Tien Kim Vu

This render captures a lively scene where adolescent dogs revel in the dirt and mud, digging and rolling freely in a blend of decomposing organic compost aged from the rot garden and the swamping waters of the North Lake. Humans can observe or abandon societal norms of cleanliness to play alongside their pets, fully embracing the messy joy of the natural environment.

The project reflects the cyclical life stages of Sandy, the dog. The Sea of Fertility [Neonatal] serves as a nursery, where broken materials cradle new life, inviting dogs to observe humans nurturing seedlings. In The Pit of Delight [Adolescent], dogs revel in a field of decomposing matter and mud, encouraging playful engagement. The Runaway Field [Adult] offers varied stimuli for exploration. Memory Lane [Senior] presents a narow path to slow down. The Rot Garden [Death] highlights decomposition, with dogs playing in compost. At the core, The Soul [Rest] provides a tranquil space for relaxation. Entrances & Exits [Birth & Rebirth] symbolise the journey through life’s stages.

This section explores how building debris from the racecourse's grand stand, bathroom utilities and also how the horse racing equipment could be repurposed to support a thriving sanctuary for all of ecology. Toilets serve to nurse young saplings to help them mature for planting throughout the racecourse, disturbing the tracks. A mound of sadles paired with nylon from outdoor umbrellas act as an enclosed, private space of rest. Grand stand seats are tipped over to create an interactive tunnel for dogs.

Caulfield Racecourse was previously a swamp which had been flattened and engineered to support horse racing. The project narrative is put a halt to the exploitation of horses and the land by nursing flora and fungi on site to disturb and infiltrate the tracks. The site is difficult to access unless you are member, with large brick gates blocking off entrance, only allowing access through tunnels.

The difficult access onto the site becomes a reminder of the inequalities in the human-animal relationship. This is accentuated by the flooding, sediment buildup, and blockages in the tunnel. While dogs can effortlessly pass through, humans are forced to struggle, navigating the tight, challenging space. This experience serves as a humbling moment, positioning humans to reflect on their role in the landscape and consider what true, non-hierarchical care might look like when nature and animals are allowed to move and thrive without human domination.

This long render depicts the connection between the two spaces, where the aged compost is utilised to health and better the growth of the nursing saplings. Also reflective of two stages of life, Death & Rebirth. Dead organic waste is actively ageing to increase the soil health of the future flora of the site. It also shows how Sandy the dog who will continue to exist even in another form after death, the act of caring will continue.