energy:authority the dualities of power
jess vanecek
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premise.
site.
In the current political atmosphere of climate change denial and alternative facts, proposed budget cuts will drastically a˜ ect federal agencies’ ability to regulate negative impacts on the environment through legislation. With a lack of regulation on carbon emissions and hazardous site cleanups, how can architecture assume
° is site is located in Sauget, Illinois - a haven for big industry originally incorporated as Monsanto Town in 1926. It is situated along a 500 year levee operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. ° e property itself is owned by energy infrastructure and natural gas pipeline giant, Kinder Morgan.
responsibility physically for the protection and rehabilitation of the environment? ° is project seeks to address this in two ways: 1. through the research and integration of
renewable energy strategies.
2. by critically assessing and proposing new
methods of building within the flood plain.
Furthermore, the project seeks to break down the disillusion that exists between the public and infrastructure in an e˜ ort to promote an understanding of the industrial processes that both drive the consumer world and have a critical impact on the environment.
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program. ° e proposal for an alternative power research facility both tackles the development of renewable energy and also harnesses authority over environmental impacts, putting focus on physical implementation over legislation. ° is program responds contextually to both historic and current uses of the site for power generation. It also seeks to partner with current landowners and operators in an e˜ ort to promote and develop better practices. A public park component is a critical element in the aforementioned goals of exposing the public to energy infrastructure, possibilities, and impacts.
conservation research + development
research + development
[hazardous waste]
[renewable energy]
propaganda
self-suËœci ency
[corporate partnerships]
[net-zero]
energy
authority
education
activism
[public engagement]
[negotation spaces]
access
exposure
[riverfront park]
recreation
[public interaction]
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energy:authority the dualities of power
jess vanecek [instructor] [assistant]
derek hoeferlin tiffin thompson
graduate school of architecture & urban design sam fox school of design & visual arts washington university in st. louis
design thinking_SP 2017
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power (n) a) possession of control, authority, or influence over others b) a source or means of supplying energy
“Power claims territories, disciplines individuals, and regulates flows of people and things. Of power’s (authority’s) many instruments, power (energy) plays a structural role... Over the last century, the nation’s energy grid has been shaped by and helped sustain its ruling machines, from community councils and regulated monopolies to regional markets.” Janette Kim and Erik Carver The Underdome Guide to Energy Reform
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contents --
beginnings/ establishing a method.
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february/ climate + constructed landscapes.
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duality/
place as propaganda.
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counter-process/ identifying an issue.
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reclamation/
alternative power facility.
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precedents/
energy + industrial related design.
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sources/
facts + alternative facts.
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“Beginnings are perhaps most propitious if their ends are neither clearly envisaged nor defined… enabling one to discover new and unforeseen aspects in affairs that may seem ordinary or exhausted.” James Corner and Alex MacLean Taking Measures Across the American Landscape
beginnings/ establishing a method.
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curated perceptions.
° e intention of this exercise was to place total trust in a method, shedding preconceived notions of an expected result and instead allowing myself to uncover information and insight through the process of making. I began with the curation of personal photographs based on one simple criteria: the presence of the color red. My attraction to all things red, whether iconic or mundane, became increasingly evident as I analyzed a collection of photos taken during a summer’s travel throughout Europe. ° e photos at right are a small sample of this. ° e following pages exhibit a series of manipulation studies that proceeded to lay the conceptual framework of altered perceptions and deception for the course of my research.
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color manipulation.
Following curation was a series of color manipulation studies, isolating and changing only the red tones within the images. Red was converted to cyan, green, magenta, purple, and yellow (shown at right). From these tests, it became apparent how something as simple as color can bias perceptions. For instance, I was far less interested in the individual objects when they were cyan, green, or magenta, while yellow and purple were still appealing to me. Moreover, through this process, I concluded that had the objects of my photographs not been red in the Ăż rst place,
they would have likely been overlooked as worthwhile subjects.
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information reduction.
Another test was carried out with a series of black and white images, transformed both digitally and manually using a photocopier. ° is study revealed the degree to which information can be distorted and lost throughout a process, much
like how truth and facts become reduced and skewed as they travel further from the source.
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context isolation.
° e ÿ nal segment of this exercise was the most enlightening. First, the red content was isolated. I then enlisted the participation of peers to reimagine the context of the images. Outside participation was key, as I was too familiar with the original images to complete the scene in an unbiased manner. All images were drawn on a single sheet, allowing individuals to choose whether they would build upon a drawing of someone before them or draw autonomously. ° e conclusion of this exercise was simple: context matters.
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curate.
isolate.
re-envision.
