green infrastructure strategy - Cathy Chen - workbook

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY //Leith River, Edinburgh /Royal Dock, London

How

can

people reconnect the

landscape in

urban context Cathy Chen 01/2017 - 05/17 Edinburgh University MLA Kenny Frasel

01

2017.1 - 2018.3 Edinburgh Leith Waterfront Project

L E I T H WAT E R F R O N T -One of the historical area in Edinburgh, attracted visitors by the view of sea water and Leith river. Currently is facing the separation of surroundings.

Leith waterfront, Edinburgh

S I T E I N T RO D U C T I O N The development opportunity is located at the waterfront of Leith, close to the Ocean Terminal and the commercial st. street. As one of the busiest area in Edinburgh, Ocean Terminal shopping centre provides a convenient shopping environment for this area, the home of the Royal Yacht Britannia and administrative offices for several departments of the Scottish Government. Besides, this site also has the charming views of Leith water.

In the mid-nineteenth century the railways came. Leith had one horse-drawn line pre-dating steam-trains, bringing coal from Dalkeith to a station at the north end of Constitution Street, to serve the local glass-work. This dated from the late 18th century. Steam trains arrived in the 1840s, being some of the earliest lines in Britain. There were four railway termini in Leith, but Beeching and the successive governments closed them all.

Leith Dock, where local residents could get close to the sea, however, currently only few people come in for the abandoned factory and wild landscape. This project will focus on develop the landscape to reconnect the local residents and visitors to the sea and Leith river.

Connecting landscape with local community and natural environment.

Context of Leith Dock

D E S I G N B AC K G RO U N D Two terminus station buildings still remain. One station, nicknamed "Leith Citadel", on Commercial Street (now a youth centre) is the second oldest in Scotland (1847).Nowadays, urban development requires more residential apartment established on the surrounding area. There are traffic bus come from different directions that bring people from Edinburgh to Leith.

BACKGROUND | ECOSYSTEM + TRANSPORTATION

BACKGROUND | ECOSYSTEM + TRANSPORTATION Transportation in Leith Waterfront Area

BACKGROUND | AXIS

User Group and Land-use

3 2

4 5

1 6

Greenland in Leith

From Edinburgh centre to Leith

Reconnect with Leith

04 | 36

7

07 | 36

Land-use in Leith Attraction in Leith

04 | 36

M

S U B D U E D - D U L L - L I F E L E S S - I N D U S T R I A L I S E D P R O B L E M - S E PA R AT I O N The first challenge this site is facing the separation of surroundings. When people walk along the commercial street, they can clearly feel the huge differences on both sides of this street.

One looks very historical and vibrant, 4-6 storey The first challenge this sitewith is facing is the separatiPO conservation houses some restaurant, PG Turroundings. When people walk along the bars and shops at thethey ground floor, feel and the people commercial st. street, can clearly huge differences on both sides of this street.

One walking on the street. But on the opposite side, looks very historical and vibrant, 4-6 storey everything towith be dull lifeless with conservationturns houses someand restaurants, bars tall and shops at the ground floor, and people and regular buildings. walking on the street. but on the opposite side, everything turns to be dull and lifeless with tall and regular buildings.

F L O U R I S H I N G - L I F E LY - C O N S E R VAT I V E - C U LT U R A L CHALLENGE TWO | DEPRIVATION

4

5

KM

THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1

2KM

8

6

5

5

6

P R O B L E M - D E P R I VAT I O N 3

911 5

10

8

5

6

8

2KM

The other problem is the deprivation. The SIMD data from the Scottish 12 | 39 2 0 1 6 S Igovernment, M D - M O S T D E Pwhich R I V E D means D E C I L E Scottish index of Multiple Deprivation 2KM is an official tool for identifying areas of poverty and inequality based on seven 2 0 1 6 S I M D - L E A S T D E P R I V E D D E1 C I L E KM dominants: income, education, health, access to services, The other problem is the deprivation.

The SIMDemployment, data from the Scottish government, which means Scottish index of Multiple Deprivation is an officialhousing. tool for identifying areas of crime and Deprived does not just mean poor or low income, it poverty and inequality based on seven dominants: income, employment, education, health, access to services, crime and alsodoes means people have resources and opportunities, for example in housing. Deprived not just mean poor or low income,fewer it also means people have fewer resources and opportunities, or health. comparing our site with the overall rank of Edinburgh, for examplehousing in housing or health.

