Voting Temples

Chulalongkorn University, Architectural Design Studio, Spring 2014
Advisor: Lara Lesmes

The European Parliament has been investing on different engagement schemes due to increasing skepticism. To study the possibilities, I have researched on one of the fundamental knots in human societies, conversations.

Being in Bangkok, my reseach started by observing “conversations around activities”. Activities like playing chess or going to dentist have been monitored, analyzed, and
diagrammed. From the research, I have learned that activities are the agents that create “Displaced Cognitive Space” or the invisible boundary in which the people involved in the activity developed a sense of connection among each other.

To create a continent-wide sense of connection (displaced cognition), coreographed political rituals are used as tools for communication, gathering and emotional engagement both among the performers and to the ideology they subscribe to.
Ritualistic architectures are vehicles of abstractions that enhance the productivity of the activities. The ritual dome functions as a public hearing platforms that communicate the unique democratic political system of the EU and the everchanging opinions of the people through circular plan, digital ornaments and organized structural aesthetics.

Gradient of Opinions

Digital ornament, also LED screens displaying vote results for each parliamentary phase. The reducing resolution of the screen reflects the increasing solidarity of opinions as they transform from social topics to law enforcement. Each step is associated with rituals specific to this typology.