Natkanok (Ploy) Onratn

The hidden world aims to connect students to nature and deconstruct what they usually see and believe what they think nature looks like. Encouraging students to reconnect with nature I intend to inspire them to value her. According to the research, Indigenous Australians believe in many spirits including the spirit of the sky and land. Therefore, the skylights flood the main hall in sunlight where kids and teachers eat lunch.

Climate change has impacted Australia drastically. It is expected that the temperature in Australia will rise 1 Celsius degree each year which will cause further devastating bushfires not unlike those in 2019. In the speculative future in 2046 of Constance, the lush greenery in Cooronggooba Campground at Wollemi national park in New South Wales is all gone, leaving the dead land behind. The irreversible damage of the bush fire force humans to abandon the land and occupy space suspended above it in cooler temperatures.

To truly deconstruct the everyday vision of nature, I explored unexpected methods. Each model provides the negative space of how nature acts/behaves as well as deconstruct the user perception of the world. The mirror is a brilliant material that reflects, connects, and deconstructs our minds from the space around us.
‘The hidden world’ consider how pre-colonial Indigenous Australians connected and valued the land. Reducing the damage to the environment, I proposed rammed earth as the main material for the building as it will return to its place without leaving man-made materials. The domes proposed are inspired by pre-colonial shelters depicted in settlers’ notes (refer Pascoe's Dark Emu).

Students will engage with new tastes in their new world. Each room will allow students to explore and experience their auditory senses to assist in deconstructing their minds. The sounding tunnel will connect students to the hidden chorus of sounds that exist underground. The aim of the space is to nurture student's connection to the natural world by engaging their bodies and imagination.

The atmospheric condition of The Hidden World aims to contrast with the above world. The intention is to bring back the liveliness of nature and the land that we have lost.

The space will be filled with different atmospheric acoustic which are guided through natural sounds such as forest and wildlife sounds, together with a record of underground sound. These aims to heighten senses and imagination by stimulating the emotion and feelings within different spaces.