Urban Wilderness as Urban Acupuncture Final Design LAND7313-Studio 6: Capstone Part 2 Yifan(Freya) Sun z5262779
1
Contents 01 Foreword.....................................................................................1 02 Introduction.................................................................................3 03 Conceptual and theoretical frameworks and assumptions .........6 04 Site Context and rationale...............................................................9 05 Methods and techniques...........................................................22 06 Design process and ideas..........................................................27 07 Testing of methods and techniques............................................31 08 Design Research – synthesis and findings...............................44 Reference list..................................................................................47
2
01 Foreword
1
1. Foreword Design research journey Ancient urban wilderness
In the beginning, the whole research project was carried out with urban wilderness as the key word to explore what urban wilderness is and why we need urban wilderness. What urban wilderness is and how it forms relevant to the theory of Forming in Herrington’s book (2016). Urban wilderness is an evolving process. In the research of urban wilderness value, it is found that urban wilderness has an important relationship with biodiversity, mental and physical health, and children's growth. The health and the growth of children are related to what they experience in the wilderness. And what people do in the wilderness can have an impact on biodiversity(Figure 1). Therefore, how to make people have a rich wild experience in the wilderness and protect the wilderness became the main question to explore. This is related with the theory of spatial practices mentioned in Herrington’s book (2016), and the relationship between space and human memory is particularly important in the context of wilderness landscapes with a rich history of constant change and development.
What is Urban wilderness?
Urban Wilderness
Forming
Novel urban wilderness
Susan Herrington (2016)
Biodiversity Why we need urban wilderness?
Health
Wild Experience
Spatial practices
Child development Figure 1: Design Research Journey (By Author, 2020)
Based on what was discussed above, the original mission of the project was to bring people into the wilderness. Then, influenced by the wilderness characteristics which Jorgensen described in her book ' Urban Wildscape', I also think about how to bring the wilderness spirit into the city. Therefore, finally the mission is to bring wilderness back to city and bring city to back to wilderness.
Project Plan The whole project is divided into five stages. The first stage is the research of Urban wilderness theory in the first and second terms. The second stage is the site analysis and selection of methods and technologies for design research; the third stage is the test of design, and finally, the explanation of the findings of the whole project.
Figure 2: Project Time line (By Author, 2020)
2
02 Introduction
3
2. Introduction
Challenge World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in 2018 shows that, globally, a growing number of people are living in cities. In 1950, only 30% of the world's population lived in cities. By 2018, 54% of the world's population lived in cities (Figure 3). It is predicted that 68% of the world's population will live in cities by 2050 (Department of Economic a n d S o c i a l A ff a i r s , 2 0 1 8 ) . T h e c o n t i n u o u s expansion of cities and the increasing population make the problem between cities and the natural environment increasingly serious. How the natural environment develops has become a challenging topic in cities. As human has less contact with the real wilderness, the urban wilderness gradually becomes an important link between people and wilderness.
% 68% 56%
Figure 3:Global Percentage of Population in Urban Areas from 1950 to 2050 (By Author, 2020) (Data from Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2018)
4
2. Introduction
Mission The mission of this project is to bring city to back to wilderness and bring wilderness back to city. Through the research of urban wilderness, it is hoped that landscape design could encourage people to go into the wilderness and have unforgettable memories in the wilderness. It is also hoped that the wilderness in the city could be able to make full use of its value, rather than just being protected as a nature reserve. When there is good interaction between the wilderness and the city, people will begin to understand the wilderness and realize the importance of wilderness, which will help to protect the wilderness and bring wild characteristics into the city.
Research Question The research question is how does landscape design enhance the wild experience while protecting the wilderness? Moreover, this project also explores from urban wildness to the urban environment, how the characteristics of urban wildness can be used to inform planning and design strategies for the urban environment? This project hopes to answer a series of questions about urban wilderness through the design of Newington Nature Reserve and Newington Armory.
Methods and Techniques Case study and thick description are main methods. Through the study of the previous cases, we can get the most intuitive understanding of how the wilderness integrates into the urban environment, and how landscape design promotes the contact between people and the wilderness while protecting the wilderness ecology. Through the thick description method, it will be clear to weave different layers together to form a narrative of the site. The main techniques are montage, diagram and plan. The methods and techniques will be discussed in detail in Chapter 05.
5
03 Conceptual and theoretical frameworks and assumptions
6
3. Conceptual and theoretical frameworks and assumptions
Key Concepts Urban wilderness
Jorgensen (2008) defines urban wilderness: urban spaces where natural as opposed to human agency appears to be shaping the land, especially where there is spontaneous growth of vegetation through natural succession. Such wildness can exist at different scales, from cracks in the pavement, to much more extensive urban landscapes, including woodland, unused allotments, river corridors and derelict or brownfield sites. Wilderness can be found in many places in the city, but often we ignore it as abandoned land or wasteland. There are two main types of urban wilderness: the Ancient urban wilderness and the Novel urban wilderness.
Ancient Urban Wilderness
Remnants of pristine ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands (Kowarik, 2018)(Figure 4 a,b). Newington Nature Reserve is an ancient urban wilderness which is rich in flora and fauna. (a) Ancient Urban wilderness
(b) Ancient Urban wilderness
Novel Urban Wilderness
Novel urban ecosystems that can emerge after a rupture in ecosystem development can be found on abandoned lots, railway areas (Figure 4c), cemeteries, or in post-industrial landscapes. It always has a high level of self-regulation (Kowarik, 2018). The Brickpit in Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) is a novel urban wilderness. Moreover, novel urban wilderness can also be found near Murry Rose Ave which is a main road in the center of SOP(Figure 4d).
