The Watershed and the Groundwater Biopsies: Catchment and groundwater investigations

Five Models for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, The Danish Pavillon, themed Coastal Imaginaries, curated by Josephine Michau. The works represent the sub-theme ´Reading the Landscape.´

The Watershed:
Material: wood, painted
The models seek to render our surroundings on the premises of water and the terrains. By offering a voice to the landscape, the model forms new ways to see our everyday relations with water in coastal areas. The model renders topography and bathymetry as one shared terrain.

The River System and Groundwaters:
Material: Plexi with engravings
One model with river system engravings on the front and groundwater levels engraved on the back, forming cast shadows of surface and sub-surface water. Three smaller printed models (Biopsies) zoom in on interpretations of the often hidden groundwater, investigating surface-subsurface relations via visualising groundwater from different perspectives.

Groundwater Biopsies:
Material: printed. Approx. 20x20x20 cm each

The Groundwater. Groundwater is vital. However, when running dry or flooding basements, it moves unseen below us, under the pavement, buildings, sports fields, and roads.

The Source. The underground freshwater system is invisible to the human eye until it reaches the surface as a source. Sources have provided foundations for settling and farming, and natural habitats.

The Well. Living close to the sea means a risk of saltwater seeping into the drinking water. The Well shows a Danish West Coast family farm that has continuously had to move their house.

The works are developed in the context of the research project Byerne of det stigende havvand - nye løsninger (AAA collaboration with KU, DTU) funded by Realdania