Garden Bridges - 100land Landschaftsarchitektur - Thilo Folkerts

Garden Bridges
urban installation
commissioned proposal
Parckdesign 2012
Brussels (B)
06-09/2012
www.parckdesign2012.be
team:
Christine Guérard
Almuth Bennett
curatorial assistance:
Elise François (Architecture
Workroom Brussels)
scaffolding:
Altrad AnD, Verrebroek (B)
General context - The event ‘Parckdesign 2012’ aims at reflecting the aesthetic, social, urbanistic
and ecologic value of terrains vagues. At core this ambition is about public accessibility
- factual, intellectual, or emotional - to these open spaces. The interventions within the framework
of the event can in this sense not establish a newly designed landscape, but open new
paths of perception. The projects can be part of a scrutiny of the existing „working landscape“
of the space.
Situation - The situation of lot 8 is characterized by the bridge across Charleroi Canal. The
project location in fact consists of five sites that are interstitial spaces between or next to
the staircases connecting the bridge level with the canal level. The staircases are built in a
historicizing, heavy stone construction. Albeit meant to facilitate connection and interchange,
they are in themselves impenetrable, unapproachable objects. Due to their current ‚freestanding‘
urban context, their hermetic character becomes even more obvious. Originally conceived as
decorative additions to the stairs, the interstitial spaces are dis- and misused, the same lack of
attention applies to the adjacent brownfields. The stairs‘ heavy representational gesture goes
amiss in an unbound urban context that consists of vaguely maintained remnant ornamental
shrubs, ruderal vegetation and a heavy mass of refuse and urban debris.
Project - The project aims to bridge the stairs with its immediate surrounding, confronting and
activating also these spaces. As a set of instruments for access, stay and observation, a number
of scaffolding structures extend the functionality of the staircase. The scaffolding interventions
(re)bridge the staircases on both sides of the canal. The dimensions of the interventions vary
and adapt to the situation: the largest structure leads into the ruderal field behind the stairs
next to Metro station Delacroix, creating the possibility of a lofty walk on a thin scaffolding
platform. A ladder-like structure leading to the staircase‘s raised planting bed at Quai Fernand
1 0 0 Landschaftsarchitektur - Käthe Niederkirchner Strasse 7 - 10407 Berlin - t/f +49.30.46794671 - www.100land.de - mail@100land.de

Desmets is possibly more a suggestion of access, than an opportunity to be taken by every
visitor. A scaffolding balcony at the Southeastern stairs marks the garden interventions in a
long vista from Rue Ropsy Chaudron, sharpening the view for the cohesive context of the sites
around the bridge.
The project strategy points at enabling the individual discovery of the aesthetic value of empty
spaces. It also enhances the aspect of transition as part of nature (and urban life). Essentially,
scaffolding creates structure and opportunity in a „construction“ period. It also points to the
future, as a promise of something happening - mostly a hopeful outlook, as construction conventionally
brings improvements. The use of scaffolding material thus answers at once to the
temporary character of the installation project (and the Parckdesign event). It also comments
on the constructive, active character of public open space.
The five sites themselves are not re-designed,
but retain their raw, ruderal character. Where
the existing soil is heavily compacted or where
a (slight) disturbance has to happen for the
construction of the scaffolding, the ground will
be loosened, prepared, sown with a seed mixture
of spices and left for ruderal growth for the rest
of the vegetative period.
Communication - In order to better communicate
the project and the focus object of the
ruderal condition, a selected number of plant
species are pointed out on small signs attached
to the scaffolding rods. A small map shows original
and geographical distribution of the plant.
As ruderal vegetation often has a history of
ecological migration, these signs open a larger
geographical, international spectre of the site
and the project - especially in the multicultural
context of the neighbourhood.
1 0 0 Landschaftsarchitektur Thilo Folkerts Garden Bridges 2 / 2