Land Collective’s and HWKN Architect’s proposal for the refurbishment of a never-finished, 1980’s building to receive the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (RITA) Museum realizes the potential for the abandoned site to become a cultural amenity for the preservation and new incarnations of tribal arts. The proposal refurbishes the abandoned site to become an iconic destination, as well as a living museum, where the traditional arts can be imbued with new life in complement with the revivified building.
Inspired by textiles and traditional weaving patterns, and in particular, by elaborate nomadic tribe camel saddles, Land Collective composed a site landscape that brings the opportunity for engagement outside under the shadows of palm fronds and woven toldos. Particular attention was paid to the creation of gathering areas for the purpose of sharing knowledge and teaching art and craft to new generations of artists and students. Inspired by loom knots, areas of paving lift up to reveal areas of seating as if a loose thread on the loom. Patterning under foot is complemented by patterning overhead as the shade toldos are expanded to temper and reveal appropriately-scaled tiered seating. Even the fencing which defines the site is less fortification and more graphic symbol of the history and future that is shared here.
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