This summer workshop series explored coastal ecologies through observation, drawing, and design.
Beginning at Tillinghast Place in Barrington RI, we walked, sketched, and documented key environmental transitions.
In the second session, we developed surveying and section drawing skills, collaborating on transects drawings from the shoreline to the forest edge.
The final workshop introduced landscape architecture as a discipline, combining a studio visit, discussions on equitable design, and hands-on experimentation with biomaterials.
Workshop 1: Observing Coastal Ecologies
For our first workshop of the summer with The Green Team of Groundwork RI, we gathered at Tillinghast Place in Barrington, RI. It was an afternoon chatting about coastal ecologies in Narragansett Bay while walking and sketching the various ecosystems found by the water.
This first workshop was focused on building relationships among the students and the ecosystems at the site. As a way to experience, observe, and document the environment, we participated in quick charcoal drawing exercises at key transitional zones of the environment. We began the afternoon by sharing lunch together and ended with a dip in the water to build relationships amongst ourselves and add some extra fun to the Summer!
Workshop 2: Surveying Coastal Ecologies
We returned to Tillinghast Place for the second workshop, with the Groundwork RI’s Green Team, where we built on what was observed the previous week. Section drawing and land surveying techniques were introduced before we broke out into groups to draw a transect of the site.
We provided the section cut line and the students illustrated what was present along the transect at key transitions. As a group, three complete transects from the ocean to the upper forest edge were completed.
After a great afternoon observing and drawing, everyone went for a swim again at the beach!
Workshop 3: Landscape Studio Tour
For our final summer 2024 workshop with the Green Team Youth, the BRACKISH team gave a tour of the RISD landscape studio. Brackish members Corey Watanabe, Sophie Kaplan-Buciarelli and RISD faculty Emily Vogler then gave an introductory lecture to the breadth of work landscape architects engage with in designing more socially equitable and environmentally just public spaces.
The lecture featured the sharing of the on-going Phragcrete materials project led by (Taylor Jais, Chloe Kahn, Sophie Kaplan-Buciarelli and Emily Vogler) which explores material applications of Phragmites australis for marsh restoration and ended with a fun bio-materials experiment where students made phragmites and alginate based bio bricks.
This third and final session concluded our summer workshop series with groundworks, but the RISD team is excited to continue working with them this school year!