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“...spring is arriving earlier than ever in three out of four US National Parks across the nation... These findings are consistent with the fact that the instrumental record shows that 2016 was the hottest year ever recorded for the globe, and that it was the third record-breaking year in a row. Researchers have noted that 16 of the 17 hottest years recorded occurred since 2000.” United States Geological Survey “Just HOW EARLY is spring arriving in your neighborhood? Find out...”
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february/ climate + constructed landscapes.
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travel, climate, context.
Two back-to-back, coast-to-coast trips in the month of February had a signiÿ cant impact on the course of this research. A site visit to the desertscapes of the Coachella Valley in southern California preceded a humid stay in the wetlands of central Florida. Eight days and eight ˝ ights later, I found myself back in the Midwest with a curious interest in constructed natural landscapes based on distinct yet related experiences at Joshua Tree National Park and Sweetwater Wetlands Park. ° roughout the rest of the month, I visited three St. Louis sites that ÿ t the category of “constructed landscape” : the Missouri Botanical Garden, Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and the Saint Louis Zoo. It’s worth noting, as the following pages show, that the temperatures at all sites varied by only a few degrees in the 60° Fahrenheit range, which was until recently uncommon for the month of February across the varying contexts and climates of California, Florida, and Missouri.
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home base
st. louis missouri
february 8-10
gainesville Ëœo rida
february 4-7
palm springs california
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05 february 2017 location: joshua tree national park twentynine palms, california time: 2:00pm weather: 64° F partly cloudy
“While the Joshua Tree area has been inhabited by humans for at least 5,000 years, by the late 1920s the development of new roads into the desert had brought an influx of land developers and cactus poachers. Minerva Hoyt, a Pasadena resident who was extremely fond of desert plants, became concerned about the removal of cacti and other plants to the gardens of Los Angeles. Her tireless efforts to protect this area culminated in 825,000 acres being set aside as Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936.” “Park History” Joshua Tree National Park
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10 february 2017 location: sweetwater wetlands park gainesville, florida time: 1:00pm weather: 64° F sunny
“In 2009, the Paynes Prairie Sheetflow Restoration Project began as a way to reduce pollution to Alachua Sink by restoring the prairie’s natural sheetflow and creating a wetland habitat. The final goal was to create an environmentally friendly park, filled with plants and animals, that allows people to connect with and learn about nature. Gainesville Regional Utilities and the City of Gainesville Department of Public Works completed the wetlands in 2015.” “History” Sweetwater Wetlands Park
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A return to previous methods of photo manipulation provided a method by which I could begin to process the extremes of the coast-to-coast travel and climate. ° ese two images, one unedited and one altered, break down the disparity between the two places by blurring the line between the real and the unreal.
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18 february 2017 location: missouri botanical garden st. louis, missouri time: 12:00pm weather: 61° F cloudy / light rain
“The Missouri Botanical Garden opened to the public in 1859 and began to grow in the European tradition of horticultural display combined with education and the search for new knowledge. Today, 158 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science and conservation, education and horticultural display.” “Our Mission and History” Missouri Botanical Garden
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19 february 2017 location: riverlands migratory bird sanctuary west alton, missouri time: 3:30pm weather: 67° F sunny
“The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary includes 1200 acres of restored bottomland marsh and prairie and is managed by the USACE. Prior to the construction of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, this 1200 acre section of land was in crop production. After the construction of the dam, water elevations increased and the croplands were infested with invasive plants such as Musk Thistle (Carduusnutans) (USACE, 1993). The USACE researched the historical vegetative cover near the Great Rivers Confluence and developed a management plan that would help reduce and control invasive species while reestablishing a plant community similar to what would have occurred prior to settlement--a mosaic of bottomland marsh and prairie.” “Prairie Rehabilitation at Riverlands” Audubon Center at Riverlands
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27 february 2017 *international location: saint louis zoo st. louis, missouri time: 12:30pm weather: 61° F sunny
“The World’s Fair of 1904 in St. Louis brought with it a walk-through flight cage commissioned by the Smithsonian Institution. St. Louisans fought for it to remain in the city once the Fair concluded, and it would later become a cornerstone for the Zoo. The popularity of the bird cage during the World’s Fair inspired civic leaders to build a real zoological garden in St. Louis. In November 1910, the Zoological Society of St. Louis was established. The founders formed the organization with the hope that a zoo would make the city more appealing for visitors and residents alike.” “A Zoo Is Born” Saint Louis Zoo
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polar bear day
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historical temperature data.
84° [feb 1] 83° [feb 10] [feb 24] 81° 79° [feb 21] 78° [feb 12] 77° [feb 17] 76° [feb 16] 75° [feb 9] [feb 14] 74°
71° [feb 5]
historical averages + record highs for the month of february in st. louis, 1900-2016.
