Kieran Evans and Robin Turner

Artists Kieran Evans and Robin Wales propose a multi platform, cross discipline concept that will engage people with the landscapes of Wales. Five separate, small radio beacons will be set up across key points in Wales which will transmit low frequency radio signals, the furthest reach of which will invisibly form the five Olympic rings.

Ivan and Heather Morison

There is an old Welsh tradition of the ty unnos, or house in one night: if you could erect a building and have smoke coming from its chimney between sunset and sunrise, you could take ownership of that land. At its heart the ty unnos was about a community coming together for one night, with each individual offering whatever skills they could, for a common good or the good of those in need within that community. This tradition and set of ideals are shared in other folk traditions in cultures around the world, for example in the Amish barn-raisings and the Finnish talkoot.

The Ty Unnos project will bring three new tai unnos to three parts of Wales. The function of each will be decided upon locally; it could be a simple shelter, a meeting room, a home, a meditative place, a community space or even a dovecote perhaps. They will also be fabricated locally, highlighting and developing existing skills and craftspeople, with each new ty unnos being celebrated in the final communal raising of the building.

Andy Hazell

Andy Hazell proposes to leave a lasting idiosyncratic reminder on the land by planting five rings of conifers in upland Wales. The five Olympic rings correspond to each of the continents, in the same way the annular forests would be planted with distinct species from each continent – incredible cypresses with pale blue needles and Japanese spruce with bright red bark. Each forest ring would enclose a circular meadow of sculpted banked earthworks, each ring seeded with wild flowers looking from above like a pebble dropped in a pool. At the centre of each of the meadows will be an architectural folly constructed upon a 20 foot shipping container. Cut into the steel walls will be ‘peepholes’, viewing slots illuminated by LEDs, powered by a solar panel. Behind each peephole will be views of the wonders of the world both natural and created.

Simon Fenoulhet

 
Luminous Landscapes proposes to be a series of three site specific sound and light installations around Wales that explore the iconic nature of our built structures, such as Strata Florida Abbey, Harlech Castle, the Severn Crossing and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Working in collaboration with composer John Hardy, new light and sound-scapes will be created in response to each building that would be heard via concealed speakers when visitors move around the building. The introduction of sound will provide an evocative atmosphere that is unashamedly contemporary but is unmistakably inspired by the building and its context. As darkness falls, projected light will start to transform the architecture and change its appearance in response to the sound, using colour and shape to animate these static landmarks. There will also be an accompanying programme of live music performed by local musicians.