Forestphilia — Architecture Competition by UNI.xyz

‘Forestphilia’ competition launched to Challenge to bring forest into urban areas by UNI.xyz

Fig: 1 — Originally 48% of the Earth’s surface was covered by forests but the area of primary forest worldwide has decreased by over 80 million hectares since 1990.

Forests — our natural habitat

Forests are complex ecosystems that consist of trees in the majority while supporting several other life forms. It is made up of living (plants, insects, birds, mammals, micro-organisms etc.) and non-living elements (soil, water and minerals). Trees and other systems are vital for human survival since they regulate the atmosphere, oxygen, food, shelter needs, water cycle and surface quality on Earth. At the beginning of time, forests were the natural habitat for human beings for their survival and livelihood. Over time, concrete urban habitats were created to accommodate humankind exclusively, causing a divide between man and nature.

Eventually, as the population progressed, encroachment of forests was done to generate space for concrete jungles.

Has the shift from natural to urban settings benefited us?

Fig: 2 — Forests provide a calm and serene environment for people which is essential for their mental and emotional well-being.

Filling the gap between the natural and built environment

The relationship between humankind and forests has become strained with the invention of cities. Despite the disconnect, the biological nature of humans draws them to their intimate bond with nature. Hence, people often access the natural settings of forests, to attain peace and salvation from their urban lifestyles. With technology ongoing trends, innovative ways are often sought to include nature into the urban fabric of cities. Biomimicry in architecture is one such practice that is used to integrate nature into physical settings in an intimate way. It includes imitation of systems or elements that occur in nature, to solve concerns of the human population today. Human solutions are designed to rely on resources and energy to solve issues whereas, in nature, these concerns are resolved by the inherent geometry and properties of its materials.

This quality of natural systems such as forests can be imitated in cities to create environments that are conducive to achieving harmonious and healthy living even in human settings.

Fig: 3 — Trees are a major part of this ecosystem and their presence in cities has drawn people to it.

Brief of the competition

Public spaces are the soul of every city. These are locations of gatherings and events, fostering cohesion in society. The quality and design of these spaces determine their capability in attracting people and their activities.

Brief: The challenge is to design an installation in a public space that is inspired by forests.

This installation will reanimate the site as a popular public space through biomimicry in its form.

The design concept must follow principles of biomimicry by taking aspects or systems of the forest as inspiration for the design and operation of the installation. The pavilion will be a multi-functional space that can host several activities. It will be the destination of community events and gatherings. The aim is to serve a purpose in the urban space by resolving issues of its urban context such as air pollution, water scarcity, urban heat island effects, greenhouse emissions, energy demands, heat/cold and so on. The site will become a landmark attracting visitors from all over the region.

Design objectives

• Concept: The emulation of forests must not be restricted to their physical form but their systems and principles of working must be incorporated into the design.
• Multi-functional: The space must be accessible to all types of users and be flexible to be used for various social events and activities.
• Landmark: The visual impact must be exemplary with standout features.
• Context: The design must respond to the (existing) site conditions. The wider socio-cultural, economic and environmental settings are to be considered in the design approach.

Site

Fig: 4 — Site image

Hong Kong, China

China has an ultra-modern society with rich ancient traditions. The diversity is not limited to culture but also extends over geographic landscapes. China is a megadiverse country and the forests are a very important part of the ecosystem. Forestlands protect, shelter and provide for other systems which makes the country one of the most forest-dependent civilizations. The site is in Hong Kong, China. It is one of the most densely populated cities around the world. The city is a rich urban territory dominated by skyscrapers. There is an alarming rate of air pollution in the city. The reforestation efforts in the country are at a peak but urban areas still miss the presence of forests, contributing to the city atmosphere in any form. The site is located on the grounds of the Central Harbourfront event space and is used as It offers views of the Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Ferris Wheel. The installation here will attract many visitors.

• Site area = 2871 sq.m
• Height restriction = 12 metres
• Ground coverage = 30%
• Max FAR: 0.8
• Setbacks (as per CAD plan)
• Coordinates = 22°17'05.0"N 114°09'43.2"E

Find all the competition brief, terms, and other registration guidelines on this

page: Forestphilia | Installations Architecture Competition on UNI | About

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Originally published at https://uni.xyz.