By comparingBy our site with HERE WE AREwe can find that the rank of the overall rank of Edinburgh, housing is extremely lower than the average level, and only we can find that3487the rank of housing is extremely lower than the average education isLOW a little bit higher than the average rank. Which | 3869 income means that this site is an area where many people experience 3043 | 3731 employment LOW level, and only education multiple deprivations, especially the amount of housing.is a little bit higher than the average rank. Which 3780 | 4086 LOW health meanseducation that this 3820 site| 3737is an area where many people experience multiple AVERAGE 3487 income 1K|M3869 EXTREMELY LOW housing 448 | 1282 deprivations, especially the amount of housing.

5253 | 5783 LOW access THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1 1

6

1KM

5

4

4

6

5

628

THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1 4

5

2KM

1240

6

5

6

5

8

2016 SIMD - MOST DEPRIVED DECILE 2016 SIMD - LEAST DEPRIVED DECILE

HERE WE ARE

1K CHALLENGEM TWO | DEPRIVATION

LOW crime

6

5

6

6

6

5 | 2184 1787

3043 | 3731

8

3780 | 4086

628

THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1

Overall - 3868

5

Income - 2858

5

Employment - 3296

Health - 5268

8

Education/skills - 5255

Housing - 405

10

Geographic Access - 6546

3

Crime - 1849

THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1

5

LOW LOW employment 13 | 39 health LOW

6

8

2016 SIMD - MOST DEPRIVED DECILE 2016 SIMD - LEAST DEPRIVED DECILE

911

1KM

1240

4

5

6

5

6

5

8

HERE WE ARE

2016 SIMD - MOST DEPRIVED DECILE

2KM

2016 SIMD - LEAST DEPRIVED DECILE

5

6

5

Overall - 3406

5

Income - 3491

6

Employment - 3113

Health - 3602

4

Education/skills - 2784

Housing - 442

8

Geographic Access - 5289

5

Crime - 3230

THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1

Overall - 2822

6

Income - 4111

4

Employment - 2719

4

Health - 2469

5

Education/skills - 3421

Housing - 496

6

Geographic Access - 3871

Crime - 281

THE SHORE + CONSTITUTION STREET 1 1

3487 | 3869 LOW income HERE ARE H E 3043 RWE E| 3731 W E LOW employment 3780 | 4086 LOW health LOW income 3820 | 3737 AVERAGE education LOW employment 628 448 | 1282 EXTREMELY LOW housing LOW health 5253education | 5783 LOW access AVERAGE 1787 | 2184 crime 1K EXTREMELY LOW LOW housing 1240

M

LOW access LOW crime

A R E 3487 | 3869 3043 | 3731 3780 | 4086 3820 | 3737 448 | 1282 5253 | 5783 1787 | 2184

14 | 39 2016 SIMD - MOST DEPRIVED DECILE

2

CONCEPT After the site thinking, I chose connection as the design concept. This connection is not only focus on connecting the residential area and waterfront, but also means connect now to history.

Therefore, we design an avenue from north to south which only allow people walking or biking cross. We also put a linear park from west to east base on the traffic track existing to recall the visitors memorial of this site.

RECONNECTION

About the reconnection, the concept is to break down the invisible boundary between the site and the conservation distinct, to reshape this place so that it can appeal to local people as a leisure destination. Besides, it also aims to connect the waterfront to the surrounding or even the city centre, add a waterfront city experience to compliment the popular historic attractions of Edinburgh. Two central focal avenues were designed to achieve this vision. One avenue goes straight to the waterfront, let people enjoy direct access to the water along with some pockets of expanded landscape and linear open spaces. The other avenue is based on the existing disused railway, with some street furniture to create a place where people can hang out, have a rest and EPTSalso | MASTERPLAN at the mean time learn something about the history: the old coastline, the dock, etc.

10 8

9 11

Conservation buildngs

1

History avenue

2

Holiday inn

3

Scottish government

4

Waterfront square

5

Residential park

6

Harbourside mooring

7

Ocean terminal shopping centre

8

Waterfront park

9

VisitScotland Office 10 Waterfront walk

11

Landscape avenue 12 6

7

3 4 12 2

1

Master-plan

5

CONCEPT TWO | SOCIAL HOUSING LANDMARK

Commercial use

DENSITY 84 units per hectare About social housing development, the concept is to develop this area into a new residential lead quarter for the city of Edinburgh. The design comprises a mixed use masterplan for about 1600 private and social residential units, commercial spaces and public spaces including a large waterfront park.

