Castaway 2000
Notes on the experiment by Andrew McAvoy
On the 4th September 1999 I flew to the Western Isles to meet a TV Crew planning a BBC Stunt.- Castaway 2000
A unique opportunity
The conversation with Lion Television Scotland's series Producer - Chris Kelly went something like this . "We are proposing to bring a cross section of British society to a deserted Island called Taransay ....we need to construct a village in the next 12 weeks for occupation throughout the year 2000. We want to observe via this experiment ..what state society finds itself in, as we cross over the millennium ...we hear you can work in remote places and tackle self build ...will you be able to advise us ....on the suitability of this Island for inhabitation? "
I said yes on the 3 requirements and was taken by boat from mainland Harris the next day, along with - Psychologist Cynthia McVey and Ex Pacific - Castaway - Lucy Irvine.
I was instructed to start immediately with the Island and Cynthia with the new Castaways. I then delivered via my practice - Blast architects - the make shift village gently into an area of National Scenic Beauty and in time for the experiment to begin.
It was never to be a refined Architecture opportunity ... It was however destined to be a place to experiment and to advance the ethos of Walter Segal - That of - all minds switched on and all hands on deck....till we are done, ... !" “ Why Not ?”
The television remit was to create a bespoke and visually appropriate framework that the Castaways could contribute to, both before the start of the year and during. Although it was a kind of stage set it needed to be functional.
Lion Television were to be rigorous in pursuing authenticity…. And drama !
Against all odds, the village was in place with pods, school house, communal refectory kitchen, compost toilets, polytunnel's and with all powered by wind + hydro power thanks to Hugh Piggott of Scoraig Wind Electric.
32 Castaway’s made it through the year and no one was hurt.
At the end of 2000 the infrastructure other than the school and wind turbine was to be removed.
First gallery - Cove Park Pods
Pods before cubes
In early 2001 Andrew received a call whilst on the Island of Harris, amidst process from the new proprietor of Cove Park - Peter Jacobs.
" We hear you have buildings For Sale and we have a need ? "
I replied " not personally " and explained that I was "coordinating the flat packing of Pods I had made ... on behalf of BBC Scotland’s agents Lion Television.
"when can we have them ? "
The purchase by Cove Park was subject to Planning Permission for positioning of 2 pods at Cove Park on the Rosneath peninsula. + So we secured the Planning Permission for this first strike of residential Arts Centre accommodation in the face of a Presumption against domestic development in an area controlled by the Ministry of Defence and right next to 5 % of the worlds nuclear arsenal at that moment in time.
The sensitively negotiated permission allowed the Pods to find a new home and for the proper clean up of a small component in an "Area of National Scenic Beauty " back on Taransay.
And then there was the isle of Muck ..+ A Pod there.
And then – the last one … to sit in the Dunes .. like a lost Curlew …at Luskentyre.
As seen in Homes and Interiors (download article below)
Second gallery - A Pod on Muck
