Yizhi Zhang

Venue Introduction

My venue is located in the KING’S CAVE area in the west of the ARRAN island. There are unique rock formations here - the doon fort, dinosaur tracks, cave cultures and naturally intertidal rock zone. Due to the fishing ban policy and the Biological Conservation Policy on Aran Island, a rich intertidal ecosystem has developed here. At the same time, the beautiful natural environment and unique rock zone characteristics also attracted many artists to settle here. Arran Island has its own artist organization and regular exchanges and exhibitions, which creates a good soil for artistic development.                                                                          

Site Redraw

In the early stages of the project I repainted the land use analysis of the Arran area through watercolor. I researched the stories that happened in each plot area and the activities of people in this area in detail, and used my own understanding to show it. After completing this painting,
This drawing is more like a diary of my explorations. I started looking for the part that attracted me the most during the drawing process, which was move in the intertidal area that I would later show.

Time Variation Model

My research design is divided into three parts based on the characteristics of the intertidal zone:before high tide, during high tide and after high tide. Based on the research on these three parts, I started model making and painting. The concept that my model wants to show is the same as my design, which is to bring the otherwise invisible landscape to people. This model shows the more subtle dynamic changes in the intertidal zone. It looks very artistic, but if you compare the actual photos with the creatures in the intertidal zone, it is a very specific display.
 

Intertidal zone dynamics

Then i started research on vertical dynamic systems in the intertidal zone. This is also a part of the intertidal system that I think is beautiful but hard to see. You can see the different states of the same organism in different vertical zones of the intertidal zone. and traces of original organisms left in the rocks after changes in intertidal water levels. The intertidal zone is always changing, but some things remain. I also studied the activity areas of intertidal organisms in ARRAN and the subtle dynamic changes that happen in different intertidal zones. These small changes, as well as climate, also affect large intertidal areas, and this is my animation of the large area changes on my site.

Site Design

After Overlay these intertidal zones from different years, i got the intertidal zone area that is now hidden underwater. (I also show it in my plane). So based on these surveys, my site design is mainly divided into two areas. There is an immersive intertidal ecological zone observation area at the lower level, and a coastal observation point at the upper level that combines cave culture and local art. The shape of my low intertidal zone observation points is based on the study of hidden dynamic changes in the intertidal zone.

My design is to showcase my research. As I said at the beginning, set a stage for the intertidal zone so that people can walk into it and enjoye it.

Plan（After Design）

Landscape walls and tidal pools

What I am doing here is the design of a landscape wall with different levels of high ground, inspired by the moment of dynamic water droplets in the intertidal zone. The intertidal zone system is a complex and rich layer. I use landscape walls to leave blank space and differentiate  the intertidal zone space, so that people can feeling the intertidal zone space like an exhibition.

Then I came to the design of my tide pool, which is another form of intertidal observation. My subsequent design is to let people walk into the intertidal zone to experience this space. The design of the tide pool is to bring out the intertidal zone according to the characteristics of the site so that people can see it. When the tide is high, different organisms will choose the area suitable for their own life. As time changes, different pools will form small ecosystems suitable for themselves (high tide, middle tide, low tide), and walking in them can feel the dynamic changes of these intertidal zones.

Intertidal zone low observation point

These are two landscape observation points established in the hidden underwater intertidal zone. Different lengths can observe the intertidal zone areas at different depths, bringing different  experiences. The design combine the dynamic system of the intertidal zone, taking on different states throughout the day. When the tide rises, the steps are cover in water and people cannot enter or exit. It is like a box suspended in the intertidal zone, forming a unique landscape viewing experience. But I also imagine people entering this space before the tide comes in, and then staying in it, waiting for the shock of the intertidal zone that they feel when the tide rises. As this rendering shows, I imagined it to be like a constantly changing natural painting.

High observation point design

Here, the environmental characteristics of the king’cave are combined. Based on the original road, I redesigned the route to enter the site. I designed an elevated observation point overlooking the intertidal coast at the highest point. And above the cave entrance, a space for up and down interaction was designed. If the observation point is the experience of the natural scene space, then the elevated observation point is the spatial experience of the collision between man and nature.

Design details of elevated observation points

First of all, this is a resting space for people with stone pillars scattered in various areas of the site. The original stones of the site are used to make small changes in form to form a selective resting space. The inspiration comes from the stones scattered inside the cave. We were sitting there and listening to the landowner's introduction to the site. And after I checked the information, I found that it was used as a classroom in history. This design provides space for users to express their inspiration. It can be a lecture, a concert, or a place to sit and listen to the sound of the tide. This is how I imagine it may change over time in different venues.

I designed a stone wall that allows for selective observation of the coastline from a high ground, and also incorporated the design of an outdoor art exhibition. This is like a series of wonderful moments, providing a venue for artists and landowners to present their ideas while experiencing the charm of the combination of nature and art. This is the effect of observing the coastline from a space above the stone wall. You can clearly see the rock fault structure of the doon port in the distance, as well as the changing intertidal coastline. The following rendering shows an art exhibition I imagined on the site.