Haiti and Dominican Republic are two counties that share an island but had been exploited by different nations in the past. Due to these nations’ different approaches towards these countries, Haiti became both environmentally and economically poor. The physical difference of deforestation is observed directly starting from the border which is the Dajabón River that has also been polluted. The project is located near the border/river by consisting of a research center for volunteer researchers on the side of Dominican Republic as well as observatories and accommodation units for volunteer researchers on the side of Haiti towards Lagon aux Boeufs which was actually reserving a rich biodiversity with its fish species, marine birds and mangroves but also has been abused with overfishing, deforestation etc. So, the project offers a collaboration between two countries to heal the land, the environment, the economy as well as the local people by proposing both landscape and architectural strategies.

Author: Oya Yaren Karaca
Studio: Arch 402 Spring 2022
Instructor(s): Mark Paul Frederickson