版权声明：本链接内容均系版权方发布，版权属于或然景观，编辑版本版权属于设计宇宙designverse，未经授权许可不得复制转载此链接内容。欢迎转发此链接。

Copyright Notice: The content of this link is released by the copyright owner Possibilism Design Studio. designverse owns the copyright of editing. Please do not reproduce the content of this link without authorization. Welcome to share this link.

This is the first project we published on our Wechat official account, not only for it is the first completely built project of our studio but also presents a lot of things that our studio aims at: biodiversity, low-carbon design and circular economy. In addition, located in the urban renewal area , a formal industrial complex and a nowaday cultural district, it also embodies our attitude of tactical urbanism as well as the overall implementation of the concepts of urban prototyping and recycling.

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

In the process of this project, every professionals is working together to implement the same idea from the owner, the designer and the construction team, which in reality, very few projects could manage to put all these contents on the same page. Another reason is quite personal that the project is located in ‘Columbia Circle’, which I used to participate in. It is of special significance for me to intervene it again after its operation.

‘Columbia Circle’ is a project involves several aspects: complex renewal of industrial parks and blocks; multiple functions of culture, commercial and office; a complete concept of small town with surrounding residential area. To intervene in the landscape design of the store for the tenant, we should adopt relatively environmental protecting design techniques with high flexibility and accommodated to current social and economic environment. This kind of dynamic landscape or design with flexible adoption to different use requirements and built environment is also one of the directions that our studio is exploring.

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

How to Define the Wildness?

At the start of this project, I was quite worried for ‘Columbia Circle’ being a very mature commercial area with certain requirements for landscape design, planting design and atmosphere of space. The original design direction and overall condition presented by existing planting is a little contrary to the wilderness atmosphere that klee klee, the client, came to us and hoped to make. When we talk about ‘Wilderness’, differ from the flower landscape often used in commercial landscapes, it presents a wilder space with less order, more native crops and less management.

In this case, it is important to make sure if the understanding and imagination of the ‘Wildness’ is consistent between the client and designers before officially launching the project. We had a trip to the Shanghai Urban Biodiversity Education Base managed by Forest City Studio in Pujiang Country Park to feel the ‘Wildness.’ After we all reached an agreement that the landscape does not have to be colorful with evergreen and flowers, but will grow and decline according to season changes.

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

Modular Design Strategy

Another difficulty of this project is the green roof, which should be laid on a cantilever with light structure. The large metal panel on the surface not only absorbs heat but also needs regular maintenance, where is suitable for flexible design and is suitable to grow heat-resistant, drought-resistant plants. In addition, at the entrance of the store, we are not allowed to any foundation to break the original ground surface and design of ‘Columbia Circle’. We came up with the idea of modular design that can be ‘placed’ on the roof and at the entrance to solve these problems.

When looking for the prototype of modular design, we did a lot of tests and find the triangular modular to be the most stable and variable, which is also our core concept. It not only meets the needs of a flexible green roof, but also at the entrance can be placed or combined into pots, chairs, tables and other functions, and it somehow fits with the symbol of environmental protection. A real country garden at the backyard is designed in a similar way. We also did some exploration on the selection of material, which has to be recyclable, light, weather-resistant and movable. After a comprehensive consideration of the cost and a long experiment of different materials, we decided to use recycled plastic to 3D print flower pots and wooden chairs, instead of gabion walls, terrazzo or rammed earth.

The whole project is not covering a large area but contains three totally different types of built environments and microclimates: a very hot but light metal roof, a completely shaded garden and a small granite paving square with large trees in front of the crowd by which also with more human interference. As the landscape architects, we preferred to shape these three environments as ‘urban microhabitats’ with native plants in Shanghai.

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

Ecological Planting Strategies

We conducted three levels of exploration in different environments: testing cold, drought and sun resistant plants on the roof; testing shade and cold resistant plants in the backyard; at the same time, to use native plants as much as possible, which eventually accounting for 80%. Different from the conventional way of construction, our planting strategy is relatively slow, giving the plants time to grow naturally, presenting a different aesthetic but simple scenery.

