RESURFACE
Through rehabilitating the lagoon ecology and dissolving the city-nature barrier at three different scales, Venice’s relationship with the surrounding lagoon and its ground condition can be re-imagined. This project seeks to create a new relationship between the built and natural environments through a process of thickening surfaces. This strategy works to mitigate effects of climate change from storms and sea level rise to temperature rise and air quality. The proposed steps can be adapted based on future needs and work in tandem with other strategies to combat climate change, it is one that creates a self-sustaining solution using the natural ecology of the lagoon to improve city life.
BIOPHILIC DESIGN
This strategy of thickening the landscape on surfaces throughout the city is intended to protect and reinforce the city. While it may seem like an alien intervention to this city of stone, it is one that plans for a future of climate change by referencing the historic lagoon ecology that has become extinct. Health and healing of the city will be fostered at an environmental scale as well as a human scale.
BIOPHILIC DESIGN FRAMEWORK
SKETCHES
THE COASTLINE
At the coastline, a building up or thickening of the land and the development of ecological barriers is achieved through the creation of a wetland boardwalk that creates protected water pockets. New areas of public space will be created through this extension of the coastline and ecological habitats will be re-populated. The boardwalk takes on the form of branching leaf fractals.
WINDOW BOXES + BALCONIES
THE CANAL
In the calles and canals, this thickening of the surface will occur in a vertical dimension as there is not room on the narrow sidewalks and alleyways. This strategy combines window boxes which are so common in Venice, with a living wall scaffolding to act as a balcony for patients and families staying at the hospital to use. The suspended metal frame is also inspired by the patterns created by leaf fractals.
THE CAMPO
In the campo, the realization of this thickening strategy will materialize in the form of a canopy shading structure. The form of the canopy will reference the rehabilitation of Venice’s destroyed ecologies through its leaf fractal pattern and columns which act as trees. This shade structure has planters with climbing plants that grow up the columns and onto the structure. It serves as a processional entry into both the school and the church, the columns framing both axes.
