Inter-Facing Change Tutor: Jenny Lowe
The earth has been evolving for very many years, from gases to liquids
to solids. Over these years the earth has been moving through many cyclic periods of global warming and cooling. Early life forms in the more recent evolution of the earth inputted oxygen into the atmospheres that raised the earth’s temperature by 30 degrees, creating the conditions for humans to evolve. The reasons for the conditions of global warming that we are currently experiencing are contested and speculative but there is now agreement that the earth is warming. It might be that the earth is in a cycle of warming that is being accelerated by the inputting of CO2 into the atmospheres by the increasing number of life forms on the surface of the earth. This studio embraced future scenarios for climate change as they affect Melbourne. Students worked, in small groups, with the peninsula of Williamstown and designed strategic responses to a three-metre sea level rise. Various responses were proposed that worked with defence and/or adaptation. Individual projects then tested architectural responses to these strategies. In response to worsening water shortages Williamstown has been proposed as a desalinisation centre. Students have incorporated the processes of the sea-water greenhouse, that uses prevailing winds as a renewable energy source producing both fresh water and cool air, into their architectural responses. Whilst developing strategic responses students were also making water harnessing devices to better understand sources of water. These were prototyped at 1:1.
“....and we really need to look again at how we live with this landscape. You can’t drought proof Australia. We need to learn to live with the landscape, not try to fight against it all the time.” ........The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists Previous page: Water Harnessing Device - personalised flat pack device for harnessing run-off and capturing transperation, Yenita Kurniawan
STUDENTS: Group 1: Ilma Ali and Jillian Tan (adaptation) Group 2: Yenita Kurniawan and Lucy Maplestone (defence) Group 3:
Juanita Tear and Siu Hon Chan (adaptation) Group 4: Keryn Herriman and Lauren Martin (defense) Group 5: Laura Ulph, Joel Ng Cho Tong, John-Daniel Hajko and Damien Forbes
Ilma Ali worked with a strategy of adaptation to rising sea levels and located productive desalination greenhouses along the parklands of Gellibrand Point. The greenhouses worked as new topographies to the parklands, for growing and recreational use. A well research growing frame was designed under these new topographies to al-
low the ground to be available for further public recreational, and other, use within the cool enviroment that is generated by the desalinisation process.
Jillian Tan follwed an adaptaion strategy in the low lying area where the Kororoit Creek meets the ocean. Jillian proposed floating productive greenhouses contained by housing that could benefit from the cool air generated by the desalinsation process. As sea-levels rise the ‘housing blocks’ proliferate to form an inner city sustainable and
productive density. Yenita Kurniawan used a sea defense wall to protect land where she developed an integrated housing and desalination productive greenhouse. Here the housing facades manage the desalination process in a highly inventive adaptation of the process.
Siu Hon Chan works with adaptation in the industrial area near Kororoit Creek mouth. Hon proposed reusing the existing buildings with desalinisation greenhouses as attachments, providing growing areas and cooled air to the existing buildings that are appropriated for community facilities.
Juanita Tear also works with adaptation and inspiration of work by the Metabolists in Tokyo Bay. Juanita responds to the vast areas of +3 meter flooding at the mouth of the Yarra with a configuration of island productive villages and infrastructure for maintaining vital connections.