[WAL*L]
Legislation is a highly charged process. As smoothly as everyone wants it to be, it’s usually a pebbled path dotted with collaborations and confrontations. It’s, however, a linear process starting from a relatively more open and transparent, though coarse, beginning to an increasingly more refined yet less visible ending.
The WAL*L exemplifies this with a concrete wall made of transitional roughness, changing gradually from a coarse aggregated texture to a fine finish at the end in the concrete mix. Similar to a Sieve test filtering different sizes of aggregates along the way, the legislative process is one that filters, refines, and arrives at a ‘polished‘ destination. This relatively more obscured destination, however, is deliberately set inside the groves of trees on the west side of the site, denoting the end sheltered within tree shadows with less visibility. The general public, however, is given accessibility and participation all the way to the end at the WAL*L.
The seemingly straight and restrained WAL*L splits into two wings at the end, enclosing an area made of mirror stainless steel, allowing everyone to self-reflect on the process. The WAL*L at this point redefines the form of the landscape we all stand on, as would legislation change our mental and urban landscapes.
The holes at the beginning of the WAL*L is an integration of the ideas to add transparency, encourage participations, and reduce wind loading. The Y-shaped wall also adds stability to the structure, at the same time echoing the combination of straight lines and curves that is the Legislation Council building. The use of concrete in the WAL*L is not only because of its durability and low maintenance, but more importantly signifying the general desire for the process to stand the test of time. This WAL*L acts as a backdrop to the flag-raising activities, constantly reminding us the ideals we all aspire to.