s e c o n d n a t u r e
environment self-construction through landscape activators
Understanding the relationship between the natural environment and daily self-built life dynamics has become a current concern in our society, also a self-interest. Where living in informal settlement neighborhoods inside natural spots in the city and having precarious conditions are usually among its inhabitants. Therefore, this project seeks to comprehend current dynamics and strengthen existing dialogue with the natural landscape. Where self-construction, as an expression of identity, is a key to transformation which trigger conscious preservation over time.
Second nature is divided into three garden spaces where locals can run their daily life in harmony with nature: collective garden space, productive garden space, and domestic garden space. Each one, not just allows people to interact with natural environment, but also create a collective thinking by making your own and shared space, being an opportunity to explore more deeply local building techniques and materials, including handcrafts such as vertical loom as a basis for each garden module.
Second nature is a project composed of varying modules, from furniture modules to facade modules and water system modules which allow native species to grow and are differentiated by their properties. Each module shapes a unique garden space created by a singular group of habitants relying on personal everyday life. These modules are made by hand with local materials, like pine wood, wool fabrics, and recycled plastic water containers, as a sustainable proposal with three targets: to explore and stay, to grow and produce, also for everyday work: based on each interaction garden space.
This project is an opportunity for architecture, as a means, to consciously improve the inherent variables of the place in search of an exchange and social construction, which can be replicated in other informal urban environments.