hybridge

Facing the critique going on, you subconsciously feel the opening to right of you, with the people trickling in and out of that area, next to the elevator. When the crit is over, you can’t wait to get through it to find comfort in your room.

Now you’re here, with the elevator being behind you. You look forward, and see this tunnel, that plays with the element of the earth. The tunnel kind of slopes down, and with the solid rock/earth walls, the ceiling and floor encloses you, much like a cave. The opening of this tunnel connects directly to Rand Hall to the right, and a few meters down, Foundry to the left.

The beginning is really small - only a meter in width, and about two meters high. But as you walk, it gradually gets wider and taller - probably around two meters wide, and five high. It’s dark and stuffy in here, but the feeling is a bit alleviated by the daylight that comes through. In intervals, the top edges of the tunnel have a small strip cut, allowing long, thin rays of light to shine through. As the surface of the wall is rough, the light reflects around, fragmenting it. Some people don’t like this tunnel as much because it’s so enclosed, but I like it because of the subtle hints it gives of the outside world.

As you walk on, there is a (large) source of light at the end of the tunnel - this is where it opens up. Instead of being a much-needed breakthrough of the walls, you find that you are still enclosed by towering walls - the only thing that’s changed is the finishing (smoother; rough concrete). The walls are pressed close to each other, forcing you to go in one direction. The roof has cut round holes in it, so it lets light through in patterns, painting the thin space, always changing throughout the day. There are thin, long window strips on each side - which you think is an ironic teaser - you’re technically in the air, but there are walls enclosing you and all you can feel from the outside is the thin view, and the light and air allowed in.

It then opens up to a tall glass box, literally floating in the air. This is where you can satisfy your hunger and also get caffeinated, where the cafeteria is, and it takes advantage of being in the air in the middle of the gorge, surrounded the views of trees, the stream, the waterfall and lake, etc. It's a fairly minimal space, made of glass with thin steel frames to accommodate maximum view, simple white flooring and furniture which expresses the feeling of lightness and being suspended. The placement of the chairs and tables maximizes all seatings’ views, but suppresses socialization and sort of controls you because you’re all faced in the same direction, so you can really only talk to the people next to you.

You walk past the canteen and set of restrooms available (convenient, you think, when you eat you can easily wash up instead of having to walk too far in any direction to reach the next set of restrooms), and transition into the dormitory area, near the edge of the gorge wall on the other side. As it is near the 'ground', it has more access to trees - which is what this part takes advantage of - the trees, leaves, etc. The main finishing of this space is wooden beams, to enhance the 'woody' feeling. The unique part of this dorm is that you don't have the conventional rooms, instead, they are literal capsule blocks and are stacked and compressed together, and only holding the bare essentials of what is needed (bed, storage, some entertainment screen), which you think is suitable, because you’re never really there anyways. The dorm forks out in two directions to maximize contact with the trees, creating a small courtyard, whilst maintaining their thin structure. All the dorms have views of the trees/branches/leaves, so they really feel connected as part of that environment. There are internal ramps to allow circulation between the three floors, which also allows direction access to the row of washrooms tucked away at the back. The two directions of the dorms hold exits on the second and third floors (the two lower floors).

You suddenly feel like wanting to go to the retreat area, and start walking in that direction, going down the ramps to the third floor, where it is connected. Once at the mouth, you go down a series of circular stairs/ramps with one destination in mind - the retreat space. You think it is much like an inverted observation tower, you don't do anything but anticipate what is at the end. As you walk around and around, you finally reach it: a wide space of freedom, which contains a mess of unorganized furniture placings, including sofas, TVs, ping-pong tables, bookshelves, tables, seating, beanbags, etc. You see some of your friends down here, and some people are opening up the large glass panels to the patio, where they are jumping out and into the gorge.

As you’re sitting on one of the sofas, you’re thinking about the day where you finally will exit this place. The point of exit is an interesting one: it literally exits out to the middle of the gorge wall, in the middle of the trees and earth and you get fully exposed to the nature/environment all in one go. You relish in the idea of being cooped up in this structure (and the academic ones) for a term, and then finally exiting out to this absolute change.

Making it thin, in a way, also enhances the feeling of each environment because it’s literally forced upon you, and if you continue your daily routine each day, it may be convenient for you as it is really straightforward and has all that you need, but at the end of the day, you're still enclosed and 'contained' in this space - never really going outside, even if it feels like it.