"Starve the Black Snake" Thomas Church Design Competition 2017

STARVE THE

BLACK SNAKE THOMAS CHURCH COMPETITION 2017.

STARVE THE BLACK SNAKE

@ INSTAGRAM.

STARVE THE BLACK SNAKE The Sioux tribe refers to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) as the Black Snake, a reference to an ancient Sioux prophecy of a giant Black Snake moving across the landscape. It was foretold that if it burrowed into the earth the world would soon come to an end. This metaphor and imagery was used to inspire the Water Protectors as well as our design proposal which is to Starve the Black Snake.

The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is granted a permenant 50 feet easement, with a temporary 150 feet easement for construction.

This fixed easement gives the advantage of knowing where the pipeline will be built. This allows us to concentrate our defenses along this fixed linear easement to buy time, to add construction cost, and to provide the Water Protectors with hope and refuge.

We propose a layer of obstacles of land forms, water, and encampments to make the construction of the pipeline difficult. This will make it an unfavorable investment for investors. Starving it of its investments and ultimately ending the construction of the pipeline.

Artworks by protestors of DAPL using the metaphor of the Black Snake.

VIDEO

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https://youtu.be/BBv61ASXmiY

THE CONCEPT

50’ EASEMENT 150’ Construction Easement

WATER

WIND LANDFORMS

FEEDERS

SNAKE

PATHWAY

DEFENSE

Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the feeders of the pipeline, promised that DAPL would be completed by the end of December 2016.

However with further delays, the construction contracts are soon be put into jeopardy.

Construction of the $3.8 Billion Dollar Pipeline is almost complete.

However, the connection between the two rests at the Cannon Ball river the site of the recent protests of the DAPL.

The Pathway is the easement granted for pipeline. Our design will concentrate along the 50’ and 150’ easements that will be granted for the DAPL.

A Defensive Landscape is a combination of Landform, Water, Wind, and People, placed along the easement of the Black Snake to provide obstacles.

To increase construction costs and strengthening the position of the Water Protectors at the Encampment is a vital way to further delay the construction therby making the investments less favorable.

Each of these elements are taking advantages of the existing landscape in order to utilize it for stopping the pipeline.

THE CONCEPT

AN EASY WAY TO CONSTRUCT THE PIPELINE

A COSTLY WAY TO CONSTRUCT THE PIPELINE

Landforms + Waterways are the most common way ancient tribes and cities use to defend their territory from exterior attacks. Both mounds and waterways can increase the cost of excavation and clearence before a pipeline can be installed. This will expand the duration of construction into the Missouri River, and may even force the pipeline investors to abandon the project.

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50’ FEET EASEMENT

YOU ARE HERE

SITE PLAN

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1 CAMP SITE 2 PARKING 3 MOUND 4 WATERWAY 5 WIND FARM

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1”=15’ WIND FARM

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SITE PLAN

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1�=15’ bridge

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LANDFORM ‘Cuts’ from the construction of the new waterway will allow for extra fill material that will be used to build up the surrounding topography of the site.

These landforms will both increase the cost of construction of the pipeline while providing spaces that the Water Protectors could utilize.

FILL CUT

dakota access pipeline easement

1”=10’

WATER A new waterway will be connected from the existing Cantapeta Creek to the Missouri River. This waterway will make drilling and excavation for the pipeline more difficult.

The US Army Corp of Engineers have already agreed to use this strategy while the Environmental Impact Study is being conducted.

WATER FLOW OF WATER

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1”=10’

WIND

WIND ROSE N

Often referred to as the ‘Saudia Arabia of Wind’, the Great Plains are a perfect location for wind energy. The proposed bladeless turbines would provide electricity for the encampment, as well as, demonstrating the use of renewable energy on the land.

Each turbine will also reflect the tribes of the Sioux Nation, with branding with the banners of each Tribe of the Great Sioux Nation. These turbines will also emit lighting which will highlight the Defensive Landscape.

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WIND TURBINES

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dakota access pipeline easement

PREVAILING WINDS

Source: meteoblue ND, USA, 46.09°N 100.63°W 498m asl 1”=10’

WIND BLADELESS WIND TURBINE OSCOLATING STRUCTURE TO GENERATE WIND ENERGY

LED LIGHTING

USING EACH TRIBES FLAG INTO A COLUMNAR GRAPHIC

ROSEBUD

MIDEWAKTON

OGLALA

SIOUX NATION

EXAMPLES OF TRIBE WIND TURBINES

STANDING ROCK Inspired by the Tribal Flags at the entrance of the Standing Rock Spirit Camp

ENCAMPMENTS Infrastructure upgrades to provide more connectivity and logistical support were included for the new encampments.

This is intended to strengthen the Camp’s ability to resist the Black Snake.

The mounds will also serve as a place for Water Protectors and protestors to gain vantage points to look over their Defensive Landscape.

CAMP (TEEPEES) BRIDGES ROADS ACCESS TO MOUNDS (ASCEND)

dakota access pipeline easement

1”=10’