Georgia Garden at the Qingdao Horticulture Expo 2014

QINGDAO HORTICULTURE EXPO 2014 University of Georgia

Project Director: Douglas Pardue Project Manager: Jessica Higgins Project Team: Jeremy Arnett, Wen Liu, Shannon Mikus, Nobuko Ogawa, Xue Piao, Wen Sun Summer 2012-Spring 2013

1

INTRODUCTION

QINGDAO

CHINA

EXPO SITE QINGDAO

EXPO SITE

“From the Earth For the Earth”

Qingdao is located on China’s eastern coastline off the Yellow Sea. This booming city hosted the sailing competitions of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and is home to numerous industries, including Tsingtao Brewery. Temperatures average in range from 77 degrees (Fahrenheit) in August to 30 degrees in January. The region typically hovers between humid subtropical to humid continental, with a monsoon season generally lasting from June through September with fairly dry months in between.

The project site is tucked away in the hills of the Lao Mountains with two small lakes running down the center. The expo’s theme is “from the Earth, for the Earth,” emphasizing harmony and balance between what we take from the earth and what we give back.

2

EXISTING SITE

1

4

2

5

2

1

4 5

3 6

3

6

3

Team meets to reflect on initial findings and thoughts after meeting with the Georiga Department of Economic Development.

Discussions of what represents the dynamism of Georgia in terms of tourism, sustainability, economics, natural beauty, recreation, television/film, agriculture, history, education, industry, and culture.

Team brainstorms and performs activities to compile a list of terms describing Georgia.

Using the resourses presented to the team in Atlanta and the Envisioning Georiga activity, the group starts first with a this list of words (seen on the right) before progressing to forms and shapes.

June 21, 2012

June 26, 2012

June 28, 2012

DESIGN PROCESS

Team drives to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Stella Xu, Manager for China Initiatives for Global Commerce and Tourism, presents the theme and concept of the 2014 Qingdao Expo and the proposed Georiga garden project site to the team.

LAND 4910/6910 Advanced Topics Studio – 2014 Qingdao Exposition

Project: Issued: Due:

1.0 – Envisioning Georgia Tuesday, June 26th Thursday, June 28th (beginning of class)

LAND 4910/6910 Advanced Topics Studio – 2014 Qingdao Exposition

Introduction:

This studio’s objective is to design an exposition that reflects the state of Georgia. Such an interpretation has potentially infinite possibilities that we must explore, evaluate, sculpt and refine in order to create an evocative, legible, and engaging exposition site.

To achieve this objective, we must explore meanings reflective of Georgia, evaluate which meanings we want to bring forward, and then develop methods for bringing those chosen meanings forward in design.

To begin this process, we will develop personal interpretations of Georgia, informed by experience, research, media, and any other sources you wish to explore. At this early stage, you asked to be broad and synthetic, to explore multiple meanings rather than focusing on singular meanings (this will come later), and to be rough rather than precise.

Objective:

The objective of this project is to thoughtfully uncover and articulate past, present, and potential future interpretative meanings of ‘Georgia’ through abstract conceptualization and synthesis of multiple information sources.

Assignment:

Your assignment is to create an abstracted synthesis based on your initial findings that signifies ‘Georgia.’ This signification should express past, present, and potential future meanings, as well ecologic, cultural, economic, and aesthetic. Synthesis here does not mean the mere compilation of various meanings, but, rather, a carefully thought out calibration of images, type, forms, hierarchy, and composition. Your final abstracted synthesis should suggest potential priorities for moving forward into conceptual design.

You may use any medium that is appropriate to the feelings you want to evoke (i.e. mixedmedia, collage, sculpture, audio/visual, etc.). Place your name, a title (think carefully) for your synthesis, and a few descriptive words that explain key thoughts somewhere visible on your project. Be prepared to present your work to the class and discuss the expo design implications of your synthesis.