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1954
1943
1938
1935
1932
1930
1925
1911
[feb 6] 69°
Land & Ocean Temperature Departure from Average, Feb 2016
Global Land & Ocean Temperature Anomalies, Jan-Dec
(with respect to a 1981-2010 base period) NOAA
NOAA
85° [feb 29] 83° [feb 13] 80° [feb 28] 79° [feb 27] [feb 22] 78°
78° [feb 4]
78° [feb 26]
[feb 20] 78°
77° [feb 23]
[feb 19] 77°
76° [feb 25] 75° [feb 15] [feb 18] 74° 72° [feb 11] [feb 8] 70°
70° [feb 07]
2016
2009
1999
1995 1996
1990
1981
1976
1971 1972
1962
[feb 2] 66°
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“While systems such as ecology, mobility, and technology manifest themselves in spatially tangible ways, others, such as political and economic forces, operate often unseen and by spatially remote means. Each, however, is central in shaping aspects of the built environment...” Lola Sheppard “From Site to Territory,”
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Bracket [Goes Soft]
duality/ landscape as propaganda.
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reinforcing functions.
At all ÿ ve sites, there are two forces at play. ° e ÿ rst is conservation as it relates to species and the environment, arguably the primary reason for each place’s existence. ° e second variable is recreation, which not only draws people to the place but also generates funding. I argue that these two things operate in a feedback loop, where conservation cannot exist without recreation. ° ere must be a public interest or beneÿ t component in order to justify the funding for environmental conservation. Analyzing this further led to the uncovering of contradictions between conservation goals of the institutions and from where they receive a majority of funding (see next page). In all cases, but especially in the cases of the Missouri Botanical Garden and Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, the sites can be understood as landscape as propaganda. For instance, Monsanto is one of the largest donors to the Missouri Botanical Garden, presumably in an e˜ ort to distract from the controversial chemical and agricultural production that has plagued the company since its founding. Likewise, the US Army Corps of Engineers is very explicit about the use of Riverlands, along with their partnership with the National Audubon Society, as a sign of their “commitment to stewardship” and expansion of environmental education, even though the environment remains fourth on their list of priorities.
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joshua tree national park twentynine palms, ca
sweetwater wetlands park gainesville, ˜
function one conservation
missouri botanical garden st. louis, mo
function two recreation
riverlands migratory bird sanctuary west alton, mo
saint louis zoo st. louis, mo
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contradiction: missions versus funding.
“to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system”
“to improve the water quality of wetlands in Paynes Prairie and the Floridan Aquifer.”
Public Admission Fee Federal Government Donations Partnerships
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“to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life”
Public Admission Fee Gainesville Regional Utilities City of Gainesville Department of Public Works
“to inspire conservation of the River’s rich diversity in birds, wildlife, and other natural resources”
Public Admission Fee Memberships Donations Corporate Partners License Plates
“to conserve animals and their habitats”
Donations National Audubon Society Audubon Missouri US Army Corps of Engineers
Memberships Donations Corporate Partners License Plates
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joshua tree national park.
mission statement:
“To preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.� funding:
Public Admission Fee Federal Government Donations Partnerships
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function one natural environment preservation
function two national park
[hiking, camping, art]
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sweetwater wetlands park.
mission statement:
“Sweetwater Wetlands Park is not only a place to connect with nature, it’s a way to protect our environment. The park, which consists of more than 125 acres of wetlands and ponds, was created to improve the water quality of wetlands in Paynes Prairie and the Floridan Aquifer.” funding:
Public Admission Fee Gainesville Regional Utilities City of Gainesville Department of Public Works
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function one wetland restoration + water purification
function two city park [bird watching, trails]
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missouri botanical garden.
mission statement:
“To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life� funding:
Public Admission Fee Memberships Donations Corporate Partners (Monsanto) License Plates
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function one plant conservation
function two city attraction
[constructed gardens, events]
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riverlands migratory bird sanctuary.
mission statement:
“To connect people to the beauty of the Mississippi River and the Great Rivers Confluence, to inspire conservation of the River’s rich diversity in birds, wildlife, and other natural resources, and to support healthy, vibrant communities.” funding:
Donations National Audubon Society Audubon Missouri US Army Corps of Engineers
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function one habitat restoration + flood mitigation
function two usace recreation area
[bird watching, trails]
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saint louis zoo.
mission statement:
“To conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.� funding:
Memberships Donations Corporate Partners License Plates
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function one species preservation
function two city attraction
[contructed exhibits, events]
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ES $3 V I E C E R N E AL GARD OWARD C T I N Y A N T A P O B M I O MISSOUR SANTO C N O M M O R NLINE FT F I O G A N R O O I L L F L I D M ORL W al First Phase c A ti ri F C O s t’ T c je N ro E DEVELOPMGift Will Support International P d Generous Leaden News Release anical Gar
Missouri Bot June 5, 2012
“We find it really hypocritical that a garden, which is by the way a beautiful garden, and that has in its mission to promote sustainability, is receiving large amounts of funds from an herbicide producer.” “Monsanto is very much pushing what is considered big agriculture, a type of farming that is very destructive of the environment, especially with regard to climate change issues.”
