Xinai Yu

The Reverberation of the Glacier River Lagarfljót

Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA)

s2236722@ed.ac.uk

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Project description

The disappearance of Iceland’s glaciers is a result of global warming. In the process of deterioration, glaciers send out signals that people may not be paying attention to. Eyjabakkajokull, the outlet glacier east of the Vatna Glacier that is one of the sources of the Lagarfljót, the largest river in eastern Iceland, was chosen for this endeavour. This river’s dynamics are reflected everywhere in the retreating glacier as it degrades. This initiative aims to engage the human senses in order to listen to the echoes emanating from the glacial river Lagarfljót.

The project is divided into two phases. The first phase is over the next 100 years, during which the glaciers will melt and gradually peak and the river runoff will gradually peak. In the second stage, which will take place over the next 200 years, the glacial meltwater will gradually decrease, the glacier will almost completely melt, and therefore the river runoff will gradually decrease. The melting of glaciers in the two stages will have different effects on the landscape, and people's perception will also change

Using the melting of glaciers as a clue, the project explores the "reverberation" that occurs during the melting of glaciers. Reverberation includes both the sound that can be heard physically and the impact on the landscape and people. By excavating and displaying the glacier's reverberation, this project intends to stimulate people's awareness, allow them to participate in the glacier's pulsation, and commemorate the glacier's demise.

This image shows glacier reverberation in the River Lagarfljot basin

The reverberation mapping

Changes in the upper reaches of the river over 200 years

The four zones, from the upper to lower reaches of the river, illustrate the impact of the glacier's geomorphic action on the river, which is one of the glacier's reverberations.

Four areas typically affected by glacial reverberation

Field of the glacier river Lagarfljót

This image shows the landscape plan at the end of the Lagarfljot River. ABC three sites are arranged according to the flow direction of the river, and the next step of the design of the three sites is carried out in turn.

This image depicts the landscape plan at the Lagarfljot River's mouth. ABC The three locations are arranged according to the direction of the river's flow, and the subsequent design steps for each site are carried out sequentially.

Masterplan of the end of the river Lagarfljót

Site A：The reverberation of the river fluctuation

This GIF shows estuary fluctuations and oxbow lake formation, as well as runoff changes, between now and 200 years into the future. Bridges and sound sculptures are built here to enhance visitors' perception of the river's fluctuations through changes in space and materials.

Site A：The reverberation of the river fluctuation in 200 years

Site B：The reverberation of the bird habitats

Create a habitat suitable for each of the three kinds of birds. The appropriate habitats for birds such as grey geese, meadows pipits, and gallinago will include ecological artificial ecological islands, bio-swales, and ecological wetlands. And as a result of the river's glaciers retreating and the resulting ecological impact and evolution, make the necessary adjustments.

Create a habitat suitable for each of the three kind of birds. The appropriate habitats for birds such as grey geese, meadows pipits, and gallinago will include ecological artificial ecological islands, bio-swales, and ecological wetlands. And as a result of the river's glaciers retreating and the resulting ecological impact and evolution, make the necessary adjustments.

Site B：The reverberation of the bird habitats in 200 years

The change of Galliano habitat in 200 years

The change of grey goose habitat in 200 years

The change of meadows pipit habitat in 200 years

Site C：The reverberation of the end of the glacier

At the final point where the river enters the sea, a monumental landscape is designed to create a meditation space where visitors can observe the melting glacier, the flowing river, and the crashing waves in peace.