Design Overview & Project Goal
This is a redesign with an educational purpose that invites people to understand and be more accepting of the natural decay process.
To lift the stigma towards decay, special views and interventions are designed to show a different side of natural decay. The planting scheme features the modest plants from the fungi, mosses and lichen family, to add to showing a different side of things.
The design consists of a walkway with decay inspired planting, biotopes, atmosphere, structure and interventions curated along. A tunnel built by fungi mycelium-made brick connects part of the walkway to display the usefulness of material from the seemingly insignificant fungi.
Background
As populations grow and cities expand into the suburbs, many urban parks are designed in cities for human enjoyment. These popular parks provide different functions and may have different planting schemes, but one thing most of them have in common is that they look clean and sterile. Clear of any overgrown plants and dead trees.
We have had a long history of changing the landscape, making it look the way we think is “beautiful”. Landscape decay is often purposely designed out for the fresh look. These “beautiful” landscapes also require constant management and maintenance.
As we rethink our relationship with nature, we work towards a lower maintenance and a more sustainable landscape design. Decay is necessary and it’s part of the natural life cycle, it can be designed into our built environment too.
