Ephemeral landscapes

Some of the most successful elements within landscapes are often found by chance - ephemeral phenomenon such as light and shade. This ephemeral layer was recorded by artist Sophie Whettnall in her landscape installation / intervention 'Recording the Light' in Barcelona in 2002. Ephemeral shadows created by on site pavilions informed the marking of the ground plane to form a record of transient time. The resulting patterns created an intricate dialogue with the built forms on site and informed us of the passage of time and the impermanent elements that impact on landscapes everyday.

I believe there are opportunities for Landscape Architects to draw attention to these transient forces more often in our landscape designs - to develop more sensory and experiential landscape immersion. Can this be achieved without destroying the joy of the chance discovery or fleeting moment in time?

Image from 'Recording the Light' by Sophie Whettnall