WALKING ATOP A STEEL NET

As steel becomes central in modern industrial production, 70% steel are produced through oxygen furnace that make up 10% of global GHG emissions. Worse still, 30% of the global economy was spent on steel corrosion. However, steel is one of the world's most-recycled materials, with a recycling rate of 83% in the United States. Therefore, it necessary to reshape the unwanted or recycled steels as landscape elements, extending their life span from landfills to key elements making up vibrant public space for people.

Tension has its graphic and metaphoric indications. Inspired by the picture Lunch Atop A Skyscraper depicting New York Workers in the 1930s, I found that lines and surface elements all together shape the perception of tension and stress. In the physical world, tension is described as the pulling force transmitted through a rope, string, chain, or cable. Steel has high tensile strength and low cost, Quote from a scientist, “Steel is more flexible than rubber”. It has been shaped into many forms through divide, pull, push, stretch, bend and wrinkle.

Corten steel has been widely used in outdoor landscaping as a low-maintenance material due to its antierosive nature, especially in Boston’s wet, rainy, and enduring winter. I use Corten steel to define the edge between vegetation species, hardscape and softscape, and different activities zones. Stainless steel wire rope nets can be stretched in a three-dimensional shape. They are widely used in fencing and railing, but seldom used in paving the ground. Considering the wire rope nets come in various cable thickness, steel cables with larger radius and denser mesh sizes have distinctive advantages in shaping the terrain due to their playful, flexible, and transparent net structure. And they have a long lifespan.

Initially, I divide the site into grids at 30° and -45° angles, which felt overly artificial. Grids slightly tilted from the straight lines seemed to produce more tension. Orthogonal grids provided a sense of stability, so I arranged the horizontal and vertical grids to form acute angles.

During the summer, the square experiences relatively consistent sunlight hours, while in the winter, sunlight is primarily concentrated on the northern side of the site. To maximize winter sunlight exposure, I introduced a climbing slope on the northern side, allowing people to bask in the sun. Shady spots in the summer are found on the western side of the site, where I placed some seating for relaxation.

Initially, I used a high-rise canopy to conceptualize observable tension. However, I realized that the landscape should interact with people rather than being solely for observation. I pondered how to combine tension with human experiences, and this process also involved manipulating the topography. Ultimately, I concluded that wire netting itself could be used to shape the terrain, simplifying the design. I envisioned the courtyard's topography as a continuous surface constructed with steel wire ropes on top of planted soil, sloping gently from north to south while maintaining a walkable path. I reduced the overall height range to enhance the pedestrian experience, making every corner of the net a vibrant urban space.