Have fun! Loosen up your creative juices during class by freely drawing on large sheets of paper with thick pens, pencils, paint and/or charcoal. First, explore literal interpretations, and then work to combine, refine, and dig deeper into meanings that evoke strong feelings, experience or vision.

Summer 2012 University of Georgia

1

Project: 1.1 – Envisioning Georgia Meta-thinking Issued: Thursday, June 28th Due: Thursday, June 28th (end of class)

¥ What are the key words you used? Which seem to be most important in your images/synthesis? What verbs, or action words, do you see emerging?

¥ What are connections between the words? Are there forms to these connections? Draw these…

¥ Create a narrative that expands on one theme or that ties together one or more themes from the experience of the visitor. Be sure to describe the experience as well as the legible meaning…

¥ What are the material qualities of your images/themes? Soft? Hard? Hot Cold? New? Old? Renewable? Temporary? Fluid? Etc…

Pardue College of Environmental Design

4

DESIGN PROCESS

Team moved into the next week by developing graphemes inspired by the word brainstorm the previous week. Each team member produced a set of simple lines on paper to experiment with how shape begins to form in the project space.

JuLY 3, 2012

After exploring themes and shapes within site boundaries, the team them moved onto creating working models of individual preliminary designs for the site based off of topics explored.

Team reviewed designs and each member moved onto final individual designs for the site.

The final designs included digital models, serial visions, plans, vignettes, and details.

After individual designs, the team used elements from each design to create a complete final design. Several design schemes were produced before a final layout was decided upon. Later, construction documents were created and sent to a Qingdao firm for translation.

JuLY 5, 2012

July 12, 2012

august 9, 2012

LAND 4910/6910 Advanced Topics Studio – 2014 Qingdao Exposition

Project: Issued: Due:

1.2 – Envisioning ‘Graphemes’ Thursday, June 28th Tuesday, July 2nd (beginning of class)

“Could it really be that I draw because I see so clearly this thing or that thing? Not at all. Quite the contrary.

I do it to be perplexed again. And I am delighted if there are traps. I look for surprises.”

-Henri Michaux “Relations are more real and important than the things they relate...”

-Ernest Fenollosa

Overview:

Henri Michaux, whose work has become the basis of many contemporary design approaches to meaning, used generative techniques based on the grapheme, which he defined as ‘a unit of a system.’ The graphemes may be data, processes, or forms, which are then rubbed together quickly through methods of tracing, repelling and revealing to create a spatial framework for design. Using graphemes allows the designer to free the mind of apriori biases and find meaning through the reversal of known orders: positive to negative, background to foreground, certain to uncertainty. It is not a random process, but rather, like Pollack’s abstract expressionism, uses exacting techniques to generate inexact responses, which are then assembled, disassembled, and reassembled in search of hidden relationships and patterns.

Assignment:

The objective of this exercise is to translate design meanings into design forms through the use of graphemes. You are asked to create a graphic representation of ideas from assembled, disassembled, and reassembled data, processes, and forms that signify essential character of Georgia. The graphemes in this exercise with will be lines (flows, processes, roads, paths, etc.), volumes (fields, enclosures, spaces, etc.), and activities (drawn from program brainstorming). Begin by quickly distilling relevant imagery and operations (maps, pictures, sketches from ‘Envisioning Georgia’) onto tracing paper laid down successively. Do at least ten iterations taking no more than 30 seconds for each iteration; use a different color pencil for each iteration.

When you have done your ten iterations, stop and reflect. Until this point you have not had time to think critically about emerging patterns, dominant shapes, or potential design applications. Now look back at your iterations and consider them carefully. Are patterns or themes visible? Do any lines or shapes have expressive potentials for design needs such as circulation, gathering, interpretation, play, rest, etc.? Do any of the iterations have interesting hierarchies or abstractions of initial sources that you want to take further into conceptual design?

Use these findings and other considerations of the grapheme iterations to develop three (3) concepts on trace at 1:100 (use the PDF on dropbox) that show and label flows (people, water, wind, etc), spaces (interpretative, performance, play, etc.), elements LAND 4910/6910 (plantings, structures, seating, etc.) and basic materials (brick, wood, vegetation, etc).

