Peace is a simple but dense word. Throughout human history peace has always been the common hope of peoples. From public squares to churches and monasteries bells have had a function beyond being a sound instrument. They have been carriers of messages of vigilance, invitations, at times even symbols of unity. In the midst of this all, a peace bell has a unique place: a bell that tolls not to warn against a war but to remind of tranquility and coexistence. The present project is formed around a classic bell of 85 by 50 centimeters: a bell introduced as a symbol of peace with a specific place designed for it.
The concept of peace and the contradictions in our time
Today more than ever before the world is mired in conflict, war, and crisis. Peace, that should have been the predominant ideal of humanity, is violated again and again, and the collective security of nations is being challenged. Under these circumstances the importance of shielding peace is twice as important. The peace bell in this project is designed, not as an artifact, but as the constant reminder of the significance of coexistence, dialogue and serenity.
The concept of the design
The basis of the concept of the design is the symbol of peace - the familiar image that is established in all our minds. Nonetheless, in designing the place and structure of the bell this symbol underwent change in order to reflect the real condition of the present time. * The idea: peace as a universal value. * The concept: breaking the symbol by 90 degrees. * The interpretation: this breakage points to the fact that peace has been violated in the present day world, but its roots persist. Even if a symbol suffers breakage, its essence remains intact. We remain loyal to it and hope that it will be revived. In fact, this aspect of the design expresses a duality: the acceptance of the bitter reality on the one hand, and the resilience in upholding the idea of peace, on the other.
The process of the formation of the design
1. Beginning with the bell: the choice of a physical object - the classical bell - which carries meaning in different cultures. 2. Reference to the symbol of peace: placing the bell in a wider implication, i.e. its connection to the concept of peace. 3. A 90-degree break: creating a new language of form which is both familiar and different, reminding the observer of peace and rejecting present time challenges. 4. Embodiment in place: designing a structure that can reflect both the symbolic and practical dimensions of the bell. The place where it is situated serves as a small shrine to peace.
The conical roof: protection and stability
* Practicality: the conical shape of the roof prevents damage to the bell caused by weather (snow & rain) ensuring its physical protection. * Symbolic: the cone shape has historically been a prominent human form, a symbol of duration, resistance, continuity and stability. Using this form in the design carries the message that our goal is to protect peace and its continuity that should persist despite the passage of time and the storms of history like a pyramid.
Specificities of the place of the bell
* Architectural language: simple, minimal, based on lines and breakages, corresponding to the dimensions of the bell so that visual concentration should focus on te bell. * Proportionalities: corresponding to the dimensions of the bell, so that visual attention is focused on the bell. * Symbolism: the use of the symbol of peace and the 90-degree breakage in placement is the main message of the project. * Social place: a place that not only has accommodated a work of art, but provides a context for taking a pause, as reminder of human values.
Conclusion
In this project the peace bell is something beyond a work of art. It contains a narrative of the present condition of the world. The symbol of peace that in contemporary history is recognized as an image of tranquility and coexistence is broken here with a 90 degrees break to show that this ideal is being threatened. But, meanwhile, this breakage conveys another message as well: peace is still alive, even if it is violated. This design is an invitation to a return to tranquility and to reconstructing a work in which the bells toll, not only for declaration of wars but, only, to bear the message of peace.