‘The Resonator and Professor’s Residence’ by Luke Jones
MArchD Applied Design in Architecture
Oxford Brookes University, UK
Key supervisors: Hannah Durham & Scott Sworts
keywords: sound, instruments, parabolic reflection, sympathetic resonance, reverberation, escapism, discovery, creativity, ambiguity, ethereal, music, soundscape
For cities to stay relevant in our changing world, they do not need the latest shops, not even the latest jobs. What they must do is to offer the latest experiences.
This project uses an understanding of acoustic phenomena to propose an architecture that responds to its soundscape. Offering a public experience that challenges our relationship with sound and space by encouraging interaction with concentrated sonic nodes.
The full scope of the professor’s residency looks to establish a base, in the centre of Oxford, for those who deal in sound. With a specialised co-working facility, recording studio, artist residency and a variety of reflective and performative spaces.
The Resonator is the centrepiece of the scheme, a 120ft instrument tuned to resonate sympathetically in response to the bell tower of Magdalen College across the street. When the bells strike the hour the Resonator’s strings vibrate, excited by the frequencies of G#, F#, E and E#. This energy is transferred over a bridge and down to resonating dishes that focus each of the notes in separate zones known as ‘sonic nodes’. These nodes form a public space where visitors can walk through and impact each note. Exploring how body and movement affect sound as they interact with the reverberations. Below a 12th century burial ground, and edged by the co-working spaces, this architecture invites a conversation between the historic and the possible. Between the professional function of the space and an ever-changing public of passersby who venture in.
Across the scheme the design is intended to provoke intrigue. Encouraging discovery builds a sense of ownership and offers new experiences, fueling the creative mind. Ambiguity is also a key characteristic embedded in the project. The use of the Resonator, and many other spaces across the site, is not instantly evident. This allows room for interpretation, meaning that each person will have their own unique experience personal to their understanding of sound.
The intention is that this proposal can be a public realm that offers unexpected memorable experiences that challenge perceptions, encourage exploration, and resonate with the creative minds of Oxford.
Luke Jones / MArchD / Oxford Brooks
