Re: Death

Life is cyclical. As it grows, it eventually decays. As it lives, it must also die. And it is through this cycle of release that things can be reconfigured and regenerated.  

As part of our submission to the Lagi Fly Ranch 2020 submission, we propose a design that is a reflection of natural cycles. Its structure is designed to decay to allow regrowth. It thrives despite death. It invites participants to engage with it, to plant on it, to use the winding ivy or the sprouting weeds to create structure. And when those plants die off with the season, our structure celebrates that release.

The purpose of the design is to celebrate death. It is a ceremonial space, designed regeneratively, which provides opportunities to connect with cycles, seasons, and ultimately, death (our own, our loved ones) and to leave something better than we found it. 

Using the philosophy of biomimicry, we envision a boardwalk cutting through rammed-earth mounds. The mounds allow plants to grow, to decompose the structure, to die, and regenerate the soil. The plants will help create shading and microclimates that allow for successive growth. To encourage soil regeneration, and to bring life back to the land. Drawing from the First People, the initial structure will emulate forms similar to ancient Paiutes habitats – the first to learn how to thrive on this property. 

Before first contact, the Paiute had a rich history of celebrating death. Known as the “cry”, communities who lost people to the afterworld would perform song cycles known as Salt Songs and Bird Songs. They would offer emotional speeches and give away the person’s valuables to guests.

In a dancing relationship, the structure will be carved out in seasonal cycles. Each season the plants and water will slowly give shape to a new form, a new experience, so that as time progresses, participants from early on will shape the experience of their children’s children. They will support regeneration of this site while celebrating the seasons of life. 

We have decided to focus on death as a key portion of our design in light of its relationship to environmental degradation. Research shows that there’s a direct correlation between the ecological degradation of our planet and our collective ability to die well.  It suggests that our separation from death, our fear of death, and our disconnect from natural cycles drives us to be more concerned with ourselves, our images, and our ego. We adopt the mindset of individuality over interdependence and fill our fear of mortality with objects and materialism.

To bring people back to our interdependence, our interconnectedness and to the things that really matter, our proposal is a prominent ceremony ground that celebrates cycles, seasons, release and regeneration. It will represent the heart of this development to celebrate those before us and create the biomass for something beautiful for those to come. 

In this way, our structure is a deep reconnection to nature. Not only do we seek to bring nature back to this land, but we intend to bring humans back to their nature. This ceremony grounds should be a part of the core of this new development; an impermanent structure to stage our dance with nature. Healing through cycles.

Technology used

In our design, a rising boardwalk slices through a mountainous structure. The technology reflects the contrast of human/natural design, providing a unique experience for users as they travel from the entrance to the lookout. Along the way they are invited to participate in planting and celebrating the natural entropy of life. 

The base technology of our design is rammed earth and reeds (i.e. biodegradable materials). We chose these materials to reflect the harsh landscape and because they can be purposefully vulnerable. They can degrade through active participation from the public and by planting seeds on and within it. The structure is designed to decay, to build biomass and create the foundation for more life. 

To seed the regenerative process, the structure also includes rain catching technologies. Drawing from biomimicry philosophy, we’ve learned from the organisms in the area - like cacti - that harnessing moisture however possible, is the key to success. Thus, the fog catching features allow for small microclimates to form, using shade and shape to protect the water from evaporation and to aid in the degradation of the structure. Water storage underground, copying the roots of local species provides reservoir water. To create a micro-climate for growth.

Like nature, the structure will represent the r-species of ecological succession. It will represent the pioneers, who shape the land, but over time are shaped by the land. It will help transform this harsh landscape into a system that can regulate its own environment, sustain equilibrium and continue to create conditions conducive to more life. 

List of activities supported by the design

Our design supports natural regeneration of both the soil and the ecosystem. It starts through water harvesting - capture and storage - soil wielding as pioneer plants grow and die. It is a multi-use gathering space that encourages participants to connect with cycles, seasons, and death. And to celebrate those who have gone before them by creating a system that will look and function so much differently to those who come after them. 

The boardwalk slowly rises to a lookout, which puts participants in direct contact with the site. As they walk, the structure feels like a valley. The early participants will experience an enclosed space, designed to allow them to reflect, go inward, before reaching the peak of the boardwalk that looks out onto the vast landscape. To see all of the land and have a direct connection with what it is and what it was. In 20 years, the experience will be much different than it was for those early pioneers.

The design is tactile. It’s beauty in two forms: shock and awe. 

List of system inputs (Operation and maintenance)

The design is a participatory project that purposefully leverages natural system inputs. As people engage with the forms, plant seeds, grieve, celebrate cycles, and reflect, they are also supporting its degradation. The rain harvested will carve out their tributaries, creating pools and new forms. The seeds embedded and planted will grow to fill the cracks. The seasons will compress and expand the structure, loosening the forms. 

The boardwalk will remain and that may take some maintenance over a long period of time. But the primary structure is meant to degrade and support regeneration. From there, it is a subtle dance between natural degradation and human participation. Other than that, there is no maintenance required to operate our system. 

List of system outputs

To determine the overall benefit of our design, we measured its ecological performance. It will:

Generate biomass from 6614 m3 of soil

Increase carbon sequestration by 167%

Increase the water quantity control by 36 %

Regulate air temperature, decreasing solar energy by 247%

Reduce noise by 354%

Increase visual aesthetics by 142%

Reduce Nitrogen (air quality) by 750%

Reduce particulate matter (PM10 air quality) by 2%

Details of the Ecological performance can be found here.

Environmental impact summary

With a focus on “smart cities”, our design leverages more Indigenous thinking to create a regenerative design. It goes beyond doing “less harm” and is an actual contribution to its place. The goal is for it to decompose, to provide biomass and the foundation for an ecosystem to emerge. All materials are locally sourced and biodegradable. The evolution of the design is based on local participation. Over many years, our design will increase carbon sequestration (167%), reduce solar energy and therefore, heat (247%), reduce noise, increase visual aesthetic, reduce nitrogen in the air, reduce harmful particulate matter (PM10) and provide a place for people to celebrate the cycles of life.

Drawing from emerging research, there is a direct correlation to our inability to die well and our environmental degradation. Counter to many beliefs, educating the public on the detrimental impacts of climate change does not elicit positive change. In fact, it inspires greater consumption, consumerism and individualism. Our design’s greatest impact will be in supporting people in celebrating death, cycles, and the importance of thinking beyond ourselves in times of dramatic change.