| Artificial wandering islands | ||||
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Trentham lake was designed by Capability Brown in 1778 and like the gardens themselves has recently become a space of contest. The project aims to unite these contesting notions of what the lake should be used for. It is proposed that water skiers, fishermen, ducks, whirligig beetles and artificial islands use the lake together at different times. | |||
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Artificial island view | |||
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The islands move very slowly, it is the intention that visitors to the park can remotely control the position of the islands, constantly creating new vistas and landscapes. Two high efficiency electric motors controlled by a central processor linked to GPS are used for precision movement and to eliminate collisions. Artificial island plan detail 1:200 @ A3 |
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The surface of the islands is achieved using varied dia hardcore covered by topsoil combined with a steel mesh, irrigation tubes are used to create an ideal environment for a variety of indigenous plant life. The inter island communication and navigation system utilising basal frequencies was intended to be developed by students at Keele university. |
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| Artificial island sectional detail 1:200 @ A3 | ||||
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The main body of the islands are constructed from recycled plastic bottles collected by the local community by a construction process pioneered by Richie Sowa. The use of old fish nets to bind the bottles together allow for variations in the final form. Recycled bottles |
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Artificial island animation | |||
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Whirligig beetles annual dance | |||
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Water skiers on occasion can be seen weaving between the islands |
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| Artificial wandering islands video | ||||
| Back | © Steve Russell | |||