Advanced Studio

Abstract

The studio's objective is to design two botanical gardens, one in Guatemala and one in Andorra. Despite their contrasting cultural, climatic and geological conditions, the two sites share a rich tradition of indigenous medicinal plants use.

Objective

Develop an understanding of complex territorial transformation processes and their implications for human and non-human entities. Engage with a given site through drawing, fieldwork, first-person research, which consists of carefully listening to and understanding a set of actors that are relevant to a given ecosystem. Acquire critical thinking tools and an understanding of current critical discourses related to the topics. Develop language and communication tools that allow for precise argumentation and positioning. Work in four dimensions: understand the interplay between space and time and learn to navigate and activate different temporalities.

Content

The studio's objective is to design two botanical gardens, one in Guatemala and one in Andorra. Despite their contrasting cultural, climatic and geological conditions, the two sites share a rich tradition of indigenous medicinal plants use. Today, not only is this knowledge and practice under threat, but climatic and socio-economic changes are even threatening certain plants with extinction. Botanical gardens can be a refuge that keeps endangered knowledge, plants and rituals alive, but also uphold neocolonial ways of thinking about plants and their socio-ecological relations. What is the botanical garden of the future? Both projects are real projects, which means that our findings will influence the further development of both botanic gardens. However, this also means that these are complex projects with many stakeholders and their agendas involved. It is therefore important that we can recognize the demands of these groups and transform them into a landscape architectural project.

Resources