Antidote (an·ti·dote): a medicine taken or given to counteract a particular poison.
A problem all of the Great Lakes are facing is erosion. Due to more mild seasons with hotter summers, the Great Lakes are not freezing over. This condition, combined with constant waves and rough weather, prevent the shores from having a protected period of regeneration which causes a rapid succession of erosion. Antidote is the first step in a long battle against protecting Lake Erie from a now irreversible problem.
Site Plan // solutions
On land, the southern most section of the building captures rainfall through the first funnel, directing it to the top of the rain gardens. These gardens are the solution to the hillside with a history of being heavily affected by rain runoff. The runoff was creating rain troughs which were growing in size and carrying sediment towards the street. In the water, retaining walls are placed to stop sediment being pushed into land. This will eventually create sand bar barriers for the adjacent shore, slowing down local coastal erosion exponentially. The northern most section of the building acts as a wall due to its concrete base. This protects the rain gardens and walkway from strong winds and weather coming off of Lake Erie. It also acts as a directing system for excess water coming off the hillside, directing it to other rain gardens or the basin at the bottom of the hill.
Site Analysis // Dark line is rain trough, shaded gray area is shore line erosion zone
Natural Treatment // Shaded gray area represents placement of rain gardens to stop on-shore soil erosion, light gray oval shape is a basin for runoff
Artificial Treatment // Long rectangles represent retaining walls to contain/redirect runoff on land, rectangles off shore represent retaining walls placed to catalyze sediment buildup off the coast
Zoomed-in Plan // raised boardwalk and building pier foundation protects ground below from added foot traffic erosion, also protecting rain gardens and new flourishing wetlands
After specifying the rain garden location, a walking deck was placed to elevate visitors above the fragile basins. This allows people to view the gardens from above, while also practicing preservation by default. The building emphasizes the idea of preservation through its pier foundation system. This protects the landscape below as well and enables the ecosystem to flourish underneath the building. The retaining wall on the eastern part of the site acts as an enclosure system from any leftover sediment that could be carried downhill. It also acts as an access point from the eastern part of the site, downtown Vermillion.
9 AM / July
The sun room is the educational lecture space in the northern most section of the building on the site. It is used for demonstration purposes as well as an exhibit in itself. The skylight is meant to hold a preserved view of the sky during any time of day, allowing visitors to experience the sky with zero obstructions. This space is valued for many purposes. Visibly, the walls capture every emotion coming through the skylight from above, washing it on each wall in the room. The space is pensive, invoking a solitary connection between the individual and the sky.
8 PM / July
12 AM / July