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“On Friday, June 12, 1998 the Corps of Engineers dedicated the Environmental Demonstration Area. The dedication event allowed for the Corps of Engineers, our partners, and our supporters to recognize the Corps commitment to stewardship and how through our partners and the support of the community we have and are continuing to expand environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities.” US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary / History
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION
PRIORITY LIST
Navigation Flood Risk Management Hydropower Environmental Recreation Regulatory Program Engineering and Construction Mississippi River Science and Technology
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but does it matter?
° e process of analyzing the sites was to dig past the positive facade and uncover the aspects of operations that are o˙ en diˆ cult to understand because of skewed or concealed information. As previously mentioned, the Missouri Botanical Garden and its relationship with Monsanto, as well as the partnership between the Audubon Society and the US Army Corps of Engineers at Riverlands came to the forefront as sites where this duality exists. However, while the relationships may be controversial or contradictory, both sites are inherently successful in their e˜ orts to conserve and protect the environment speciÿ cally because of funding and engagement from those partnerships. So does it matter? What was learned from this investigation was that the lines are not clean, things are not black and white. Sometimes unconventional partnerships and contradictions are necessary in order to achieve a certain set of goals.
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constructed japanese garden, missouri botanical garden
positive intentions
success
contradictory partnerships
restored prairie wetland, riverlands migratory bird sanctuary
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“As we accept the notion that we have entered an Anthropocene era, one in which no region of the globe is left untouched - whether directly or indirectly - by humandkind’s impact, every site must be understood as a palimpsest of forces.” Lola Sheppard “From Site to Territory,”
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Bracket [Goes Soft]
counter-process/ identifying an issue.
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reverse analysis.
Rather than build upon one of the three St. Louis sites studied up until this point, it became more beneÿ cial to treat all ÿ ve site as precedent case studies. All ÿ ve places in their present state exemplify a positive landscape condition. Each, in slightly di˜ erent ways, have undergone interventions to some degree which have enhanced what existed on site previously. ° e process of site analysis therefore worked from present to past, and positive to negative. Reversing this analytical process therefore provides a method for the meaningful discovery of a place in need of an intervention. ° e research now works from present to future, negative to positive. By identifying negative landscape conditions, an issue and subsequent site in need of remediation emerge. ° rough this process, environmental contamination emerged as a pressing issue throughout the St. Louis region. ° is was the basis for the research that led to the proposal.
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+
-
present condition
[intervention]
past condition
present condition
[intervention]
future condition
-
+
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# # # “The Superfund site assessment process evaluates potential or confirmed releases of hazardous substances that may pose a threat to human health or the environment. Hazard Ranking System (HRS) criteria guide the process, which is carried out by EPA, state, tribal or other federal agency environmental programs. After identification of a site, a series of assessments evaluate the potential need for remedial cleanup.�
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SUPERFUND SITES ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST: ST. LOUIS AIRPORT/ HAZELWOOD INTERIM STORAGE/ FUTURA COATINGS CO. NPL STATUS: FINAL
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° e North St. Louis County Sites consist of the Latty Avenue Properties (Hazelwood Interim Storage Site (HISS), the Futura Coatings Company, and 8 vicinity properties); the St. Louis Airport Site (SLAPS); and 78 vicinity properties between the SLAPS, the HISS, and Coldwater Creek (CWC).
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Sauget Area 1 consists of three closed waste disposal areas (Sites G, H, and I); a closed construction debris disposal area (Site N); a backÿ lled impoundment (Site L); an inactive borrow pit (Site M); and 3.5 miles of Dead Creek.
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Sauget Area 2 is a 312-acre area including four landÿ lls (Sites Q, R, S, and P) and four backÿ lled lagoons (Site 0). ° ese sites are characterized by soil and groundwater contamination consisting of PCBs, pesticides, and metals.
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hazardous industry in a time of war. two companies, two wars, one city.
WWII From 1942 to 1957, uranium ore was processed at the Mallinckrodt Chemical Plant in downtown St. Louis as part of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bombs used by the US that e˜ ectively ended World War II. Hazardous waste from the processing was subsequently transferred to sites around the St. Louis International Airport for storage. Mishandling and inappropriate storage resulted in radioactive contamination of numerous properties in the surrounding areas. ° e contamination was initially exacerbated due to the location of storage within the ˝ ood plain of Coldwater Creek, where regular ˝ ooding provided the radioactive waste with a means to spread via the groundwater. Construction activity due to an increase in development throughout the 1950s-1970s exposed and redistributed the radioactive material even further. In recent years, high rates of cancer and other diseases linked to ionizing radioactive exposure in residents that have lived along Coldwater Creek has prompted concern within the community. ° is led to the investigation and discovery of low-level radioactive contamination still present in the soil surrounding Coldwater Creek. Both the EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers are responsible for current clean-up, and the relatively slow rate at which these federal organizations address the situation has caused tensions with the a˜ ected residents. Sources: “Our History,” Coldwater Creek Facts, web. STL Moms: St. Louis Rad Waste Legacy, web.
