PROJECT IRIS
TURNING NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE SITE INTO A POSITIVE
PROJECT IRIS EXTRACTS WATER FROM THE INNER WATERWAYS OF GHENT AND PURIFIES IT THROUGH UV LIGHT, LAYERED SUBSTRATES, AND CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS. THE MOBILE INSTALLATION IS PLACED ON VACANT URBAN LAND, WHERE IT TRANSFORMS OVERLOOKED SPACE INTO A TEMPORARY LANDSCAPE FOR REST, REFLECTION, AND ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS.
THE NAME, PROJECT IRIS, REFERS BOTH TO THE IRIS FLOWER, OFTEN FOUND IN WETLAND ENVIRONMENTS; AND TO THE HUMAN EYE, SUGGESTING PERCEPTION, CLARITY, AND AWARENESS. AS THE PROJECT FILTERS POLLUTED WATER AND REIMAGINES URBAN SPACE, IT INVITES NEW WAYS OF SEEING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE IN THE CITY.
THE PROJECT ALSO ADDRESSES POLLUTED CANAL SLUDGE, EXPLORING HOW THIS TOXIC MATERIAL CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO USABLE CLAY.
WITH ITS MODULAR AND MOMENTARY NATURE, PROJECT IRIS ADAPTS OVER TIME, OFFERING NEW ROLES AND MEANINGS IN EACH SETTING. IT ASKS HOW PEOPLE, NATURE, AND WATER CAN COEXIST IN THE CITY.
