ARCHINECT COMPETITION | COMMUNICATION BOOTH
COFESSIONAL FOR A SECULAR SOCIETY
For centuries Catholics have had the exclusive capability to sit in a cozy room, share their darkest moments and be absolved of their sins in a very intimate ceremony. The premise of confession is to communicate with God, though a priest. Why should this ceremony of release and redemption be restricted to one branch of Christianity, or to religion at all?
Submitted here is a proposal for a secular confessional which can be installed nearly anywhere. Instead of speaking to God through a priest, people may speak to one another, through a more familiar medium: technology. Unload your sins. Relieve your guilt. Be a voyeur and listen to the sins of your your friends and neighbors... with strict anonymity, of course.
We have prepared two versions: 1) LO-FI and 2) HI-FI. LO-FI can be assembled for less than $300 and installed anywhere. HI-FI is a more sophisticated [perhaps over-the-top] variant of the same concept, engaging complex AV technology and lots of hydraulics.
LO-FI :
This prototype model consists simply of a tape deck, microphone and headphones. Users may record their sins on tape and listen to what others have left. Due to the random nature of this approach, the tape will undoubtedly not be cued to the end always, creating a fascinating collage of confessions. The recording becomes more and more garbled over time, taking on it's own presence.
HI-FI :
A small, free standing concrete structure containing a chair. When the user sits in the chair a self-leveling mechanism brings them to a pre-determined height. An arced door of frosted glass closes, indicting that the booth is occupied. A metal frame folds down in front of the user's face, masking only their mouth for a video camera. Sound sensitive software activates a recording device. At this point, all which is spoken in the booth is recorded and processed. A voice synthesizer further masks identity. Users may speak for up to five minutes. A simple voice command: "Finish." Once a confession <> contribution is made, the plate retracts and the user can then view prior recordings, scrolling via a large knob. The door automatically opens after five minutes, like a French pay toilet.
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