Advanced Topics Studio –to 2014 xposition Choose one concept takeQingdao furtherEby constructing a rough study model of the concept.

Be abstract in this model; it is not for presentation but rather for studying spatial and vertical relationships and elements. Use found materials to represent materials; use a flat piece of cardboard to represent the site but tilt the cardboard to represent and consider the subtle topography of the site. To this base, do whatever you would like.

Resources:

Corner, James. 1999. Taking Measures. Matur and DeCunha. 2001. Mississippi Floods. Michaux, Henri. 2006. Stroke by Stroke (PQ2625 .I 2 S213 2006) http://issuu.com/jkrenz/docs/ideograms

5

DESIGN

For Georgians, gardens have always served many purposes. They tell stories, they feed body and mind, they provide escape and delight, and they register change. The Garden of Future Past serves to represent these collective roles through an abstracted narrative of progressing Georgian themes linked to an experiential journey from present cacophony to reclaimed tranquility.

Entering the Garden, the visitor is directed by a series of walls that act as material short stories: the inherited earth, natural bounty, cultural legacy, media empire, reclamation, and sustainable future. Each wall invites exploration, while compressing the visitor ever deeper into the garden.

Suddenly, the visitor is released onto a stepped terrace overlooking an open and ordered space reflective of Georgian heritage and the playful sensibilities of the Georgian leisure landscape. Below, traditional Georgian lawn games and nature-inspired elements encourage children and adults to play, rest, and interact with the garden, just outside of the everyday working landscape.

To reach this space, the visitor descends gently through formal plantings that act as measured galleries for celebrated Georgian artists. At the culmination of the garden, an ephemeral shaded wetland fed by traditional brick channels celebrates and infiltrates stormwater, illustrating the reemerging importance of water to Georgians. Looking back, the visitor may understand that she has returned already.

6

DESIGN

1

Entrance/Exit

2

Rammed Earth Wall

3

Reclaimed Wood Wall

4

Concrete Bench

5

Brick Wall

6

Media Wall

7

Recycle Wall

8

Green Wall

9

Overlook Wall

10

Seat Steps

11

Ramped Walkway

12

Ramped Walkway

13

Activity Lawn

14

Stormwater Runnel

15

Wetland

11

2 5

1

7

8 9 3

10

4

13

14

15

6

12

7

DESIGN

Event Lawn

8

DESIGN

Event Lawn

9

DESIGN

Media Wall

10

PLANT MATERIAL

1

Chinese Red Pine Pinus tabulaefomis Tree

2

Dawn Redwood Metasequia glyptostroboides Tree

3

Common Boxwood Buxus sempervirens Shrub

4

Japanese Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa Shrub

5

Petunia “Purple Wave” Petunia x hybrida Herbaceous

6

Siberian Iris Iris sibirica Herbaceous

7

8

9

10 9

1

11

Taro, Elephant-ear Colocasia spp.

Herbaceous Gulf Muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris Grass Japanese Forest Grass Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ Grass

10

Bamboo Phyllostachys spp.

Grass

11

Wet Meadow Sedge Carex spp.

Grass

12

Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia Ground Cover

2 6

4 8

3 5

7 12

11

MATERIALS

1

Red Brick/Carolina Grey Brick

2

A traditional material of Georgia whose intricate patterns and colors invoke the Antebellum South.

3

Blue Glass Cullet

A sustainable, recycled and attractive material used to suggest the presence of water on dry days.

4

Granite Screenings (5-10 mm)

5

Provide a safe and sustainable alternative to modern concrete paths, enabling water infiltration and a textured no-slip surface.

5

6

7

4

1

6

The earth gave birth to the first residents of Georgia, providing soil for the plants and the animals and shelter from the hot summers.

9

2

5

3

4

Stacked Reclaimed Wood

6

2

Greenwall

The lush green of this green wall alludes to the sustainable future of Georgia: harmony between man and nature.