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image: st. louis post dispatch, sourced from u.s. department of energy
photo: earth island journal, sourced from u.s. department of energy image: stl rad waste agency (stl moms)
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VIETNAM WAR St. Louis’ involvement in hazardous wartime production doesn’t stop there. From 1965 to 1969, another St. Louis based corporation, the Monsanto Company, was one of nine wartime government contractors to manufacture and supply the US military with Agent Orange for use in the Vietnam War. ° e controversial herbicide contained the highly toxic chemical dioxin, which contaminated most sites and areas surrounding where it was produced. Around the same time, Monsanto was also manufacturing cancer-causing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDT up until these were banned by the EPA in the 1970s. Sauget, IL was incorporated in 1926 as the Village of Monsanto, created by the company speciÿ cally for chemical industry on the foundation of “environmental regulation negligence and a low tax base.” Years of chemical manufacturing and waste storage has led to the contamination of the ground and groundwater within Sauget. Like Coldwater Creek, it has been made worse by improper handling within the ˝ ood plain of the Mississippi River and Dead Creek. ° e 1993 ˝ ood in particular had a huge impact when it exposed drum containers full of hazardous waste, severely contaminating the Mississippi and prompting immediate clean-up action by the EPA in that area. Solutia and Pharmacia (Monsanto spin-o˜ companies) have been held ÿ nancially accountable for portions of the clean-up. Sources: C. Matthew Luther, “Monsanto-Sauget Superfund,” Canvas of Ruin, web. Jeff Sistrunk, “Pharmacia, Solutia Seek Help For Superfund Cleanup In Suit,” Law 360, 27 May 2014, web.
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photo: the new york times
photo: the daily resistance
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sauget, continued. site selection.
While both sites are in need of hazardous waste cleanup, Sauget became of greater interest for a series of reasons. Its historical development as a haven for industry coupled with an abundance of open space provides an ideal location for an intervention that can begin to breakdown the out-of-site, out-of-mind attitude that currently exists between the
infrastructure.
public
and
Furthermore, its proximity
to the Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis strengthens the case for a recreational component that can enhance the city’s connectivity both to the river and across it. ° e presence of the
levee
is another critical component, as levees
exist as already constructed paths with vantage points, and should therefore be utilized for public recreation and access. With those parameters, I selected a general site area running north/south and following the 500-year levee along the Mississippi (see next page). Further research led to the discovery that more has happened here, both historically and presently, other than just ground and water contamination. ° e air is troubled as well, as exhibited by Uncle Tupelo’s song, “Sauget Wind.” On the site exists what was formerly the old
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Cahokia Power Plant, the iconic six-smokestack building that was once “the largest power plant in the Mississippi Valley [consuming] a ton of coal every 30 seconds, and over 600 million gallons of water a day.” ° is plant and its burning of cheap, high-sulfur Illinois “so˙ ” coal contributed to St. Louis as the city that was known for the nation’s ÿ lthiest air, even worse than Pittsburgh. ° e site is now for commodity storage and barge loading. Next to it is a large, colorful, man-made mound consisting of the rock that was le˙ over from the extraction of coal. ° e plant, staging grounds, and mound all these exist on the river side of the levee, and therefore are subject to ˝ oodwaters. Making things more interesting, these aforementioned properties are owned by
pipeline giant Kinder Morgan, in the business of transporting natural gas, gasoline, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals.
Just east of the old power plant sits a current power plant for the Ameren Corporation, which serves “2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers across a 64,000 square-mile area” throughout Missouri and Illinois. ° e historical and current context of this site as a place for power generation informed decisions made regarding the proposal.
