Working Landscapes
The Urban Metabolism: a Working landscape at the Industrial Scale A proposal for the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam 2014: Urban by Nature
Alex Castellon / Jesse Hirakawa Ernesto Perez / Amanda Rogers
Cal Poly Pomona Landscape Architecture College of Environmental Design LA402 Design Studio In collaboration with SWA Group
WORKING LANDSCAPES The Metabolism of Vernon and the Los Angeles River A proposal for the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam 2014: Urban by Nature
+ AJEA 4
TEAM STATEMENT Personal manifestos to the philosophy on urbanism and landscape. Students are challenged to develop an alternative future that leverages the qualities and systems of the local but respects and protects the identity of the context.
+ SYNTHESIZE 10
READINGS
42
Each team present a series of assigned readings to the studio. Must be presented as a set of diagrams and principles.
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THE ARGUMENT Vernon needs to be cleaned or carefully covered; it is a city-wide brownfield. Vernon’s currency thrives in its industries of food production, storage and distribution. The City that does more.
MAPPINGS Teams will explore and research a set of site analysis categories for the City of Vernon. Students are challenged to creatively map these research foci as a means to express the potentiality of each system to influence that project trajectory and possible future.
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+ VERNON
53
FRAMEWORK The project will engage existing infrastructure to create an interactive landscape that utilizes pollution as a source to better cleanse the soil, water and air of Southern California
“WHY SHOULD VERNON CARE?”
- ANREW WILCOX, CAL POLY POMONA, ASLA
+ DESIGN 87
NARRATIVE
+ DOING 129
STREETS The streets of Vernon are an active and busy infrastructure during the weekdays. However, during the weekends they are empty.
113
RAILROADS
175
Vernon is filled with under utilized open space. We will be activating these spaces to engage in environmental and social needs.
We are addressing the air, soil and water through Vernon’s current infrastructure; streets, railroads, open parcels and the Los Angeles River.
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OPEN PARCELS
155
LOS ANGELES RIVER The LA River is a wide concrete channel that is currently not being utilized by the City of Vernon. Our project will integrate recreation and production to the site.
WORK
TEAM PROCESS As a team we went through multiple problems and discussions to get to the solutions we have decided on now.
180
LESSONS OF VERNON In order to ensure the future of Vernon, this intervention is needed. Expanding these opportunities will not only help the city survive, but thrive.
This extensive railroads system is outdated and under utilized. Our project will change what the city does with the left over space.
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3
AJEA
TEAM STATEMENT
LANDSCAPE +URBANISM BY AJEA
A TEAM THAT BELIEVES IN WORKING HARD & PLAYING HARD.
T
o singlelize urbanism and landscape into a sole ideal or design philosophy is erroneous. We are not the sole inhabitants of the urban and landscape scope. We are part of a larger system. For example, take the fact that the Milky Way is not the universe or the solar system the center of it, but is rather a program or quality of a larger complex and beautifully integrated system. Urbanism and Landscape is no exception. As designers, we need to
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enhance the urban and landscape and supplement what has always been there. To suggest that landscape urbanism is only about the physical landscape is the result of egoism. The qualities of urbanism and landscape are not only attributed to urbanism and landscape but are found throughout the world we live in. It is the responsibility of the landscape architect to find these connections and integrate them into framework of the larger program.
top left to bottom right 1. Group photo celebration 2. Amanda Rogers exploring Venice. 3. Alejandro Castellon traveling Villa d’ Este, Tivoli, Italy. 4. Jesse Hirakawa embracing ArcoSanti, Arizona. 5. Ernesto Perez enjoying the Inyo National Forest.
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5
AJEA
PROJECT STATEMENT
STATEMENT ON VERNON Vernon generates a high income, thriving from jobs, and products. Vernon’s industries support its 45,000 workers who create products that support the people of Los Angeles. The workers’ monetary income proceeds to support the majority of the south-east region of Los Angeles. Vernon’s location is the ideal place for businesses to succeed. The distance between Vernon and the port is in close proximity, while Vernon is also close to its consumers. Industries of Vernon are all close in distance, allowing businesses to thrive from each other. The guidelines that Vernon lives by today will define its future and determine its changing effects on the people of Southern California.
