Beyond the Border: The Symbiosis Between ChenghuangTemple and Vendors 1 3 2 4 6 5
Ketsch: A Rainwater Filtration Experiment Site
2023, MLA Individual work
Ketsch, Germany
Instructor: Matthew Butcher, Tiffany Kaewen Dang
Guangming New Village Reconstuction Project
2021, Work project
Hsinchu, Taiwan
Prof. Shu-chang Kung + The Urbanists Collaborative + fa+p + ITRI
Carpe Diem: An Experimental Food Forest
How would ‘foraging’ and ‘food forest’ impact our diet?
A forager’s diet is quite different from today’s typical diet and may not fully meet caloric needs. However, by adjusting our eating habits, foraging and food forests can complement sustainable farming, contributing to a resilient food system. They offer fresh, low-mileage fruits, greens, nuts and grains, helping diversify diets and fill gaps in urban food supply chains.
Food forests also foster social interaction by drawing people into shared public spaces for planting and harvesting, strengthening community bonds. In addition, foraging and food forests reconnect people with nature and climate, offering hands-on education about food systems. The process of gathering and caring for these landscapes promotes well-being, environmental awareness, and the simple joy of harvesting. In this project, different scenarios were created to reveal the stories of people foraging in diverse landscapes, both in urban and suburban
/Forage in the grove/
/Forage in the dead wood/
/Forage by the waterway//Forage at the hedgerow/ Rosehip bush a corner at Wormwood Scrubs
/Forage in the meadow/
/Forage under trees/
/Forage at the fence/
Why do we need berries in our city?
Due to their extremely short shelf life, berries need to be plucked and eaten straight away, which creates a short food footprint and reduces packaging and transport waste. Not to mention, they offer a fresh, local flavor that reflects the identity of a place. Berries grow well in partial shade and require much less work than vegetables, making them ideal for urban gardening.
They also take up less space than fruit trees and can live for many years, providing long-term yields with minimal maintenance. In addition to feeding people, berries serve as a food source for urban wildlife, support biodiversity, and are accessible, edible plants that can be integrated into cityscapes. Most importantly, growing berries helps reconnect people to nature and the landscape, fostering a deeper appreciation for our environment.
The seven-layer food forest theory
A fully developed food forest has seven layers:
American foraging expert Steve Brill once said: “Don’t forage in areas that might be prone to high levels of pollution — areas next to heavy car traffic or near sources of agricultural runoff like farm fields, orchards, and factories — or on lawns that might be treated with pesticides, especially golf courses.”
Based on global foraging guidelines and experiences, the author suggests three ideal locations for urban foragers within London: scrublands, marshlands, and woodland patches.
The author utilized the seven-layer theory of food forests as a starting point, transforming a greenbelt near a railway track at East London into a food forest to discuss how to shape a potential one and how people forage. Various foraging devices were proposed, including tree nets for collecting nuts and wood log piles to encourage the growth of wild mushrooms. Additionally, the forest had tables for foragers to share and enjoy their harvest, and trail blazing to guide people to different foraging themes.
section A-A': Before
section A-A': Cultivating a food forest
The tables in the grove serves as the best gathering spot for foragers to exchange information and share their findings. It's also a resting place where residents can immediately enjoy the fresh wild plants they have just harvested.
The berry bushes on the hillside attract foragers, but the layered bushes are designed to prevent them from climbing further up. Train tracks run along the slope with trains speeding by regularly, and pigeons feasting in the berry bushes are startled and take flight away.
How about trying some cowslip salad?
Kids! I've brought some crab apples!
Just a bit more foraging...
During the chestnut harvest season, residents set up nets to collect chestnuts. As the season transitions into a more rainy period, children still eagerly venture into the chestnut woods to pick up fallen chestnuts.
In the autumn, foragers can collect mushrooms in the forest. The cutdown logs can be used for cultivating mushrooms or shredded to make as a trail surface in the woodland.
I want to pick the chestnuts from that tree!