This theme includes family units with private garden; social Landmark residential units with shared open space and garden; rental units for home offices. In the north of this design, there are Flats two open, public courtyards to allow more people enjoy Home the waterfront landscape and at the meantime, protect Offices resident’s privacy as they are living on a higher floor.

HOME OFFICES Two storey - Units for rent

FLATS

Shared garden - Social units

Houses Landmark

Landmark

Flats

Landmark

Flats

Home Offices

Landmark

Flats

Home Offices

Houses

Landmark

Flats

Home Offices

Houses

Existing buildings

Flats

Home Offices

Houses

Existing Buildings

SOCIAL HOUSING Home Offices

Houses

Houses

Existing Buildings

Existing Buildings

Existing Buildings

HOUSES

Private garden - Family units - Low height

19 | 39

18 | 39

Density 84 units/per hectare About social housing development, the concept is to develop this area into a new residential lead quarter for the city of Edinburgh. The design comprises a mixed use master-plan for about 1600 private and social residential units, commercial spaces and public spaces including a large waterfront park. This theme includes family units with private garden; social residential units with shared open space and garden; rental units for home offices.

In the north of this design, there are two open, public courtyards to allow more people enjoy the waterfront landscape and at the meantime, protect resident’s privacy as they are living on a higher floor.

SIGN | LANSCAPE ANALYSIS

22 |

Each residential facade is a hybrid of two different facade types: one being an array of identical vertical windows, the other essentially an expression of the buildings structural grid. Material: Brick and concrete.

02

2017.3 - 2018.5 London Royal Dock Project

L O N D O N R OYA L D O C K -Surrounded by Thames River, London City Airport and London Royal Dock. Separate the local community and commercial activities from the two side.

DISTRICT | WALKABLE DISTANCE

Newham Borough

DISTRICT | POPULATION

Park and Green Space Catchment in Newham Borough

04 | 30 Population

05 | 30

Density in Newham Borough

S I T E I N T RO D U C T I O N The London Borough of Newham is a London borough, formed from the former Essex county boroughs of West Ham and East Ham, within east London, the name being a portmanteau word reflecting its creation while combining the compass points of the old borough names. Newham was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium.

The existing park and green park has different catchment. Defining 500m catchment for pocket park, 1000m for local park and 1500m for district park. Considering old people, pregnant women, disable people and other disadvantaged groups, a corn catchment was defined as: 300m catchment for pocket park, 500m for local park and 700m for district park. Population density is shows that people more concentrate on north-east of this area. London development bring a quick increase of population.

Royal Dock Surrounding Transportation STRATEGY | EXISTING TRANSPORTATION

CORE ROAD

CITY STREET

car

car

x4

x2 P

bus

x2

STRATEGY | WALKABLE DISTANCE

STRATEGY | EXISTING GREEN SPACES

parking

x2

UNDERGROUND

SMALL OPEN SPACES POCKET PARKS

existing DLR station

LOCAL PARKS

REGIONAL PARKS

x5

x1

x 16

x5

400

in construction DLR station

x3

walking

walking

recreation

walking

06 | 30

recreation

cycling

800

1200

CRITERION - Size - Quality - Facilities - Function - Accessible - Population of surrounding communities

08 | 30

07 | 30

E X I S T I N G T R A N S P O RTAT I O N

E X I S T I N G G R E E N S PAC E

G R E E N S PA C E C AT C H M E N T

There is a tube cross which part of still under constructing. After it completed, it will probably inspired this area and bring more people to here.

Existing green space could be divided into pocket park, local park and regional park from small to big. Different green space has different function, some of them for communication and some for entertainment. Green space like catchment that attract people live around and provide a great opportunity for people to get close to nature.

The green space has different catchment area. As this drawing shows, this area has covered by various green space. The number and size of green space are not the biggest problem in this site, so in our design we focus on redefine the function of different parks and enhance the connection of human and green spaces.

STRATEGY | CHALLANGE TWO

STRATEGY | CHALLANGE ONE

STRATEGY | CHALLANGE THREE

WATER RESOURCES

SEPERATION COMMUNICATION

SEPERATION

10 | 30

11 | 30

09 | 30

P R O B L E M - S E PA R AT I O N The first challenge for the site is to rebuild the connection of residents and environment. Royal Dock, London City Airport and the Thames separate local communication and natural wildlife. Population expansion requires more public space in London, one of the busiest cities in the world. The noise from London City Airport disturbs wildlife.

