Generiek
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Natural Artifice

The very act of natural conservation itself is a gesture of artificiality. Natural Artifice, our proposed project for the Dayang mountain and conservation area is a recognition of this condition. By the application of a demarcated zone of preservation for the mountain, that itself is an act of artificiality, defining what is inside and outside. Through this act of framing, nature, even in its rawest form, is already captured and bound.

Rather than shying away from this reality, the project seeks to materialise this condition into a tangible form; to make explicit this reality. This is first and foremost achieved by setting up a traffic circulation perimeter around the base of the mountain, in accordance with the conservation boundary, consisting of bicycle, pedestrian and at segments, vehicular access. Using a consistent material finish, for both building and paving, a sense of coherence is achieved across the entire site, a continuous frame around the mountain.

Various pavilions are placed at regular intervals along the route, providing rest and amenities. Their typologies vary according to the specific requirements per their location along the route, e.g. where they are also a base point for mountain paths etc.

Vehicular circulation is only included between 2 new centres of activity at the base of the mountain. A small village centre and a new public plaza. A funicular rail is set up between the plaza and a peak building at the top of the mountain. The peak building is the centre for a main pathway along the ridge of the mountain. Pavilions are also placed at different nodes along these trails.

Even with the formlessness of these pathways, by the application of material consistency along the perimeter circulatory route, it provides structure across the site, anchoring the Dayang mountain district as a framed piece of nature.

 

GEN 23 - Natural Artifice
Suzhou (CN))
Nature Masterplan
2018, competition

The very act of natural conservation itself is a gesture of artificiality. Natural Artifice, our proposed project for the Dayang mountain and conservation area is a recognition of this condition. By the application of a demarcated zone of preservation for the mountain, that itself is an act of artificiality, defining what is inside and outside. Through this act of framing, nature, even in its rawest form, is already captured and bound.

Rather than shying away from this reality, the project seeks to materialise this condition into a tangible form; to make explicit this reality. This is first and foremost achieved by setting up a traffic circulation perimeter around the base of the mountain, in accordance with the conservation boundary, consisting of bicycle, pedestrian and at segments, vehicular access. Using a consistent material finish, for both building and paving, a sense of coherence is achieved across the entire site, a continuous frame around the mountain.

Various pavilions are placed at regular intervals along the route, providing rest and amenities. Their typologies vary according to the specific requirements per their location along the route, e.g. where they are also a base point for mountain paths etc.

Vehicular circulation is only included between 2 new centres of activity at the base of the mountain. A small village centre and a new public plaza. A funicular rail is set up between the plaza and a peak building at the top of the mountain. The peak building is the centre for a main pathway along the ridge of the mountain. Pavilions are also placed at different nodes along these trails.

Even with the formlessness of these pathways, by the application of material consistency along the perimeter circulatory route, it provides structure across the site, anchoring the Dayang mountain district as a framed piece of nature.