Groundlab

Last wednesday I attended the lecture by Alfredo Ramírez from Groundlab.

Ramírez decalred himself a formalist... which was encouraging considering he still managed to deal with landscape essential like SUDS and mitigation systems in an esthetically interesting way without compromising the overall design language of the site.

'...the studio sees the cities and the landscapes in between as natural processes that constantly change and evolve, therefore requiring flexible and adaptable mechanisms and designs to emerge, to configure and to re-configure the existing and future urban environments.'

Really like the Flowing Gardens, Xian, China, International Horticultural Fair. Especially the interface between the water and land. Sketch made in the lecture, thinking about the potential for my site:

The real thing...

 I was particularly interested in hearing that Groundlab develops its work out of the close analysis of existing and potential conditions on site and utilise the temporal and dynamical forces that are currently shaping the cities: from the social and economical realm to the current environmental and infrastructural conditions. 

This is very relevant to my site and the the overarching concept of 'capturing the ephemeral', whether that be natural or cultural.

 Very nice model

 Potential to be giant groynes...?? 

Corten bulding/groyne - weathered by nature and indelibly marking the land.

A quick sketch inspired by the Flowing Gardens geometry... connecting the urban grid with the sea.