Air, Architecture + Other Climates

[50.0°to 61.0° N : United Kingdom] : Carbon Transitions- 2020/21
John Cook, Ben Pollock + Laura Nica

Seni Agunpopo

Peat Observation: Regeneration & Acceleration of Peatlands

Carbon Transitions Through Plant Matter

The Flow County, Scotland

Peat is an endangered natural resource, critical to our efforts in offsetting carbon in the atmosphere, due to its ability to absorb millions of tons of carbon per year. Yet still, burning, agricultural farming and urbanisation continue to dry out moisture vital for peat survival. On top of which, climate action, such as planting new trees and wind farms, consequently, has reverse environmental effects when built on peat as this too releases the tons of carbon stored. The climatic crisis is critically affecting conditions for peat survival in wetlands as temperatures increase and rain patterns change.

In response to the recent policies focused on the restoration of peatlands, the project proposes a manual which focuses on the largest continuous peat bog in Europe in the ‘Flow Country’, Scotland, after a severe fire burned over 5,300 hectares in 2019. The architecture responds through a modular research lab for monitoring the restoration of the soil and housing researchers. A blanket system which creates a second skin in trapping moisture over damaged peat and a probe for accelerating conditions that cause the formation of peat layers.