m2r's contribution to the Architecture Biennale in London 2006

The project is looking at the site around Farringdon Station, an open scar in London's City, dominated by roads and railway tracks. Our proposal focused on the main ingredience for a new centre for Farrringdon or the city in general. The idea for Farringdon is to become a central point for x-change with three elements: a circus, a server and a hole.

The Farringdon Circus refers to a fairground tradition, which goes back to the Middle Ages. The Idea is a market complementing Oxford - and Piccadilly Circus, a public space and confluence where everyone passes through. A hub and interchange, a magnet for people, a fountain of excitement and fun. A sculptural structure develops along the site starting at the "Hole" and leading towards the "Server", providing shelter and stages for different functions.

The Hole is an element for escape from the city, from speed, constant performance and the parallel world. It is an opportunity to escape to privateness, to leave the network for new inspirations, to feed our desire for the unknown and recharge. It creates anticipation for romantic feelings, excitement and adventure, and again an opportunity for reformation and x-change. It creates curiosity and draws you in. How you escape and where you go is your own and private choice.

As the centre of today's communication the Server enables us to live in a parallel world, far away from where we are, where ever our thoughts wont to go. Hosting only visual and oral information it also creates a gap by stripping our senses.

As an antagonism the Farringdon Server is filled full of experiences that plug the sensory gap providing platforms of love, lust, hugs, kisses - floors of smells - fresh cut grass, fresh flowers, fresh bread, animals and school dinners - floors full of tactile experiences. It also provides the most wicked bars, restaurants and clubs in London.