“Where the river runs, it brings life as it moves along”
Water is life. Water is the well of our origin. It is main designer of our environment. Water is the connecting circulation system of our world and a precious ressource on which life on earth survives. It makes up 2/3rds of our body, just like the map of the world. Our vital fluids are mainly saline, the same as the ocean. Water is our physical connection with the planet.
Water brings a sense of history. The amount of moisture on earth has not changed. The water the dinosaurs drank millions of years ago is the same water that falls as rain today. But still.... Will there be enough for a crowded world? How will global warming effect the natural ressources? And will there be enough clean water, if the pollution of our planet continious?
All life on earth is depending on the rythm of water. It flows from snowcapped mountains, rain and sun will arrive in ther proper seasons. Life comes with it. It is our biological currency and it will always be with us.
But we are not important to water. It is the other way around. Our task is to find a reasonable way to survive inside its boundaries.
A sensible use of our natural ressources, a heart to protect the common goods and a guidance of science: Theses will be the tools, that guids us into a sustainable century.
engage, conncect, inspire
Throughout its history, the life and growth of Wuhan was linked to water in a very direct way. Located at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Han River, first settlements arise along the river-shores more than 3500 years ago. The river brought goods from around the world and Wuhan rise to an important town for trade.
But the rivers didn't just bring wealth to the city, it also brought a rich flora and fauna to the people. The natural beauty of Wuhan and the grand variety of plants inspired many poet and painters throughout its history.
Our proposal for plot 1590 of the garden expo is a natural statement for the importance of clean water and a healthy environment.
A river-like pathway guides visitors through an artificial landscape of hills and valleys. Seeds of different plants are given to the visitors at each entrance and they get the opportunity to plant local flowers, vegetables, fruits or herbs along the "riverbed".
As people are hiking through the landscape and seeding their plants, they take over the function of a river as they bring life to the pavilion. Like the river does in an natural environment, the visitors become the starting point in the lifecycle of plants. They are an essential part to design the pavilion and that will increase the sensibility towards the importance of clean water and clean air.
We see the location of plot 1590 as a connection inbetween other pavilions and it can be entered from 3 sides.
Visitors are naturally guided through the riverbed. On their way they will pass by various landscape formations, like a narrow shore, high cliffs or a natural cave. Troughout the walk, famous local poems and quotes are engraved into the vertical walls. All entrances are leading to the central plaza, where the visitors have time to rest, reflect or have a drink. A natural canopy offers shadow to the plaza.
On their walk through the pavilion, the landscape offers the visitors a wide variety of visual, haptic and scented expression from different terrain-formations to various colourful plants, while they become an essential part in the circle of life.
PROJECTNAME：An ode to water
PROJECTLOCATION：China, WUHAI
PROJECTSIZE：2000㎡
PROJECTYEAR：2014-2015
DESIGNCOMPANY：penda China
DESIGNER：Sun Dayong、Chris Precht
