Heliotope
Time-Li-Ner | Table Cape Lookout
Images / Text
Tuning In to Mesofauna & Deep Time
This project sits on what is now known as Table Cape, on the north-west coast of lutruwita | Tasmania.* It is on the edge of a volcanic plug, atop a steep cliff overlooking the turbulent Bass Straight and the geological features that unfold along the coast to the east. It is situated within the latitudinal range of the Roaring 40s – rugged, windswept and beautiful.
This place has a rich and complex history. There is evidence of over 20,000 years of Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal’s occupation here, and traces of fish trapping, huts and smoke signals are still evident across the site. The site remains significant as a signal station today, with both a working heritage lighthouse, a signal station between Tullamarine and local airports, with a pathway of suspended red lights alerting aircraft to the land mass and steering them towards the airstrip.
The project provides shelter and amenity to visitors, and starts to tell the story of the history of place from the different perspectives of those who have passed through, or called the cape their home (human and non-human). We established a relationship with the adjacent farmer, who practices regenerative agricultural techniques in order to care for the extra-ordinarily rich soil found on the volcanic cape.
Our initial approach was to create an ephemeral, barely there shelter that could act as an armature for planting and floral display. The extreme coastal corrosion experienced in this location, as well as it being in a landslip zone and a requisite design life of 50 years; resulted in a highly durable (though more carbon intensive that we had hoped) outcome, that will service the area for many years to come.
The project is an exercise in practising regenerative principles. By paying close attention to what is and was there and building relationships with local peoples, we are developing a methodology to ‘do less harm’. Acknowledging the role of architecture and building in the climate crisis and the continuation of systems of oppression, we are trying to find the moments of agency within the design process for change to work to repair the site, it’s surrounds and community.
* The original owners of this land are the Tommeginner/Tumikini people. They lived on and cared for this Country for many, many generations prior to European arrival. Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal people live across Lutruwita/Tasmania, and their culture continues. This particular place is known by many names. In English it is known as Table Cape, but it is also known as Toin-Be-Noke/Tuynplinuk in the language of its original owners.
This place has a rich and complex history. There is evidence of over 20,000 years of Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal’s occupation here, and traces of fish trapping, huts and smoke signals are still evident across the site. The site remains significant as a signal station today, with both a working heritage lighthouse, a signal station between Tullamarine and local airports, with a pathway of suspended red lights alerting aircraft to the land mass and steering them towards the airstrip.
The project provides shelter and amenity to visitors, and starts to tell the story of the history of place from the different perspectives of those who have passed through, or called the cape their home (human and non-human). We established a relationship with the adjacent farmer, who practices regenerative agricultural techniques in order to care for the extra-ordinarily rich soil found on the volcanic cape.
Our initial approach was to create an ephemeral, barely there shelter that could act as an armature for planting and floral display. The extreme coastal corrosion experienced in this location, as well as it being in a landslip zone and a requisite design life of 50 years; resulted in a highly durable (though more carbon intensive that we had hoped) outcome, that will service the area for many years to come.
The project is an exercise in practising regenerative principles. By paying close attention to what is and was there and building relationships with local peoples, we are developing a methodology to ‘do less harm’. Acknowledging the role of architecture and building in the climate crisis and the continuation of systems of oppression, we are trying to find the moments of agency within the design process for change to work to repair the site, it’s surrounds and community.
* The original owners of this land are the Tommeginner/Tumikini people. They lived on and cared for this Country for many, many generations prior to European arrival. Palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal people live across Lutruwita/Tasmania, and their culture continues. This particular place is known by many names. In English it is known as Table Cape, but it is also known as Toin-Be-Noke/Tuynplinuk in the language of its original owners.