The Machine In the Garden

The Mathias Lab will be a state of the art, LEED Gold facility in which the world's leading scientists can conduct their studies. The lab's associated landscape will allow them to accomplish the same objectives. A series of Experimental Stormwater Wetland Pools separated by a series of sculptural weirs, the landscape is part machine and part natural and evolving system. It is an infrastructure--processing stormwater and productively using excess fire protection and recycled water. And as such, the pools are controlled by wiers that scientists can raise and lower. The landscape is also a public outreach tool that informs visitors of sustainable techniques and their importance to ecosystem protection and regeneration. Within the pools is a beautiful tapestry of wetland submergent, emergent, floating, and shrubby plants that are a mosaic of life edged by native meadows.