Public space
Discovering Exurbia
Project description
“Discovering Exurbia” is a concept that gathers, connects and promotes elements of urban and rural settlements with natural features. The result is a combination of developing places for people while preserving and recreating spaces inspired by natural habitats. Our solution is based on already existing biodiversity and ecosystems. Our concept aims to enrich personal experiences and environmental awareness through encouraging responsible travel, and facilitating a greater understanding and appreciation amongst the local community of the area’s natural and cultural heritage. We designed a productive landscape, which functions as a continuous public network integrating urban and ecological systems. The strategy of the concept is based on the connection between different dynamics of landscape identities, the balance between preservation and innovation of landscapes. Our team developed a trail, a route that connects the Atlantic - Black Sea and Iron Curtain Trail with our site, which is represented by the borderline and the connection between Kittsee and Petržalka, Austria and Slovakia, making sure that everyone has equal access to the benefits of the landscape. The trail has something to offer to every type of cycle tourist. En route one may have the opportunity to visit natural attractions, such as landscapes, natural reserves; man-made attractions, such as theme parks, gardens, towers, architecture, as well as cultural attractions, such as historical sites, monuments, local arts and crafts. By introducing elements along the site we hope to revitalise and improve the current state of the area while respecting its unique qualities. The site, located in proximity to urban and rural features, is facing habitat loss, the most prominent danger to wildlife, affecting not only single species of animals and plants, but entire ecological communities. The bunkers we provided throughout the site accommodate a variety of ornamental plants, carefully chosen to provide sustenance, shelter and a permanent home for a range of species. Despite the functionality in terms of biodiversity and ecosystems, our proposal includes a specific trail that allows people to interact with the habitats, combining an outdoor living space with what is essentially a mini-safari trip.
Author's presentation text
We are a group of three young students who have just entered the final year at the Landscape Architecture Department of the Faculty of Horticulture in Bucharest. For us, the words that define us as a team are passion, harmony and work. The relationship between us is a close one in which the combination of short meetings with moments of individual work, between intense moments of working side by side with the team and relaxed moments in which ideas and stories are shared, have formed and defined us as a very well cohesive team. Efficiency comes naturally from the pleasure of putting passion into our work. Our work strategy is to reveal after the daily activities what is best for us, being implicitly amplified the strength of the team. A strong and stable team is formed over time, through open communication. After each person knows each other well enough and presents herself/himself openly to the others, a step forward is taken towards a synergy of the team. It should be noted that the efficiency of a team depends very much on their cohesion and the way in which its members interact, communicate, relate and complement each other. Effective communication between the parties will lead to building a strong relationship with direct positive effects on individual and organizational performance and thus determine a productive team.
