The “Artificial Forest” embraces the ambiguity between the artificially “willed” constructs of architecture and the “wild” aspects of nature by proposing an infrastructure for forestry and education within an existing abandoned train shed on Liberty State Park.
The “Artificial Forest” consists of two different systems of forestry: a permanent “wild” forest that integrates the ‘Miyawaki Method’ for site regeneration, and an impermanent “willed” sapling forest for tree farming that addresses the heat island effect by supplying a resilient and diverse stock of urban trees to underserved neighborhoods.
Extending above the existing shed structure, a new continuous terracotta canopy unfolds around the sapling farms for rainwater harvesting and heat retention. Underneath this new canopy, classrooms for the Forest School intertwine with the artificial forest, whilst public spaces for exhibitions and gatherings are organized on the perimeter of the existing shed. Decks and suspended walkways connect these spaces throughout the forest, dissolving the boundary between human and non-human activity. The project establishes a collaborative partnership between the Sierra Club for conservation expertise, the Tree Farm for managing forest health and cultivation, and the Forest School to establish a novel educational model based on principles of ecological care.
