Post-Successional Landscapes

This week came to a close with another Park(ing) Day, a phenomenon created by San Fran group REBAR a few years back. It was evidently a success around the world via blog posts, and from the few examples I saw around Portland, it was evident that there was a lot of interest and support... It's good to see these projects and to see the media attention not just for the works but for the concept as well.


:: image via Treehugger

While making a statement for a day is laudable, there's something disappointing about engaging this public space, then having to pull it all up at the end of the day. What would be interesting to see is if Park(ing) Day - or any day for that matter - to literally plant the seeds of making greener cities. Similar to the bike-powered Bloom, A couple of interesting examples of this - in the realm of Guerilla Gardening or Urban Culture Jamming that we should regularly sprinkle (literally) seeds in our day-to-day lives.

One example is the literal use of Seed Bombs, creating solid by easily decomposable ammunition, which can be directed towards a blighted target - filled with wildflower and other seeds. I often think this would be an interesting way of quickly vegetating ecoroofs - making bombs of seeds and succulant cuttings that would colonize areas slowly and subversively - particularly with the ballasted rooftops.

:: image via Dwell

A more interesting and artful variation on the Seed Bomb is the use of biodegradable Gnome Balloons by Studio TX that fall to the ground and disseminate on open ground. Not limited to Gnomes either - take your artistic license. Via Inhabitat: "The piece originally appeared at Temporary Garden, a roving event that takes over a new abandoned space every year in the first weekend of July. Aachen, Germany hosted the premier of the balloon bombs this year. Each balloon is made of PLA plastic and painted with 100% water-based chalk. The balloons take 4-6 months to decompose and leave a burst of color in their wake. Finally, a lawn ornament suitable for all those barren, abandoned lots."


:: image via Treehugger

And the result, if we can see the traces of our residue. As postulated by Design Under Sky, in regards to the deterioration Abkhazia, a victim of the conflict between Georgia and Russion, which has taken it's toll on the grandiose architecture - letting the pioneering species (i.e. the plants) take over ... "It would make for interesting Landscape Architectural experiment, in close coordination with Architecture, to design a system that intentionally allows this natural process of The World Without Us landscape succession to occur. The deliberate “overgrowth” could eventually become means of structural support and a by allowing the wild in, creating a true interconnection between ecosystem and architecture."


:: image via Design Under Sky

And in the end, our modes of habitation, vegetation, product and usage will evolve along with our immersion in the final stable successional change of vegetative bliss... well, at least until the next disturbance :) Check out the entire strip of the 'de-evolution' of the office by heading to Centennial Society - then clicking on Business Reply Pamphlet at the top right...






:: images via Centennial Society

Veg.itecture #39

Time again for another round of Vegetated Architecture... and in my opinion, the world continues to embrace and expand the potential for veg.itecture in many forms. From the imminent release of Patrick Blanc's The Vertical Garden (read my review here), to the prevalence of exciting projects, the concept is a movement... at least one with some cohesiveness. And in one of those mainstream moments, check out the the recent (albeit brief) appearance of Veg.itect Edouard Francois and his whimsically green (and L+U favorite) Flower Tower in the 'I'm a PC' commercials for Microsoft. Looks like he let his hair down a bit as well... :)


:: image via Jetson Green

It's interesting to see the idea of 'I design green buildings' taken to a literal level... perhaps because a 3 second jump cut of some faceless 'green' building wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. Score another on for visible green (and thanks to Preston at Jetson Green for this tidbit - it made my day!)

So on to the projects. Covered briefly on L+U before, the Miami Art Museum by HdM offers some new imagery and dialogue from Arc Space - well worth a second look.




:: images via Arc Space

And some further explanation of the site plan/building interaction. Again via Arc Space: "A series of increasingly “soft” thresholds between the park, the platform and the museum gradually brings the visitor indoors, until the museum is discovered from the inside. Certain plant types will be concentrated in specific areas and arranged to form natural enclosures. Resonating with the galleries inside, these pockets within the vegetation will serve as virtual chambers, which can be used for events and public activities."




:: images via Arc Space

This image builds on a previous post of Frasers Broadway development by Foster and Partners - with an additional image I couldn't resist to post:


:: image via Platforma Arquitectura

Another vertical green example via World Architecture News is aptly 'The Ivy' in Sydney - by Glavovic Studio.