The harvest this autumn is really good!
Allotment Garden Revival on Warren Farm, Ealing Allotment Garden Revival on
[ Site Location and History
]
ThetotalnumberofallotmentsinLondon addsuptoamodest741siteswith40,000 individual plots.These sites span 32 boroughs. Most are in Brent, Bromley, and Ealing.
Playing Field Sports Ground Allotment Gardens
In the 1960s, there were 13 open areas around the site for sports, recreation, and cultivation.
Warren Farm(the chosen site) is located in the Norwood Green area of Ealing, London. Known for its extensive green space, Warren Farm has been a subject of significant community interest and discussion. It once was a large grazing/sport/ playing field, has become a point for local debates
regarding land use and development. Positioned within a vibrant and diverse part of Ealing, Warren Farm offers a unique blend of natural beauty and urban potential, making it a key point of interest in discussions about the future of open spaces in the borough.
In 2024, upon reviewing the land use in the same locations around the site, all of them have been turned into factories, residential areas, schools, private sports clubs, or parks, with only two allotments remaining to this day.
Norwood Green
The acid/neutral grassland habitat surrounded by trees and shrubs is a habitat for many animals, including hares and skylarks.
The ruins in the center of the grassland occasionally experience fires during spring and summer, and their unattended condition is also considered a hazardous presence.
due to the naturally high underground water, whenever it rains, the soil becomes poorly drained, resulting in some areas being waterlogged.
The northern and southern sides of
are separated by wire mesh fences and are not within the ownership
Community composed of detached housesCommunity composed of detached houses
The site is relatively flat, with the exception of surrounding trees. The central grassland area features a relatively uniform species composition, which is not conducive to biodiversity.
the site
of the Warren Farm Nature Reserve.
Warren Farm Sports Centre, in the last century, was a comprehensive sports facility with sports fields and changing rooms.
Warren Farm Sports Centre ruins Warren Farm
Horse stables Jubilee Meadow
grazing area)
of Jersey's Field
Grassland with building remnants, tree stumps, and fences
Cleared grassland with removed remaining
Case studies such as keyhole gardens and mandala gardens show that circular allotments, when designed within certain dimensions allowing individuals to reach all corners of the garden from pathways by simply extending their arms, is a more efficient form of cultivation. As the capacity changes, the circular garden will evolve into a spiral shape to maximize the use of land and pathways.
The section of a keyhole garden.
Drainage material
Topsoil Compost basket
Bottom fill soil
Cardboard or dried leaves (optional)
Gabion
[The Allotment Garden ]
[The Ecological Pond ]
[The Gabion Slide ]
block Concrete brick Granular wall rock
mulch
Existing subsoil
Square-cut timber
Concrete foundation
course
[The Skylark Habitat Demonstration Area ]
Galvanized grating
frame
rail
Concrete foundation
Drainage matter Existing subsoil
In the allotment garden, water flows down the mounds in spirals, purifying through plants before reaching the stream. The roundhouse serves as the gathering hubs, surrounded by beehives and nursing beds supporting the planting unit.
People climb up and slide into a sandpit, while the space below connects the wild play grove and detention pond.
The climbing slide structure consists of gabion walls filled with soil, grass, and organic garden waste, supporting plant growth.
Between the sports field and the ecological pond, visitors pass the ball courts, then the allotment gardens. After the tennis court stand, they reach the ecological pond, where rainwater is filtered by plants. A platform offers views of insects, birds, and a relaxing space.
A pathway from the garden units leads to the skylark habitat. Designed to avoid disturbing ground-nesting skylarks, it allows visitors to observe their behavior up close while respecting their natural environment.
Year 0: Initial activities will involve clearing the central building remnants from the site, transplanting small trees onto the site, establishing key water channels and four ponds. The existing skylark habitat on the site will be preserved to maintain local biodiversity.
