Ministry of Happiness
Ministry of Happiness
GDP and continuous growth as a measure of development is a capitalist construct which is no longer compatible with the challenges of climate change and social inequality we face. Progressive societies are starting to value measures of happiness and well-being as the alternative measure of success. This projects imagines a new Ministry of Happiness and Wellbeing for London, in one of the most prominent of locations, the Serpentine Lake, which signifies the importance of which a progressive new future society might hold such values.
GDP and continuous growth as a measure of development is a capitalist construct which is no longer compatible with the challenges of climate change and social inequality we face. Progressive societies are starting to value measures of happiness and well-being as the alternative measure of success. This projects imagines a new Ministry of Happiness and Wellbeing for London, in one of the most prominent of locations, the Serpentine Lake, which signifies the importance of which a progressive new future society might hold such values.
2016 was hailed as the ‘year of virtual reality’ with advanced VR headsets readily accesible to the general public. The project investigates the architectural design through mixed reality techniques as well as designing a building of the future where the real and the virtual become integrated.
Sited in the docklands area of Silvertown, the building utilises its proximity to international business facilities such as the Excel centre to facilitate meeting spaces between local humans and avatars controlled through virtual reality. The remote human is able to ‘see’ the recording through a 360 recording device at the other end, whilst his facial persona and expression is captured and relayed through the avatar. With the premise that altered realities will become a mainstay of society, the project critiques the role of the architect and the relevance of the physical world.