REVERSED METROPOLIS
DESIGN RESEARCH EVIDENCE AND DETAILING
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather today. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01. research CLIMATE + ENVIRONMENT STUDY
02. research SITE ANALYSIS
03. exposition PRELIMINARY RESPONSE
04. research development CONCEPT + STRATEGY
05. recapitulation THE PROPOSAL
06. coda REFLECTION
07. REFERENCES
Forest fragmentation refers to the process of dividing expansive, uninterrupted forested regions into smaller segments.¹ Initially, it starts with isolated patches, eventually leading to a reversal where the forest transforms into isolated patches itself.
Causes
In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in global forest fragmentation, largely caused by human activities. Urbanisation involves the expansion of infrastructure into forested regions, leading to the partial clearing of forested areas and the creation of corridors between wooded sections.
* Road construction contributes to forest fragmentation by partitioning forested land into smaller segments, disrupting ecological balance.
* Deforestation for agricultural purposes results in forest fragmentation, with isolated forested areas encircled by fields, pastures, and agricultural infrastructure.
* Clear-cutting involves the wholesale removal of entire stands of trees, leaving behind bare ground and causing severe fragmentation of forested areas.²
Impact
Fragmentation disrupts the normal balance of forests and disables ecosystem functions, posing threats to biodiversity, carbon storage, and soil health. It generates isolated patches of suboptimal habitat that is incapable of sustaining the diversity and resilience in undisturbed forests.
* ~50% of original forested area has been lost³
* Inland Brigalow and grassy box forests have been cleared to <10 %⁴
* >700 native plant and animal species are threatened by forest h abitat⁵
* The expansion of protected areas has largely stagnated due to the lack of government interest, apart from rapid growth in Indigenous protected areas, which are arid regions lacking dense forest cover.
* Governments have relied on vegetation laws as the major strategy to mitigate deforestation, but the effectiveness has been inconsistent over time. Presently, these laws are universally weaker than they were in the mid-2000s.
In Western Sydney, temperatures soar higher compared to the eastern coastal regions. During extreme heat periods, the average daily maximum temperature can range between 8°C and 10.5°C higher in Western Sydney than in Eastern Sydney.⁶
Causes
Geographical Unlike coastal areas, Western Sydney is unable to experience the cooling effect of the sea breeze, and its pan-like geomorphology exacerbates the trapping of hot air, int ensifying the heat.⁷
Human activities : anthropocentric developments cause the urban heat island effect. Natural heat-reducing features like green spaces and water bodies have been eliminated for the development of urban infrastructure, such as heat-absorbing surfaces (asphalt and concrete etc.). This stored heat is then gradually released throughout the night, elevating nocturnal temperatures, and impeding suburban cooling. During daytime hours, the UHI effect causes exposed surfaces like rooftops to reach temperatures up to 15°C hotter than the surrounding ai r.⁸ The effect worsens as the density increases.
Water - Urban wetlands, including lakes, rivers, and other water reservoirs, play a vital role in forming “Urban Cooling Islands”,⁹ which effectively reduce urban temperatures to a si gnificant extent.
Greenery - Urban greenery, through shading, evapotranspiration, and regulation of air movement, significantly lowers ambient temperatures in nearby urban areas. The impact on a city’s climate quality depends on factors like greenery size, structure, local weather, plant types, watering frequency, and thermal characteristics. Studies show larger green areas have greater mitigation potential against urban heat.¹⁰
Map
Reversed Metropolis departed from investigations of the site –the residential sector of Doonside. This area is enclosed by major roads and a railway line that disconnects itself from the rest of the Country.
Through site analysis, we have observed a comprehensive transportation network constructed for humans, and that natural habitats stand antithetically in fragmentation and diminishment. This phenomenon of forest fragmentation poses threats to the balance of the ecosystem and carbon storage, where the area is already experiencing biodiversity loss and urban heat – shown in site analysis and Nurrangingy Reserve study.
Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland is a form of Cumberland Plain Woodland, which is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under both NSW legislation and Commonwealth legislation. 11
Cumberland Plain Woodland is a relatively flat region characterized by sedimentary rock formations, including shale and sandstone, associated with clay soils derived from Wianamatta Group geology. It covers a large portion of Western Sydney.
Cumberland Plain Woodland has been heavily cleared for urban and agricultural development, resulting in biodiversity loss and fragmentation. Its current extent has been estimated as only about 9% of its original extent. 12
Cumberland River Flat Forest is a form of River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains, which is listed as an endangered ecological community under NSW legislation. 13
River flat forests are often characterized by alluvial soils deposited by the river during flood events. These alluvial deposit s are composed of sediments such as sand, silt, and clay. Alluvial soils tend to be fertile and well-drained, supporting the growth of a diverse range of vegetation.
This ecosystem has been extensively cleared and fragmented, mainly for agricultural development. The current extent of Cumberland River Flat Forest has been estimated as only about 14% of its original extent. 14
Floodplain Swamp Forest is the equivalent of Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest, which is listed as an endangered ecological community under NSW legislation.
Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest occurs in low-lying coastal bioregions of NSW, associated with waterlogged or periodically inundated sites where the groundwater is saline or sub-saline.
This ecosystem has been extensively cleared and fragmented, mainly for agricultural development.
PRELIMINARY RESPONSE
Reserve, a noun. With the etymology of Latin ‘Reservare’, “RE” means back, and “Servare” means to keep, save, preserve, or protect. When arrived at Nurragingy Reserve, the first thing that came into my mind was, what are we trying to keep? What are we trying to protect within this area? Wide roads with vehicle access in the reserve, are we aiming to show off to other species and say we have occupied these spaces but to show my kindness and considering my future generation’s foreseeable future, my generosity of maintaining this one-of-kind human-made green land with a slight connection to surrounding nature? Nurragingy Reserve is a green land of symbolism that has been given a medal of merit by humankind to celebrate the wickedness that modern humans did.
I heard birds crowing, and bugs chirping, but also the roar of car engines. I saw the crowds of trees, and I could imagine how flourishing they were thousands of years ago. The small gatherings of native plants are the collection of indigenous wisdom, but they seem to bear more significance in education rather than they do as part of the country. I asked myself, will I feel belonged to this area as appearing as a singular? Species do not exist singly so do humans. Humans are always complacent about their achievements, forgetting that they were also since nature, simply because they were endowed with a higher level of talent compared to other species. The old Chinese proverb says that a human with a higher moral will loves wealth but takes and uses it in the right way. We took a lot from the country, but we forgot to bring something back. Humans are standing out of the country circle and condescendingly manipulating nature. However, nature is the sublime, how dare humans?
We fear to disappear. So, we don’t have to glorify our actions, we do because we care, even though currently we seem like just working for our regenerative future. When the human-centred perspective fades, what is the contribution that we humans can make to nature?
by Coco
My observation of the site departed from 49 Coghlan Cresent, a typical Australian bungalow situated at the edge of Doonside’s residential division. Roaming towards the north, a road loaded with restless traffic intrudes on the mundane neighbourhood, cutting off its connection with surrounding lands. I later discovered that the southern direction, too, is alienated by the railway. It is ironic to think that infrastructures like roads and railways were developed as a means of mobility and connectivity – but conversely, I experienced a sense of discontinuation, and isolation.
Contemplating upon this thought, I walked towards Nurragingy Reserve across the road. Nurragingy is a natural reserve consisting of urban parks, gardens, and forests, in which its tranquil ambiance stands in strong contrast with the exterior. Addressing the issue of forest fragmentation enlisted by the thought on “dysconnectivity”, as well as delivering hopes of re-connecting to the Country, I took a closer look at some floras at the reserve.
