This home improvement project emerged from the 2020–2022 pandemic as a rare solo endeavor, entirely conceived and constructed by the designer. Drawing from his personal experiences during the pandemic, he centered the project on the universally human concept of a family haven. Life is a voyage on the open sea, with home as its harbor—a profound idea that transcends geography and culture, uniting us all. The pandemic heightened this shared understanding, leading the designer to build a “family harbor” in his own courtyard.
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Dreaming in the Lotus Bay
Private Landscape Architecture (Built)
Firm
W. W. Designs, Inc.
Architect/Designer
Wister Wenbing Wu
Design Team
Wister Wenbing Wu (solo designer)
Location
4101 Harrogate DR., Norman, OK 73072, USA
Country
United States
Photographer/Copyright
©Wister Wenbing Wu & Lester Yucheng Wu
Social Media Handles:
Website
N/A
Beyond a mere home improvement, this project actively responds to the social dynamics of the 21st-century pandemic through innovative landscape design. It tells a broader societal story through the transformation of a small courtyard while exploring meaningful innovations within the most fundamental living unit. The project elevates the space into a large-scale, functional piece of environmental art and an ecological haven.
A scene both grand and intimate unfolds, where nearly every courtyard element embodies the motif of boats. Sixty-eight “boats” are docked in dynamic, flowing formations, symbolizing a true family haven. The harbor metaphor seamlessly merges fluid, rhythmic forms, evoking the surge of the sea within this inland retreat. The multidimensional interplay of ship-like elements creates a vibrant and energetic composition. A series of reverse movements generates a powerful sense of contrast and dramatic tension, collectively portraying a scene of perseverance—breaking through immense resistance to move forward. Infused with the poetic imagery of sailing, the yard space becomes a striking visual metaphor for resilience, symbolizing humanity’s unwavering determination to overcome the storm of the pandemic.
Providing relief from pandemic pressure, the yard transcends a mere living space to become a sanctuary. The sanctuary carries an imaginative universe of stars and seas, brimming with the warmth of communal living. It features unique gathering spaces on water and aboard boats, offering a vivid example of how a new societal lifestyle can evolve.
At its core, the project departs from traditional concepts, moving beyond conventional settings to materialize shared human experiences permanently marked by the pandemic era. Blending Eastern and Western cultures, time and space, and digital-age innovation, the project reimagines home as a vibrant, interactive, and joyful space. The project highlights the immense potential for human settlements to be more diverse and inspiring.
The yard is an ecological and sustainable haven. An existing tree grows within the tea pavilion, providing shade and serving as a natural hanging post. Even discarded lumber is repurposed into beautiful elements. Responding to the environment, the project primarily uses recyclable natural materials, solar power, rainwater collection, and permeable surfaces for resource efficiency. Built at a remarkably low cost solely by a senior individual, and requiring minimal maintenance, the project exemplifies adaptability and sustainability. Interconnected and interactive, the project embraces new, networked ways of thinking, standing in stark contrast to traditional courtyards. It is hoped this project will inspire new approaches to living environments, providing solace, spiritual uplift, and lasting memories from the pandemic era.
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