It’s a long way to heaven It’s a short way to hell Painkillers won’t help When the weight’s not yourself They’re poisoning the air For personal wealth It’s a long way to heaven It’s a short way to hell I don’t know what I’m breathing for ‘Cause the air around here ain’t so good anymore The weatherman says “fair” But he looks like a lie Nothing’s free in this country And there’s no place to hide, no more Industrial wind It blows from the west It’ll burn out your eyes And suck out your breath It’s waiting in the wings For damage down the line Save your tears for the soaps Leave your money behind
photo: derek hoeferlin
I don’t know what I’m breathing for ‘Cause the air around here ain’t so good anymore The weatherman says “fair” But he looks like a lie Nothing’s free in this country And there’s no place to hide, no more No place to hide, no more
“Sauget Wind” / Uncle Tupelo / 1991
photo: st. louis post-dispatch
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5
looking east: macarthur bridge + undeveloped land
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looking north: levee + macarthur bridge
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looking northwest: waste-rock pile from coal extraction process
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looking west: former cahokia power plant
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looking south: current ameren plant
gateway arch malcom martin memorial park
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gr af f
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sauget
“These parcels are perversely valuable to Sauget given the town’s role as a collector of the unwanted. In Sauget, the ordinary is forbidden and the extreme is welcomed...” Brent Ryan Privatopolis: Sauget Shrinking City Urban Design Studio, MIT
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contextual site section. east-west.
east st. louis: south of downtown “Outside of downtown, East St. Louis is largely a collection of scattered and fractured neighborhoods. Unlike some run-down parts of St. Louis, these areas are typiÿed not by abandoned buildings, but by vacant lots where buildings presumably once stood. It is not uncommon to see entire blocks with only one or two houses remaining.” builtstlouis.net
rush city “Both spatially and culturally, this neighborhood bears the in˜uence of the rural Southerners who ˜ooded into the community in the 1920s and subsequent decades; its vernacular architecture and dispersed pattern of houses suggest an isolated and unexpected pocket of country life in the midst of a struggling urban environment.” theamericanbottom.org
spoil tip waste rock (excess shale and other debris) le° over from the coal extraction process; remnant of the coal washing complex run by Southern Coal, Coke and Mining Company (decommisioned in the 1950s) theamericanbottom.org
500-year levee
˜ood stage
˜ood stage normal low
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vacant property
strip club/warehouse zone
industrial zone
route 3
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contextual site section. north-south.
spoil tip
cahokia marine services (former cahokia power plant)
ameren power facility
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gateway arch
gateway geyser
I64/I55/I70 overpass
macarthur train bridge
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“As climates change, the double meaning of “power” as destructive force and as productive energy encourages reflection on what we know about historical change as such, and how we know it.” Janette Kim and Erik Carver The Underdome Guide to Energy Reform
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reclamation/ alternative power research facility.
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programming dualities. power + park.
° e proposal for an alternative power facility operates on multiple levels of dualities. First, the term power is to be understood in the literal sense of energy production but also in terms of authority. ° e primary program will be a
research facility for the development of methods to rehabilitate the environment - this manifests in both renewable energy technologies and new processes for hazardous waste remediation. In this way, the intervention both generates energy and also harnesses authority over environmental impacts, an area typically governed by legislation versus implementation. ° e second layer of duality exists with the
conservation function and public recreation. ° e proposal will
combination of
include a linear park that to activate the levee and encourage access to the riverfront. Furthermore, the park will navigate through the power and research facilities to promote exposure to and engagement with industrial processes. ° is proposal responds contextually to both historic and current uses of the site for power generation. It is also a critique of the current political agenda to increase fossil fuel usage and decrease funding for the Environmental Protection Agency..
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conservation research + development
research + development
[hazardous waste]
[renewable energy]
propaganda
self-suËœci ency
[corporate partnerships]
[net-zero]
energy
authority
education
activism
[public engagement]
[negotation spaces]
access
exposure
[riverfront park]
recreation
[public interaction]
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current US energy sources.
“In 2016, about 4 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity were generated at utility-scale facilities in the United States. About 65% of this electricity generation was from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases), about 20% was from nuclear energy, and about 15% was from renewable energy sources. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that an additional 19 billion kWh (or about 0.02 trillion kWh) of electricity generation was from small-scale solar photovoltaic systems in 2016.� US Energy Information Administration
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6.5% 5.6% 1.5% 0.9% 0.4%
0.9%
hydropower wind biomass solar geothermal
0.4%
1.5%
6.5%
5.6% 0.6%
petroleum
0.3%
other gases
0.3%
other nonrenewable sources
14.9% renewables
33.8% natural gas 19.7% nuclear
30.4% coal data source: US Energy Information Administration
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site analysis: land ownership.
One of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America, operating 84,000 miles of pipelines and 155 terminals.
-
transports and stores natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, carbon dioxide, petroleum products, and chemicals.
Subsidary of Eastman Chemical Corporation; global manufacturer of performance materials and specialty chemicals.
- spin-off of the Monsanto Company; responsible for hazardous waste contamination in St. Louis & Sauget.
Utility company servicing 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers across a 64,000 square mile area in Missouri and Illinois.
+ committed to exploring alternative, renewable energy sources.
Global company dedicated to developing access to, preserving, and replenishing the world’s resources.