Therefore, the strategic plan is to reconnect the site with surroundings, including residence connection, commercial connection and green space connection.

S T R AT E G Y P L A N This area will positive attract a large number of residents to live in and the design plan to remove the London City Airport which is noisy and separate ecological connection and community connection.

We add some green spaces to the original airport area and around these green spaces we put residential apartments to inspired this area.

Strategic plan, develop phase one, 0-10 years

Pocket parks are essential component of green system of this area.

They enable residents could touch the nature and communicate with other residents in their daily life.

STRATEGY THREE Strategic plan,| PHASE develop phase two, 11-20 years

STRATEGY | PROPOSED BLUE + GREEN CONNECTION

Strategic plan, develop phase three, 21-30 years

STRATEGY | PROPOSED ECOLOGICAL CONNECTION

STRATEGY | PROPOSED COMMUNAL CONNECTION

14 | 30

Strategic plan, develop phase three, 21-30 years

Strategic plan, develop phase three, 21-30 years 20 | 30

Strategic plan, develop phase three, 21-30 years 21 | 30

19 | 30

SITE | MASTERPLAN

0

Master-plan for Site Design

20

40

100M

22 | 30

SITE DESIGN STRUCTURE After the strategic plan we turn to the site design. We chose the area around dock water as our target site. As our design conception: landscape connection, we still focus on reduce the separation and enhance the connection of in site design.

Extending the green channel in Thames Barrier Park to form a visual connection channel of this area and the road system is an extension of the existing routes. Most of area is design as residential area and we add green space to improve the living environment. Linear park along the dock form a visual point to attract visitors.

After the strategic plan we turn to the site design. We chose the area around dock water as our target site. As our design conception: landscape connection, we still focus on reduce the separation and enhance the connection of in site design.

We extend the green channel in Thames Barrier Park to form a visual connection channel of this area and the road system is an extension of the existing routes. Most of area is design as residential area and we add green space to improve the living environment. Linear park along the dock form a visual point to attract visitors.

SITE | SECTION

26 | 30

SITE | CONCEPT

COMMUNITY ALIVE HISTORY WITNESS

Redesign listed building Microcosm of local history reactivating communities

NEIGHBORHOOD REGENERATION + COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

New housing and apartment New modes of living Neighborhood integration

WATERSCAPES CITY ECOSYSTEM

Stimulate the potential of docks and adjacent rivers a healthier waterbody for all Upgrade city ecosystem

CENTRAL GREEN BELT GREEN NETWORK

Resiliet and networked city green spaces Characterised landscape Reflect adjacent areas

COMMUNITY GARDENS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

P u b l i c r e c l a m Environmental benefits for local residents

SITE | STRUCTRUE

Landscape Reconnection

SITE | FUNCTION Central road Central footpath

Road

Paving

Footpath

Railway

Proposed residential buildings

Proposed Mixed use buildings

Existing listed building 23 | 30

BOARDWALK Riverside walk Public

Residential

Mixed use

Gr

Cafe

ey sp

Commercial

es

Theatre

Business

Recreation

DOCKSIDE PARK

Best view for residents

Open spaces

Public

Cafe Office Business Restaurant

Restaurant

Mixed use

Office

ac

Residential

r

Close to wate

LISTED

Museum

BUILDING

Communal

Library

DOCKSIDE PARK

Shops

Residential Residential

Residential

Residential

Residential

Residential

Residential

Residential

Community Garden

NT

CE

Residential

Residential

EN

RE

Residential

LG

RA

Green spaces

LT

BE

Regular

on

Directi

TREE GRID

rk Barrier Pa Thames

Residential

Residential

Residential

Residential Residential

Residential

Commercial Reconnection

25 | 30

REFERENCE

Burden, A. (2014). How Public Spaces make Cities Work.

Gehl, J. and Gemzoe, L. (2001) Winning back Public Space. In New City Spaces. Copenhagen: Danish Architectural Press.

SolĂ -Morales, M. (2010) The Impossible Project of Public Space. In In favour of Public Space.

Barcelona: CCCB. Shane, C. (2006) The Emergence of Landscape Urbanism. In The Landscape Urbanism Reader. New York: Princeton Architecture Press.

Sorkin, M. (2013) Rumble in the Mumble Jungle. Architectural Record.