WELCOME TO WINTONIA...
...a new destination for heritage.
STEP NO.1
Following the result of the 2016 referendum, Winchester’s heritage assets have been released from the grasp of English Heritage and the listing system in Boris’ governments first act following our independence; becoming the first city to ‘take back control’ of its relics as was so strongly campaigned for. Free from prior constraints, Wintonian’s have unanimously decided to maximise the commercialisation of these very assets in order to catapult the city into a new era of economic prosperity.
STEP NO.2
What is deemed real and what is deemed fake? What is considered authentic and what is considered inauthentic? In heritage contexts thing may not always be as they may appear. Winchester is a city defined strongly by its physical history from the inception of Venta Belgarum in AD43. Yet its most important characteristic, its city wall and accompanying gates have almost been entirely lost. Wintonia will seek to resurrect that which has been lost, questioning the very condition of authenticity and significance in heritage contexts
STEP NO.3
The museum city project proposes the re-imposition of the old city wall as one continuous hotel that loops around the centre. In keeping with traditional governmental restraint, the average UK Premier Inn room size of 21.3m2 has been arrayed around the wall generating some 2150 rooms. This distinct boundary is designed to define and differentiate the important area of Winchester to preserve for future generations. The zone within the wall ‘New Wintonia’ will serve as an experiment for the wider country where restrictions on heritage assets are removed.
STEP NO.4
Open for business. The form of the hotel is designed as a metaphor to bend the linearity of time into a closed loop where Winchester’s past can continue to exist in the form of memories and objects within an infinite time capsule. From the outside the hotel corresponds to the traditional vernacular that Wintonian’s are familiar with, whilst inside the wall the façade takes the form of a more free and flowing shape to counteract the fixity of its heritage context. A ‘heritage stage set’ to satisfy tourist consumption.
WELCOME TO WINTONIA
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S.G.Smith
In collaboration with MAUD,
University of Cambridge
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2020