+ focused on energy efficiency and water & waste management.
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site analysis: flood risk.
date taken: 26 march 2017 river stage: 27 ft
date taken: 02 may 2017 river stage: 38 ft
Ëœooda ble protected (site only)
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“When you live in an area that can flood, or develop in the flood plain, you’re always playing a bit of Russian roulette with the river or the climate. As we get in a wetter climate cycle, it could happen more and more often.” Bob Holmes, USGS Rolla “Two catastrophic floods in less than two years wasn’t just a case of bad luck” St. Louis Post-Dispatch; 6 May 2017
˜ oodable. temporal. light. ecological.
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protected. permanent. solid. manufactured.
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site analysis: access.
pedestrian (suggested) barge rail vehicle
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programmatic requirements.
program to be strategically placed according to site ownership, oodability, and access.
players:
total sf: research + development
renewable energy hazardous waste remediation
75,000 sf
45,000 sf 30,000 sf
public interaction + engagement
10,500 sf
negotiation spaces
7,000 sf
oˆ ces + administration
3,500 sf
research residences
4,000 sf
power testing facilities hydropower solar waste-to-energy* cattle* algae*
riverfront park
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145,000 sf
44,000 sf
12,000 sf 5,000 sf 8,000 sf 7,000 sf 12,000 sf
variable
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precedents/ energy + industrial related design.
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hydro-electric powerstation. architect: location: area: year:
becker architekten kempten, germany 11,200 sf 2010
“The starting point of the design consideration was the symbolic representation of the water dynamics, which change from a calm state at the water inlet to the churning and pitching of the water near to the turbines, before subsequently returning to a calm state after the electricity generation. Public frequency is the consequence of a new continuous track for pedestrians and cyclists along the former weavery and provides a greater impulse for the further contribution of the city towards its river.� ArchDaily
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images: arch daily
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amager resource center. architect: location: area: year:
BIG copenhagen, denmark 441,000 sf 2010-present
“The waste-to-energy plant, Amager Resource Center, is located in an industrial area, that throughout the years, has turned into an extreme sport destination for thrill seekers. Different extreme sport activities take place in the raw industrial facilities such as cable wake boarding, go-kart racing, and rock climbing among others. The Amager Resource Center is the most significant landmark in the area and the building is in need of renewal. We propose a new breed of water-to-energy plant, one that is economically, environmentally, and socially profitable. Instead of considering Amager Resource Center as an isolated object, we mobilize the architecture and intensify the relationship between the building and the city - expanding the existing activities in the area by turning the roof of the new Amager Resource Center into a ski slope for the citizens of Copenhagen. The new plant establishes Amager Resource Center as an innovator on an urban scale, redefining the relationship between the waste plant and the city. It will be both iconic and integrated, a destination in itself, and a reflection on the progressive vision of the company.� Bjark Ingels Group
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images: bjarke ingels group
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uppsala power plant competition entry. architect: location: area: year:
BIG uppsala, sweden 78,000 sf 2014
“The city of Uppsala invited BIG to design a biomass cogeneration plant that would offset its peak energy loads throughout the fall, winter and spring as part of an international competition. Considering the project’s proposed seasonal use, BIG envisioned a dual-use power plant that transcends the public perception; in the summer months, the “crystalline” proposal was designed to transform into a venue for festivals during the peak of tourism. Rather than the conventional, alienating hermetic envelope of traditional power plants the crystalline volume serves as an invitation for exploration and education. The next generation of creative energy.” ArchDaily
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“By making the enclosure transparent and inviting, the building lends itself to accommodating unanticipated events. In wintertime, the plant becomes an educational center - offering visitors glimpses of the energy-making process as well as views of the Uppsalla skyline. In summer, when the plant will shut down, energy infrastructure will turn social.�
images: arch daily
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landschaftspark duisburg-nord. architect: location: area: year:
latz + partner duisburg-meiderich, germany 230 hectares 1990-2002
“The whole idea of the Landscape Park Duisburg Nord shows that a so-called brownfield site can elevate itself far beyond these prejudices. And to start with the park wasn’t very much more than just an idea. Born out of a citizens’ action group, protesting against the demolition of the old Duisburg Meiderich Ironworks, and the projects of the International Building Exhibition Emscher Park, the idea then had to prove itself. Over a period of more than ten years, a culture, nature and leisure park has been created around the old ironworks which is unique in terms of its multi-faceted combination of uses. Walking, cycling, playing, letting off steam, enjoying the view from Blast Furnace 5 and relaxing in the beer garden or restaurant are just a few of the many possibilities a visit provides. And at night, Jonathan Park’s light installation shines over the houses of the city - a Duisburg landmark visible from a distance.” Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.
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images: latz + partner
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sources/ facts + alternative facts.
