li/ch/en is an ecological design experiment that responds to the engineered landscape of Mohonk, where a historical 7.4-foot water level drop exposed hand-shaped stone edges created to stage a “natural” wilderness. This project revisits those submerged interventions by using the same leftover stones—once abandoned near Skytop Tower—to build a base for an adaptive misting infrastructure. Water is pumped from the lake to an existing reservoir, filtered, and then redistributed through mist pipes suspended on lichen-inspired structures. These structures respond to the site’s terrain, extending toward the Mountain House and reshaping the microclimate to support the return of lichen.
Lichens—sensitive organisms formed through symbiosis between fungi and algae—have diminished in this area due to pollution and frequent human cleaning. By fostering conditions for their resurgence, the project turns the site into a slow, cyclical process of revealing, misting, and regrowth. li/ch/en functions as a lichen sanctuary, research site, and atmospheric commons—challenging dominant ideas of preservation and inviting reflection on how landscapes are selectively curated, erased, and reimagined.