Songlines are paths across the land that trace the journeys of ancestral beings during the Dreamtime, they speak and navigate the present in tangible and intangible ways. I saw floras as Songlines of Country, that tell stories for the land. In this case, I have documented some floras that are significant to the Aboriginal community. Mat-rush was favoured by the Aboriginal people, using it as a weaving material for baskets, jewellery, and clothes, as well as for making technologies such as eel traps and hunting nets. The cultural stories embodied in this plant in turn reveals their way of living. In a more literal sense, plants are also Songlines of the local geology - the growth of different floras at different locations represents the soil conditions underneath. Swamp she-oak grows on alluvial soils of sandstone or shale origin, which tells that this field could be a potential flood zone or is adjacent to water.
I also read the floras as a spiritual Songline. As living creatures, they comprehend the past but also entail the yet to happen – encapsulating the concept of time with introspective imageries. This idea is reflected in the sculpture. Where the temporal moment of the leaves falling on the ground is cast into permanency, conveying that although living beings may fade, their presence remains eternally in the Songline. by Estella
CONCEPTUAL MODEL
CONCEPTUAL MODEL
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL
* The heart: large natural reserves, the new metropolis that is concentrated with the busiest ecological activities is compared o the heart of the living city.
* The artery: a bridging component that is composed of concatenations of voids, functions as a transportational network that help s living species to migrate and flourish.
* The cytoplasm: Negative volumes (voids) of the city that encircle the nucleus, composed of members of the ecosystem.
* The nucleus: scattered, positive volumes (human residency), surrounded by voids.
* The cell: Made up of a nucleus and cytoplasm. The assembly of these living modular unit then inflates the artery, reviving the ecosystem.
04. research development CONCEPT + STRATEGY
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE 1960S METABOLIST MOVEMENT
Metabolist architects envisioned a future propelled by concentrated political power and capital at the time of economic prosperity in Japan. This ideology was embodied in the building design – where the typology features a central core and numerous adaptable capsules as supplements. However, due to limited government funds, individual private investments were promoted – with people given 20- to 30-year mortgages to build their homeS, resulting in a highly subdivided city (Tokyo) with small individual ownerships, 16 antithetical to the Metabolist vision.
MORIYAMA HOUSE BY RYUE NISHIZAWA
Void Metabolism, which emerged in the 2010s, is a theoretical framework proposed by Yoshiharu Tsukamoto of Atelier Bow-Wow, in response to Tokyo’s suburban residential areas – an urban fabric filled with dense detached houses under highly subdivided individual ownerships. 17
“Metabolism” in Void Metabolism refers to the continual regeneration of buildings in the city. The average lifespan of a house is around 30 years in Japan, in comparison, England has a housing lifespan of 140-year. 18 Such rapid rhythm of replacement and reconstruction in the 20th century is characterised by the loss of generosity and introversion due to population and economic growth. This way of metabolising is devoid of a core and capsules, but instead to void and a grain.
“Void” prioritises the negative volumes of the city, which includes gaps between adjacent buildings, small gardens, and courtyards, reshaping infrastructure into fragmentations that encourage openness and connection to the neighbourhood. This rearrangement of residencies then forms a more organic network / spatial relationship within the city. 19
With the segmentation of volumes, the idea of porous boundary is established, and that we are made to demarcate its external limit – of which is still part of the project and what stops belonging to it. 20 This challenges the denotation of ownership.
WATER GARDEN BY JUNYA ISHIGAMI
Adjacent to the project site, a construction area was designated for tree removal. Ishigami proposed to preserve these trees by transplanting them to the project location. He introduced water from the nearby sluice gate to create small ponds surrounding the transplanted trees, forming the newly transplanted forest into a water garden.
By arranging the trees according to their particular shapes and with the ponds, a new form of nature – “as an extension of nature … the future of nature through the eyes of man, is created”. 21 This design features over 300 tree shapes and 160 ponds that are created among the trees.
WATER GARDEN BY JUNYA ISHIGAMI
The Water Garden features a variety of deciduous trees, such as canine, beech, and Quercus. Typically, these trees cannot coexist in waterlogged conditions. By applying a waterproofing system to the ponds, Ishigami created a new landscape that fuses ‘density’ and ‘relationship’ which do not coexist in nature.
