OLIVE OIL GROCERS' HALL: THE MOVEMENT OF OLIVE OIL (I1-13) THE SENSORY CORRIDOR (I4-I8 &V1)

by Marina Ioannou

The Olive Oil Grocers’ Hall provides an educational experience for users to learn the skill of olive growth and the production process of olive oil, whilst reaping the many natural benefits of the luxury good. The Hall is designed to create a relaxing and stress-free environment by offering aromatherapy massage treatments, using the soaps, balms and body oils produced by the roof garden olive trees. The implementation of a public seating area also makes social interaction for interested users possible. On the street level, a soap workshop area and spa are designed to have contrasting light qualities; a golden and ethereal glow in the workshop area casted by the 3-storey olive oil pipes running from the roof garden and a dramatic dark experience with shafts of light in the massage rooms, achieved with rear-wall sun pipes projected from the roof.
A helix-shaped concrete structure sensory corridor designed to interact with the human senses; designed for children and adults of all ages. Located on a small 12m² site in the heart of Camden Town, viewing over the Camden Lock Canal, the bothy offers stimulation of the senses, promoting and encouraging a range of developmental skills; colour recognition through touch-sensitive coloured LEDs to and hand-eye coordination through a curved, serpent-shaped texture wall mirroring the helix, serpent-like structure stimulating fingertip sensations as the textures change from smooth, rough, bumpy through to fluffy. The muffled sound and crawling element of the bothy encourages senses to be heightened through a smaller, more intimate space. After finishing the sensory experience, the user reaches the top of the helix corridor which overlooks the picturesque view of Camden Lock canal; a weeping willow tree draping over an arched water bridge resembling Claude Monet's painting, 'The Water Lily Pond.'