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VERNON MEANS BUSINESS
THE CITY THAT DOES MORE
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SYNTHESIZE
Studio Readings Readings were assigned to each group member in order synthesize general design concepts in the topics of ‘Process + Place’ These concepts and principles will aid in the research to futher develop a cognitive understanding towards the studio topic as a whole.
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Process + Place
READINGS
Re-Placing Process Anita Berrizbeitia
Defining Urban Sites Andrea Kahn
Not Unlike Life Itself
James Corner
Manufactured Sites Niall Kirkwood + Peter Latz
The Necessity for Ruins John Brinkerhoff Jackson
The Dialectical Landscape Robert Smithson
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SYNTHESIZE
READINGS
Re-Placing Process Anita Berrizbeitia
ON PLACE and PROCESS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + Complexities of large parks require in depth analysis of design process. + Place understood through visual frameworks • Singular & static, purely visual, present time + Process engages dynamic condition of landscape • Living materials, ecology, capacity, form + Process is technique + Process based approach vs. purely compositional • Work with what is there • Dedicate more time to site research • History as its own process • Process-based practice anticipates change + Design strategies for large parks • Broad, complex, multiple layers or organization + Organization • Layering reveals complexity and is non hierarchical • Reveals connections + Open (dynamic) & Closed (formal) systems • Not everything is an open/closed element + Program & events • Compose today, create programs of tomorrow + Scale • Multiple scales within one site requires design strategy
There are multiple processess to arrive at a final design. Just like Californias freeway system, there is more than one road/freeway to get to the beach. Depending on which road you take determines your process. The freeway may get you there faster. Design should not follow a similar process. Every aspect of design requires a methodology that should relate back to the site. The process will determine the design leading to new ideas and connections that were perhaps not physically evident at first. And it is true that the freeway can get you to your desired destination faster. The question is what did you miss along the way. Design follows the same ideal. 12 /
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Historical Condition of Site
Present Condition of Site
Future Condition of Site
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13
SYNTHESIZE
READINGS
Defining Urban Sites Andrea Kahn
T
he boundaries of an urban site are inside an established urban area or an urban area in its entirety. (Bigger than an architectural site but smaller than a regional site)
FIVE CONCEPTS OF URBAN DESIGN THINKING
What the urban site does, rather than what or where it is. How is it linked to the outside?
+ Site Reach • How is the small scale connected to the large scale? Measure the interaction with its surroundings.
Overlay and interplay of multiple realities; same time and same place. Do not simply depict and map each reality, but reveal different forms of site knowledge.
+ Mobile Ground • The interpretation of the land can change/ move/bend and fluctuate beyond the designers control.
+ Site Construction • Site analysis influences design. Combination of political/economical/form/ history/spatial/etc. + Unbound Sites • No lines and no boundaries. The borders are permeable in the urban scale. + Urban Constellation • Urban sites are part of different scales and connections in a dynamic relationship.
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Economical
Ecological
Social
Political Urban Design + Landscape Design
Historical
Engineering
Spatial Agricultural
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PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOHN W. ADKISSON / LOS ANGELES TIMES
“ ” Strategy is fundamental to contemporary design.
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- James Corner
Unorganized + Unplanned
Mazimize Potential
Efficient + Healthy
Not Unlike Life Itself Economical James Corner
Ecological
Political
Social
DESIGN INTELLIGENCE
+ Good strategy in a design is one that Urban Design + remains open & dynamic Landscape Design Historical to ensure its longevity. It is also highly organized (spatial, Engineering programmatic or logistical), flexible and capable of adaptation. Spatial + Landscape architecture has been viewed asAgricultural symbolic and aesthetically pleasing, rather than modes of practice for large urban issues on planning and social/public improvements. LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY & PROPAGATION + Landscape architecture is environmental, cultural, political and economical with its dynamic and grounded temporalities. + ‘Propagating organizations’ - provisional sets of structures that will eventually propagate more diverse and complex lifeworlds, set up for life to evolve. Economical DISPOSITIONS: MATERIALITY, FORM & DESIGN Ecological
+ Finding gVreater efficancy & potential for the physical Political reshaping of our world. Social Economical + Form, geometry and materialEcological are precisely the physical media. Urban Design + Design Historical + Strategy and designLandscape are crucial Political for evolving new forms,Engineering new programs, new publics, new Urban Design + natures and new urbanisms.
