The Representation of Space
Each space has its own representation, which is shown in its structural as well as social aspects and in all scales. From the top down perspective on a region with the intersection of the natural and artificial physiology or morphology as well as from the bottom up perspective in each individual building, which is connected through a dialogue with its environment. The alpine-urban settlements, which extend along the Rhone river to the flat slides of the meander developed constantly the spaces surrounding. The old core settlements are far from the Rhone – this fear of the natural power of the water is still present.
Agglopark - The Structure
Nevertheless, with the continued development of the villages and their invading industrialization straightened rivers and streams, and dried wetlands. The so newly gained land areas were combined with industrial, commercial or transport area (motorway and railway station). The residential settlements could develop down the valley to the Rhone. The formerly only as a river existing natural border between the bilateral settled villages is today formally shaped as a muscular, with the settlement body interweaving structure, consisting of a heterogeneous use mix of recreation, train and car transport, as well as business and industry. The proposal is to re-create this space as an «Agglopark» interpret and convert step-by-step.
Agglopark - The Concept
The park is considered to be in the flat ‹runway› of the Rhone river designed as a bundle of physiological strands, which structure the space and defining surfaces that interact with agglomeration. The traffic areas of the motorized and the public transport and low-speed traffic are part of this design and connect the «park muscle» with the adjacent settlements. The concept is flexible. The Agglopark can be divided into Individual segments, depending on the infrastructure and the preferences of the respective actors. From seen above – a viewpoint which is quite important in the Canton Valais, the «muscle string» gradually crystallizes out of the plane. The dynamic movement on the ground corresponds to a unique image from above.
Stefan Welter © 2014