Dead wood strategy for the Swiss forest

By Nilufer Gunduz
This project aims at:
- analyzing both the quantitative and qualitative deficiency of deadwood and veteran trees in Swiss forests on a regional scale;
- determining the most urgent needs for action and
- suggesting different kinds of management measures to counterbalance the lack of deadwood and veteran trees.
The relationship between the distribution of saproxylic species* and the availability of deadwood and veteran trees allows us to determine regional potential for saproxylic species conservation.
Method:
On the one hand, the data from the Swiss National Forest Inventory are being analysed in order to find out some explanatory variables influencing the quantity and quality of deadwood in the Swiss forests. On the other hand, habitat suitability maps are being created to identify the distribution of saproxylic species. For this, the freeware Biomapper (Hirzel, A.H., J. Hausser, & N. Perrin (2004) Biomapper 3.0.), a program computing an ecological niche factor analysis based on present data is used. Input variables consist of 50 selected species of lichens, fungi, molluscs, insects, reptiles, birds and bats, and 15 ecogeographical factors such as topography, climate, forest type and protected area.
The overlay of all obtained habitat suitability maps will highlight “saproxylic hotspots” of Switzerland. Conservation efforts should be undertaken where “saproxylic hotspots” match deadwood-lacking regions.
*Species that are dependant, during some part of their life cycle, upon the dead or dying wood of moribund or dead trees (standing or fallen), or upon wood-inhabiting fungi, or upon the presence of other saproxylics (Speight, 1989).
Reference:Speight, M.C.D., 1989. Saproxylic invertebrates and their conservation. Council of Europe, Strasbourg.

http://gecos.epfl.ch/gecopa/Personnel/Rita/projects.htm

Temporary Living with Boundaries

TOPOGRAPHY OF INTERCONNECTIONS
by A.Ozge Ozdamar
LOCATION
Magdeburg is the capital of Saxonia-Anhalt. The site: Magdeburg South-East is a former industrial part of the city with high rate of unemployment and a large amount of abandoned properties.

INTRODUCTION
The change of paradigm in the Stadtlandschaft of Magdeburg has a very noticeable effect on people’s lives and their everyday environment. Spaces which once had a high value for the community and individuals are now abandoned. Remaining values of use need to be localized and strengthened, new ones introduced according to the present process of shrinking in the Stadtlandschaft and the needs of the people in Magdeburg.

TEMPORARY LIVING WITH BOUNDARIES
The post-unification situation led to two kinds of boundaries in Magdeburg-South: “Linear Boundaries” and “Area Boundaries.”
CONCEPT: Frugal solutions to modify boundaries.
GOAL: Providing interconnections between living environments by means of boundaries.

http://www.masterla.de/studio/2004ibamd/html/projects/topography/oezge.htm

Journey's Seed

Journey’s Seed
by Anthony McInneny, artist and arch-peace member
(located in Box Hill, Melbourne - Destination 109)

The two sculptural works were developed in response to the information gathered from Whitehorse residents from all walks of life about their journeys and sense of place and space.

The site of the works was chosen as a public space of movement, of gathering and transition.

Essentially, the forms are derived from the shape of safety mirrors seen in most places of pedestrian and vehicular movement. The idea that being able to see around corners and into the future offered a novel notion of a sense of belonging in a public place. The idea that safety is simply derived by being known and seen by others was most simply stated in the use of the convex mirror. The idea of reflection, distortion and amplification reinforced this idea – being seen from a wider angle and, at the same time, being able to survey the space wider than our field of vision or point of focus.

The second idea working in these sculptures is the notion of space itself. The patterns at the base and reflected in the works represent various ambiguous pictorial representations of space. Two-dimensional patterns from the east, west and Australia are derived from tile, weaving and flora motifs respectively.

Lastly, the works are designed to float in the space and, depending on the time and day, virtually disappear. The rhythm and dynamic of the pieces engages with the movement of people as they traverse the space from tram to the commercial and educational centres that make Box Hill a thriving city.

something about temporary housing...

Something about temporary housing and the need for permanent solutions...

Under the direction of our team leader, Karen Tanfield, we have been working very hard, juggling work (paid), families, the AFP normal stuff and trying to get a submission ready for the Canberra Biennial. The topic was "temporary housing".In the research process we found many aspects about housing that are important, for example, the shortage of permanent accommodation for locals as well as refugees.
Some comments from our interviewees addressed the way that we "professionals" regard emergency accommodation. According to them, we tend to tackle the solution as a design object detached from the real needs of its inhabitants. The question is then asked, “ Is this good enough"?

Our submission to the Biennial was an abstract installation that looked at the experience of homelessness in Australia. Whether our submission is built or not, the process was fantastic and involved four different disciplines, social planning, urban design, public art and architecture. Karen will present the research in October. In the meantime there are a number of new competitions that are coming up soon as well as a possible friendship project in Cape Town, South Africa so please contact us if you would like to be involved.

the team: Shelley, Karen, Su, Agus, Ceri, Beatriz

Melbourne: "Public Art project for Sydney Rd"

The Sparta Project:
The Hardwick Building at Sparta Place in Sydney Road Brunswick is getting a creative start even before the first tenants move into this iconic project.
Site RMIT Public Art, in collaboration with Marianna Hardwick, launched a series of temporary public artworks in the ground floor shop windows of the Hardwick Building.

Answering Mariana’s call for avante-garde operators, students and artists involved with Site RMIT Public art have jumped at the opportunity to create works on three sides of this unique site.

The Hardwick House and Sparta Project is the culmination of over two decades of work and creativity. “This project will attract innovative operators in the fields of millinery, cuisine, jewellery, fashion and art. Site RMIT Public Art are giving the building and the public a great taste of what will be the creative centre of Brunswick.” Said Mariana Hardwick
“The first day working on the site has had many members of the public just taking a peak inside the building for the first time in many years. We hope to create works that use the idea of a site under construction with viewing holes from the windows into other worlds” said Public Art Coordinator Geoff Hogg.



The first exhibition of works was launched on Friday 20 May.

Photos by SITE RMIT

Melbourne: "skipping rhymes"

skipping rhymes:
Melissa + Shelley
In April 5th, these two artists/architects exhibited their work - more will be announced soon