pariah.
shed your skin, change your face.
to create an underground grave that serves those who have been rejected, beneath a place that has been forgotten. a meeting point that is sacred to the ones who seek liberation in a world that opposes sincerity.
site.
The site chosen for this project proposal is located in Japan, more specifically in the village of Kamikuishiki in Yamanashi’s prefecture. Gulliver’s Kingdom is an abandoned theme park situated at the base of Mount Fuji. However, the village is more so known as the headquarters of the Aum Shinriky Cult who were responsible for the Sarin gas attack that took place in Tokyo (1995). More over, the site location is close to Japan’s suicide forest - Aokigahara. Soon after the demolition of the theme park in the early 2000’s, the village of Kamikuishiki was relocated, and it’s name and location has since been removed from all geographical maps.
concept.
The concept for this project explores the topics of alienation and desolation, and how they could manifest into the ideas of individualism and liminal spaces. The project “Pariah” symbolises the impacts of alienation - parallel to the phenomological effects of desolation. It acts as a tool to embrace individualism and self expression, and manifests in the built environment as a transitional space that crosses the threshold between what each individual perceives as their authentic reality. It is a place of death, transition, and liberation.
Initiating the process of this project’s site analysis requires a broad understanding of an existing place that reflects the issues discussed. This is why I’ve chosen the country of Japan as it presents characteristics of a society that heavily adheres to traditional ways of living which could result in feelings of alienation within individuals who differ in values. More specifically, to reflect the topic of desolation, I have chosen an abandoned theme park called Gulliver’s Kingdom that presents characteristics of liminal spaces. Lastly, the spatial planning of Pariah is influenced by the process of rebirth which goes through three stages that can be spatially interpreted in the journey within the space. The idea caters to individuals who seek to find their truest sense of self in a world that hides behind a facade to conform with societal standards.
