‘Static dynamic’: An urban Outward Bound centre for youth

Abstract

This proposal develops a design for an Urban Outward Bound Centre for youth. It is theorised that youthful participation in programmes aimed at resolving issues in their process of maturation would be more suitably conducted in static spatial experiences that, while static, give the feeling of the contrasting opposite, that of feeling ‘dynamic,’ varied and energetic and thereby congruent with the youthful participants. Research has developed a number of spatial devices that can be characterised by the word ‘contrast’; order and disorder, contrast in scale, interiority and exteriority, angularity to rectilinearity, orthogonal to curvilinear, light and dark, and a range of textures from smooth to rough. The design also explores how socially dynamic as well as private and calmer static spatial experiences can add variation and balance in an alternative learning environment. The action‐based activities of Outward Bound have also developed a variation of static yet emotionally dynamic elements that can be characterised with the concept of challenge.