Year 5: Partial garden units will be constructed, and the remaining water channels will be completed. To facilitate access for nearby residents, driveways and parking areas will be built. Additionally, the variety of tree species within the food forest will be expanded.
Year5-10: All sports facilities and ball courts will be constructed, and the remaining garden units will be completed, finalizing the site’s development.
Ketsch: A Rainwater Filtration Experiment Site Site
Site Analysis]
To the west of Ketsch, Germany, lies an alluvial forest island known as the Ketscher Rheininsel. The island is notable for its abundant water resources, unique wildlife ecology, and the presence of endangered wild grapevines.
After analyzing the flood and drought challenges along the Rhine River, the author identified Ketscher Rheininsel as a key location with the potential to store floodwater and rainwater, serving as a critical resource for managing this section of the Rhine.
The topography of Ketscher Rheininsel reveals a pattern of being elevated in the center and lower in the surrounding areas. As a result, the vegetation is arranged in zones from the center outward: mixed forests that are rarely exposed to water, hardwood forests that can tolerate flooding, shrubs, and willows that frequently endure floods. And the reeds, which are located closest to the Rhine.
Ketsch (the chosen site)
Affected by extreme weather in recent years, Germany has often experienced unpredictable floods and droughts. For the Rhine River, the impacts of drought are significant, including increased concentrations of pollutants in the water and reduced cooling effects on the surrounding environment as the river's water levels decrease. Additional challenges include the inability of ships
A historical flood level scale is installed at the Ketscher Rheininsel, recording flood levels from the past century. The scale notably marks a massive flood in 1882, during which water levels reached an impressive height of 2.5 meters.
This part of the Rhine River is an alluvial plain(show on the both images), which people use to grow crops in modern times. Also standing on the waterfront are several sewage treatment plants that receive domestic sewage from nearby towns, and the treated water will be discharged directly into the Rhine.
The author found that the town of Ketsch plays a crucial role in sewage treatment for the neighboring city. Wastewater from five towns is collected here, treated, and discharged back into the Rhine. Among them, the gray water channel can be managed to the southeast of the Ketscher Rheininsel.
[ Greywater Treatment]
TheApproach of the Design/ By setting up experimental greywater corridors, people can observe and participate in the process of greywater purification. Infrastructures such as platforms, walkways, and poolside areas become new experiential spaces, showcasing the integration of natural purification processes with wildlife. At the same time, they provide residents with diverse opportunities for activities.
Second phase screening/ Gravel and sand help filter out smaller particles. Gravel and slate are also used as stepping stones to access the small islands scattered throughout the stream. Through the trees, the tennis court can be seen on the west side.
The author proposes creating a demonstration site for greywater filtration to connect nature and humanity. Residents will have the opportunity to engage directly with the filtered environment—such as a natural swimming pool and an ice rink—where they can play, observe the ecosystem, and reflect on their relationship with water resources and biodiversity.
As for planting decisions, the impurities and compounds commonly found in greywater will be absorbed and metabolized by selected plants. Examples include cattails, water hyacinths, eelgrass, canna, and water
lilies. The design emulates the process of a greywater treatment plant: first, sediment is allowed to settle through physical precipitation, then the water flows into deep areas planted with vegetation. After being filtered thoroughly, the water flows into pools designed for human contact.
In this project, a rainwater storage system was designed to collect, filter, and store rainwater in basins. The clean water is then distributed to several recreational facilities, such as swimming pools and a skating rink. By showcasing the rainwater storage and filtration process, visitors can
actively engage with the operation of filtered rainwater. They can play in purified water pools, observe how the landscape and plants aid in water purification, and enjoy a poetic and diverse experience from the infrastructure.
