D E T A I L S : A T O O L F O R C L I M A T E A D A P T A T I O N
The effects of climate change are being seen in every country around the world. Storms are becoming more intense with longer dry periods and sea levels are rising with the rapid loss of glacial ice; to say we are facing a global disaster is an understatement. The question now becomes what do we do about it?
During the 2019 summer break, I traveled to Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo to create a photographic inventory of different water centric design details from landscape architecture projects that focus on water with regards to climate change. I chose to study Scandinavian projects because of their success, both environmentally and socially, in connecting people to water by celebrating the role water can play in the public realm. Through the post processing of my photographs, using a combination of hand and computer sketching, I found that these design details are not only functioning on a traditional level in regard to water (collecting water, storing water, filtering water), but that they are also creating different ways of framing water. This reframing of the water systems beyond that of function highlights a detailed design artistry that immerses and enhances the experience, facilitating a deeper connection between people and the environmental system.
Climate change is a huge issue that requires a multidisciplinary solution. As landscape architects, we have the opportunity to be a part of that solution, utilizing our skill set to rewrite how designs work; and it all boils down to a detail.
Independent Travel Scholarship, Scandinavia, Summer 2019. Mixed media.
