REGENERATING SEWARDSTONE

My intentions for DES2 [B] were exploring landscape design and heavily incorporating agricultural methods into the architecture. I also tried to investigate typologies and materials that were foreign to me. The most influential precedents that helped me throughout the project were Shatwell Farm by Stephen Taylor Architects and Bushey Cemetery / Waugh Thistleton Architects. 

I aimed to use milk fermentation as a way to bring together the communities surrounding Sewardstone, Upper Lea Valley, that don’t have access to sheltered and unique meeting spaces. The project proposes a dairy farm that provides yogurt made on-site and a public ‘Yogurt Craft Workshop’ that teaches people of all ages the sustainable cycle of fermentation. The workshop will have sessions where the craft of yogurt-making will be taught and locals taking their batches home and continuing the cycle of fermentation will be supported. Learning and participating in hand milking, making of yogurt, and tasting in a group of locals is encouraged in order to strengthen neighborhood relationships in these communities. 

Agroforesty affects the landscape in many positive ways: increases biodiversity, improve conditions for plants, livestock and wildlife , reduces soil erosion, combats climate change and more. The project has a give and take relationship with the land as the bettering of the landscape and cattle grazing happens simultaneously. I also tried to enhance the hedgerows on site as much as possible as they are of great signficance for the ecological range of the landscape.

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The outdoor seating area has direct views to the landscape and the cattle barn, reinforcing the relationship between animals and rural spaces. Light is brought through polycarbonate sheets, creating an open environment where the community can still feel like they are in an open environment, even when sheltered. Public spaces are heavily ventilated in order for the intense smells of the animals and fermentation to not come off too strong. Guests are guided towards walking routes or depper into the landscape through walkpaths in order to encourage affection towards nature.