Rewilding
Rewilding is the passive management of ecological succession with the goal of restoring natural ecosystem processes and reducing the human control of landscapes (Navarro and Pereira, 2015). (c) Urban wilderness along the railroad
(d) Urban wilderness in the central area of SOP Figure 4: The Wilderness (Photo by Author, 2020)
7
3. Conceptual and theoretical frameworks and assumptions
Figure 5: Theoretical framework (By Author, 2020)
8
04
Site Context and Rationale
9
4. Site Context and rationale
Where is wilderness in Homebush bay? 1930
1943
2020
Potential urban wilderness
Figure 6 : 1930 Wilderness in SOP (By Author, 2020, Information from from Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2010))
Figure 7: 1943 Wilderness in SOP(By Author, 2020, Information from from Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2010))
1965
Novel urban Wilderness Ancient urban wilderness
Figure 9: 2020 Wilderness in SOP (By author, 2020. Data from from Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2010)
Figure 8: 1965 Wilderness in SOP(By Author, 2020. Information from from Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2010))
It can be seen from the historical change of wilderness area that the wilderness is gradually decreasing (Figure 6, 7, 8, 9). However, with the increasing awareness to protect nature, the novel wilderness began to appear, and the area of urban wilderness restored by human is also increasing. The history of shapes the appearance of the site (Figure10).
10
4. Site Context and rationale
Where is wild experience in Homebush bay?
+
+
a: Wild Experience
b: Wild Environment
Figure 10: 2020 Wilderness in SOP (By author, 2020. Data from from Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2010)
Figure 10a shows the existing wild experience in SOP. It can find the Newington nature reserve has great wild environment but nearly doesn’t have wild experience by superimposing the Figure 10a and 10b together. When people talk about SOP they know the centre area, they know the Badu Mangroves and they also know the Newington Armory. This is because they can go into this area and have a look at it. But as for the Newington Nature Reserve, they don’t have the opportunities to have a look at it. Therefore, they don’t have the memory of this site. This is another reason why I choose this area as my design site. I hope to enhance the site identity to make SOP more diversity.
11
4. Site Context and rationale
Site
Sydney Olympic Park is only 13km away from the Sydney CBD and close to several suburbs such as Parramatta (Figure 11). The project is located in the north of Sydney Olympic Park and on the south bank of the Parramatta River (Figure 12), including the Newington Armory, Newington Nature Reserve and Woo-la-ra. Size: 1.16km2
Figure 11: Sydney Olympic Location (By Author, 2020)
Figure 12: Project site (By Author, 2020)
The site is surrounded by residential areas, and there is a Homebush Bay and Parramatta River Loop through the site, which provides a place for nearby residents and visitors to view the scenery (Figure 13).
Figure 13: Surrounding residential areas (By Author, 2020)
12
4. Site Context and rationale
Why did this happen?
Figure 14: The history of Newington Armory (By author) (Data from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2003 and Tanner Architects, 2013)
13
4. Site Context and rationale
What needs to be protected? 1. Spatial character The natural landscape of the Newington Armory and Nature Reserve comprises three general areas; grasslands, wetland and forest (Figure 15). The open grassland in the site forms a strong contrast with the woodland, and this spatial character is also one of the important memories of the site. Therefore, damage to the spatial characteristics of the site should be avoided, especially the character of the open grassland in the west. 2. Culture and Relics In addition, important and well-preserved relics about Newington Armory, such as road systems, buildings, tracks and cranes, are spread across the site (Figure 16). The buildings are clustered in different areas according to the year they were built, narrating the history of the armory's gradual expansion.
Figure 15:Three types of landscape in the site (Photos by Author, 2020) a: Open grassland
3. Ecology The most important thing is to protect the ecology of the Newington Nature Reserve which covers a total area of 47.7 hectares and consists of two parts: a 13-hectare Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest and a 34.7- hectare wetland. The Newington Nature Reserve contains a complete zonal succession from estuarine waters through to mangroves, saltmarsh, she-oaks forest and Cumberland Plain woodland (Figure 17). This is the only such succession remaining in Sydney. Moreover,v( Tanner Architects, 2013). b: Woodland
Figure 16:Relics in Newington Armory and Newington Nature Reserve(By Author, 2020) (Data from Tanner Architects, 2013)
c: Wetland
Figure 17: Key Habitat in Newington Nature Reserve(By Author, 2020) (Data from Tanner Architects, 2013)
14
4. Site Context and rationale
What needs to be protected?
List the flowering and fruit seasons of some major plants to provide a basis for the seed picking time and the viewing time for visitors.(Figure 18) From the breeding time of some protected animals, it can be found that the breeding time is mainly concentrated in spring and summer. At this time, it is necessary to protect the animal habitat because disturbance by humans could affect future nesting success. (Figure 18)
Figure 18: Important flora and fauna (By Author, 2020)
15
4. Site Context and rationale
Where is Saltmarsh in Homebush bay?
