Site Plan

Vision for the Land of Chabot

The Land of Chabot is a landscape divided in half by the highway. This morphs the landscape into a patchwork of areas of different qualities. The importance of the project is to embrace those variations which together create one whole - Land van Chabot.

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Dead Ends

The different patches result in a landscape that has different levels of accessibility. The patches are separated by borders, requiring visitors to cross them to enter the Land. As you delve deeper into the land, you encounter more patches, and you have to cross more borders. This encourages visitors to make an effort to explore the land, progressively distancing themselves from the city. Additionally, certain areas remain inaccessible to humans, providing a peaceful sanctuary for local wildlife. Instead of having a specific destination, the value of this landscape lies in the journey through it. There is no predetermined point to reach or return from; the exploration itself is the essence.

Entrances

That being said, visitors might not see that this land is interesting to explore, and it's essential to ensure that they understand that it is indeed accessible. In order to invite people into the Land of Chabot, we create entrances. Although these entrances may initially appear to lead to nothing, they will spike curiosity in certain visitors who might venture into the land. The entrances also serve as imaginary borders that frame the entire landscape; giving it a more distinct inside and outside.

Flowery field

An expansive flowery field is designed for various forms of recreation and entertainment. During the initial stages, considerable human intervention is necessary to introduce a gentle slope and subtle terrain elevations, allowing water fluctuation in different seasons. The overarching aim is to foster a gradual process of natural succession. We will initially seed the plain soil in random patterns to enhance plant heterogeneity and allow nature to do the magic. Once the vegetation thrives, seasonal mowing will be required to manage the growth of young trees and bushes, ensuring the field remains open and easily accessible for wandering.

Food forest

The food forest represents a preserved natural area primarily for non-human inhabitants. Here we allow maximum natural succession, as the biological hotspot, the forest should be minimally disturbed by human activities. An entrance and a path have been strategically designed at the forest's border to enhance connectivity to the surrounding neighbourhood, no further substantial human intervention will be employed. To compensate for the loss of trees during the highway construction, specific fruit trees and ponds will be introduced to the southern part of this area, thereby further augmenting biodiversity and providing a secure habitat for animals in the long run.

Orchard

The orchards are planned to enhance the site's productivity and, most importantly, reconnect the inhabitants with their sense of place in Land van Chabot. We welcome participatory maintenance, farmers from the neighbourhood will be invited to maintain the orchard for ten years, and grazing and mowing are allowed. Benefits from the orchard will be extensively shared with the farmers. This initiative serves as a means to engage local residents deeply in place-making and helps to amplify their voices in decision-making concerning interventions within the site.

Highway

Maintained by the municipality.

Private property

Maintained by inhabitants.