5 Sealtopia

Academic Project

Individual Work

Landscape Design

Bohai, Liaoning, China

Climate change-induced early melting and fragmentation of winter ice floes have resulted in premature independent living for seal pups in Bohai, China. Concurrently, human industrial activities and overfishing are causing the depletion of fishery resources, negatively impacting the livelihood of fishermen. Both seals and fishermen, who rely heavily on the ocean, face increasingly dire circumstances.

The installation design proposes creating artificial ice floes as a utopian solution for both seals and fishermen. This ecological intervention features a seal habitat for breeding on the surface, while an oyster farm is situated below. The individual installation units are interconnected to form an ecological network that enhances the biodiversity of the surrounding area. By addressing the needs of both seals and fishermen, this innovative design strives to foster environmental resilience and sustainable coexistence between humans and marine life.

Existing Problems

Bohai, situated in the northeastern part of China, is a heavily industrialized area. The rapid industrialization in recent years has led to significant environmental pollution in the region.

Marine Pollution

Nearby factories frequently discharge their wastewater into the ocean, introducing nitrogen, phosphorus compounds, and various chemical components into the water, resulting in severe seawater contamination. During winter, centralized heating systems burn coal, generating large amounts of dust particles that contribute to haze. These particles are subsequently carried by the wind and deposited into the ocean. Furthermore, numerous oil fields are situated around Bohai Bay, and crude oil spills occur during production and transportation processes. These toxic substances can enter the seals’ bodies through their food and the surrounding environment, compromising their immune systems and reducing their lifespans.

Fishery Stocks

The pollution also has a detrimental impact on fishery stocks, which have declined significantly. In an attempt to maintain profits, fishermen resort to using nets with increasingly smaller gaps, impeding the recovery of fish stocks and further depleting the seals’ food sources. This creates a vicious cycle that exacerbates the ecological crisis in the region.

The concept stems from the realization that seals and fishermen face similar challenges, despite their competitive relationship. The floating installation is designed as a utopian haven where both seals and fishermen can benefit and thrive together.

This ecological floating island installation will operate year-round, but staggers the time between sealcommunity and human use of the installation.

Academic Project Group Work: Menglin Ding&Siqiao Zhao Material Experiment

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Mycelium materials hold immense potential for enhancing outdoor spaces, and we believe that they can play a crucial role in creating a healthy, interconnected tree pit system, transforming isolated street trees into an integrated natural network. To achieve this, we applied our expertise in landscape techniques and materials to a comprehensive set of technical drawings.

This drawing set guides us through the various stages of design, including concept development, schematic design, design development, and construction documentation. As we progress through these phases, we gain a deeper understanding of how details and materials evolve and adapt during the pre-construction process.

Construction Drawings

Experimentation