Paradigm Map

The final paradigm map expresses our individual research into a chosen topic. The topics are relevant to one another, stemming from the general idea of "constructed natures". Within this paradigm books, individuals, projects, and key concepts are linked together in a lineage parallel to the train of thought and growth as the thesis has evolved this term. Connections are formed between our varied topics, which provide insight through overlaps (similarities) and offer further realms of research to examine. As these paradigms progress it will provide the opportunity to expand on the network, continuing to see how each other evolve and offer information to the others for their benefit.

The thickness of line expresses the connection strength. This is based on our personal interpretations as this is our own research and has given us alone an insight into the relevancy of the source/topic to the idea at the end of the tunnel. Expect a further rendition down the road as the thesis really takes hold in the coming month.

Mathieu Lehanneur's 'Andrea'

Andrea, an air purification system designed by Mathieu Lehanneur in partnership with David Edwards of Harvard University, elevates the status of household plant to functional art piece.

The system works by drawing air through a body of water via intake fan where solid particles (dust, pollen, etc) are captured. The interior air, laden with the toxic off-gases of consumer and industrial products poses a threat to human health. Andrea pulls this air in through its root system and leaves before allowing it to reenter the room, cleansed. The tests have shown it to preform immensely better than similar carbon based models. Initial results have indicated as much as 80% of a noxious gas removed through one pass.

[images courtesy of www.mathieulehanneur.com/]

Dubai Islands: Danger to environment?

In an article by Tina Butler, a journalist writing for Mongabay.com in August of 2005, explained the threat to existing aquatic ecosystems through the construction process of Nakheel's reclamation. Nakheel, a large corporation that has been at the forefront of much of Dubai's artificial seascapes, has stirred up so much sediment that organisms are being choked due to silt. Butler explains that the "health of the coral reefs has been in a state of continuous decline over the past 50 years. The Arabian Gulf is one of the most grievously affected areas, with recent estimates of habitat loss pegged at 35 percent. Increases in temperature and salinity have previously been attributed as the leading factors in reef habitat degradation, but the new pressure from dredging serves only to exacerbate the declining state of the environment". According to Butler this is directly affecting tourists, the group that much of this has been produced to bring. She claims the SCUBA industry has been affected drastically; "the current activity has essentially destroyed Dubai's diving industry even if temporarily, and enthusiasts have left the area for clearer waters".


Today, Nakheel is in financial turmoil abandoning future contracts and attempting to proceed on existing ones in an effort to streamline the corporation and bring the red zones of their budget back into the green. Perhaps this is more a problem than just completing the already questionable work. Will a half finished state of construction pose problems with unstable foundations, resulting in lack of intended development and use meaning the degradation was all for nothing? Only time will tell how it all pans out.

[Tina's article can be viewed here]

Initial Paradigm Mapping

This map seeks to isolate sources relevant to the progressing work of the thesis. This is the culmination of three individuals; Christopher Holzwart, Cecilia Roussel, and myself. Looking at the categorization of sources, including authored writings, theories, and projects, the map arranged them chronologically to look at the progression of thought and the evolution of focus with regards to our exposed subset of the niche ecology.

Harmonious Fusion

[image courtesy of http://markcweedon.net]

Floating Garden Ecosystem

French designer Benjamin Graindorge developed a garden, in partnership with Duende Studio, that engages the nitrite cycle in a micro closed loop ecosystem. An excerpt on the process can be read below:

Floating Garden

The fish tank is a microcosm that reflects human concerns: within the finite space of its architecture the main issue that conditions the well-being of its inhabitants is waste management. ‘Floating Garden’ by Benjamin Graindorge and Duende Studio brings an innovative solution to the daily maintenance constraints of freshwater aquariums with a filtering system that is 100% natural: a cushion of sand + plants that adapts to each and every model. Its recycling principle based on hydroponics does away with the chore of regular water changes and proposes a new domestic- scale typology, between the decorative glass vase and the water purifying plant.

Floating Garden uses two techniques for eliminating nitrate wastes voided by fish:

1/ Gravel-bed filtration: tank water moves over a tray where it seeps through a 5cm layer of river-sand. The sand bed traps suspended waste particles and forms a host environment for the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that transform azote into nitrates.

2/ Aquaponics : nitrate-enriched water pours over a layer of plant-life. The substratum of roots extracts the nitrates to sustain plant growth, which means that water returning to the tank is pure. Needless to say, the vegetation is adapted to wet environments: e.g. Amazon-basin plants or tomatoes rather than cacti.

The combination of these two techniques in a simple easy-to-use product marketed for the general public as of spring 2010 is a significant innovation. It is a little known fact that aquarium fish are up front in the domestic pets market.

Aquarium water remains stable: it is clean and the tank needs only minimal upkeep: a sponge wipe over glass faces to remove algae deposits, an occasional top-up to compensate surface evaporation, and of course food for the fish.

[images courtesy of http://www.dezeen.com]

Site as Thesis

The creation of site is a worldwide phenomenon. This practice is generally utilized for several reasons ranging from the programmatic to the experimental and in scale from a personal oasis to an entire city. These projects generally take the form of artificial islands, locked into a location, permanently affecting the surrounding ecology either as a massive disruption or even through immediate extermination. So what is the answer as these become more affordable, and recently more enticing? The ability to shape the terrain at will has had the Persian Gulf entertained for the present. However, in the near future they may prove commonplace throughout East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Rim. This will eventually prove a logical alternative where Asian countries face overpopulation, congestion, and land shortages in and around their current urban centers. Their waterways and coastal regions, current under stress, are likely in for a real shock when this transitions occurs.

Ecological disruption and polluted waterways, side effects of artificial land formation and establishment, will alter a very vital food source, especially for this geographic location as they rely heavily on the sea for their diet (30% of protein in their diet is a result of fish consumption). As water quality drops and ecologies are disrupted, this reliance may prove a larger issue than a land shortage.


Autonomous algae-laden cleaners shoal the boundaries of these artificial environments, cleansing the waters to promote an abundance of sea life and help assure that this does not occur. These capsules use existing currents, aided with a minor propulsion system, to school in massive clean-up efforts. The algae (such as Gracilaria lemaneiformis) is monitored and the capsule adjusts the depth according to the health and abundance of algal growth. As more light penetrates the capsule the algae regenerates its mass. As the mass becomes increasingly plentiful it travels deeper, letting the lack of photosynthetic activity reinstate an appropriate volume within the transparent shell. These units continue to evaluate water conditions and send live feedback to water monitoring centers located on the artificial landforms.