Shuaidong Liu

Into Darkness

Landscape Architecture - MLA

Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA)

liusd259@163.com

Issue- Design Portfolio

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Reflection- Urban Dark Ecological Corridor

Project description

Into Darkness

—— Natural rewilding guidance of Glasgow Airport's dark ecological corridor construction from the perspective of darkness

In the context of global warming, the relationship between humans and more than humans has been changing dynamically. Countries all over the world are seeking a better living environment for more than humans in cities based on the urban ecological network. Still, most existing urban blue-green infrastructures today places a great deal of emphasis on the consideration of human rather than more than human.

Like most modern cities, Glasgow’s vast amount of artificial light at night (ALAN) is encroaching on the lives and habits of nocturnal animals. Long-term light pollution puts increasing pressure on urban biodiversity, and many potential ecological habitats in the city are not well used and connected, This leads to habitat fragmentation, Which is one of the major causes of the significant decrease in the number of nocturnal animals in the city and a crisis in their survival status.

The focus of this search by design is Glasgow airport banded by the black & white Cart rivers. From the perspective of night, the project imagines the scene 100 years from now, rethinking the connection between the airport and the riverbank, and the city. By releasing the airport space from the existing fixed function, the space now occupied by humans will returned back to the natural space, and in the process, the dark ecological corridor at the urban scale is restored to its proper connection.

More importantly, the project focuses on dynamic landscape elements. With the passage of time, the project proposes a dynamic construction and management solution To face a series of current and future problems caused by climate change which may affect the construction of dark habitats, such as noise and rising water levels. Meanwhile, in the scale of humans and non-humans could experienced, the project replanned the interaction model between humans and nocturnal species by investigating the activities of nocturnal species, and creating a new pattern of sharing landscape between humans and nocturnal species.

Finally, the project also leads to a refreshing dark landscape experience for humans. Through the release of the airport, the large area of empty space and forest land can gain more possibilities. We invite artists and architects to jointly create a new "Dark Plaza", leading people to enjoy the incredible dark landscape in it

Introduction Animation

The Urban Dark Corridor

Nowadays， Glasgow already has a number of well-protected natural reserve areas and green spaces in the city and surrounding areas, while The Glasgow city, which is crossed by the River Clyde, also has abundant River and water resources, making it an excellent ecological habitat for nocturnal species. But, as the dark ecological network of the city. Urban road lighting and artificial lighting between patches have a big impact on nocturnal species, hindering connections between these very promising dark habitats. Our purpose is to through to the existing assessment of plaque, the Banks of the river resources and integration, this large patch to make use of urban green space facilities connection, create a city-scale of nocturnal animals "dark ecological network", in this way to connect all kinds of the ecological corridor, guarantee the nocturnal animals in the city ecological demand information exchange between sports and plaques.

Urban dark Corridor

The Dynamic Flooding

In the next 100 years, as the climate warms, rising sea levels will directly contribute to cart Water， The water level rose by about 1.5 meters. This would result in a lot of existing flat river banks being swallowed up by floods. This will lead to the airport now no longer being used.

Flooding in 100 years

The flooded airport

Master Plan in 2122

The Site

The focus of this search by design is Glasgow airport banded by the black & white Cart rivers. From the perspective of night, the project imagines the scene 100 years from now, rethinking the connection between the airport and the riverbank and the city. By releasing the airport space from the existing fixed function, the space now occupied by humans will returned back to the natural space, and in the process, the dark ecological corridor at the urban scale is restored to its proper connection.

Airstrip Plaza

The Night Landscape

The final ambition of the Airstrip Plaza is to redefine the night landscape, When the Glasgow Paisley airport was released from its original functional definition, the Airstrip became an iconic landmark. We planted trees to create dark Spaces and rewilder green Spaces. At the same time, combined with multiple strategies such as the topography and water guidance of the riverbank of Cart Water, it creates a fantastic dark space shared by humans and nocturnal species. The site contains a wetland exploration Greenland, woodland and Airstrip Gallery, humans can interact with Nocturnal Species in some safe and acceptable ways. More importantly, The site becomes a park where people can experience the “pure” dark landscape. The walkway under the forest, and the large night outdoor art club transformed by the airstrip will reawaken people's sense of the dark. The airstrip Gallery is reserved for night artists, in large empty Spaces, artists can create freely hereWe invite people to experience the darkness and create "dark art" here. Eventually, it will become a pilgrimage site for everyone who loves night and dark art

Dark Space Creation

In the near future, these strategies can be well used to resist noise and light pollution in the site. In the long future, according to the rise of the flood, these terrains can be used as canals to guide the flood, so the flood becomes orderly and controllable.

People can explore the dark space under the forest on the footpath, where they can see fireflies and many nocturnal species which are unexpected. The gravel ensures the low maintenance of the ground and also provides the characteristics

Dakr Experience

Light theater

Bat Tower

Canal Path

Human & Non-human

Based on the analysis of the activities of both human and non-human species on the site, the project aims to provide specific Spaces for human and non-human species on different sites, as well as the areas where human and non-human species can interact.

In order to enhance the "experience" of non-human species, we chose bats as the representative species for bionic design, and designed a Roosting Tower for bats using steel frame and degradable plastic membrane. The Tower provides good shading for bats, w

Artist Plan

In terms of the management of the site, the project aims to introduce the "Artist Plan", as a night landscape where the vast void of the site provides unlimited space for the imagination of artists keen on "darkness". The project welcomes artists to the site to create and leave their artworks there. It will also become a place of pilgrimage for those who love the night and the dark arts.

Influenced by a lot of light art and projection art, I placed myself as an artist and designed a "projection show" for the site. The tall tree canopy will serve as a curtain, and light and patterns will be reflected on the trees, bringing visitors a visual feast.