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ETTORE MARIA MAZZOLA

ARCHITECT

The project is completely based on the research for an answer to the organisers' requests, therefore on the expression of Christian's symbology (2000th years from Christ's birth) and of the place itself's symbology (Maiden Castle battle, Duchy of Cornowall, Dorset, as soon).

The concentric structure is a metaphor of cosmos and means the way to the salvation of the soul.

The science of numbers, according which every number and every geometrical figure stands for a symbol and for a letter of alphabet, is an ancient doctrine that we can find (as an expression of universe's armony) both in the Jewish and Orphean-Pythagorean (and Neoplatonic) tradition.

Thus we can read the monogram of Jesus Christ in the project, in "X" and "I" letters of Greek alphabet, drawn by the orthogonal and diagonal axes of the plan. \

Number eight, "8" , alludes to the name of Christ (the octagonal shape of belvedere, the paving, the openings; besides, if we join together the salient points of the plan we obtain simple or complex figures, from cross to eight points star, thought to be celestial geometry's shapes).

As regards the request to "symbolise"2000 years from Christ birth's annive rsary, indeed, we have thought that the symbolic metaphor was more appropriate than a representation could have been, because this one is more suitable for church, which is a religious monument, than for a "non-religious monument" like belvedere will be.

The building has been conceived to be realised with naked bricks, the walls will look bare, inspired to a "Roman" ruin, symbolising the Roman invasion and Maiden Castle battle: this kind of surface and shape treatment will have this symbolic meaning but will also suit very well to the territory where the building will rise.

The new Poundbury has no particular decoration, as matter of fact, and it rarely shows columns or trabeations, it seem to be born spontaneously from inventiveness of common people; maybe it is potentially closer to Rusknians\rquote ideals than to English neo-Classicism's ideals, therefore the landscape design should be inspired to the roman country's sights by Lorraine as well ... so the "ruin" will be right monument.

The hypothesis of the project tries to answer all the requests and goes far: its realisation, as a matter of fact, will involve the artist/students of Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture, who will have the possibility to compare themselves with a real "hand-manufactured" which will join architects, painters, sculptors and craftmen with great results in our predecessors\rquote works.

Thus, the explicative panels requested by the competition will be realised by means of frescos on the walls of central structure and on the level surfaces of external structure: the images, realised with "trompe l'oeil" technique, will represent the history of Maiden Castle and Poundbury, just like the central wall in the Casa del bracciale d'oro in Pompei or in the Villa di Livia in Prima Porta, Roma.

This "bucolic"aspect of the walls, will let the visitors feel in an open space, not in a limited space, while living present reality and the past at the same time.

Sculptors will be able to live a direct experience as well, they will see a work of theirs being realised for ever: the centre of the building will hold an octagonal fountain, which will symbolise the purification of the spirit and the birth of Christ.

On the podium of this fountain an inscription with bronze types will say "QUI SITET VENIAT AD ME ET BIBAT" (who is thursty comes to me and drinks): this is a clear reference to Paleochristian baptisteries, but also to the thirst for knowing and for living both nature and the place itself.

In conclusion, in order to underline the characteristics of the place and promoters of Poundbury initiative, and just like roman gardens' arcades, an "oscillum" will be hanged in each of the eight openings through which one enters the belvedere.

On each of these "oscilla", there will be painted or sculptured the devices of Poundbury, of Royal Family, of Dorset, of Duchy of Cornwall, of Prince of Wales\rquote s Institute of Architecture, etc. .