[ Relationship Between River,Town, and Island ][ Seasonal Rains on the Island ][ Filtration Pools and Human Engagement ]
Beyond the Border:
The Symbiosis Between ChenghuangTemple and Vendors
Chenghuang Temple(at Hsinchu, Taiwan) is a cultural and spiritual hub for citizens, where food and faith coexist in a harmonious symbiotic relationship. Vendors operate directly in front of the temple, even setting up next to the incense burner.Tables and chairs are arranged along the sides, making the temple almost hidden among the crowded stalls. In 'Beyond the Border,' the author designed a modular structure for vendors, allowing parades and religious activities
to take place in the temple’s front courtyard. Various transparent shopping structures were introduced to make the temple more accessible. During the annual parade, people can gather in the temple courtyard to enjoy food, traditional crafts, and performances When the Karma Parade begins, pilgrims and residents flock to the front courtyard of Chenghuang Temple. Vendors relocate to the plaza, creating more space for the temple and the performance stage. During
the celebration, people watch traditional drama performances, enjoy snacks, light incense, and participate in traditional music and dance. The parade usually departs from the temple's front courtyard. Pilgrims wear paper representations of their karma, follow the parade, and return to Chenghuang Temple after visiting the surrounding neighborhood.
Ground Plan: Parade
A-A'
B-B'
C-C'
D-D'
plaza Historical remain
Temple court
Vendors
Central shopping mall
Central shopping mall
ChenghuangTemple
Vendors
Show stage
Guangming New Village Reconstruction Project
The site is located in Guangming New Village, a community with roots tracing back to the Japanese occupation period. This village is characterized by its
The reconstruction project consists of five renovated historical buildings, a landscape playground, and a lakeside trail. The primary objective is to preserve the
These additions include a holiday market in the alleyways of the buildings, a landscape playground for children, music performances, an ecological grass ditch
The vision is for children in Guangming New Village to experience nature firsthand—playing in the woods, running across grassy slopes, and exploring the natural environment around them.
Involvement parts of author
-Site Research and Mapping
-Plant Research
-Historical Building Layout
-Water Supply and Drainage Analysis
[ Guangming New Village Masterplanning ]
Staff Dormitory Area Renovation Site
Chengkung Lake
National Tsinghua University
NationalYangming Chiaotung University
Guangming Kindergarten
InnerTime: Four Poems of Architecture Notaion Four Architecture Notaion
How can various forms of inner space be combined?
Four notation poems below narrate the journey of exploring the inner world. The author divided a single day into four periods, exploring different times and conditions through light and shadow, planting, sound, airflow, water, and natural elements. These four poems express author's theory of sensory spaces and the primal intention of shelter. By following these four projects step by step, one may ultimately find inner peace.
Aegis
The Poem of Shimmer:
A shop between light and shadow. From morning to evening, sunlight visits each chamber for two hours in turn. People track the time by following the shifting shimmer.
Reflection
The Poem of Reflection:
A community library where people can experience natural elements such as breeze, drizzle, fog, plants, and sparkling ripples while reading indoors, all of which are reflected in the architectural space.
Morning Rites
The Poem of Rite:
In this hotel, guests walk downstairs along the sunlight chimney, bathed in the light of the morning ceremony, experiencing their first 'morning rites,' such as a cup of steaming tea, a shower, opening a curtain, and stretching.
Laundryside
In this laundry store, while waiting forty minutes for laundry to finish, people without phones wander around the laundry room—watering flowers, chatting, drying clothes, and listening to the hum of the dryer.
The Poem of Uselessness: What is the value of 'uselessness'?
Chongjian Street Open Studio:The British Consular Residence Street Open Studio:The British Consular Residence Historical Building
The author served as the leader of the 3D modeling team in the Chongjian Street Open Studio, overseeing the group’s efforts in collecting historical drawings, conducting on-site investigations, and researching materials. Ultimately, the team created and rendered a video of the British Consular Residence historical building model.
In the Bamboo Pavilion project, the author also took on the role of team leader, guiding the group from the initial stages of creating small models to discuss the pavilion's form, through researching wire tying methods for the structure, and solving issues encountered during construction (such as stabilizing the sagging central joint during the build). The author managed the construction timeline, and their group became the first to successfully complete the structure, leading to a smooth opening.
