Modeling Landscape: Workshop Recap
Recently I collaborated with the Accra based grassroots community organization titled, Ghanaian Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) on a landscape architecture model making workshop. This workshop took place in Kwanyarko, Ghana (Eastern Region) and was one that consisted of a tutorial of how to read contours on a map and understand how to translate these contours into something that can be spatialized through a physical model.
The day started with our usual journey to Kwanyarko, Ghana which is about 2 hours from Accra. This is a journey that I enjoy, primarily because of the opportunity to drive over Lake Volta and the other moments of vast ecological landscape features that I only view on LCD screens while living in New England.
After we arrived at the Kwanyarko village, we were greeted by local community members of all ages and by the sound of Hi-Life music blasting through a large speaker set up. The workshop began with introductions and an ice-breaker to get everyone familiarized with one another. Although this was a moment for me to practice my Twi, I think and speak much more fluently in english. Luckily, a team-member was able to translate what I was saying for me which ended up being a major strength when it came time to begin the contour reading and model making activities.
The contour reading and model making activities began with a small presentation utilizing contours from the Kwanyarko sites. During this presentation I spoke about what contours mean and how they correlate to landscape features. Contours within the context of the Kwanyarko sites specifically correlate to how the mountaintop Wild Rain Site is only accessible by an extensive narrow-path hike or how the GYEM Agroforestry is surrounded by pools of water that are constantly flooding during the rainy season. After this explanation the construction of models began, starting with some trace paper and a couple of pencils.
One of my most favorite methods of model construction that I felt always allowed me to build something to represent landscape in a quick way was always through the tracing of contour lines. I developed a contour map that allowed for workshop participants to trace and then subsequently transfer onto cardboard. In three separate groups, each participant was able to contribute to the construction of the landscape models through either the tracing of lines and transferring it onto cardboard, cutting out and stacking of these cardboard contours or through the collection of materials to vegetate models with.
The workshop day ended with light snacks and refreshments and a moment for each group to share the work that they developed during the day.