8

1

Rammed Earth

Reclaimed wood reveals its beauty through the cracks and blemishes of time, revealing the unique stories of the past of Georgia.

2

8

Concrete/Granite

Merging traditional and contemporary materials, the elegant details of Georgia granite honors the past.

9

Recycled PVC Pipe Wall

A testimate to Georgia’s recycle and reuse of materials as a new standard in sustainable construction.

12

PATTERNS & LIGHTING

Brick Patterns

Patterns Running Bond

This classic brick pattern is placed throughout the site.

Television Wall

This media wall streams live footage from various “cams” around Georgia, Georgia based films and television series, and sports events held in Georgia and with Georgia teams.

Wrought Iron Fence Indicative of the Antebellum style found throughout the heartlands of Georgia.

Intricate wrought iron works can be found all throughout Georgia and the pattern along this fence is inspired by Philip Simmons, a Carleston native, whose works can be found throughout the south.

Circular Pattern

Formed Concrete

Dogstooth

Large morphing disks of circular patterned brick provide small spaces for loaned sculpture pieces from Georgia artists.

Open Lattice

Atop the brick wall sits formed concrete with deep domed imprints formed into the concrete along the surface.

A small strip of open lattice brickwork one meter thick is placed at a child’s eye level on the brick wall, providing not only a play on light and sound, but also a place to play.

Shell Finish

Brick Steps

Salt Finished Concrete

Deep and short brick steps wrap around the event lawn to provide seating for spectators and relaxing visitors.

Corbelled Brickwork

This Antebellum brickwork reflects the intricate patterns of corbelled brickwork along raised arches, doorways, ceilings and floors found throughout Georgia.

Lighting

Recessed Up Lighting

Up lighting placed within .5 Meters of each wall highlights the textures of the materials used. Ambient light from each lamp will softly illuminate the paths through the walls.

Exhibition Down Lighting

Down lighting placed on the east side of the each wall cast various shadow patterns from the walls down along the paths.

The formed concrete cap on the brick wall will include crushed shells, indicative to the historic Tabby structures found along the Georgia coastline.

The concrete benches found in the western half of the site are salt finished, leaving the concrete with a dimpled pattern.

Culvert

Both a square and round culverts run through the brick wall and the recycle wall, providing alternative routes through the site with more intimate spacing for children.

Recessed Step Lighting

Seat steps in the eastern half of the site are illuminated for safety and to invite evening visitors to relax along the lawn and participate in the various programmed activities in the space.

13

ACTIVITIES

Monthy Lawn Calendar

Each month during the expo, the event lawn on the eastern portion of the site will host two southern activities for visitors.

April

May

Putt Putt Golf

Activity

A front lawn version of Golf to celebrate the Masters Tournament.

Bean Bag Toss

A classic backyard activity with friends and family.

June Croquet

A classic lawn sport enjoyed by Jekyll Island winter vacationers for over a century.

July Playground

Little Tykes and ball pits are an integral part of an American childhood.

August Lawn Darts

A fun family friendly twist on classic darts.

September Football

To mark the beginning of the American football season.

October Hay maze

Celebrating the tradition of hay rides at the pumpkin patch.

zone 1

Zone 1 will be the designated “spectator” zone. Here, on the seat steps lining the event lawn, is where expo visiors can relax and watch the sports on the lawn unfold.

zone 2 1

2

3

Zone 2 is where the various lawn activities will take place. Putt Putt holes, bean bag boards, croquet brackets, plaground equipment, football field lines and hay bales will occupy this area during the various months of the expo.

zone 3

Zone 3 will serve as the “information booth.” Here, equipment will be displayed for visitors’ use along with instructions/explanations on how items can be used.

14

ACTIVITIES

Georgia Week

An entire week in May will be dedicated to celebrating all things Georgian.

