Lost Landscapes

Inis Mór has long been a stronghold of Irish culture and unique landscapes. Over centuries,\r\ncultural and physical erosion have affected the island, leading to a loss of landscapes and\r\nculture. We investigated methods of preserving the unique features of the island, sustainably\r\nprotecting the culture and land for future generations.

The project is a response to the cultural and physical erosion of the island, grounded in the\r\nimportance of a connection between humans and the natural environment, and the\r\npreservation of our natural landscapes.\r\nOur research involved studying the (re)negotiation between the island terrain and colliding\r\nforces like the waves, wind and rain. The collisions shape the island, the history of this place\r\nencoded into its landscape. By tracing and retracing characteristics of this shifting landscape,\r\nwe began to better understand its origins, authors and sculptors, extracting embodied\r\nknowledge from the landscape. These exercises informed the architecture of the project, an\r\narchitecture of the island and for the island emerged. Erosion from water and wind was\r\nengaged as a design tool, with our interventions designed to decay naturally over time, the\r\narchitecture becoming part of its surrounding landscape over time, continuing the story of the\r\nisland.\r\nThe project spans two sites, the first at the cliff edge at Poll an Iomair on the west side of the\r\nisland, the second at a decommissioned lighthouse in the centre of the island - Inis Mór’s\r\nhighest point. The interventions at the cliff edge include a Pelagic Research Fragment, a\r\ncombined Desalination System and Bath House, and the Atmospheric Sensorium. At the\r\nlighthouse site, the Archive inhabits the limestone caves deep beneath the surface, where\r\ntemperatures are ideal for preservation. The interventions connect people to the landscape\r\naround them and provide sustainable solutions to problems faced by the islanders. Oceanic\r\nresearch, fresh water production and natural sample preservation are undertaken at the\r\nPelagic Research Fragment, Desalination System and Archive respectively. The Bath House\r\ncomprises pools of infused fresh and salt water for users to bathe and unwind. Visitors are\r\nimmersed in the restorative benefits of a connection to landscape and are encouraged to take\r\npart in more sustainable ways of living by strengthening their bond with nature.