S
Landscape Design
Engineering Agricultural
Spatial
Spa Agricultural
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SYNTHESIZE
READINGS
The Necessity for Ruins
John Brinkerhoff Jackson
T
he preservation and restoration movement is upon us today. This is a time where ruins have been set in stone, and new landscapes are emerging from them. In all natural processes, with death comes life, and these new processes are born from what lived before them. Monuments from political societies
or from societies that have slowly grown over time represent the cultures of a given population. Political figures and events are glorified as well as the “golden age”, when life was innocent and simple. Time continues to push through, aging and transforming the earth. History will never end, but how will preserving the past through contemporary landscapes benefit the future? Is romanticizing the past going to bring a better society?
The “Golden Age” Meat + Produceprocessing city 18 /
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“ ” The city of Vernon was once a grassy, open land that was untouched by industry – a beautiful scenic, clean, simple, and innocent landscape. The land’s use evolved primarily into a meat and produce-processing city. Romanticizing on the history of the land will not benefit the land. The highly industrious circumstances of the current state of the city have given an end to the “golden age” of the cycle. A death has been born, and from these “ruins”, opportunities will bare themselves. New processes will be extracted from the given conditions. Vernon progresses through its lifespan.
Industrial City WORKING LANDSCAPES mar2014 /
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Manufactured Sites Niall Kirkwood + Peter Latz
T
he landscape park, Duisburg-Nord in the northern Ruhr district of Germany is a fine example of a post-industrial site transformed into an innovative park. The site’s previous conditions have left the land in disarray with pollution-related issues at hand. Phytoremediation, recycling of materials, and removal of toxic waste are general strategies that have ensured the productivity of the new function of the land. Most hazards are removed or in the process of being removed through phytoremediation. The functions of the site’s structures are transformed into piazzas or climbing towers. What may have seemed like a landscape with harmful impacts on the land has been ignited into a successful park.
polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Top: http://www.fotodesignliedtke.de/fs-Lapa-gr/Kletteraktion-g.html Left: http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/duisburg_nord_landschaftspark
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SYNTHESIZE
READINGS
The Dialectical Landscape Robert Smithson
S
mithson begins to explore Frederick Law Olmsted’s relationship with dialectical landscapes by taking a closer look at Central Park, NY. He explains that Olmsted understood the complexity and potential in Central park and that his project as a collaborative network would never be complete. He would ultimately create a picturesque park with a dynamic relationship with man and nature, where its an ongoing process of transformation that is both continues and undefined. His definition of picturesque is based on theories from Uvedale Price and William Gilpin who redefine picturesque as natural erosion or deformations from environment and time that ultimately make it beautiful and sublime.
22 / WORKING LANDSCAPES mar2014 Photo source: Jean-Christophe BENOIST
Photo source: http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/LW/B/B/H/T/
Left: Aerial view of the current condition of Central Park. Top: Aerial view of Central Park in 1936. Right: Diagram showing ongoing & undefined programs within a site.
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MAPPINGS
Site Mapping + Analysis These mappings identify multiple systems working with in the urban context of Vernon, with an exploration of specific site analysis topics. However, these boundaries are not simply defined by a line. Permeating through the city of Vernon, the potential of each system is revealed through researching and mapping.
