EARTHSTATION

This project is incredibly place-based and this manifestation of the Earthstation is integral with Bowen Island, which resides in the unceded territory of the Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw.) The area I chose to work with is know as Cape Roger Curtis or more recently branded, The Cape on Bowen. This land was an untouched and privately owned 630 acre piece of wilderness until the early 2000’s. This portion of the Island was at one point that largest portion of wild coastline (3km) in the Lower Mainland. The Cape contained rare coastal ecosystems, mature second growth forest, and held a number of endangered species. The Cape on Bowen is a large development project initiated by Vancouver investors in the early 2000’s. The 255 hectares was divided up into 52, 10 acre lots, sold to the ultra-elite, and sculpted into their most extravagant dreams. Today, half of the lots have been purchased and developed, with the second half being prospected for a Metro Van campground. The lots I chose to work with are lots 23 and 24 of the Cape Roger Curtis development. One of these lots is part of 3, 10 acre lots, that were privately purchased and donated to the Bowen Island Conservancy. I felt this area was perfect for my project because of the interesting dichotomy of a nature refuge that was made from reclaimed developed lots. I also chose this location to work with because I wanted to illustrate how close the two plots are, so that my project may be used as a case for the Eastern lot to be included in the refuge in the future.

Early in my research I was learning about the water table and groundwater scarcity. If we plan to continue living on this planet we will need to figure out better methods of obtaining water that do not deplete our underwater aquifers. Water is the key to life itself and if you have water you have food and life which creates the possibility for longevity. I was very intrigued about the water table and how it works. I find it very inspiring that it curves and bends with the landscape. The natural filtration that occurs as precipitation filters through the earth was also a concept that I took to heart and tried to integrate into the Earthstation. Early on I was thinking about how a rainwater collection roof could look and function. I wanted to utilize natural filtration using soil and earth for rainwater entering the house but also with an additional system for grey water.

Sunlight is one of the most incredible things to experience and bask in. Our relationship to the sun is what has allowed life on Earth to be possible. I wanted to make sure that the sun was fully considered and utilized in the Earthstation. We feel deeply in our bodies the sun and its relation to us, what its doing, and we feel its absence when we have to go without it. I wanted to include in the house a place to enjoy the sun and connect with the primal experiences of nature. I spent a good deal of time looking at Sun positionality and how it changes through the year. I always intended for a large overhanging roof that would cut the direct summer sun but would allow for the low winter sun to filter directly into the house. Due to the South-facing nature of my location, the winter sun could become too extreme and I was exploring ways of mitigating that heat. I was thinking about stained glass and how the paning could create that effect. Initially I was throwing around the idea of ornate bars to also achieve this affect, that could also serve as a structure for plants to grow on.

I was largely inspired by the concept of ‘Spaceship Earth’ which informed the naming of my project, Earthstation. I wanted to expand on the concept but with something more of a legacy, a station opposed to a ship. When considering the future I spent some time thinking about an apocalyptic outlook. Is the air even going to be breathable in 100 years, and would the Earthstation need to be an enclosed system? I was thinking about making the Earthstation more along the lines of Biosphere 2, or a literal space station on Earth. I knew that my project would need to be large if it was to be designed to support its inhabitants. I knew the most important part of an enclosed systems in regards to this project would be food production. I also worked on trying to understand how something so large would interact with itself and as a form. How would it sit on the landscape while still optimizing sunlight and working with and around the trees.

These are more refined floorplans that I had created. These forms are based quite heavily on the landscape and surrounding forest. It was my intent to work with the trees and minimize the need to ‘cut’ any to construct the Earthstation. I realized here just how much room I had to work with and what size and scale the Earthstation would be; see the to-scale Dodge Ram in each image. From these footprints I had began sketching floorplans, but after more research I felt it more applicable to leave the inside empty, for the inhabitants to design as they please.