CREATIVITY GAME

Cristian Suau:

The Mobileland© garden: A radical landscape game

DOI 10.15292/IU-CG.2015.03.106-114 | UDK 72.01:378 | SUBMITTED: 07/2015 | REVISED: 10/2015 | PUBLISHED: 11/2015
Author's affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, University of Strathclyde, UK

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ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of urban shrinkage in post–industrialised cities has generated many derelict voids. This study reflects on the implementation of Systemic Design and Ecological Urbanism applied in mobile gardens. A garden always represents the notion of heaven on Earth even informally. MOBILELAND© is a portable garden system. Its structures are entirely made from reclaimed materials: shipping containers, timber pallet boards, car tyres, and any reused material. Components are available in different modules and sizes. They can be moved anywhere depending on seasonal, event–like and growing needs. In a short–term period, it has generated a unique play place by establishing an outdoor civic arena with ludic and recreational areas and open art events. Its design is based on the principle of remaking: reduce, re–use and recycle. By working with local communities, universities and other stakeholders, MOBILELAND© has the potential to upgrade open spaces and envigorate community groups via temporary uses. These bottom–up initiatives make adequate use of sites by contributing to the quality of life for neighbourhoods and addressing many wider environmental, ecological and landscape goals through community led place–making. Since the opening in October 2014 designer, group leaders and volunteers have transformed this place in a well–know public event. Nowadays it holds seating, resting and recreational areas and a sunflower garden. In terms of public education, MOBILELAND© is a play place that offers experiential learning and research–by–doing outside the classroom.

KEYWORDS
Systemic Design, Ecological Urbanism, Mobile Gardens, Remaking, Radical Architecture & Bioremediation

FULL ARTICLE
https://www.iu-cg.org/paper/2015/IU_CG_03-2015_suau.pdf (0.75 MB)

CITATION

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