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Economy+Pollution+Energy
SYNTHESIZE
Economy
Vernon’s Manufacturing Economy
Pollution
Dispersal + Opportunities
Energy
Distribution + Potential
Urban Energetics
Vernon’s Urban Metabolism
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CUDAHY NORWALK
MAYWOOD WHITTIER EAST LA
LYNWOOD
PICO RIVERA
HUNTINGTON PA
BELL/BELLGARD
MONTEBELLO
COMPTON DOWNEY
SOUTH GATE
LONG BEACH VERNON 300
200
100
NO. OF MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
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0
CITIES WITH +500 VERNON BASED EMPLOYEES
VERNONS MANUFACTUING ECONOMY Economy
Vernon’s Manufacturing Economy
V
ernon Ca is a quite the unique industrial city. It boast with a small city population. In fact, on the 2010 US Census, it was reported that 112 people call themselves Vernonites. Despite its small population, nearly 50,000 people flock to Vernon’s 1,429 industrial business 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The number one industry in Vernon is food production/processing. It is estimated that this one industry alone generates $7.5 billion dollars annually. Where do all these workers come from? According to the data, there are 15 cities near Vernon that have reported 500 or more of their residents as being employed by several of Vernons businessess.
D
D
A
PARK
DENS
O
N
E
H
N
$1 BILLION
$2 BILLION
$3 BILLION
$4 BILLION
$5 BILLION
$6 BILLION
$7BILLION
VALUE OF MANUFACTURING REVENUE WORKING LANDSCAPES mar2014 /
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SYNTHESIZE
MAPPINGS
Pollution
Dispersal + Opportunities
V
ernon’s Industries contribute to toxins in the soil, groundwater, and air, affecting the people of Vernon and nearby neighborhoods. The south coast air basin leads toxins in the air from the industries towards the south bay. Neighboring cities of Vernon contain contaminated soils partially from the decomposing pipe systems of Vernon’s industries and other leaking containments. Three highly dangerous chemicals include arsenic, tuolene, and polychlorinated biphenyls. These chemicals will lead to serious health affects if not eliminated from the environment in a timely manner. When contaminants within soil reach groundwater, toxins will spread underground, unable to break down.
for recovery such as through bioremediation. However, certain contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls are not able to break down through any known processes. Regulations have been enforced to reduce emissions from current sites (represented by orange buildings). These sites now have regulations to prevent toxic outcomes. Other current facilities, which handle toxic substances that have not leaked into outside sources, are also regulated to prevent any release of the toxins. A plan for a less hazardous future is set in stone, but a plan to alleviate the pollution from the past is still an issue that must be resolved. Opportunities must be taken to clear the soil, groundwater, and air of toxic chemicals before they spread and become a larger issue of Los Angeles. The health of the people of Los Angeles is crucial to the health of the urban metabolism.
Since this type of disturbance is underneath acres of buildings and hardscape, there are opportunities
91 DDT JET FUEL
ACETONE FREON 113
TRICHLOROETHANE RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES SLUDGE WASTE PERCHLOR
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS) CHLOROFORM
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MERCURY
TETRACHLOROETH
BRAIN EFFECTS EYE MALFORMATIONS BEHAVIORAL CHANGES NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES LIVER CANCER PANCREATIC CANCER KIDNEY CANCER IMMUNE SYSTEM DAMAGE REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
1% OF HEALTH RISKS ARE FROM ARSENIC
3 S
POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) VINYL CHLORIDE LEAD
CHROMIUM VI TUOLENE
DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE (DBCP)
ARSENIC CHROMIUM III DDE ROETHYLENE CHLOROALKANES PETROLEUM METHYLENE CHLORIDE HYLENE (PCE) TOXAPHENE DICHLOROETHANE (EDC) WORKING LANDSCAPES mar2014 /
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SOIL CONTAMINATION: 38 ACRES
PEMACO FORMER CHEM
Pollution
Dispersal + Opportunities 32 /
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POLLUTION OF: EXIDE BATTERY RECYCLING FACILITY
LEGEND: POPULATION
AIR CONTAMINATION 500 ACRES
EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES
REGULATED TOXIC SITES NON-REGULATED TOXIC SITES
MICAL CORPORATION
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SYNTHESIZE
MAPPINGS
Energy
Distribution + Potential
E
nergy is money and power. The city of Vernon is loaded with industries that need energy to produce their products. The Malburg Generating Station is Vernon’s own natural-gas generating station that was put to use in 2005. Vernon’s investment in natural gas backfired when the prices jumped up after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, right after the MGS started up. In 2006, a $431 million dollar bond was taken out in order to settle out the debt. Then in 2011, the Malburg Station had to extremely cut down on its natural gas intake because the city could not afford to pay its fees on natural gas. In 2012, Vernon had no other option than to sell the Maburg Station. In conjunction with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), Malburg Station now purchases energy from the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. After plans for a new natural gas generating station were shut down, there was an investment on 30,000 acres in Kern county. There is a pending plan to utilize this land for a wind farm; the potential from Kern can generate roughly a little over 1000 Megawatts per hour. With the amount of rooftops in Vernon, there is also a potential for a solar panel system in the city. The possibilities for Vernon to utilize alternative renewable energy sources are available. How will the city of Vernon take on these possibilities to not just put them on the map as, “the industrial city.”