1930
1965
2020
Figure 19: Saltmarsh in Homebush Bay(By Author, 2020)
16
4. Site Context and rationale
What are the threats to saltmarsh? Saltmarsh usually occur between high and average tides and are close to the mangrove side. Many species of fauna use saltmarsh as habitat for foraging, breeding and roosting. Salt marshes have important ecological value but are disappearing. The figure lists five major threats to saltmarsh (Figure 20).(The Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW, Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2008)
Figure 20: Five major threats to saltmarsh (By Author, 2020) (Data from Australian Government, Department of the Environment and energy, 2016)
17
4. Site Context and rationale
What has been done to protect the saltmarsh?
There are three main measures to protect salt marshes now in SOPďźš 1. Prevent people from entering the saltmarsh 2. Mangrove removal 3. Construction of the tidal flushing channels to restore normal tides However, the second measure is a little controversial.
Why is it controversial?
In order to adapt to rising sea levels and not be inundated, mangroves spontaneously move to higher ground. However, this is prevented by the removal of new mangrove to protect the salt marshes. The replacement of salt marshes by mangroves may be a natural response of wetlands to rising sea levels.
What will happen if we continue to remove new mangroves?
If we insist on removing mangroves to protect the wetland, it again violates the laws of nature and hinders the wetland's ability to adapt to natural changes. And finally, we have to find ways to protect the mangroves. The whole process seems like a terrible process (Figure 21), with humans constantly interfering with the natural process and trying to change it. Therefore, the site is now a wilderness that has been carefully designed by people rather than a wilderness that is really dominated by nature. This carefully designed wilderness lacks the power of wilderness and requires a great deal of management to sustain it.
What should we do?
What we can do to deal with this phenomenon may be to restore everything to its original appearance and let nature dominate rather than human or to adapt to natural development, looking for new opportunities. Figure 21: Terrible process of preserving saltmarsh (By Author, 2020)
18
4. Site Context and rationale
Who will be here and what do they want to do?
Nearby Resident
Daily Exercise
Heritage Tour
Children
Art exhibition
Tourist
Wild Walking
Researcher
Wildlife Observation
Wild Play
Treatment
Figure 22: User groups and activities(By Author, 2020)
19
4. Site Context and rationale
What prevents people from going to the wilderness?
At present, it has two wild experience path in the site (Figure 23),. However, there are three main factors that prevent people from going to the Newington Nature Reserve: the fence (Figure 24), the potential unexploded ordnance under the protected area and the weak accessibility of the site (Figure 23). Unexploded ordnance may move with tidal flushing. The weak accessibility of the site mainly refers to the inconvenient public transportation and the large size of the site, which takes 15 to 25 minutes to walk from the bus station to the main area of the site.
Figure 23: Factors that prevent people from experiencing the wilderness(By Author, 2020)
Figure 24: Fence around Nature Reserve (By Author, 2020)
20
4. Site Context and rationale
Opportunities and Constraints The most important opportunitie is using the existing flushing channel two and rail line to help people have better wild experience.
Figure 25: Opportunities and constraints (By author, 2020)
21
05 Methods and Techniques
22
5. Methods and techniques
Methods and Techniques Methods The methods used in this research are case study and thick description.
Case study
This research use case study as a method, which help to explore and understand complex issues. Four cases were studied: Südgelände Nature Park, Hardberger Park, Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and Boondall Wetlands. Südgelände nature park is located in Berlin with an area of about 18 hectares. The site was once the Railway Yard, which stopped operating in 1952. For the next 50 years, due to German politics after the second World war and the unique location of the site, which was separated from the city by a road, the site was unentered. This provides an opportunity for the natural restoration of the site, where plants grow naturally without interference. We can learn about the history of the site as a railway station from some exotic plants in the site. The seeds of these exotic plants may have come to the site by train. The plants tell the history of the site. In 1991, in order to protect the ecology of the site, only a platform was set at the edge of the site, allowing visitors to see the natural environment inside. However, in order to meet the needs of surrounding residents for green space, a group of sculpture artists proposed in 1995 to set up a series of art installations in the site, including metal roads about 50cm higher than the ground vegetation, so that people could enter the site, interact with nature and restrict people's activities. The road system combined with the original railway to highlight the site history and using art installations to increase the attraction of the site are two key findings from this case. Hardberger Park is located in San Antonio with an area of about 311 hectares. The concept of the Park as a ‘cultivated wild’ interprets and integrates the rich cultural history of San Antonio with the diverse and resilient ecologies that are native to the region. The site used to be a former dairy farm. 75% of the site is now dedicated to preserving and restoring the original landscape, which includes oak forests and the native oak savanna. Half of the site provides activity space, including green service center, picnic area, road system through the forest area and other outdoor activities space. Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve has wonderful sensory experience paths. Boondall Wetlands, 15 km from Brisbane CBD, has similar ecosystem with Newington Nature Reserve but is much larger than Newington Nature Reserve. It has tidal flats, mangroves, saltmarshes, melaleuca wetlands, grasslands and open forest. Moreover, aborigines used to live here. In this case, it has different walking and cycling tracks which help people to go into the wetlands. By comparing the size, previous use and main targets, explore what interventions are used to achieve the targets (Table 1). Key findings from the case study which enhance wild experience are path system, signage and sensory space. The path system needs to preserve the ecology while being interesting. For example, the strategy of "Trail and tree encounters" in Hardberger Park, which means when trail and tree encounters, priority preservation of trees, harmonizes the contradiction between the road and plants. In Südgelände Nature Park, the old railways were reused and added artistic elements, becoming an important part of the road system. In addition, the design of low-interference spaces and sensory space enables people to deeply experience the wilderness. For example, In Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, the rest place in the resting space is surrounded by wilderness and the road allows direct contact with the waterfall.
