URBAN PASTORAL

URBAN-PASTORAL: FABRICATING A VERTICAL LANDSCAPE

Urban Pastoral continues the intricate dialogue formed between nature and artifice in Hong Kong. The existing density of Hong Kong relates back to the 1895 British Law that declared control over all local lands except for villages native to the territory. As a result, areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon grew dense and vertical whilst other areas such as Sai Kung and Tai Po remained rural. With an incurring yearly growth in Hong Kong we question how we could inject some of our own pastoral landscapes back into our urban areas?

After examining the larger social dynamics within the city we propose a vertical landscape to incorporate more nature into our daily lives. We actively intervene by appropriating the interstitial space, using nature to cut energy costs by lowering the ambient air temperature while also reducing air and noise pollution. Here we grow firecracker plants that entwine with the balconies, we place a trellis to hang our daily herbs, and plant bauhinia flowers, an emblem of Hong Kong first classified here in 1908. Our landscape has local fruit and vegetables such as eggplant, avocados, Pak Choi, snow peas, string beans and sweet potato that naturally grow at our hand’s reach. We recycle by building with 100PERCENT™ a material made entirely from discarded milk and detergent packaging and Ecoglass™ a 40% post-industrial recycled material by an innovative manufacturer, 3form. We look to professional botanists and local organic farmers to inform our architecture, our housing developments, and built environment. To produce a sustainable living green wall suitable for our environment we consult Dr. Arthur van Langenberg, who reminds us in his book Urban Gardening, “at the end of the day, Hong Kong itself is the greatest paradox. Who would guess that in a territory of 1092 km3, packed with seven million souls, three quarters of our home is countryside?”

Lastly, we encourage inhabitants of Hong Kong to farm in their own urban space. In fabricating a vertical landscape we promote the potential of an Urban Pastoral, where artifice and nature fully complement each other.

Eric Schuldenfrei and Marisa Yiu (2008)

Acknowledgement

Designers:
eskyiu: Eric Schuldenfrei and Marisa Yiu

Project team: Eric Schuldenfrei, Marisa Yiu, Jia Xin Chum, Nick Gu Lik Hang

3form Collaborators: Ricky So, Jeremy Porter, Chuck Allred, and the Fabrication Team

Urban Gardeners: Dr. Arthur Van Langenberg, Ms. Nim Yin Chan

Organic Farmers: Pat Chu, Adder Fung (Ah Fai), The Organic Farm Hong Kong

Venice Installation Team: Eric Schuldenfrei, Marisa Yiu, Jia Xin Chum, Nick Gu Lik Han

eskyiu would like to thank the following people and organizations for their immense support and assistance:

Sponsors: Hunter Douglas Asia, 3form US, 3form International, 3form Asia

Grant Fund: Hong Kong University Cultural Humanities Fund, HKIA

Individuals: Ricky So, Thomas Law, Jeremy Porter, Chuck Allred, Marco Pogacnik, Pauline Wong, Ralph Lerner, Bernadette Tsui, Jo Fan, Cherry Chan, Jen Silbert, Dr. Arthur Van Langenberg, Ms. Nim Yin Chan, Desmond Hui, Leo Ou-fan Lee, and Renato Garcia.

Hong Kong Installation Team at Heritage Discovery Centre:
Eric Schuldenfrei, Marisa Yiu, Jia Xin Chum, Nick Gu Lik Han, Stephen Ip, Joshua Roberts, Anthea Kwok, Anthony Cheng, Kenneth, Dennis Cheung, Carmen Chan, Sing Wong,Cyrus Wong, Dannes Kwok, Jeff Wong, Kyna So, Renee Kwok

Hong Kong Installation Team at Innocentre:
Eric Schuldenfrei, Marisa Yiu, Danny Wong (Pico), Stephanie Cheung, Chris Tsui

Location

Remaking Hong Kong: Architecture as Culture, Response Exhibition of the 11th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice Biennale Hong Kong Exhibition, Heritage Discovery Centre at Kowloon Park from Feb 28th-April 30th 2009

Urban-Pastoral: fabricating a vertical landscape by eskyiu, exhibited at
FABRICA CULTURA (CULTURE FABRICATE)
Hong Kong Pavilion 11th Venice Architecture Biennale International Exhibition
Curated by Desmond Hui & Leo Ou-fan Lee

September 14th – November 23rd, 2008
The 11th International Architecture Exhibition entitled Out There: Architecture Beyond Building, will take place in Venice from Sunday, September 14th to Sunday, November 23rd 2008 in the Arsenale and Giardini exhibition venues.
The Exhibition is directed by Aaron Betsky and organised by the Venice Biennale presided over by Paolo Baratta.