“This was a project that creates a new environment based on the idea of understanding a landscape as architecture It was essential to create a new natural environment only by re-constructing natural elements that used to exist at the place, including trees, mosses, grasses, stones, water, and soil.” 22
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS FOR STORMWATER TREATMENT
Benefits of Constructed Wetlands for Stormwater Treatment
* Compared to conventional stormwater treatment methods, constructed wetlands are sustainable, economical (both construction wise and maintenance wise) and energy efficient.
* Wetlands enhance biodiversity and are less susceptible to variations in loading rates. 23
* Wetlands have minimal carbon footprint – they can function entirely through gravity, eliminating the need for energyintensive pumps and blowers. Additionally, the vegetation that grows in these wetlands sequesters carbon, contributing to a smaller overall carbon footprint.
Vertical-flow wetlands are flat and intermittently flooded and drained, allowing air to refill the soil pores within the bed. 24 Vertical-flow constructed wetlands exhibit higher removal efficiencies for organic pollutants and nutrients compared to horizontal-flow CWs.
CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS FOR STORMWATER TREATMENT
Paperbark (Melaleuca) trees are ideal for constructed wetland environments. Their bark, which contains approximately 90% air space and extends to the smallest roots, allows the trees to “breathe” even when submerged. 25 This air-filled structure releases significant amounts of oxygen into the substrate, enhancing its ability to clean water, as oxygen is essential for water treatment processes.
In densely urbanised regions, small headwater streams are frequently buried and forgotten. Stream daylighting is a modern technique that revives these hidden waterways by physically uncovering and restoring them. This method helps communities reduce polluted runoff, manage flash flooding, and enhance the liveability of urban areas. 26
Daylighting streams can alleviate flooding by restoring floodplains, which increases hydraulic storage, reducing channelization to slow water flow and decrease flooding potential, and eliminating choke points like culverts where water tends to back up and cause localised flooding. 27
Sponge City is an urban development approach that integrates water management into city design to enhance the absorption, storage, and reuse of rainwater.
It includes features like green roofs and walls, permeable pavements, and pervious concrete to reduce runoff and promote infiltration. Retention and detention systems, such as bioswales, rain gardens, and retention ponds, manage stormwater on-site. Water recycling systems, including rainwater harvesting and greywater systems, reduce potable water use. Urban planning incorporates green corridors and floodable parks, creating multi-functional spaces that serve both recreational and flood management purposes. Buildings are designed with water-absorbing facades and foundations, contributing to the overall water management strategy.
This holistic approach mitigates flooding, reduces urban heat islands, and enhances urban liveability by harmonising built environments with natural water cycles.
Donald’s existing housing stock no longer satisfies the growing population as more migrants have shifted their lives from the city to regional Victoria. The shortage of housing limits future economic development. OFFICE’s proposal includes four ways to resolve the demand for 10 dwellings annually as a long-term approach, called infill housing. Infill housing refers to the construction of new dwellings within a developed area. The process involves utilizing vacant or underused space in established neighbourhoods, often between existing buildings or on small plots of land. It aims to maximize the use of existing urban infrastructure and amenities and promote densification. This strategy diminishes the need to extend infrastructure to undeveloped areas, maintains current city boundaries, and enhances walkability.
1. Internal Subdivision : This involves converting an existing single dwelling into two or more units, each with its own entrance and amenities. These units are separated by a shared wall, creating distinct boundaries between houses. They could remain on a single title or be subdivided.
2. Secondary Dwelling This involves having two self-contained dwellings located on the same property as a primary dwelling by dividing the existing single-use land.
3. Adaptive Reuse This means reusing underused non-residential buildings and refurbishing them into residential properties.
4. Empty Plot This involves merging multiple single-use lands into a larger consolidated tract of land, enabling larger developments to create medium-density housing by taking advantage of dual access and vacant land.
