Salt Cay: a small 2.6 sq.mi. cay at the edge of the Turks and Caicos island group surrounded by a diverse marine ecosystem which survives in part due to its remoteness. The land has been altered and degraded over the past centuries due to unsustainable land practices; primarily, the extraction of sea salt, the altering of the lagoons for the production of salt, the unchecked feral livestock and probable over collection of certain plant species for fuel and commodities. Currently the island is sparsely populated, tranquil, a flyover resting spot for some migratory birds, humpback whale sightings and some nesting sea turtles. The challenge: Our client directed the design team to create a low density, environmentally sensitive and sustainable resort setting that would keep and enhance the natural character of the island. A central question arose: Is the character we see today different from the character before human intervention and if so, can we reinstate that previous character at least to some degree? To help answer this question we studied the island, the vegetation patterns, wildlife habitat, the adjacent island vegetation, ecosystems and land use patterns to derive at a probable native landscape character. The findings led to the development of the following images which illustrate a rich native flora context for the proposed development.
Morocco
Morocco
On the north coast of Morocco, le Cordon, a thin strip of sand dunes separate the Mediterranean Sea from the Nador Lagoon. This remote strip of land, with the Riff mountains as a backdrop protects the lagoon from the sea. In this area, flamingos feed, a fishing village functions and remnants of an oyster industry, olive grove, agave plantation and fragments of a pine forest give evidence of a pastoral past.
An ongoing land planning exercise commissioned by the King of Morocco addressing the economic and environmental needs of the lagoon and towns was in progress. We worked with 24H Architecture to present development strategies for the sand dune area.
Our client directives: Propose environments sympathetic with the natural dunescape for luxury villas and repair the damage from dredging activities for the new inlet. With the increased water flow, habitat restoration for fisheries and migratory birds was now possible. The following montage images illustrate reconstructed dunes, native plants and indigenous materials to restore the natural character of the land.
Dongtan Wetland, China
Dongtan Wetland, China
The Dongtan Wetland Park is a 24km square site, on Chongming Island in the Yangtze River. Before the Yangtze River was dammed, the land use was farming with water delivered by a canal system. The island was an important stopover site for migratory birds. The altered hydrology of the river ended agriculture in some areas, led to degraded aquatic environments which in turn led to a loss in bird populations.
The clients directive was to create an ecologically sustainable constructed wetland demonstration project. The clients mission statement: "Man and nature living in harmony, created by man but appearing to be created by nature" was our guiding principle in the design. We worked with Biotech and DB Environmental to realize this goal. Our design solution created a natural waterway form, a variety of bird habitat based on water and shoreline elevations, a diversity of upland and lowland vegetation, opportunities for visitor recreation and wildlife observation. a research center and Tea House.