From displays of potted Azaleas in full bloom to performances and food tasting, each day will bring something new and exciting to the expo site. The entrance to the site will be set up with banners and signs announcing the event, along with information about Georgia’s Universities, tourism, economic development and booming businesses. The main activities will take place on the event lawn throughout the week, including (but not limited to) Native American dancing, a Georgian drumline performance, Civil War Reenactments, evening movies, live band performances, Coca Cola vending and happiness machines, BBQ tasting and dancing.

zone 1

Zone 1 serves as the performace space for morning activities. Here artists perform directly on the artificial turf while spectators may sit or stand on the outskirts, up the brick seat-steps and along the walkways. This zone will be available to movie viewers for seating in the evenings as well.

2

1

2

3

zone 2

Zone 2 is a temporary space located within Zone 1. These small linear spaces will be occupied by the Coca Cola booth, BBQ tasting booth and Azalea display.

These booths will be set up after morning performances and be used through the afternoon until sunset.

zone 3

Zone 3 is a stage space, used during Georiga week opening/closing ceremonies, music performances and in the evenings serve as the platform for the inflatable movie screen.

15

ACTIVITIES: Georgia Week

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Morning

Traditional Dance

Traditional Dance

Noon

Backyard Cookout

Backyard Cookout

Music and Dance

Music and Dance

Movie Night

Movie Night

Afternoon

Evening

Native American dancers will perform a traditional dance for morning visitors to open Georiga week.

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Atlanta Rap and DJ with break dancing.

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Native American dancers will perform a traditional dance for morning visitors.

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Atlanta Rap and DJ with break dancing.

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: Joyful Noise.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Civil War Reenactment Civil War Reenactment Civil War Reenactment Drumline A small scale reenactment A small scale reenactment A small scale reenactment of the the great war of the the great war of the the great war between north and south. between north and south. between north and south.

A drumline from a Georgian marching band will perform to showcase Georgia’s musical talents.

Backyard Cookout

Backyard Cookout

Backyard Cookout

Backyard Cookout

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Music and Dance

Music and Dance

Music and Dance

Music and Dance

Movie Night

Movie Night

Movie Night

Movie Night

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Georgia Rock with dancing. Georgia Rock with dancing. Georgia Rock with dancing. Georgia Banjo/Country with country dancing.

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: Driving Miss Daisy.

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: Fried Green Tomatoes.

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: The Legend of Bagger Vance.

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: Forrest Gump.

Saturday Drumline

A drumline from a Georgian marching band will perform to showcase Georgia’s musical talents.

Backyard Cookout

Georgia leisure is celebrated BBQ tasting and a Coca Cola tasting and display.

Music and Dance

Georgia Banjo/Country with country dancing.

Movie Night

Celebrating Georgia cinema with an evening show: Gone with the Wind.

16

MEDIA WALL

The Media Wall, located in the western portion of the site, is compsed of front and back grid-stacked televisions.

Each will show various Georgia themed and based television shows, movies, recordings and sports events.

Live feeds from Georgia based 24 hour news stations such as CNN and The Weather Channel would emphasize Georgia’s importance as a significant force in media. News feeds from local news stations from would broadcast a more intimate view of Georgia.

Live feed web cams set throughout the natural and protected areas of Georgia and various zoos and aquariums. Even UGA’s domestic cat surveillance cam program would offer active live videos during the open hours of the Expo.

Broadcasting Georgia’s sport events will show the importance and presence of sports in Georgian culture. Sports include American football, baseball, Nascar and softball. Professional, college and high school teams are all included.

Public cams throughout Georgia recording urban areas and large natural landscapes would show Georgia’s nightlife including traffic cams, beach cams, national cams and skyview cams of the Atlanta skyline.

Television shows set within or filmed in Georgia such as The Walking Dead, The Real Housewives of Atlanta as well as fishing and hunting series would demonstrate Georgia’s presence in the television industry.

Movies set within or filmed in Georgia such as Forrest Gump, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Gone with the Wind and Ray would broadcast the entertainment industry’s presence in Georgia.

17