Industrial development contributed to Manchester’s growth and success, which significantly impacted the River Medlock and the natural environment. Urban development cut the Medlock into several pieces and caused it to disappear from people’s lives, physically and consciously. The river ecosystem is limited due to the fragmented habitat along the river and the unhealthy and polluted environment.
My question is: Must the engineering method work against the natural environment? Agnes Denes inspired the answer, and the design approach of this project uses artificial methods to create a nature-led world and put people’s benefits before commercial interest.
Through research, humans can restore the natural environment which they have destroyed, and this in turn will have a therapeutic effect, benefitting both physical and mental health. The project explored the relationship between nature restoration, health and well-being, and science.
The development is a science-based healing park with a research center that engages with many aspects to achieve an efficient healing process for the natural environment and the local community and provide job opportunities and food support. The research center aims to increase biodiversity, transform plastic waste into valuable products, and study the therapeutic effect between nature, human behavior, and landscape architecture design.
