Jiatong Liu

Soaking in the Air

Londonderry’s maritime climate is characterized by moderate temperatures, strong winds, and abundant moisture, which can occasionally cause disruptions but also contribute to the city’s distinctive charm. The result is a captivating depiction of changing weather patterns, ranging from dazzling sunshine to dramatic downpours, that captivate the senses and evoke strong emotions.

Furthermore, the high humidity in the air is a constant presence in the city’s weather. The moisture-laden air enhances the urban landscape, while also giving rise to unique urban impressions that are unmistakably Londonderry.

Londonderry’s maritime climate is characterized by moderate temperatures, strong winds, and abundant moisture, which can occasionally cause disruptions but also contribute to the city’s distinctive charm. The result is a captivating depiction of changing weather patterns, ranging from dazzling sunshine to dramatic downpours, that captivate the senses and evoke strong emotions.

Furthermore, the high humidity in the air is a constant presence in the city’s weather. The moisture-laden air enhances the urban landscape, while also giving rise to unique urban impressions that are unmistakably Londonderry.

Bogside in Derry

Bogside in Derry has historically been an area of wetlands and marshes, which were formed by the River Foyle and its tributaries. The marshes of Bogside were important for local agriculture, as they provided fertile soil for growing crops. They were also an important source of fuel for the people of the area, as they harvested peat from the bogs for use as fuel.

Over time, the marshes of Bogside were drained and converted into housing and industrial areas. However, in recent years there has been a renewed interest in restoring and preserving wetlands and marshes for their environmental and ecological benefits.

Recently, there are several initiatives underway in Derry to restore and protect wetlands, including the Foyle Wetlands Project and the Riverine Environmental Project. These projects aim to create and maintain healthy wetland ecosystems, which provide habitats for wildlife, improve water quality, and mitigate the effects of flooding.

In Bogside specifically, there is a community garden project called the Gasyard Wall Garden, which includes a wetland area that is used for educational and recreational purposes. The garden provides a green space in the urban area and encourages biodiversity, community engagement, and sustainable living practices.

Edge Structure: An Experiments of Architectural Language

In celebration of Derry’s cultural identity as a city of moisture, an environmental monument will be erected. The environmental monument will be strategically placed between two socio-political monuments, The Walker Memorial Plinth and The Free Derry Corner , serving as a counterpoint to these existing structures. Its unique theme will provide a contrast to the socio-political narratives of the surrounding area. Through this approach, the monument will expand the narrative of the city, enriching the cultural identity of the city.

the Walled City

Derry has been a source of contention due to its strategic location as a stronghold and gateway to the rest of Ireland, as well as its economic significance as a hub of trade and commerce in the region. The city was originally surrounded by a formidable wall which acted as a physical divide between its interior and exterior, serving to protect it from the forces of Irish nationalism. The walls and the city present forming the structure of mutualistic symbiosis, with Derry building the walls, which in turn protect the city

The thesis focuses on bridging the gap between the city’s interior and exterior, with the aim of unlocking the potential of the wall and transforming it from a barrier to a gateway that connects visitors and locals to the rich history and culture within the city of Derry. The Derry city walls date back to the 17th century and have withstood the test of time, surviving numerous attacks and invasions. While the walls have undergone restoration and renovation over the years, they have retained their original grandeur and charm. Although various parts of the wall have suffered damage due to war and natural disasters, efforts have been made to preserve their historical significance.

Today, the defensive aspects of the city have faded away and the walls have transformed into an urban living room, where visitors can stroll along the footpaths at the top of the wall and enjoy magnificent views of the city and surrounding countryside.

The dissolution of Old walls & The creation of New walls

The defensive properties of the walls have now lost their significance in terms of protecting the city, and instead act as a barrier between the inside and outside of city. The walls, which were once strong and closed, should have been fragmented and dissolved under the action of moisture. And those walls that are fragmented, or that disappear will become new walls or nothingness. 

The transformative power of moisture is finally crafted into a body of uncertainty in a model that will serve as a means to explore the language of architecture.

Mutualist

The Moss Institute is a building with a unique and

complex program, because it is not only a space

that meets the needs of human use, but also serves

as a substrate for the growth of moss. As such, it

requires a large supply of water.

The disintegrated Delhi wall adjacent to the Moss

Institute becomes a courtyard, as if it were a gap

in a dam, allowing surface runoff from the higher

ground within the city and from the surface of the

walls to flow into the courtyard. This links to the

narrative of a series of architectural observatories

on the sloping ground to observe atmospheric

water.

The Moss Institute needed to meet the needs of both mosses and people for the built environment:

1. The moss space is placed in the centre of this silhouette, with high walls on either side providing shade and atmospheric moisture being directed by the standing seam zinc roof and flowing through openings in the marble walls. The rough marble surface allows moisture to hover over the surface and is an excellent substrate for moss growth.

2. For human space, in the high humidity environment of derry, sunlight is particularly precious, so large window openings are adopted to meet the requirements for daylight.