:: images via WAN

And by 98 degree architectural studio, the Mashud's Residence, Sylhet, Bangladesh - seen via WAN as well. This mid-rise is literally sprouting from the facade and rooftop:


:: image via WAN

Another from WAN - the Volgopark Center by Oncuoglu Architecture-Planning: "A balanced design of building, landscape and water is intended to create a new identity for the city... nature is the resonating factor as the location of the building is organized by considering the settlement pattern of surrounding sun light."

:: image via WAN

And shifting gears a tad some odd visual creations, via Dezeen: "In ‘Habitat Machines’ David Trautrimas’ photo-based architecture explores the construct of home with a series of residential buildings born of everyday objects. From Art Deco coffee pots to the Constructivist grid pattern on an old bathroom scale, Trautrimas searches for source materials which allude to a greater architectural doctrine usually unnoticed in these machines." Definitely check out the full photo array on the link.

:: images via Dezeen

And for the Veg.itect that has everything, via Inhabitat: "The Growing Jewelry collection by hip Icelandic product designer Hafsteinn Juliusson is ideal for green thumbs who not only care about the environment but also want to spread some eco-love by sporting tuffets of moss as jewelry."

:: images via Inhabitat

Keep spreading that eco-love ya'll.

Go Swift-ly into that Goodnight

A local Portland phenomenon that seems to grow exponentially each year is the pilgrimmage to Chapman Elementary School to witness the bedding down of the Swifts... and if it sounds dull, you will be sadly mistaken. A week ago, a small group met up for a birthday pre-celebration, including the finest in boxed wine and made it an event. The pre-game is mostly staring at this...


:: the target - image (c) Landscape+Urbanism

Waiting for this...


:: Vaux's Swift - image via The Birdchaser

And doing this... until dusk...


:: The Mathis duo eyeing the spot for a new turbine - image (c) Landscape+Urbanism

Then, it starts... slowly at first. The vortex of tiny swifts growing, ebbing and gathering... mostly distributed, then seemingly converging in Hitchcockian fashion before they decide it's bedtime and roost. Then the waiting game, as they circle, somehow on the same page, but not, quite ready.


:: images (c) Landscape+Urbanism

Then, as if of a single hive (or nest) mind - they pour into the chimney, self-sorting into a huddling mass of beaks and feathers, much to the delight of the crowd.




:: images (c) Landscape+Urbanism

Apologies for the crappy photos - as I wanted to include first-person authenticity over artistic expression in this case. My camera, although portable and great for documenting landscapes - is not terribly suited to the fast action and low-light of the Swifts... there are probably a bunch of shots out there on the net I'm sure so go ahead and Google away... like this one for instance...

:: Photo by Steve Warner - image via Audubon

Call it a fusion of Integrating habitats, urban placemaking, and connection with the natural processes of the city - all with a plastic cup on red wine at an elementary school. There are worst things to do on a Friday, for sure.The most fun was the fact that the people watching (my how this event has grown) - specifically hundreds of screaming children sliding down a hillside on large pieces of cardboard. Numbers of sketchy, but I'd say at least 2500 people were here on this friday evening. I wonder if this is a Portland phenomenon, or would it be the same elsewhere... anyone have info about other Swift's gatherings...?

:: image (c) Landscape+Urbanism

Another moment of anticipation is the raptors, who lurk waiting for the Swifts when they are vulnerable - which does add a modicum of excitement to the air as well. We were there on September 12th, and witnessed a couple of Falcons that appeared late in the day. Via Audubon's Swift-Watch page: "September 12 update: Two Peregrine Falcons joined approximately 10,500 swifts and 1,500 spectators at Chapman School. On Sept 13, a Peregrine nabbed a swift on two separate passes as the swifts spiraled into the school's chimney."

Why a chimney? Here's a plausible description from Nature Photographers Online: "Because of their tiny feet, swifts cannot perch on wires or tree limbs like most other birds. Instead, they cling to rough-hewn vertical surfaces like the interiors of masonry chimneys. The swift clamps itself to a vertical surface with sharp toe claws and braces its body against walls with spiked shafts in the tail called rachises"


:: image via Nature Photographers Online

Now imagine this, multiplied by 10,000 or so... the logistics alone are mind boggling. All of this as well has been compiled into a new documentary called On the Wing. "The film documents the birds' 2007 residency. Interviews with school teachers, students, swift watchers and Audubon Society of Portland staff explain how the phenomenon came to be and how it has evolved into what it is today. Amazing footage of the birds, including shots from inside the chimney, give audiences an extraordinary, never-before-seen view of the swifts."