23
5. Methods and techniques
Case Study Südgelände Nature Park
Hardberger Park
Location and Size
Berlin, Germany (18 ha)
San Antonio, American (125 ha)
Previous use
Railway Yard
Dairy farm
Main targets
Main interventions
Development of wild forests, grassland, endangered species, nature experience
Path system, pieces of art, grassland maintenance by grazing
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
Boondall Wetlands
Jackson, American (448 ha)
Brisbane, Australia (1150 ha)
Ancient wilderness
Preservation and restoration of this native landscape, recreation
Conservation of wilderness, wild experience
Path system, low-impact recreational space, signage, test plots,
Path system, sensory space design，signage, removal of existing development including 35 historic cabins and unnecessary roads and infrastructure
Ancient wilderness Conservation of habitats, wildlife and Aboriginal culture, wild experience
Path system, kayak, Nurri Millen Totem Trail
Photos
Source: https://futurelandscapes.ca/natur-parkschoneberger-sudgelande
Source: https://www.asla.org/2015awards/96405.html
Source: https://www.asla.org/2014awards/417.html
Source: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-andgreen/natural-environment-and-water/bushlandreserves/boondall-wetlands
Table 1: Case selection and analysis (By Author, 2020)
24
5. Methods and techniques
Thick description What is Thick description and why use Thick description?
Techniques
Thick description weaves the complex layers of history together and visualizes the complex layers on the site (Way, 2013). Newington Armory and Nature Reserve have a rich historical background and ecological environment. Therefore, this method is able to clearly weave different layers together to form a narrative of the site.
Different techniques will be used to test different Narratives. The main techniques are montage, diagram and plan (Figure 22).
How to use Thick description? Thick description Precedents: Gas Work Park (Way, 2013)
Gas Work Park, designed by Richard Haag Associates, is located in Seattle. It is one of the earliest examples of the transformation of an industrial site into a landscape. In the first narrative, Haag hopes the public could appreciate and rethink the value and potential of the existing structure in the site, emphasizing their historic, esthetic and utilitarian value, rather than thinking about what should be created in an entirely new park. Through oral descriptions and photographs which show the beauty of structures, the public's imagination about the future of the site is stimulated and people's ideas are changed. Originally seen as a symbol of urban ugliness, these industrial relics were eventually credited with enhancing the urban experience. In this way, the public and leaders were successfully persuaded to preserve the monuments of the city's industrial history. In the second narrative, Haag used bioremediation (pumping oxygen underground) and conducted ecological remediation experiments in the field, so that the soil became fertile in a single summer. For the most contaminated soil and waste, he collects them to form a Great Mound. Not only the buildings of the site are preserved, but also the soil and waste. In the third narrative, the terrain tells the story of the site. Seattle's terrain is dominated by hills and valleys which influence the history. Haag transformed the landscape within the park to create hills and valleys that tell the history of Seattle. Finally consider how to weave these stories together. Elements such as great mounds representing the site's soil, mounds representing Seattle's history, towers and vegetation changing over time are woven together to form a thick section(Figure 26). As for Newington Nature Reserve and Newington Armory, there are also three narratives (Figure 27): conservation and reuse of heritages, ecological restoration and wild experience. In each narrative, it has its own strategies (Figure 28). A diagram shows the strategy and a plan shows where and how to achieve the strategies.
Thick description
Gas Works Park
Techniques
Narrative 1
Process of persuasion
Conservation and reuse of heritage
Landscape plan, diagram
Narrative 2
Experimental methods of on-site/ bioremediation
Ecological restoration
Diagram, section
Landform as art medium/storytelling
Wild experience
Montage,section
Narrative 3
Weave Figure 26: Thick section of Gas Works Park (Way, 2013)
Newington Armory and Nature Reserve
Thick section
Landscape plan, layering
Figure 27: How thick description and Gas work park relate to Newington Armory and Nature Reserve (By Author, 2020)
25
5. Methods and techniques
Thick description Narrative 1
Narrative 2
Narrative 3
Figure 28: Three narratives (By Author, 2020)
26
06 Design Process and ideas
27
6. Design process and ideas
Narrative 1
Conserve the Armory, aboriginal and natural heritage
Interpret history and heritage significance and reuse them in the new design
Incorporate the heritages with some signages to form the visit route Figure 29: Design process and ideas 1 (By Author, 2020)
28
6. Design process and ideas
Narrative 2
Find potential saltmarch retreat place
Rerewilding will be done in stages
Connect with the surrounding area to form a larger and more stable habitat Figure 30: Design process and ideas 2 (By Author, 2020)
29
6. Design process and ideas
Narrative 3
Connect with the center of SOP Propose new entrance Redesign the current main entrances
Propose a path that allows visitors to completely immerse themselves in the wilderness Add locational signage
Insert deep wild experience spaces that allow people to stay and encourage them experience the wilderness with their senses
In addition to wilderness experience, the leisure, education and science popularization functions of the site should also be increased Figure 31: Design process and ideas 3 (By Author, 2020)
30
07 Testing of methods and Techniques
31
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 1: Remove the seawall a: Before late 1800's
b: Late 1800's
As mentioned before, in response to the disappearance of saltmarsh, what we can do maybe to restore everything to its original appearance and let nature dominate rather than human or to adapt to natural development, looking for new opportunities. Remove the sea wall is one of the most important things to restore the original appearance.
