Under the Canopy: A Shared Democratic Commons

This project is centered on the theme of “Democratic Shared Common Ground,” situated in the Borough High Street area, London. It consistently focused on the ways in which urban public spaces relate to collective or “social” memory, made with a connection deeply intertwined with various levels of survival—the past, the culture, and the identity. These elements are embodied through “lieux de mémoire” (sites of memory) and ritualistic spatial practices, particularly in the modalities of entry and experience. By intertwining explicit and implicit design narratives, the project seeks to reanimate and reactivate fragmented and neglected urban spaces.

The Collective Memory thread (dynamic pathways) emphasizes domestic-scale experiences, articulating the historical transformations of the landscape and significant events, such as fires, through the materiality of charred wood and rusted iron. These materials serve as conduits for collective recognition, symbolizing shared historical experiences and reinforcing the cultural identity of the community.

The Public Space Functionality thread (static spaces) addresses the pragmatic needs of large-scale public spaces, specifically focusing on underutilized areas such as parking lots. The design strategy employs materiality to foster continuous public engagement, interaction, and communal participation through resident involvement in the design process.

TRACE. _PROJECT BACKGROUND

“Landscape architectural drawing […] can never be simply and alone a case of reflection and analysis; it is more fundamentally an eidetic and generative activity, one where the drawing acts as a producing agent or ideational catalyst.”

TRANSCEND. _PROJECT CONCEPT

Collective Memory (dynamic pathways)

Material-driven temporal spaces revealing historical shifts.

The temporal thread emphasizes domestic-scale experiences, articulating the historical transformations of the landscape and significant events, such as fires, through the materiality of charred wood and rusted iron.

Public Space Functionality (static spaces)

large-scale spaces guided by the functions.

The explicit narrative thread addresses the pragmatic needs of large-scale public spaces, specifically focusing on underutilized parking lots. The design strategy employs materiality to foster continuous public engagement, interaction, and communal participation through resident involvement in the design process.

Under the Canopy: A Shared Democratic Commons

“Design for the present, with an awareness of the past,

for a future which is essentially unknown.”

In this project, collective memory transcends individual recollections, sustained through “lieux de mémoire” and ritualistic practices of entry and experience.

The bartlett UCL landscape architecture

Comparative analysis of site design pre- and post-development

The project engages subtle life forms and grand temporal narratives to reanimate fragmented urban voids. Through intertwined explicit and implicit narratives, it revitalizes idle spaces, fostering continuous interaction and rest while enriching a “site half-living” forested urban state.

The bartlett UCL landscape architecture