Choreographing Human Access Within a Shared and Regenerating Intertidal Landscape

Set within the intertidal landscape of Loch Moidart, this project was formed through the exploration of how architecture might transform the intertidal zone from a space of extraction into one of shared ecological negotiation.

The intertidal zone exists as a constantly shifting space between land and sea, shaped by tidal rhythms, marine ecosystems, and cultural practices such as human foraging. While often perceived as open and freely accessible, this landscape operates as a delicate system in which seaweed filters wave energy, and supports diverse habitats, including those of otters.

The project aims to enhance this complex ecological condition through a dispersed network of stakes that operate as both spatial and
ecological infrastructure. While facilitating seaweed regeneration, the stake field also structures zones of reduced disturbance, enabling
the protection and extension of otter habitats and supporting more balanced patterns of occupation across the shoreline.

A layered spatial strategy is also established, prioritising ecological processes while allowing humans to acknowledge their presence as
secondary. Elevated above the ground, a boardwalk choreographs movement through the site, limiting direct contact with sensitive areas
and reframing access as deliberate and controlled. A sequence of three observatories: threshold, immersion, and outlook, emphasise
distinct relationships with the intertidal zone, revealing varying degrees of proximity, exposure, and understanding.

Through this proposal, the intertidal zone is redefined as a shared and continuously negotiated landscape, where architecture mediates
between human activity and marine ecology. By structuring access, framing experience, and supporting regeneration, the project shifts
the landscape from a space of extraction to one of coexistence, awareness, and ecological care.