In the process of waiting for the seedling, planting growing and observation, we also deliberately selected some plants to attract birds and insects, hoping to see bees, butterflies and other insects to come by. A compost bucket is set up in the backyard garden, which can be used to dispose of fallen leaves in future maintenance. Small pools provide drinking water to butterflies, birds and cats; and helps to keep balance of the moisture and heat in the backyard garden. The whole backyard garden presents a detailed habitat garden rather than a state of flowering.

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

In the area facing the main square of ‘Columbia Circle’, these movable seats and flowerpots can be combined into different patterns at any time according to different needs, such as the appearance of a small corner space in ordinary times, and can be transformed into a runway when holding a fashion show. We hope this kind of reusable, movable and flexible design can be used as a reference for modular or prefabricated furniture design in future urban spaces.

The final planting design here is the compromise between us and the property of ‘Columbia Circle’. Our original design was rawer and wilder, without so many flowers and colorful leaves as we see now, but after managing and coordinating with the overall style of site, the proportion of native plants was reduced to 50%. At last, the small square in front of the store not only has the intention of conventional ‘naturalistic planting design,’ but also integrates the relatively wild and original planting method we hope to introduce. All plants are planted in units in customized flowerpots, making the overall planting module more controllable and easier to see the rhythm.

We contacted quite a lot manufactures to implement the concept of 3D printing recycled plastics, but either there was technical difficulty, or the cost was too high to bear. Finally, the owner and TRASHAUS found the appropriate recycled plastic and technology to successfully develop our triangular module of flowerpot within budget.

© Zhu Runzi

© Zhu Runzi

Due to the difficulty of getting native plants on the market and the expertise of Forest City Studio in ecosystem research, we specially invited Mr. Taoran Guo to be the overall planting consultant (actually I prefer to call him Bio-environment consultant), and we adopted many of their suggestions on planting design. This cooperation also let us find the difference of planting design between the perspective of landscape design and landscape /ecology; its configuration and methodology are quite different from our conventional landscape engineering. We still have a long way to go to learn to reflect these into the plan and construction drawings. When waiting for the cultivation of native plants, we really look forward to and hope the structural transformation of seedling market will happen one day, which pays more attention to the introduction and cultivation of native plants.

Our client has a good control over the cost throughout the whole project. These plants and 3D printed recycled plastic flowerpots are all reproducible and recyclable products at a marketable price, which echo the brand temperament of klee klee itself.In my opinion, this built landscape project is always changing, which its performance and existence needs to be observed, accepted and embraced as a period of time. In the district of ‘Columbia Circle’, we provide a space for plants to grow and a garden environment that attracts birds, cats and butterflies. How many people can accept the aesthetic of wildness? How many plants and animals could safely live in it?

© klee klee

© klee klee

© klee klee

© klee klee

© klee klee

In my opinion, this built landscape project is always changing, which its performance and existence needs to be observed, accepted and embraced as a period of time. In the district of ‘Columbia Circle’, we provide a space for plants to grow and a garden environment that attracts birds, cats and butterflies. How many people can accept the aesthetic of wildness? How many plants and animals could safely live in it?

This also expresses our studio's attitude towards landscape projects: landscape is of course fluid and not constant, but has its own spatial structure. Some plants, like big trees, may be lucky enough to stay there forever, but others will die and come back again and again. The same as urban space, which changes and becomes more balanced with different needs.

© klee klee

© klee klee

© klee klee

© klee klee

© klee klee

The klee klee project is a good reflection of this process of landscape change. The intervention and construction methods we have adopted are relatively more adaptable and cost controllable. If one day, the client moves away from this district, the plants, flowerpots and furniture can be moved together and start the next cycle in another place...

The last but not least, I'd like to add this article from ‘Urban Wisdom Advancing with China’, hoping one day the beauty of both ecology and life can be valued with more research and exploration to support dialogue and cooperation in between: ‘Ecological Restoration | Supply Problem of Local Seed and Seedling’.

模块 © PDS