Tide flushing a: Natural tides occurred in the site, leading to transitions from rivers to mangroves to salt marshes.
c: In 1997-2000
b: The seawall with a single small-diameter pipe was constructed in late 1800’s along the Parramatta River. This pipe progressively became blocked with silt, further reducing water exchange.
d:2050 (If nothing change)
Tide flushing c: In 1997, tidal flushing channel was restored to the Corner Marsh of the Wetland, by removing part of the seawall and replacing it with a rock filter, and a tidal flushing channel. In 2000, A new flushing channel and 7 culverts were built to restore remaining wetland.
e: 2020 remove the seawall
d: Salt marshes will be flooded as sea levels rise if nothing changed
Is it possible to remove the seawall? Through the analysis of the history of the seawall construction, it is found that the wetland was not considered too much at the beginning, the water in the salt marshes often cannot be drained, leading to the mass disappearance of the salt marshes (Figure 24:b). Two tidal flushing channel were built in 1997 and 2000 (Figure 25), which gradually began to restore tidal changes and greatly improved the survival of saltmarsh (Figure 24:c). Moreover, the culverts were built for biological communication. In this artificial way, the natural tides have been restored as much as possible. In addition, the seawall now serves as an important cycling and walking path for the residents of the six surrounding areas now (Figure 5). However, in the future, this may lead to the siltation of the flushing channel and culverts, which will require constant manual testing and repair. Moreover, these measures restore tides slowly, which prevents saltmarsh from competing with mangroves and creates mosquito breeding ponds. In addition, there are limits to the number and variety of aquatic animals that can enter the wetlands. If the seawall is removed, the salt marshes will grow better and the biodiversity will be more abundant. Instead of the seawall road, a floating road could be proposed to provide cycling and walking path for the residents (Figure 24:e). However, considering the sea level rise, the saltmarsh will still be flooded by 2050(Figure 24:f). Even if the seawall is removed, this method is only valid for more than 20 years. Moreover, dismantling the seawall and constructing the floating road will require a lot of money. Therefore, removing the seawall seems to be low cost performance.
f: 2050 (If remove the seawall)
Tide flushing e: Remove the seawall and proposed the floating path
F: Even if the seawall is removed, the saltmarsh will still be flooded by 2050 due to the sea level rise Figure 32: Saltmarsh Sections (By Author, 2020)
Figure33: The location of tidal flushing channel (By Author) (Data from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, 2003)
32
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 2: Find potential saltmarsh retreat place This map combines terrain, habitats, and historical saltmarsh map together to find possible future saltmarsh retreat place. Geographically, two sides of the saltmarsh are surrounded by mangroves and she-oaks forests, and only the side near Newington Armory has the potential to be a saltmarsh retreat place. According to the terrain analysis, the red area is a gentle slope, which also provides an opportunity for salt marsh retreat. In addition, according to historical analysis, the red area was once the saltmarsh, which was gradually replaced by the present grassland due to later development. Besides, the fpoating saltmarsh islands could be placed on the surface as the water expands.
Forest
Acid sulphate containment mound Existing Saltmarsh
Salt marshes were once located here Floating saltmarsh islands Saltmarsh retreat place
Figure 34: Saltmarsh retreat place (By Author, 2020)
33
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience
Figure 36: Current situation (Google map)
Concrete wall
Figure 37: Concrete buildings that combine with the terrain (Photo by Author, 2020)
Brick wall
Proposed Newington Armory Entrance
Figure 35: Entrance of Newington Armory (By Author, 2020)
There used to be a road through the Armory, but this Armory road was interrupted by the later construction of the city road and was 1.5m higher than the city road. Moreover, this border is close to the city road and has sidewalks and cycleway, so this point is a priority when considering new entrances. A unique entrance is formed by transforming the entrance terrain and adding a low wall to simulate the form of building and terrain in the site (Figure 37). The low walls on both sides are made of different materials: concrete and red brick which are commonly used materials for historic buildings in the site. In addition, plant preference should be followed when building new entrances to retain existing plants.
Figure 38: Brick building (Photo by Author, 2020)
Figure 38: Location of the entrance (By Author, 2020)
34
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience Entrance (Figure 39) The entrance to the wilderness experience road is built next to the flushing channel two. A wooden frame draws attention to the site as a signage (Figure 39), forming the Framed space which is better to enhance people's memory of the site (Herrington, 2016). Through this framework, artificial tidal flushing channel and woodlands can be seen, suggesting the relationship between human intervention and wilderness in the site. Below the frame is a map of wilderness experience routes and rules of the site. Wilderness exploration roads begin by taking the existing service track and reorganizing it, preserving the existing wild character and clearing a road space.
