water//shed - project for a research centre

Gillam, a small community of 1200 people, is situated at the energetic threshold between land and ocean – its physical elevation is high enough above sea level to avoid the rise and fall of the tides, but close enough to sea level as to harness the maximum amount of available energy. A series of generating stations on the Nelson River and an endless network of power lines connect the small town to a vast southern population that unknowingly depends on this humble community.

This project investigates the relationship between two steadfast forces: the force of gravity acting on water and the human driven force of energy consumption. The architectural proposition examines the complexities of a specific site that is constantly manipulated by human hands in order to meet the general needs of a distant population. The design of this research centre seeks to develop itself from pre-existing materials assembled in accordance with natural forces acting upon them.