Our resource is from Elvis, which provides both Australian-wide 1m DEM data derived from SRTM and 5m DEM data derived from LiDAR. The data is composed of several smaller DEM pieces merged using QGIS. The grey gradient shows the change in heights of the terrain/bare earth.
As the level of detail varies between the 1m and 5m data, we’ve combined the results using SAGA GIS.
SAGA GIS is a plugin suitable for GIS software to analyze different geographical information resources. We have used the channel network and drainage basin analysis to understand the hydrological conditions of Western Sydney and Doonside on two different scales.
The data generated automatically by the system shows how the terrain may affect water flow within the selected area. By comparing the original/natural channel on site with the generated potential channel formed by the terrain, we can see the relationship between channels and drainage basins: where the natural channel passes through, fewer drainage basins occur. Additionally, on a smaller scale, we can observe how human infrastructure, such as drainage systems and roads, affects water flow on the earth’s surface.
The term “metropolis” is composed of two parts: “metro” alludes to mother, and “polis” means city.
In this meaning, the metropolis is perceived as the centre point of attraction that holds the rest of the urban contexts together. It describes the most important core of a region, conventionally concentrated with the busiest human activities. This word, in turn, reveals that the build-up of our urban development is human-centric and lacks the consideration of other species.
This phenomenon is evident in our site analysis of Doonside. We have observed a comprehensive transportation network constructed for humans, and that natural habitats stand conversely in fragmentation. This phenomenon of forest fragmentation poses threats to the balance of ecosystem and carbon storage, where the area is already experiencing biodiversity loss, urban heat, flooding, and drought
AND THE REVERSED...
Reversed Metropolis seeks to reconcile the land with an ecocentric approach, positioning major natural habitats as the new “metropolis”. This vision re-localises Tsukamoto’s theoretical framework of “ Void Metabolism ” taking the concatenation of voids (spaces between positive massing) as a new transportation network for the ecosystem. These negative volumes grow from the smallest units in scale, then gradually radiate the entire domain that centralised from the new “metropolis”.
Reversed Metropolis is an urban planning proposal that softly transforms the existing residential landscape with low carbon emissions.
The reversal of infrastructural concatenation and ecological fragmentation is realised in the revival of concealed hydrology and the spreading of ecological migrating paths – and via this process, human-based massing, in turn, becomes fragmented, and artificial boundaries become diminished.
We are challenging the concept of anthropogenic ownership, as the porous and vague boundary questions of which is still part of the residence and what stops belonging to it.
URBANISATION AND WATER
Human-centric urbanisation has led to hardened surfaces for human convenience - they prevent natural rainfall from effectively infiltrating the ground, resulting in the loss of this valuable water resource. Before the implementation of seawater desalination, Sydney heavily relied on the Warragamba Dam for water storage, with 80% of its water supply coming from this source. However, during the drought in 2019, the water level dropped by 47%, making it insufficient to meet the demand. Although desalination is now in use, its operation increases water prices by 30 to 40 cents per litre.
The implementation of water solves the issues of flood, drought, biodiversity loss, and urban heat.
Evident in the hydrology studies, the streaming order of potential water channels is dependent on both the natural terrains and more prominently existing infrastructures (i.e. roadwork and other positive massing). Additionally, potential water basins (potential flooding zones) are less likely to occur near existing water streams.
To eliminate local flooding, we are hence proposing new water streams along the existing infrastructural pattern by de-paving a portion of the existing bitumen road and pedestrian path - based on the analysis of potential water basin and Strahler order.
POROSITY vs. FLOOD, DROUGHT, BIOREGIONS & URBAN HEAT
Alluding to the “Sponge City” and the “Daylight Movement”we are de-paving hardened ground to enhance the porosity of urban surfaces. This allows rainwater to seep into the soil and be stored through bioswale systems – which respond to the Australian climate where flood and drought coexist. This strategy ensures that there is water available during droughts and to manage water drainage during floods
The permeable water network simultaneously gives life to the growth of ecological migrating paths and the varying water conditions of the habitat form a variety of bioregions that have previously been identified as endangered in Nurragingy Reserve. This vegetation then effectively mitigates urban heat
01 Reversed Metropolis
The development of the urban fabric departs from regions that are concentrated with dense vegetation. These natural habitats become the new centre of attraction of the city.
