Botanical Gentrification

Situated in the north-western corner of Georgia, Abkhazia was once known as a prime holiday destination for the Soviet elite. The ornate railway station that once carried aristocrats to vacation homes has since been gentrified by thriving flora and fauna.

Abkhazia's battle for independence from Georgia since the collapse of the USSR has reduced the economy to ruins. The only things to thrive are the atmosphere of instability, Russo-Georgian rivalry for influence, and the vegetative takeover on abandoned infrastructure.

It would make for interesting Landscape Architectural experiment, in close coordination with Architecture, to design a system that intentionally allows this natural process of The World Without Us landscape succession to occur. The deliberate “overgrowth” could eventually become means of structural support and a by allowing the wild in, creating a true interconnection between ecosystem and architecture.

{images via: Environmental Graffiti}

Comments

[Uncle B]

Now that the market has crashed, and the uber-capitalist U.S. government has 'nationalized" failing capitalist enterprises, we can soon expect to see Las Vegas and other American locations looking just like this! We are back to shoveling shit behind a cow and planting gardens on our hands and Knees, as soon as we can find a plot of land we can afford! The parties over!

[Mark]

You're stupid. Maybe it would be best if you picked up a shovel.

[Adam E. Anderson]

Uncle B,

I would hesitate to categorize the current US economic situation as a "falling capitalist enterprise", a little extreme at this point.

I personally doubt we'll see a situation like this in US modern cities during our lifetimes, but if you see shoveling shit in your future, why not just leave it? It will provide excellent nutrients for the garden in your small, overpriced plot of land in post-economic apocalyptic America! Oh, but instead of cow, make it a goat, they're a much more sustainable animal.

Thanks for the comment,

Adam

[Stephen]

There is a big difference between failed communism and what is going on with the market right now. Pure Capitalism is the only way we will avert economic crisis.

[lyricdancer]

This may not happen in our crowded country now, but only thirty years ago, I was exploring the old McCormick estate in Lake Forest, IL. Apparently, it had been built in the twenties costing millions of dollars by Cyrus for his new wife. The marriage didn't last and they never moved in. I discovered it while exploring woods near my college-- overgrown fountains, hidden paths, decrepit stairs-- it strongly imprints my design style as a landscape architect.

There are many places like this here in the United States, and their discovery is like treasure hunting.

[vi da nam]

[...]government has 'nationalized" failing capitalist enterprises, we can soon expect to see Las Vegas and other American locations looking just like this! We are back to shoveling shit behind a cow and planting gardens on our hands and Knees, as soon as we can find a plot of land we can afford! The parties over![...]