Highway Energy Farm
Imagining Recovery Competition
HIGHWAY ENERGY FARM proposes to transform existing highway networks into infrastructure for collection and distribution of wind and solar energy, algae biofuel farms, and stormwater collection tanks for underpass green spaces. Highways are thus transformed from a symbol of our dependency on fossil-fuels into an infrastructure for sustainable and clean energy production.
Gondwana Puzzle
Gondwana Circle at San Francisco Botanical Gardens Competition
The GONDWANA PUZZLE was a proposal for the outdoor education feature at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. The design was informed by plate tectonics, particularly in relation to Gondwana and plant migration. The proposed design is intended to function as a resting place at the intersection of five pedestrian paths. The small circle on the ground shows a stylized Pangea map before its break-up (representing the completed ‘puzzle’). Corrugated steel strips are inlaid on the ground to represent lines of latitude, and individual parts of Pangea (other puzzle pieces) are placed relative to their current latitudes. The Gondwana pieces are planted with plants from the Proteaceae family, which are the common Gondwana link across different continents in the Southern Hemisphere. (with Tim Muhlebach)
Hedera Plaza, Lower Sproul
Berkeley Beautiful Competition (2nd place)
The LOWER SPROUL PLAZA is located on the University of California - Berkeley campus. It is sunken from the main path and sits on top of an underground garage. In this proposal, Hedera canariensis vines are planted in the middle of the underground garage and, via vertical structure, guided to grow upwards through new skywells into the plaza above ground. Hedera canariensis purifies air in the underground garage, and also references its widespread presence in the Berkeley landscape. The design establishes a link between the underground infrastructural space, the above public ground space, and vernacular landscapes. The vines branch upwards and outwards toward the surrounding buildings, creating a large trellis that stretches above the plaza.