02 Void Metabolism
The voids between positive volumes become the focus of the proposal, housing the metabolising nature. The concatenation of negative volumes forms bio-corridors that revive the reversed metropolis.
03 Hydrological Revival
The blue fragments are potential water resources that are currently concealed by human-centric urbanisation. Reversed Metropolis seeks to revive the water network to solve the issue of flood, drought, biodiversity loss and urban heat.
04 Porous Boundary
The organic form of natural corridors demarcates the existence of lot boundaries, challenging the concept of land ownership – which reinforces the dominance of humans.
05 Daylighting
The depaving of hardened ground surface - previously constructed for human-centred infrastructure. The removal of such realises the porosity that is established in the “Sponge City”. It allows the growth of natural habitats – responding to the symbiotic vision.
06 Diminished Vehicular Pattern
The transportation network of humans is re-envisioned to adapt to the reversed metropolis. Minimal vehicular use is encouraged to make space for bioregions and to reduce carbon emissions.
07 Halving the House
One house is subdivided into two, housing two families, in which the average area per person in Doonside changes from 76m2 to 38m2 – to accommodate to future population growth. The existing properties are capable of housing twice the current population. This strategy directly halves the carbon emissions of residential development per person.
08 Recycled and Biodegradable Materials
Recycled and biodegradable materials are used for the proposed pedestrian path.
09 Circularity
A set of circular resource based retrofits is proposed for the domestic interface, including a stormwater system for water use and a solar system for electricity.
Constructed Wetlands
Drainage Basins
Potential Channel
Contour
Original lot boundaries
To make way for natural habitats, collective parking, community buses, and bicycle lanes are proposed to accommodate the diminished vehicle demand. Elevated trail is introduced to encourage pedestrian movement, which it makes minimal footprint in nature. Additionally, to minimise carbon footprint, the trails are made from recycled and biodegradable materials that correspond to the local conditions.
New Demolished Existing Potential Channel
Contour
Constructed Wetlands
Original lot boundaries
1/200 @ A3 portrait
We would like to think of “sufficiency” over “efficiency” Considering the sufficiency of residential supply in Doonside, we believe that the most effective method of lowering carbon emissions is to not build. Instead, we are proposing a set of low carbon energy and services retrofit that accommodates the masterplan and softly upgrades the domestic realm, which includes domestic stormwater treatment instruments – water tank, rain chain, redirected gutter, stone channel, and bioswale drainage; and solar panels for renewable electricity. Additionally, to accomodate to future population growth, a subdivision strategy is proposed.
SUBDIVISION CARBON EMISSION FOR ADDITIONAL NEW CONSTRUCTIONS ONLY
(71 + 71A Coveny Street, Doonside, NSW 2767)
total global warming potential: 1709.6 kg CO2e
A1-A3 construction materials: 975.42 kg CO2e
A4 Transportation to site: 28.14 kg CO2e
Based on the existing context of Doonside, most residential types are single dwellings, providing generous internal and external spaces. The studied site - 71 & 71A Coveny Street, features two self-contained houses (a main house with a granny flat). To maximize land use, we decided to divide the main house into two units via the strategy of internal subdivision . New walls are added and one existing wall is removed to divide the internal space into two dependent units. In total, three new walls were created to make an additional bedroom to each unit, forming a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit, and a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit, both of which are desirable options in the market.
This strategy involves minimal renovation to provide full amenities for each unit. The service areas, such as the bathroom, are maintained, and the laundry is repurposed into a bathroom. The new kitchen for the 2-bedroom unit is positioned next to the original kitchen. All services are linked, eliminating the need for unexpected constructions. The shared wall between the two units has been thickened to meet the fire separation wall regulation of the NCC for a class 1a building.
