3_ CONCEPT OF THE SITE ITSELF
What should this place be?
T
his is an open-air museum, with certain additional
features, including the aim of including modern residential
accommodation. Therefore, we must be flexible and eclectic,
but must never descend to crude pastiche or parody. The intellectual
approach must be rigorous, but it is for a client body to carry through
the selection of buildings for admission. Many these will be ancient
– or apparently ancient buildings in which we want to foster active,
modern uses. Strict verisimilitude internally will not be wanted,
except in the case of Museum pieces. We want it to be lively with
visitors, and a residential population. We want it to be somewhere
the regions can gain access to the visitor footfall of the capital.
We accommodate this by suggesting the idea of The Embassies
of the Regions. The client body should invite interested regional
participants to take sites within the masterplan. They can develop
any use compatible with the masterplan, and they can bring forward
any built form compatible with the masterplan.
The proposed master planning process
It is imagined that the principal developer (DILLC) should contour
the site, devise a phasing plan, put in the basic infrastructures and
landscaping, and undertake the salient developments by two different
methods. The principal commercial aspects of the scheme – the Hotel/
Casino and the residential component may be financed and constructed
as new real estate projects. And the development of the principal pro
bono publicocomponents – those cultural facilities forming the open-air
museum concept, would be entrusted to the management of a suitable
charitable and academic body.
8_ DALMA VILLAGE_ A narrative of our study and design work to date