clear and interrupted public route to the main council chamber, which is situated out on the water. The second is that the ground floor is the split into two parallel and overlapping paths, both leading to the council chamber. One is forming the main public route and access to the building the other is to be a secure space for the members, accessing all the building’s assembly spaces. The combination of these two ideas has resulted in the concept of the building taking the form of a floating block or object over external and internal landscapes, with the building cores building the only components connecting the floating block to the ground.
Thesis: Masterplan Landscape
This project sought to develop the landscape of the masterplan produced in stage five, providing a link between the buildings created that surround the Peddie sea. This proposal suggests that this could be achieved by developing the space that links the two sides of the masterplan and addressing the water’s edge. The design for this landscape intervention aimed to operate on several levels: to enhance the setting for the proposed buildings and the user experience for both visitors and residents of Kirkwall; to act as a barometer of the changes in sea level, and to explore and demonstrate the nature and effects of water through a series of landscape interventions.

Stage 6

Object Number: ABDRG2020.26