TRANSFORM ASPHALT: Reclaiming urban surfaces for ecological function

TRANSFORM ASPHALT

Reclaiming urban surfaces for ecological function Heena Gajjar

80% Compact Space

4”

6”

ASPHALT

BINDER

BASE

SUB-BASE

SUBGRADE

EARTH

Space

20% Void Space

COMPACTION

2” 2”

50% Compact 50% Void Space

Air (10-20%)

Air

Water

Minerals

(10-20%)

Minerals + Contamination (70-80%)

(10-20%)

(30-45%)

Water

Organic

(10-20%)

(1%)

Organic (2-5%)

Transform Asphalt: is an investigation into the past and present complexities of urban asphalt surface and specifically explores the in-situ regeneration of vacant blackfields into evolving ecologies.

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TRANSFORM ASPHALT: Reclaiming urban surfaces for ecological function

Published on Sep 12, 2017

Heena Gajjar

Asphalt is the most commonly accepted ground surface material in our urban environment. However, the high concentration of this impervious surface has severed the relationship between atmosphere and the rhizosphere resulting in drastic ecological disparities. Rustbelt cities across the southern edge of the Great Lakes represent the most affected lot. As an integral part of the larger hydrological system many rustbelt cities also fall over the Atlantic and Mississippi bird migratory paths. There is an opportunity to transform the vacant asphalt sites along the waterways into habitats for migratory birds. The process based transformation would offer educational opportunities, cultural identity and also improve the ecological health of the entire region. Transform Asphalt is a research study that investigates the past and present complexities of urban asphalt surface and specifically explores the in-situ regeneration of vacant blackfields.

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