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books. Bhatia, Neeraj, and Lola Sheppard, eds. Bracket: Goes Soft. Barcelona: Actar, 2012. Corner, James M., and Alex S. MacLean. Taking Measures Across the American Landscape. New Haven: Yale UP, 2000. Kim, Janette, and Erik Carver. The Underdome Guide to Energy Reform. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2015.
news articles. Beauchamp, Scott. “A Short Way to Hell: In Sauget, Illinois, Poisons Mean Profit.” Belt Magazine, 23 September 2015. Accessed 26 March 2017. Brown, Alleen. “Donald Trump Rewards Fossil Fuel Industry By Signing Climate Denial Executive Order.” The Intercept, 28 March 2017. Accessed 7 April 2017. Gray, Bryce. “Two catastrophic floods in less than two years wasn’t just a case of bad luck.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6 May 2016. Accessed 6 May 2017. Horsley, Scott. “Trump Donates Salary To National Parks Even As He Tries To Cut Interior Department.” NPR. 4 April 2017. Accessed 3 May 2017. O’Neil, Tim. “Nov. 23 1939: The Day ‘Black Tuesday’ Rolled into St. Louis.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 November 2016. Accessed 4 April 2017. “Missouri Botanical Garden Receives $3 Million Gift from Monsanto Company Toward Development of a World Flora Online.” Missouri Botanical Garden. 5 June 2012. Accessed 27 February 2017. Phillips, Camille. “Monsanto Protesters Gather at Missouri Botanical Garden.” St. Louis Public Radio, 24 May 2015. Accessed 27 February 2017. Sistrunk, Jeff. “Pharmacia, Solutia Seek Help For Superfund Cleanup In Suit.” Law360, 27 May 2014. Accessed 20 March 2017.
websites. “About Veolia.” Veolia North America. Accessed 7 May 2017. “Agent Orange: Background on Monsanto’s Involvement.” Monsanto Company. Accessed 20 March 2017. “Ameren Supports Renewable Energy.” Ameren Corporation. Accessed 5 April 2017. “ARC: Amager Resource Center.” Bjarke Ingels Group. Accessed 7 May 2017. “Big’s “Unconventional” Uppsala Power Plant Designed to Host Summer Festivals.” ArchDaily. 26 February 2015. Accessed 13 April 2017.” “Company Overview of Solutia Inc.” Bloomberg. Accessed 7 May 2017. “Corporate Profile.” Kinder Morgan. Accessed 25 April 2017. “Duisborg Nord Landscape Park, DE.” Latz + Partner. Accessed 7 May 2017.
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“From an Idea to Landscape Park.” Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. Accessed 2 May 2017. “History.” Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Accessed 27 February 2017. “Hydro-electric Powerstation / becker architekten.” ArchDaily. 3 April 2013. Accessed 15 April 2017.” “Missions.” Mississippi Valley Division. United States Army Corps of Engineers. Accessed 27 February 2017. Luther, C. Matthew. “Monsanto-Sauget Superfund.” Canvas of Ruin. Accessed 12 March 2017. “Our History.” Coldwater Creek Facts. Accessed 20 March 2017. “Our Mission & History.” Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed 27 February 2017. “Park History.” National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. Accessed 15 February 2017. Powers, Robert. Built St. Louis. Accessed 21 March 2017. “Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.” St. Louis District. United States Army Corps of Engineers. Accessed 27 February 2017. Ryan, Brent. “Privatopolis: Sauget Shrinking City Urban Design Studio.” MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. MIT. Accessed 4 April 2017. “St. Louis Airport/Hazelwood Interim Storage/Futura Coatings Co.” ToxicSites. Accessed 20 March 2017. STL Moms: St. Louis Rad Waste Legacy. Accessed April 21, 2017. “Superfund Site: Sauget Area 1.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 December 2016. Accessed 20 March 2017. “Superfund Site: Sauget Area 2.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 December 2016. Accessed 20 March 2017. “Superfund Site: St. Loius Airport/Hazelwood Interim Storage/Futura Coatings Co.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 December 2016. Accessed 20 March 2017. “Turning Landfill Gas Into Clean Energy.” Ameren Corporation. Accessed 5 April 2017. Usepa / Oswer / Osrti / Assessment and Remediation Division. “NPL Site Narrative for Sauget Area 1.” NPL Site Listing Narrative. Accessed 20 March 2017. Vogler, Jesse, and Matthew Fluharty. The American Bottom. Accessed 13 April 2017. “Waste to Energy - Solution for Tomorrow’s Energy.” Conserve Energy Future, 24 December 2016. Accessed 5 April 2017. “What Is U.S. Electricity Generation by Energy Source?” U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed 16 Apr. 2017. “A Zoo Is Born.” Saint Louis Zoo. Accessed 27 March 2017.
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