The concept of the art foundation is to engage the user in manipulating and controlling how they move through and into major aspects of the site. For example, in the garden, large curving walls guide you into the garden space from the road and path above and these curves are continued throughout to create intimate spaces, open spaces and create walkways and seating.
Keeping intact the major buildings on the upper site is a major feature though modifying the external facades to strengthen the concept of directional flow and access, for instance, creating a curved façade on the Administration building to draw you down the pathway toward the existing cottage and to the lower site. The whale carving plays an important role as a point of congregation and celebration and ‘carving’ into the existing buildings to create an entry point is an appropriate relationship. An important throwback to the whale carving is the way of carving out seating and benches from oversized sandstone walls, this also manipulates where people have to sit, though as a minor juxtaposition to the concept, loose furniture is placed in strategic locations throughout the garden for the user to choose where to sit as the space will change throughout the day.
The café/Bar space on the lower site has a relationship to both the tunnels and the reconditioned wharf. The curving wall of the café leads you either into the tunnels or out onto the wharf depending where you are approaching from.
The use of curves to control direction is a way to ‘force’ the user to interact and explore the site without an intentional roadblock large wall blocking you. The curves will also react on a horizontal level, creating covered walkways and protected spaces.
