Student Work: Year 2: Landscape Spatial Intervention

Project Title: The Hidden River Conversation Pits

Year: 2024

This design acts as a series of “conversation pits” that are depressed base planes in varying sizes with timber walls, filled with gravel and flint and featuring concrete blocks with a limestone overlay for the seating. A wayfinding path built of iron accompanies each pit to lead the way to the next pit; it can be walked on but is intentionally narrow to focus more on the movement between spaces and short to emphasise the intimacy of the spaces. The stairs are made of concrete with a limestone overlay.

These “conversation pits” grow in size to accommodate a larger number of people allowing for a range of activities from individual contemplation, recognition/
interrogation of historical structures and surroundings, or conversations with other occupants. Given the depths, the pits are still accessible to disabled visitors who can participate by positioning themselves along the sides of the pits. Materials used are most of the same products that moved along Norwich’s hidden river, now Ferry Lane, highlighting the history of the site as well as harnessing the power of sourcing locally. 

Materials: Timber, Gravel, Flint, Concrete, Limestone, Iron