Pop-up Ecologies by Ines Dantas

Imagine having a siesta under the trees right in the centre of London.

Architect/urban designer Ines Dantas imagines that and more. She is 'dressing' the trees in a pop-up experiment of performative urbanism, in a site dedicated to the public forever. Come and be a part of the community hammock, lay under the trees, tell your story and engage in an environmental performance in Whitfield Gardens to start the Autumn.

In this work, trees are explored in their relationship with people and open urban spaces, creating a temporary ecology of public space, and triggering speculative environmental reflections. Based on spatial connections seen from a three-dimensional scanning of the site. Fabric lines connect the trees and interpret the role of 'landscape' in the urban space.

This temporary architecture starts with a first phase of assemblage, followed by a performance with Laban Centre graduates dancers. Dancers engage with the public, the installation and the trees and visitors can participate in the design, reconfiguring it.
In between the performances by Helena Webb and Tuuli Hynynen stay tuned for stand-up talks on landscape, urban culture and public space, based on ongoing research at University College London.