Cubetopia for Glastonbury 2011

[Harsim]

After the scorching sun of 2010 and a lack of shaded areas, i came up with an idea in which i emailed the glastonbury office autumn this year.

Original Email:

In response to some of the opinions and debates on the weather, it became clear that people struggled to find shade at this year’s festival. Many people found that they suffered from the sun, and during the hottest parts of the days they actually couldn’t physically be out in the sun, which caused them to miss much of the weekend.

Thinking about this, I was considering various ways to create shade at Glastonbury. It became obvious that sun was not promised every year, so I thought that I would also consider that what offered shade, could also offer shelter from rain. Whilst trying to hide myself from the sun, I found it quite intrusive in people’s spaces and groups, whilst trying to squeeze into the narrow patches of shade around the site, so I also considered areas for small groups, as well as big groups.

For next year’s festival, I suggest an area called “Cubetopia”. It could be a huge instillation, made from cubes stacked on top of one another, offering shade from the sun, and also shelter from the rain. I would suggest the instillation to be a fair size, offering between 30-50 boxes of various sizes, seating between 1-10 people in different boxes. Some boxes would offer seats for people to sit on, whilst others one person could barely squeeze into. A mountain made from cubes. This I feel would provide many areas for different people. If people wished to simply escape the sun, drink and socialize, they could join the bigger boxes and meet new people, relax for an hour or two. Or if people are nursing a serious hangover, they could find a smaller box, and simply go to sleep for a few hours, without interruption.

Cubetopia could be climbed to reach the higher boxes. Also a larger room could be created inside the structure. Offering a possibility of a bar and seating area. The inside area should have lots of openings, allowing a breeze to flow through the area on warm days, but lots of corners, so that on cold days, people can hide away from the cold.

There would be opportunities for speakers to be placed into several of the boxes, allowing calming music to be played during the day and night. Obviously the bigger sized boxes would be more suited for speakers, as these boxes are more likely to house socializing groups. At night music could be turned up, and the area could become an alternative place to meet people, whilst relaxing.

I hope that you can see the benefits this area could bring to the festival; I hope the idea could be passed to the appropriate people so that there’s a chance that it may be considered. I’d be more than happy to devote some time into making this idea a reality.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my email, I look forward to hearing back from you.

Much appreciated,

Harrison Simmonds

[llcoolphil]

Im still in belief that this area would be very efficient for glastonbury goers

[Joshuwarr]

A very good idea, but is it not a little similar to Cube Henge? Well, the concept of cubes at the very least!

[LondonTom]

Its a good idea, still rekon it just become over crowed once the heats it though =p What we need is a sun shield

[godders1966]

I think a better idea would be some sort of construction featuring a large fabric sheet held up by poles and rope so it could shield you from either the sun and/or any rain. Make it large enough and you might even get a performing band and crowd inside.

I shall call it TENT-TOPIA!

[rabid]

Cubetopia could be climbed to reach the higher boxes.

[staggerlee]

Its a good idea, still rekon it just become over crowed once the heats it though =p What we need is a sun shield

[amfy]

I do really like the idea in the abstract, but then when i really think about it, it sounds a bit big (in fact you say huge) so I'm not sure where you would put it without it dominating in quite an urban way.

The H&S risks of the bits you climb to would increase in wet/muddy conditions. I think the climbing/high thing could be a bit of a non-starter all round, because so many people at Glastonbury are in various states of intoxication.

I also can't help being a bit worried about the people asleep in the very little boxes - Will anyone check if they're Ok like they would if they were just trying to sleep it off in the shade?

I'm getting far too old and sensible for all this - maybe i should retire!

[simes]

There is actually something similar already in the Park. Although not clumped and stacked like cubetopia, surely all the romany theme bus shelters fit the bill perfectly.

Sadly the previous poster is right to predict that the risk assessment will fall down at the prospect of getting drunks off the ground.

[danbailey80]

very similar to cubehenge...Climbing when drunk and muddy, sadly not an option..also to be honest, climbing up and into a small space sounds rather unpleasant when I could wonder slowly up to herbaculture's gardens in the green fields and lay in the shade and grass...great you're being creative and having a think but I don't think this is solving the problem to warrant the cost..