The Arboreal Perspective

The concept of The Arboreal Perspective lies within the idea that humans utilize watchtowers/observation towers to varying degrees with equally varying relationships. To some, it's a simple elevated structure designed to give better vistas while in areas of interest. To others, it's a sanctuary that protects them from the area they are in. I decided that both schools of thought have something to offer concerning the redefinition of the typology. In addition, the idea of symbiosis between man and his surroundings has always been neglected with the watchtower typology. So I decided that the concept for the watchtower reinterpretation would provide proper vistas, that not only protected the visitors but also engaged them in a relationship with their environment, hence, The Arboreal Perspective.

Since primates are the closest relatives we human beings, have I realized that I can utilize the tree  (or at least the form and a simple biomimetic version of it) to my advantage to achieve my goals. The form would (in the closest ideals of a natural ecosystem) help me achieve my goals while still providing adequate vistas to the visitors. The arboreal portion of the concept is simple parallelism to us and primates which develops the idea further. 

The design has two main parts, The Tower and The Underground. The Tower(s) provide the vistas while The Underground provides the protected and 'camouflaged' avenue for movement within the site. The site is populated by 10 towers to allow more visitors and more viewpoints. The Underground helps facilitate movement through these towers to provide a different vantage point than humans are used to. As I stated previously, the project also aims to promulgate a relationship between site and man which is achieved through The Underground. Given that the site elevation is sloped, the position of the towers and of the pathways was strategically placed to ensure that there are truly many perspectives and viewpoints to appreciate. There is also this almost labyrinth-esque appeal to The Underground that should really relate the visitors to the site as a whole. It should be appreciated as an alternate experience as opposed to a nuisance that must be overcome.

Material-wise, The Towers are made up of the traditional watchtower material (which is wood) and a tiered thatched roof. Construction-wise, while The Underground presents some construction complications, I believe that a simple closure of the area would solve this problem. The sheer walls would be made out of a concrete outer layer and a rammed earth inner layer. The steps will be made out of porous concrete as well.

Man, in the situation of visiting wildlife preserves, has always presented a form of hubris in the scenario - it is my goal to remove this hubris for us to truly appreciate not only the views of the place but also the relationship between humans and nature. 

The redefinition of the simple watchtower typology is perpetuated in the aforementioned relationship between man and nature. I believe it is this relationship that has caused our species to appreciate nature in this way. In the maquette-style perspectives, you can see that the visual goals of the concept were met, as well as, the redefined relationship between the watchtower, nature, and man.