Forestprints

International Competition for Conceptual Design of Leškopoljska Gorica Forest Park · Podgorica, Montenegro, 2024 · 3rd Prize

Data Unfolding

First things first - we studied the site’s soil. Then the topography and climate to understand the conditions shaping forest succession, from exposed rocky slopes to grassland and shrubland. We mapped existing ecological and cultural assets, including the river biotope, archaeological sites and the cemetery, identifying opportunities to restore habitat and reconnect historical paths.

Research

We investigated forest succession as a design strategy, examining how soil health, fungi, water retention and native species can initiate long-term ecological regeneration. The aim was to identify the minimum interventions needed to set the forest in motion, then allow natural processes to take over.

System

The site is organized into four forests, each shaped by its terrain, soil and intended use.

• Food Forest

• Culture Forest

• Silent Forest

• Cliff Forest

Productive agroforestry, community education, therapeutic landscapes and river habitats follow distinct paths of succession, converging towards a self-sustaining forest.

Application

Contour planting, water-retention systems and fungi cultivation initiate the food forest. An ephemeral stage and an educational center anchor the cultural forest. Therapeutic gardens, historical paths, slope-stabilization techniques and low-impact recreation facilities support the silent and cliff forests, with interventions allowing the forest to grow, adapt and gradually conceal the traces of our intervention.