Gabriel Kaprielian
Floating Habitat Pods
2017
Gabriel Kaprielian is a designer, artist and educator whose work explores the interconnected relationship of the built and natural environment to inform more resilient and livable cities. The focus of Gabriel’s current work is on climate change adaptation and mitigation. As the recipient of a 2020-21 Fulbright U.S. Scholar award, he will further this body of research in Singapore, working in collaboration with climate change scientists at Nanyang Technological University.
The Floating Habitat Pods create an opportunity to contribute to and measure the ecosystem health of the Schuylkill River. The pods create a tool that investigates river life above and below the water’s surface. The bottom of the pod explores different designs in form and materiality responding to habitat needs for sh and other aquatic species, while the top of the pod presents a space for a floating wetland. The pods are reminiscent of the wetlands that once lined the banks of the Schuylkill River, cleaning the water and providing habitat. The Floating Habitat Pods create a dialog about the historical ecology of the river and offer a living laboratory for study.
