Morphological (Infra)structures
- Bloom: Morphological (Infra)structures
Botanical Garden in New York City - Bloom: Morphological (Infra)structures is abotanical garden that displays the morphological shifts in plant forms as a wayto highlight the mutual effects of plants and their environments.
Taking its cues fromthe linear thrust of the abandoned elevated railway, nicknamed “the highline”, thatruns through the site, Bloom:NYC imparts its own linear logic which defines thestructural system and the gradation of planting. Apparently in opposition tothe highline with which it connects, the structural system of the botanicalgarden slows the highline at its end by reinforcing the repetitive rhythm of theindustrial relic. Adjusting itself in scale and density along the length of thesite, the structure responds to the change in span as well as plants defined inthe pockets below. The gradation in color reinforces the experience by emphasizingthe gradation of climatic zones while also opposing (and thereby enhancing) thecolors native to the species of plants within different climatic regions. Thepockets integrated within the structural formation of the botanical gardenserve as a way to curate water flow throughout the landscape depending on specificneeds of the plants. A water retention basin at the base of the system collectsand re-circulates water collected from the structure through a system ofchannels sized specifically for the different plant regions.
The result is aresponsive infrastructural system that serves the needs of plants from allparts of the world by mitigating light and water in a way that reinforces theclimatic impact on the morphology of plants. The glass structure reflects thesynthetic climate-altering capability of the greenhouse typology whileattempting to create a more natural system for light and water mitigation. Inthe end, the plants are allowed to take the forefront of the design, growingand overwhelming the (infra)structure that supports them. 
Bloom: Morphological (Infra)Structures was a collaboration between Kristen Smith and Virginia Melnyk. It was designed in 2009 as part of a research studio led by Ferda Kolatan at University of Pennsylvania. Bloom has been published in “Meander: Variegating Architecture”, edited by Ferda Kolatan and Jenny Sabin (Bentley Institute Press, 2010) as well as “Bloom”, edited by Ferda Kolatan, (Lulu Press, 2009.)
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