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Botanical Archive in the Arctic: Tundra Plants and Pollinators, from Temporal Outposts to Botanical Corridors

The project explores the relationships between Arctic tundra plants and their pollinators: flies, bees, butterflies, and moths, vital to the ecosystem. As the Arctic undergoes rapid changes, many species risk disappearing before being fully studied. The project proposes an integrated system of modular outposts and an archive to document and preserve these interactions.

The outposts adapt to the tundra’s five subzones, ranging from the High Arctic to the southernmost regions. These modular structures support plant growth, enable ecological research, and provide living conditions for researchers. Using local materials and minimal-impact construction, the outposts create microhabitats for pollinators and collect ecological data unique to each region. Designed to undergo entropy and decay, the outposts leave behind structures fostering continued ecological interactions.

The archive, located in Whistler, Canada, serves as a static collection of tundra data collected from the outpost and a living repository in case the tundra disappears. Temporal garden walls generate microclimates with varied shadow and light conditions, while terraces use topography to retain water and maintain soil moisture. As climate shifts, gardens will migrate higher up to the mountain, forming a botanical corridor, while the memory of the tundra and its pollinators is preserved in a living archive.