CULTURAL/RELIGIOUS
VACUOLES
A Hydroponic Garden
Project Description Our exploration of the experience of the garden started with a detailed study of the structure of a plant cell. The cell is organized in layers with the cytoplasm forming a ring around the vacuole. The cytoplasm contains the prokaryotic organisms of the cell while the vacuole holds the water and nutrients of the cell. The third primary cellular structure is the nucleus. The nucleus holds the majority of the cell’s genetic material.
Looking to the cell for inspiration for the design of the garden we sought to allow the functions of the cellular structures to inform the functional purpose and organization for each of the three primary spaces of the garden.
The Cytoplasm has been abstracted into a sandy gravel path around the perimeter of the garden. It is the threshold into the garden and “contains” the human organisms. Entrance of visitors into the garden is analogous to the transmission of nutrients entering the cells through pores of the cell walls; suggested by the spaces between the square stones. The stones are set into a pool of water - shown in the model, above with light.
The Vacuole has been abstracted into a water-filled pond with a grid of locally quarried stepping-stones and individual 3-meter high clear acrylic tubes (individual vacuoles) each with hydroponic plants growing from the top. This takes the purpose of the vacuole and transforms it into three-dimensional space inhabited by people. NOTE: In the cell, the vacuole may contain solids that have been engulfed… in the garden the people become the solids “engulfed” within the space under the suspended hydroponic plantings.
The Nucleus has been abstracted into a circular space of contemplation from which to look into the hydroponic garden. Since the nucleus holds the genetic information of the plant cell, we viewed this function as containing the “philosophy” of the cell… who it is… how it will develop… its natural character… Contemplation of a complex design helps a person refine their beliefs and in effect helps them to become who they were destined to be. We viewed these functions as analogous.
The single acrylic tube within the circular “nucleus” serves a different purpose than the hydroponic tubes. It is the height of an average adult and holds soil. This soil is layered as the strata found in a soil boring on site – This is the composition of the land to the height of my body… below ground.
“As the vacuole feeds the cell, the garden feeds the soul.”
Looking to the cell for inspiration for the design of the garden we sought to allow the functions of the cellular structures to inform the functional purpose and organization for each of the three primary spaces of the garden.
The Cytoplasm has been abstracted into a sandy gravel path around the perimeter of the garden. It is the threshold into the garden and “contains” the human organisms. Entrance of visitors into the garden is analogous to the transmission of nutrients entering the cells through pores of the cell walls; suggested by the spaces between the square stones. The stones are set into a pool of water - shown in the model, above with light.
The Vacuole has been abstracted into a water-filled pond with a grid of locally quarried stepping-stones and individual 3-meter high clear acrylic tubes (individual vacuoles) each with hydroponic plants growing from the top. This takes the purpose of the vacuole and transforms it into three-dimensional space inhabited by people. NOTE: In the cell, the vacuole may contain solids that have been engulfed… in the garden the people become the solids “engulfed” within the space under the suspended hydroponic plantings.
The Nucleus has been abstracted into a circular space of contemplation from which to look into the hydroponic garden. Since the nucleus holds the genetic information of the plant cell, we viewed this function as containing the “philosophy” of the cell… who it is… how it will develop… its natural character… Contemplation of a complex design helps a person refine their beliefs and in effect helps them to become who they were destined to be. We viewed these functions as analogous.
The single acrylic tube within the circular “nucleus” serves a different purpose than the hydroponic tubes. It is the height of an average adult and holds soil. This soil is layered as the strata found in a soil boring on site – This is the composition of the land to the height of my body… below ground.
“As the vacuole feeds the cell, the garden feeds the soul.”
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