Volcanic eruptions have pre-, during-, and post-phases. Human intervention cannot prevent eruptions or reduce the effects due to their massive power. But still, as landscape architects cannot, we can focus on site improvements and design with the eruption.
There is no doubt that the eruption will reshape the coastline, which makes Kviarjokull, Oraefajokull's closest sea outlet, significantly intriguing by expanding 5–10 kilometres in the next eruption.
Archaeologists always return to volcanic eruption sites to trace whatever happened before it. The 2200 eruption will change the site's surface components, terrain, and more elements, which will have the potential to build an ecologically sustainable landscape.
The design aims to help future archaeologists understand the 2200 eruption in this context. Commemorating the eruption promotes cooperation with volcanic eruptions' destructive character. By thinking as an archaeologist, I anticipate the process of finding buried vegetation, human remains, and eruption effects. By consciously including these aspects in the design, the site becomes a memorial to the eruption, inviting inquiry and deepening awareness of natural processes.
My design methodology provides a flexible toolkit of solutions that can adapt to diverse site conditions because we cannot forecast future eruptions. The proposal comprises five stages: Disaster Emergency, Ash Recycling, Instrument Installation, Accessibility reconstruction and Ecological Succession.
I first re-join the main route, prioritise cost-effective alternatives, and remove tephra from the following step during the Disaster Emergency phase.In the second stage, I focus on the material. Ash-based fertilisers, bricks, monuments, and miniature spheres are made from these materials, helping restore landscapes and promote sustainability.
Monuments to the eruption are installed during Instrument installation. These volcanic ash and Icelandic boulder monuments are deliberately placed along the natural beach. They lead people to memorial benches to view and contemplate the eruption's force.
Ecological succession ends with volcanic ash fertilisation. Fertilisation accelerates ecological succession and promotes plant diversity. Eco-friendly structures and well-planned trails enable coastal ecological succession while providing shelter for marine life.
I also consider human needs, which is accessibility; I set up roads along the river and connect each side of it at some narrow point of it, setting up viewing platforms on the coast. These two lighthouses stand as guides for two shorelines physically and spiritually, giving people a vibe about the eruption's power.
I aim to uncover the hidden potential within volcanic eruptions and present innovative ideas for post-disaster landscape reconstruction. By embracing the transformative nature of these events and working in harmony with natural processes, we can create sustainable landscapes that pay homage to the power of nature and inspire a profound connection between humans and their environment.
