Plasma Studio (their site), is a not so recent, but still regarded as an up-and-coming design firm based in London, UK. Recently posted (July 29) on the online design blog, ArchDaily(their site), is a single construction photo of PS's International Horticulture Fair Complex. The project, naturally described as Flowing Gardens, is described as a "..large master plan that blends architecture, landscape, and circulation into one system using a network of organic paths."
The folding/faceted planar shapes of the architecture is reminiscent of extreme Libeskind-esque angular forms. But I would rather discuss the master plan and design intentions charged with task of blending architecture, landscape, and circulation. The concept behind the branching building locations is Plasma Studio's desire to program and place their buildings in a fashion emblematic of an estuary biome.
An estuary biome (Its ok, I had to look it up too), is a
Here is the project, previously posted about a year ago on ArchDaily, although I have selected to excerpt some images below.
The design is to be located in China's Xi'an City, and will be comprised of a "500 sq meter exhibition hall, 4,000 sq meter greenhouse, and a 3,500 sq meter 'gate building'". All situated on 37 hectares of landscape.
All Images are courtesy of Plasma Studio
The folding/faceted planar shapes of the architecture is reminiscent of extreme Libeskind-esque angular forms. But I would rather discuss the master plan and design intentions charged with task of blending architecture, landscape, and circulation. The concept behind the branching building locations is Plasma Studio's desire to program and place their buildings in a fashion emblematic of an estuary biome.
An estuary biome (Its ok, I had to look it up too), is a
"transition zone between river environments and ocean environments and are subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and river influences, such as flows of fresh water and sediment. The inflow of both seawater and freshwater provide high levels of nutrients in both the water column and sediment, making estuaries among the most productive natural habitats in the world." - Wikipedia / Mclusky, D.S.
Not knowing the final design beyond the beautiful renderings, I would truly hope that the buildings do not superficially represent the dynamism of a estuary biome by merely replicating its tendency to bifurcate like a root-system. It is interesting that PS would use the principles of an estuary as a metaphor for the horticulture museum, as an estuary is a platform and a breeding ground for the enmeshing of disparate ecosystems. The ocean meets fresh-water, mixing sediment and nutrients to foster incredible amounts of growth. I hope this will not be lost within the museum walls as it is an incredible opportunity to not just mimic a system such as an estuary's shape, but extract its catalyzing principles of confluence, dispersion, enmeshing, and growth.
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