5.3: One Minute Intervetions (Modern Vs. Local)

In recent years Figueira has went through its first phase of intervention. Along with renovating some of the houses in the village, a new power and lighting net has been created and also new water supply lines and sewage ways were built.

While the renovation of the houses has added to the environment and the aesthetic value of village, the method in which the new power and water infrastructure was implemented did the exact opposite - introducing foreign materials and attaching modern objects in visually aggressive ways to narrow stone built alleys and traditionally built houses.

One minute interventions is a short design exercise, which is aimed at increasing awareness and discussion about the values, the aesthetics and the possibilities of using local materials and traditional building methods in local develpment projects.

The Rules for ‘1 Minute Intervention’:
1. Search for disruption in the local environment caused
by a recent phase of renovation/intervention.
2. Document the disruption with a photo.
3. Intervene, fix, hide, or transform this disruption, using
only local materials, and objects found in the area.
4. All acts of intervention must be of 1 minute long and
no longer.
5. Document the result of your intervention.
6. register the local reaction to your work.

Figuiera Village Interventions:


No. 1: Power exit for street lighting.

Materials: Plastic, Aluminum, Iron. Attached to wall with screws

Intervention: Partially covered with local material/object

Material: Old roof tiles found in the same alley

No. 2: Power exit for street lighting.

Materials: Plastic, Aluminum, Iron. Attached to wall with screws

Intervention: Partially covered with local material/object

Material: Schist stones found on the ground

No. 3: Central power net closet.

Materials:
Plastic, Aluminum, Iron. Attached to ground with concrete

Intervention: ‘Camouflaged’ covered with local material/object

Material: Old wooden door taken from derelict house.

No. 4: Urban/public furniture.

Materials: Schist rocks and old wooden plank found in the village

Intervention: Rocks inserted in holes found in the traditionally built schist wall, wooden plank placed on rock.

No.5: Electricity metering box (contains measuring equipment).

Materials: Plastic, Aluminum. Dug into the wall and attached to ground with concrete

Intervention: ‘Camouflaged’ covered with local material/object.

Material:
Wooden window and wire found in a garbage pile