Verdant Herbarium

Shnaia Xu. 

Tutors: Lars Von Minden.  

For centuries, cultures have shared a bond with bodies of water, and despite its role as a provider, we have regrettably turned our gaze toward the ocean with apprehension, dismayed by its growing acidity and sea level rise, deeming it an adversarial force. Instead of allowing this fear to fester, we should learn to adapt alongside it, striving to coexist harmoniously with this dynamic entity.

Located on the Mulivaifagatola Riverfront, the Verdant Herbarium reinterprets the storehouse of narratives as an ecological plantation. Within these walls, the realms of knowledge and nature merge in a way that promotes environmental stewardship and human enlightenment.

Conventional bookshelves are reimagined as green racks, each serving as a vibrant repository for verdant vegetation. The aisles, once filled with literary echoes, now flourish as thriving rows of vertical green farms.
Here, the boundaries between learning and nature’s rhythms blur, and we embark on a journey from planting to nurturing, from growth to the art of culinary preparation, and ultimately to the communal act of shared meals.

The design adopts a lightweight lashed bamboo frame and a regenerative facade system, representing the essence of growth and flexibility. The facade features breathable timber screens that sway with the wind, an homage to the organic dance of kava leaves. Beneath the airy facade, a solid core and sturdy foundation represent the pillars of resilience, akin to the deep roots of a KAVA plant.