Necrosphere

Design Summary

In order to tackle current environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, we must first confront our issues of humans governing natural forces, resulting in human-nature conflicts. I intend to create a different perception of nature through embracing natural forces such as flooding, where humans adapt to nature. This is applied to Castlemeads, a neglected nature reserve with a strong

Decay and dead matter, known as necromass, has become my inspiration; I investigated the development of new life generated from life-death interaction. This is a feature of nature constantly overlooked for its unappealing aesthetic and yet it is essential to nature’s process to ensure a healthy environment. This element and its concept has been applied to regenerated Castlemeads into an adaptable and educational landscape that provides a new, interactive experience for people through perspective play and embracing the changing landscape. Before implementing this

New life emerging from Life-

Conditions:

Mechanical Elements:

Very jagged and deformed cutting through the site

Life

Necromass

The detritivore community weaving through the site. Sometime interacting, sometimes independent yet going towards the same goal

Abstract Pieces of Conditions

Bacteria

Organic Soil/Nutrients

Diagram of the Decaying Process

Furnitecture Drawing Development

Necrosphere

As a very open space, there is little range in microclimates with only trees on the edges creating more shade.

New Life Temperature

New life emerging from LifeDeath interaction

Stronger wind presence in areas of wind tunnels but also as its a vast open space.

Furnitecture Axonometric Render

The presence of the river Severn next to the site with annual flooding represented in this layer.

As a very open space, there is little range in microclimates with only trees on the edges creating more shade.

Death Life

Very jagged and deformed cutting through the site

The detritivore community weaving through the site. Sometime interacting, sometimes independent yet going towards the same goal

Abstract Pieces of Life-Death Layers

Masterplan Path Network

Stronger wind presence in areas of wind tunnels but also as its a vast open space.

Wind Water

The presence of the river Severn next to the site annual flooding represented in this layer.

Hidden Garden Shrubs hide this area in more unused part of the side. Planting beds supported by the community to create a to the vermiculture strips for fertility.

Green Bridge Modifying the existing, historic bridge into space to grow planting, a change in the bridge network through the site.

Existing Bridge Retaining the existing bridge and working into the bridge network. Plaza A floodable plaza that goes to the edge of the river, to easily visualise the river level.

Flood Meadow Creating a different habitat from the surrounding environment.

Layered Wetland Ponds on multilevelled mounds support aquatic species significant to remediate surface run-off from the road and car park. This creates a deformed visual representing the texture of necromass.

Car Park Retaining the existing car park for its historic value as a previous building. Added vegetation and charging spaces for electric cars. Island of Wildlife Pockets of wet woodland species surrounded by wetland habitat. Creates a visual effect of island when the river tide changes. is an isolated space for wildlife to thrive, yet visitors can still get visual experience.

Swales Significant to the corridor that connects the inland to the river, increasing habitat interaction and creates a visual effect as the river slowly rises.

Flooding Strategy - Landscape embraces the flooding events and the changing river tides. This aims to revitalise Alney Island’s habitats as it naturally evolves the local habitats to be more suited for a floodplain.