Common Ground

This project explores the importance of ‘Common ground’ in diverse communities, bringing people together from disparate ethnicities, cultures, genders, ages and personal preferences from unfamiliar to familiar relationships into a social unit. The focus is on the Walthamstow Wetlands, a reservoir built on marshland next to the River Lea between 1853 and 1904 by the East London Waterwork Company. It was opened in 2017 for the first time in 150 years. Walthamstow is significant in delivering shelter and food to wildlife, especially heronry and water-loving birds; it enhances countless natural elements of grass, trees, soil, bark, nests, rivers, and flowers alongside pavements. All these elements have been appreciated by species who establish their comfort zone and personal space by deciding where to inhabit. However, pedestrians often overlook the natural elements in this area. Certeau claims, “Medieval or Renaissance painters represented the city as seen in a perspective that no eye had yet enjoyed”. (Certeau, 2007:92) This explains why when spectators disdain places such as Walthamstow Wetlands, they become incapable of treasuring its atmosphere; even though they are localised, this disdain forms too impenetrable a barrier to allow them to spatialise the area. To address this, the project aims to create a supportive and meditative environment by reinventing nature reserves with woven and metal installations. The goal is to provide relaxation, freshness, safety and encouragement for all ages while promoting discoveries. The connection between humans and nature is crucial for peacefulness and a break from urban pollution. Grass is particularly emphasized in the project due to its environmental benefits, such as absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, similar to living plants; it also traps dust to benefit the air and human lungs. Incorporating grass installations in nature aims to encourage people to spend more time outdoors, raise sustainability awareness and demonstrate innovative ways of elevating the status of materials by repurposing the values of obsolete products.