The detailed strategy refers to OFFICE’s project at 6 Ray Court. Steel columns are installed inside the firewall to support the truss and are fixed to the truss with brackets, with fixed connections to the existing slab. All penetrations are sleeved up to 300 mm on each side of the firewall, and the firewall is constructed with steel studs and non-combustible insulation.
CUMBERLAND SHALE PLAINS WOODLAND
CUMBERLAND RIVER FLAT FOREST
Halving Carbon Emissions
Our strategy for halving carbon emissions is considered in three parts: the existing, the new, and sequestrations. The aim is to halve the emissions related to the built environment through urban redevelopment and its ramifications.
Firstly, it is vital to recognise the sufficiency of the existing housing supply in Doonside, which is measured quantitatively by the square meters of residential area per person. Doonside has an average of 76 square meters per person. With this number in mind, it is evident that the current residential space is more than sufficient. This condition then poses a question for us: should we continue building? At some point during the design, we questioned the significance of architects. Inspired by Junya Ishigami’s concept of “landscape as architecture,” we wondered, if we were to build, what can we build to make the place better?
This project thus departs from the conventional design of a house or a set of houses and moves towards an urban masterplan.
Secondly, to support the masterplan and provide a direct solution to halving carbon emissions, we decided to subdivide each house into two, so that one existing house could contain two households. The average of 76 square meters per person then becomes 38, which is still generous. Subdivision accommodates the growing population of Doonside. Hypothetically, if Doonside’s population doubles and the number of dwellings remains unchanged, the average carbon emissions per person from residential development would be halved - considering sequestration. The revival of bioregions gives life to vegetations that are capable of sequestering greenhouse gases. This sequestration could counterbalance the emissions from subdivision construction and other landscape renewals, long term wise.
The Chain Effect
In developing this multidisciplinary proposal, we began by examining the environmental issues the site is experiencing. Multiple conditions were identified, including forest fragmentation, flooding, drought, loss of biodiversity, and urban heat. This was particularly challenging: how could we develop a proposal that addresses all these problems?
Our strategy was to tackle them one at a time, starting with forest fragmentation, which led to the concept of the “Reversed Metropolis.” Coincidentally, the revival of natural habitats through the reconnection of bioregions and the water network also mitigates urban heat and biodiversity loss. Further investigation into hydrological conditions and Sydney’s climate revealed that implementing a water strategy into the revival could effectively reduce the risks of flooding and drought. Conversely, we understood that disrupting one element in nature could trigger a series of issues, much like a domino effect. In this case, the reconciliation of one element brings back nature’s autonomy.
“Songline”
Looking back at my initial site impression, the idea of “Songline” was a recurring theme. This motif continues to influence the development of the project. Given the many environmental issues associated with the site, it is not an exaggeration to claim that numerous Songlines have been lost and forgotten. Our proposal posits that Songlines can be restored, that they are hidden in the inherent qualities of nature, and that nature is living. Tangibly, the Songline is revived through the organic networks of the bioregions. The autonomy of nature in its re-wilding then speaks to the Songline intangibly.
Feasibility
Reversed Metropolis is a radical proposal that challenges our lifestyle—how we live, commute, and exemplify ownership. In a way, the fundamentals of “society” are to be reconsidered, if, realistically, admitting that urbanisation is socio-economically driven. Reversed Metropolis moves away from human dominance and capitalism, advocating for urban development based on ecological principles. This is challenging to realise as it relies on our reverence for and understanding of nature and the consequences of ignoring it. A collective agreement on this ecological approach is key to making the project feasible. Apart from voluntary cultivations, we propose that mandatory governmental interference is essential to the proposal.
Timescale
The time frame considered for this proposal is the current state, with a master plan that is to be perfected over decades. The strategy of Reversed Metropolis is not exclusive to Doonside but is a universal approach applicable to any site experiencing similar conditions. As envisioned in the preliminary proposal, we hope that this reversal of the metropolis can start from the large reserves and gradually radiate throughout the entire city. This proposal is not a temporary intervention and to adapt to its radicality, it is a long-term plan that aims to permanently redefine the development of urbanisation, making this “reversed metropolis” the new norm.