Signage
Service track
Figure 39: Entrance of Wilderness experience path (By, Author, 2020)
Figure 40:Location of Entrance and Service track (By Author, 2020)
35
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience Mangroves Path (Figure 41)
Floating saltmarsh islands
Floating trail
As the path advances into the wetlands, the service track is replaced by a floating trail which adapts to tidal changes (Figure 42). The trail is partially traversed through the mangroves, mostly along the boundary between the mangroves and the saltmarsh (Figure 41) and has resting platforms to touch the mangroves and view the mangroves and saltmarsh. Walking along the road, one can feel the constant change of space: from the closed and dark mangrove forest to the open wetland space. Moreover, due to the twists and turns of mangrove boundaries, the changes of space light, shade, opening and closing can be felt for many times. In addition, the path along the edge of the mangrove also helps to monitor the spread of the mangroves and prevent them from invading the salt marshes. One of the reasons for not getting deep into the mangrove is that the mangrove is not very large and is close to the frog habitat, which can be very disruptive to the frogs. Another reason is that Badu Mangroves has already explored Mangroves in depth. The exploration here is mainly to experience different ecological environments.
Figure 41: Mangroves and saltmarsh experience (By Author, 2020)
Figure 42: Floating Trail adapt to tides change (By author, 2020)
Figure 43: Location of Mangroves path (By Author, 2020)
36
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience 2021
Saltmarsh
Figure 44:Proposed Saltmarsh path view (By Author, 2020)
2030
Saltmarsh Path (Figure 44)
A wide view will emerge from the closed mangroves, and a path crosses the boundary between saltmarsh and lawn (Figure 44). Here will be a future retreat for saltmarsh. Therefore, in 2030, it is likely to see an increase in the amount of water in the wetland and a gradual expansion of salt marshes onshore (Figure 45). To ensure the retreat of saltmarsh, the path will remain above the ground and restrict human activities. However, there is a platform that goes down to allow people to see the salt marshes closely (Figure 45).
Saltmarsh
Figure 45: Saltmarsh path view in 2030 (By Author, 2020)
Figure 46:Location of Saltmarsh path (By Author, 2020)
37
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience
She-oaks Forest Path (Figure 47) As path advances into the She-oaks forest, the boardwalk is replaced by natural soil (Figure 47). The fruits and leaves of She-oaks invite an exploration of smell and touch. There are also signages running through the site in the woodland to strengthen people's memory of the site. Moreover, due to its proximity to art studios, wilderness installation art can also be carried out in the woodland. When it rains, it will be a wild paradise (Figure 48). Although this soil path is not conducive to travel, one of the characteristics and charms of the wilderness is its changing landscape in response to factors such as the weather, seasons. Figure 49 :Location of forest path (By Author, 2020)
She-oaks fruit
Signage
Figure 47: Soil path in the forest (By author, 2020)
Figure 48: Forest path in rainy day (By author, 2020)
38
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience
Path between She-oaks forest and Turpentine Ironbark woodland (Figure 49) The path between She-oaks forest and Turpentine Ironbark woodland is a shared path with rail. Walking people can interact with visitors on the train
Figure 49 :Path between forest and woodland (By Author, 2020)
Figure 50 :Location of forest path (By Author, 2020)
39
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild experience
Figure 52 :Location of woodland Path (By Author, 2020)
Bat and Bird box
Building 31: Bird Observation
Signage Figure 51: Woodland path (By author, 2020)
Turpentine Ironbark woodland Path(Figure 51) The last section of the path is guided through woodland using existing train tracks. Due to the high terrain on both sides of the path, it forms a natural echo place, which enables people to hear the birds' calls better. In addition, the building has a good location in the forest as a bird observation point. Since the woodland area is small, any one of the paths may have a greater impact on the entire woodland, so this road only goes as far as the building. 40
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Space Sequence
Figure 52: Space sequence (By author, 2020) 41
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Test Narrative 3: Wild play Wild play (Figure 53)
Wild + Space = Infinite possibilities Wilderness play is not just for children, it can be also for anyone who comes to the site. As a landscape architect, what we should do is not to design an over-designed site for people to experience and not to plan what people can do here, but to provide opportunities for them to experience and let them create their own experience. In the wilderness, everything is changing and full of potential, which is the most attractive thing of wilderness. We just need to give them the opportunity to go into the wilderness where they can climb trees, pick flowers, play with the mud, collage the texture of plants, or go on a hike. What they want to do is up to them and what we need to do is provide this flexible space that allows these activities to take place. Everyone can be a designer or an artist in the wilderness. Visitors could create memories by themselves.
Climbing
Pick Flowers
Wild Art
Family Activities
Less Design More wilderness
Figure 53: Forest path in rainy day (By author, 2020)
42
6. Testing of methods and techniques
Weave
Narrative1: Relics
Narrative1: Spatial character + vegetation
Narrative2: Rewilding
Narrative1+3:Road system
Figure 54: Wave layering (By author, 2020)
Finally, after a series of tests, the three narratives were woven together to form the final master plan. 43
08 Synthesis and Findings
44
8. Synthesis and findings
Master Plan
12
1. Armory Wharf 2. Frog Pond 3. Car Park 4. Rewilding area 5. Saltmarsh Retreat area 6. Floating saltmarsh islands 7. Bird Observation 8. Platform 9. Wild play 10. Saltmarsh Nursery Area 11. Aboriginal Culture Exhibition 12. Wetlands Environment Centre
11
1:6000 1:6000 Figure 55: Master Plan (By author, 2020)
45
8. Synthesis and findings
How to achieve the mission?
Phase 1 (before 2020) Phase 1 focus on the rewilding of Tu r p e n t i n e I r o n b a r k F o r e s t a n d restoration of natural tides in wetlands.
