“A space of reflection, wonder and luxury, that is modern and comfortable. A place that is as familiar as a home, with the curiosity of outer space.”
Upon diving into research about Sligo Gaol, I felt inspired by the repetitive use of semi-circles and arches – from the shape of the original cell blocks, to the arches throughout the corridors and main rooms. I began to think about the moon, ever-changing, but always the same – the prisoners that were held in Sligo Gaol looked at the same moon from their cell windows as we look at now, nearly 70 years after the last prisoner left the Gaol. The semi-circles and arches are reflected in the half moon and crescent moon. The moon, and furthermore eclipse, act as a symbolic portal for exponential growth, a time of rapid change, internally and externally. The half-moon and crescent moon represent the soul and mind; something that is half conscious, half unconscious – the visible half makes room for receptiveness, reflections, and memory. The invisible half opens up for the unknown, the irrational, for imagination, emotion, insecurity and instincts. The crescent moon symbolises growth, expansion, and the opening of new opportunities.