Symbiosis and the Paradox
The expansion and reconciliation of nature consequently lead to the diminishment of human dominance, ownership, and possession of space. Additionally, the centre of a city—the metropolis—is relocated to an area concentrated with the busiest activities of living species. In the matter of persuading, it is vital to understand that nature and humans are not antithetical; humans are a part of nature, and a symbiotic approach is a mutualistic vision. However, a paradox arises: this symbiotic proposal is developed from a human perspective. It leaves me to ponder whether humans, inherently influenced by their own experiences and biases, can genuinely consider other species’ points of view. Can we truly understand the needs and perspectives of other living beings, or are we limited to a human-centric interpretation of symbiosis? This paradox challenges us to empathise and to envision a world where all species are equally considered in our environmental strategies.
COCO’S REFLECTION
Ever since the beginning of this studio, I have continually contemplated the nature of regenerative design and its realisation. Regenerative design should lead to the reformation of the entire architecture industry. However, should we focus on microscopic changes that lead to macroscopic shifts, or should we regulate at the macroscopic level to influence finer details?
demolition to create a supposedly more regenerative design is unnecessary if the house functions adequately. We also believe that detailing existing houses at a micro level can effectively address carbon emissions at this stage. Thus far, I think that the feasibility and implementation of the micro-level changes we have proposed are achievable.
I recall a conversation with our tutor Lucy, in which she mentioned reading a book that significantly altered her perspective. The book encouraged her to consider making holistic changes rather than incremental ones. Despite the inherent challenges in real-life application, we must maintain confidence in our ability to effect change. Inspired by the historian, Cho-yun Hsu, who posited that while the strength of one person is limited, the collective efforts of many with a shared intention can generate infinite power. Initially, I was sceptical of Lucy’s viewpoint, but after reflections, I realised that undertaking seemingly impractical actions may not necessarily be detrimental.
The concept of the “Reversed Metropolis” originated from a task I did in AA visiting school Sydney in early 2024. The task was to redefine a word by analysing Sydney region’s geographical context. I selected ‘metropolis’, derived from ‘mother-city’, to explore the relationship between urban greenery and surrounding wild nature. The findings indicated that high biodiversity regions are located on the city’s periphery, which would have been evenly distributed within the urban area before the establishment of the Sydney Metropolitan area. The results hence show that human occupation fragments natural habitats, displacing other species. Consequently, the metropolis for other species becomes geographically reversed to the human metropolis, as the human environment is unsuitable for them.
Doonside, with its proximity to the Nurragingy Reserve, epitomises the relevance of a reversed metropolis. This area is not only notable for its surrounding nature reserve but also for its typical human transport infrastructure, such as highways, railways, and the Prospect Reservoir, built for human water supply. The neighbourhood consists of single dwellings with expansive backyards, all designed for human consumption. We contend that retrofitting an existing house requires a compelling reason; otherwise,
However, at the macro level, our proposal to use water to address the identified issues may lack the necessary detail and rigor due to the studio’s duration and the level of professional support. Despite potential immaturity in the concept, we remain optimistic about its potential to serve as a new blueprint for the future. If past urban development and architectural planning aimed to advance human society, our long-term goal is to restore the urban environment to a more natural state and mitigate human impact on the environment. While it is unrealistic to disregard human needs entirely, believe it is possible to minimise these demands and enhance nature’s benefits. For instance, do we truly need large houses, extensive private green spaces, or numerous private cars? A shift in the social dimension may better facilitate our pursuit of sustainability and regenerative design.
In conclusion, given the high carbon emissions associated with architecture, progress in regeneration and sustainability can be achieved by either refraining from constructing new buildings or constructing only those in demand, making changes based on the current state, or using architecture as a pivotal point to connect with diverse industries for broader changes.
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REVERSED METROPOLIS