Restoration of natural tides in wetlands
Bring city back to wilderness
Turpentine Ironbark Forest rewilding
Wild experience
Dynamism Wild Characteristics
Process Mutability
Phase 2 (before 2030) The second phase focuses on paths that provide the wilderness experience, retreat of salt marsh and rewilding of the She-oaks forest. By increasing the wild experience space, help people to understand what wilderness is, why do we need wilderness and feel the characteristics of wilderness.
Ambiguity
Wild experience path
Saltmarsh She-oaks Forest Retreat rewilding
Bring wilderness back to city
Phase 3 (before 2050)
The third phase continues the spontaneous growth of the vegetation and also allows the mangrove to move freely. Moreover, I also think about how landscape architects can help people to bring the characteristics they experience in the wilderness into the city. This could be some urban furniture in the city or some art installation. These designs in the city are not overdesigned landscapes and do not have to rely on wild materials, but still allow people to remain the wild characteristics and creativity in the wilderness.
In the city Mangrove expansion Saltmarsh Retreat Figure 56: Three phases (By author, 2020) 46
Conclusion
Reference list
What is the wilderness? Is it a carefully protected national park? Or is it no man's land that we haven't explored yet? Wilderness sounds so far away from everyday life, and you have to drive a long way from the city to see the wilderness. However, maybe the wilderness is around us. What we lack is not the wilderness, not nature, but the lack of eyes to see the wilderness and the lack of opportunities to touch the wilderness.
1. Australian Government, Department of the Environment and energy (2016), Coastal wetlands—Mangroves and saltmarshes 2. Bonthoux, S., Brun, M., Di Pietro, F., Greulich, S. and Bouché-Pillon, S., 2014. How can wastelands promote biodiversity in cities? A review. Landscape and Urban Planning, 132, pp.79-88. https://www-sciencedirect-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/science/article/pii/ S0169204614001960 3. Bingley, A. and Milligan, C. (2004) ‘Climbing Trees and Building Dens’: Mental Health and Well-being in Young Adults and the Long-term Effects of Childhood Play Experience, Research Report, Lancaster: Institute of Health Research, Lancaster University http://escalate.ac.uk/ downloads/4725.pdf 4. Cooper, G., 2006. Disconnected children. HORIZONS-PENRITH-, 33, p.22. http://www. openspace.eca.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Wild-Adventure-Space-for-Young-PeopleIndividual-Reviews-Document-WASYP-2.pdf#page=63 5. Corlett, R.T., 2016. Restoration, reintroduction, and rewilding in a changing world. Trends in ecology & evolution, 31(6), pp.453-462. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/pii/S0169534716000628?casa_token=4IUnPuW3gjMAAAAA:Y1vRgMOD4HE_ MQgqaRhJhWY3uEMOg8Pa-Mc37lSF6buQ9kdPt2YGJAJ3f8_k2czDWdiE1uccGmM 6. Darcovich, K. and O'Meara, J., 2008. An olympic legacy: green and golden bell frog conservation at Sydney Olympic Park 1993-2006. Australian Zoologist, 34(3), pp.236-248. https:// publications.rzsnsw.org.au/doi/pdf/10.7882/AZ.2008.001 7. Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW, Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, Sydney Olympic Park Authority (2008), Best practice guidelines for coastal saltmarsh. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Water/ Coasts/best-practice-guidelines-coastal-saltmarsh-080616.pdf 8. Diemer, M., Held, M. and Hofmeister, S., 2003. Urban wilderness in Central Europe. International Journal of Wilderness, 9(3), pp.7-11. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi =10.1.1.617.7964&rep=rep1&type=pdf 9. Gobster, P.H., Nassauer, J.I., Daniel, T.C. and Fry, G., 2007. The shared landscape: what does aesthetics have to do with ecology?. Landscape ecology, 22(7), pp.959-972. https://link. springer.com/article/10.1007/s10980-007-9110-x 10. Gobster, P.H., 2012. Appreciating urban wildscapes. Urban wildscapes, pp.33-48. https:// ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/reader.action?docID=957530&ppg=47 11. Hansen, L. A. (1998) Where We Play and Who We Are. The Illinois Parks & Recreation 12. Hansen, M.M., Jones, R. and Tocchini, K., 2017. Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and nature therapy: A state-of-the-art review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(8), p.851. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/8/851 13. Herrington, S., 2016. Landscape theory in design. Taylor & Francis. 14. Jorgensen, A. and Tylecote, J., 2007. Ambivalent landscapes—wilderness in the urban interstices. Landscape Research, 32(4), pp.443-462. https://www-tandfonline-com.wwwproxy1. library.unsw.edu.au/doi/full/10.1080/01426390701449802 15. Jorgensen, A. and Keenan, R., 2012. Urban wildscapes. Routledge. https://ebookcentral. proquest.com/lib/unsw/detail.action?docID=957530 16. Kowarik, I., 1992. Das Besondere der städtischen Vegetation. Schriftenreihe des Deutschen Rates für Landespflege 61, 33–47. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/ Ingo_Kowarik/publication/259364097_Das_Besondere_der_stadtischen_Vegetation/ links/0deec52b347dc630c6000000.pdf 17. Kowarik, I. and Langer, A., 2005. Natur-Park Südgelände: Linking conservation and recreation in an abandoned railyard in Berlin. In Wild urban woodlands (pp. 287-299). Springer,
In Newington Nature Reserve, we carefully protect the wilderness and use fences to prevent people from entering it. We carefully monitored the plants and animals, weeded them, replanted trees, and felt confident that we were helping nature. However, does natural succession really need our help? The seemingly very natural landscape which is carefully designed by Landscape architects actually needs a lot of human and material resources to maintain and the maintenance cost is even higher than a common green space. This also indirectly proves that landscape architects may not be able to design natural landscapes easily. Likka Hanski, a Finnish biologist, conducted an experiment in his garden: A year after he stopped cutting the grass, he found 375 species of plants in his garden, including two endangered species. In a small garden, 375 is a staggering number. How many species in well-cared parks and gardens? What we call protection may be a limitation. Therefore, what we have to do maybe do nothing or less and let the site grow naturally. Less design, more wilderness. Some plants or animals may disappear with time, but there will be new plants or animals. This is the natural succession. Nature is not as fragile as we think, on the contrary, she has great strength. In addition to changing our attitude towards wilderness, we can also try to bring the characteristics of wilderness( dynamism, ambiguity, process, mutability) into urban landscape design to make the landscape more flexible, resilient and encourage public participation.
