From the Archives: Urban Habitat

One of the more interesting urban legends (which happens to be true) is the story of the coyote that decided to hitch a ride on Portland's MAX light rail - recently reemerged on the Seattle Transit Blog.


:: image via Seattle Transit Blog

Some more info via the strange Dogs In the News - from February, 2002 : "Authorities reported on Wednesday that a wild coyote was chased off the tarmac at Portland International Airport. The traveling prairie pooch, realizing that it wasn't welcome to fly the friendly skies, proceeded to the Tri-Met Airport Terminal Station where it boarded the light-rail train bound for downtown. ... Closely related to the domestic pooch (Canis familiaris), the coyote (Canis latrans) shares many of a dog's behavioral traits, such as a remarkable intelligence and capacity to learn. However, coyotes generally fear people and will avoid human contact. The "Commuter Coyote" described in this article (Canis latransit) is currently being researched by Scoop biologists. Stay tuned for further scientific developments."

The most interesting byproduct of this encounter, the human/wildlife interaction aside, was one of my favorite songs, "Light Rail Coyote," by the now retired Sleater-Kinney. From the Portland Mercury: "The song is a wonderful portrait of Portland as both an urban and rural landscape that houses punks, strippers, bookstores, and even the occasional public transport riding coyote.

Out at the edge of town
Where airfield runs water down
Coyote crosses old tracks
And hops on the Light-Rail Max"

Check out the link for some more info and listen to the tune. While it is perhaps a stretch to connect the demise of one of the grrrl punk superstars with declining habitat values - it is telling that a band of intelligent women - took note of a very urban issue, and a very Portland one at that, to make some art. Their last album, 'The Woods' came out in 2006. Much like the coyote, we will never see them again.


:: image via MySpace - Sleater-Kinney

Be Careful What you Wish For...

Just kidding... I can't think of anything better in the world to do. Plus we are multi-talented:


Via Topophila: I Want to be a Landscape Architect

"Landscape architecture combines environment and design, art and science. It is about everything outside the front door, both urban and rural, at the interface between people and natural systems. The range of ways in which landscape architects work is staggering. From masterplanning Olympic sites to planning and managing landscapes like national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty to designing the public squares and parks that we all use, landscape architecture nurtures communities and makes their environment human and liveable.

Landscape architects are broad thinkers who thrive on the big picture. They are playing an increasingly important role in addressing the great issues of our day: climate change, sustainable communities, water, housing and the prevention of hunger.

Landscape architects are often natural leaders, able to communicate with many professions and leading multidisciplinary projects. Landscape architecture is not just the profession of the future – but the profession for a better future."

Mountains

There are a bunch of projects using the literal and figurative idea of mountains as a stylistic point of departure. One of the recent visuals is that of the Zira Island development in Azerbaijan by BIG Architects. Some info via Arch Daily:

"In the words of Bjarke Ingels, the proposal for Zira Island [...] is an architectural landscape based on the natural landscape of Azerbaijan. This new architecture not only recreates the iconic silhouettes of the seven peaks, but more importantly creates an autonomous ecosystem where the flow of air, water, heat and energy are channeled in almost natural ways. A mountain creates biotopes and eco-niches, it channels water and stores heat, it provides viewpoints and valleys, access and shelter. The Seven Peaks of Azerbaijan are not only metaphors, but actual living models of the mountainous ecosystems of Azerbaijan."




:: image via Arch Daily

There's more that just representation in the form of mountains used in the concept. These impact the overall form, as well as the adjacent landscape implementation. Again via Arch Daily: "The landscaping of the island is derived from wind simulations of the microclimates created by the mountains. Swirly patterns created by the wind moving its way through the Seven Peaks inform the planting of trees and the design of public spaces. Where the winds and turbulence are strongest the trees becomes denser, creating lower wind speeds and thus a comfortable outdoor leisure climate."




:: images via Arch Daily

Additional info and images via Dezeen, Designboom, and Eikongraphia.




:: additional images via Dezeen

Another related project by BIG Architects is the much lauded Mountain Dwellings. While currently under construction, it's interesting to see how this project is being realized, versus the initial renderings.

VERDANT VISION




:: images via Dezeen

BARREN REALITY




:: images via Arch Daily

Ok, so it's probably a question of age... easier to plan for plants in photoshop than actually getting them to grow. It's more of a urban mountain that a verdant one. I do like this interesting graphic of how the program is adapted into the form - or how to terraform the flat plains into the mountains.


:: image via Arch Daily

Another interesting post about terraforming in a non-urban setting, via InfraNet Lab, discusses the work of Ecosign. "They have certainly carved a niche in ski resort planning, or what they call “mountain design.” Obviously a misnomer, mountain design sounds inverse to what actually takes place in their design process. Through a rigorous analysis of sun angles, prevailing winds, and topography they arrive at some kind of idealized clearings for the pleasure of downhill maneuvering, the mountain proper remains untouched."


:: image via InfraNet Lab

Although not much of a skier (aside from x-country) or particularly a fan of ski resort development, I'm more enamoured of the visuals these projects produce... mountain design distilled into plan form.




:: images via InfraNet Lab

Finally, the vision of mountain as reuse, courtesy of the excellent Eikongraphia: "What do to with Tempelhof Airport? After the airfield has been closed last October the city of Berlin has asked the ‘Berliners’ just that. One of the ideas that were sent to the municipality (and directly put aside) is the idea by architect Jakob Tigges. He proposes to construct a 1,000 meter tall mountain on the former airfield."






:: images via Eikongraphia

And it's literally planned as a mountain of garbage... now that's creative landfilling. It brings to mind the ideas of rewilding through some of the urban wilderness proposals... using refuse to create topography and habitat. Looks like the beginnings of some regenerative strategies.