47
Berlin, Heidelberg. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F3-540-26859-6_18 18. Kowarik, I., 2018. Urban wilderness: Supply, demand, and access. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 29, pp.336-347. https://www-sciencedirect-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/science/ article/pii/S1618866717301747 19. Lachmund, J., 2013. Greening Berlin: the co-production of science, politics, and urban nature. Mit Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/detail.action?docID=3339559 20. Navarro, L.M. and Pereira, H.M., 2015. Rewilding abandoned landscapes in Europe. In Rewilding European Landscapes (pp. 3-23). Springer, Cham. 21. NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Sydney Olympic Park Authority (2003) Plan of Management For Newington Nature Reserve. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-andpublications/publications-search/newington-nature-reserve-plan-of-management 22. O'Meara, J. and Darcovich, K., 2015. Twelve years on: ecological restoration and rehabilitation at Sydney Olympic Park. Ecological Management & Restoration, 16(1), pp.14-28. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/emr.12150 23. Park, B.J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T. and Miyazaki, Y., 2010. The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental health and preventive medicine, 15(1), p.18. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%252Fs12199-009-0086-9 24. ROGERS, P.B.K., SAINTILAN, N., DAVIES, P., KELLEWAY, J. and MOGENSEN, L., Mangrove and Saltmarsh Threat Analysis in the Sydney Coastal Councils Region. https://www. sydneycoastalcouncils.com.au/sites/default/files/Mangrove%20and%20Saltmarsh%20Threat%20 Analysis%20in%20the%20SSCCG%20Region.pdf 25. Sheridan, D., 2012. Disordering public space. Urban wildscapes, pp.201-220. https:// ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/reader.action?docID=957530&ppg=210 26. Stankey, G.H. and Schreyer, R., 1987, July. Attitudes toward wilderness and factors affecting visitor behavior: a state-of-knowledge review. In Proceedings of the National Wilderness Research Conference: Issues, state of knowledge and future directions. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-220. Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT (pp. 246-293). https://books. google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tdHa3kfC088C&oi=fnd&pg=PA246&dq=Attitudes+toward+wild erness++and+factors+affecting+visitor+behavior:+a+state-of-knowledge++review&ots=5nAQU3SE 0D&sig=tcu3OMfZcKoS_AXUDLZu4vnEs9E&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Attitudes%20toward%20 wilderness%20%20and%20factors%20affecting%20visitor%20behavior%3A%20a%20state-ofknowledge%20%20review&f=false 27. Ta n n e r A r c h i t e c t s 2 0 1 3 . N E W I N G T O N A R M A M E N T D E P O T A N D N AT U R E RESERVESYDNEY OLYMPIC PARKCONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN 28. Thompson, C.W., 2012. Places to be wild in nature. Urban wildscapes, pp.49-64. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/reader.action?docID=957530&ppg=63 29. Thompson, C.W., Aspinall, P. and Montarzino, A., 2008. The childhood factor: Adult visits to green places and the significance of childhood experience. Environment and behavior, 40(1), pp.111-143. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916507300119?casa_token=YkCm KoIR9F8AAAAA:s0IaN5Apsju9E29TX0CJTHuGQHPujCbfMdifptVU5SATdGqq_QW2H_bPN5R4SaIpMGvDPVQM_gger8 30. Vicenzotti, V. and Trepl, L., 2009. City as wilderness: The wilderness metaphor from Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl to contemporary urban designers. Landscape Research, 34(4), pp.379-396. https:// www-tandfonline-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/doi/full/10.1080/01426390903019841 31. Wilderness Act, 1964. Public Law 88-577. 88th Congress, Second Session, Act of September 3, 16 U.S.C., 1131-1136. Retrieved March 21st, 2017 32. Way, T., 2013. Landscapes of industrial excess: A thick sections approach to Gas Works
Park. Journal of Landscape Architecture, 8(1), pp.28-39. https://www-tandfonline-com.wwwproxy1. library.unsw.edu.au/doi/full/10.1080/18626033.2013.798920 33. Xiangrong, W. Urban wilderness and urban habitat. Landscape Architecture, 26(1), pp.4-5 http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-FJYL201901001.htm
48