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Urban Energetics
goes further than just the boundaries that enclose Vernon. There are many variables
Vernon’s Urban Metabolism
that Vernon depends on, and there are even more agents that depend on Vernon. The Vernon has a simple business strategy. future industrial city has to work in conjunction Money and people come into Vernon, and
with its surrounding communities because
money, products, and pollution exit Vernon. sites are never closed systems but permeable How everything is connected depends on through networks and influences. Addressing the strategy that is now outdated.
We Economic, Energy, and Pollution can impact
cannot look at Vernon and expect a linear
a regions health, and wealth. By having these
process with a beginning and end, but
three systems working in conjunction Vernon
the future industrial city will have to work can increase its economy by bringing in as a network that utilizes every resource
more industries, reduce energy consumption,
available. Since Vernon is so critical to the increasing energy production; and improve daily function of LA the impact Vernon has the health quality of LA County.
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SYNTHESIZE
MAPPINGS
Urban Energetics
Vernon’s Urban Metabolism
T
here is an opportunity to improve Vernon’s urban metabolism threshold, what that means is that the city is not operating at its full potential. Its economic value depends on the efficiency of its industries and each industry is its own identity and requires a specific type of infrastructure. In order to sustain these industries the city is required to import energy. As a result of importing energy the city is required to invest on external resources instead of investing
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internally, and with so many workers coming from all points in LA County many communities depend on the success of Vernon. Industries depend on how fast they can produce, manufacture and distribute their products, and all that takes place in Vernon. With so many industries in Vernon handling a variety of chemicals, workers and surrounding communities are at risk of being exposed to these chemicals.
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ARGUMENT
Contextual Situation
T
he city of Vernon is a place where anything is possible. Compared to nearby cities in Los Angeles, Vernon has lower fees pertaining to electricity, water and natural gas; excellent city services that are accustomed to the diverse industries and businesses; easy access to the major transportation hubs and a huge skilled/local workforce available. With all of these resources and benefits available to all, the process of looking at Vernon as a place for opportunity and not misfortune was simple.
An extremely integrated system, like the food industry with its rendering factories, is a good example of how to see a working landscape on an industrial scale. Just like the rendering facilities, plants or animals are raised or nurtured for an end purpose or should rather say, a meaningful end. The animal or landscape reaches its end cycle to become rendered or grows to be ready to be produced. Then finally, reading its end goal of being harvested out and processed. Whether the meat gets sent to a company like Farmer Vernon is located roughly in the center of the Johns or the landscape gets chopped down LA River, leaving it a perfect spot for any type and processed to a paper facility of a biomass. of program to flourish off of the centralized location. Vernon has the potential to be the Working landscapes is the integration of start and heart of this integrated system that landscapes where production of market already exists from the landscape point of view goods and ecosystem services are mutually and not just on a business industrial standpoint. working together. This means that the people Vernon will embrace this opportunity and of Vernon will be partners to the landscapes begin to grow, produce then harvest. Within and ecosystems that will benefit humanity these three phases is where Vernon will truly and the planet on a continued larger scale. be immersed in a working land.
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Contextual Situation
VERNON
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43
“Today, there are between 300 and 500 chemicals in the average person’s body that were not found in anyone’s body before 1920. Each year there are thousands of new chemicals sold or used in new products. There are more than 75,000 synthetic chemicals on the market today.”
Wehr, Kevin. 2011. Green Culture: An A-to-Z Guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 44 /
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CONTEXT
34˚ 00’ 04” N
VERNON
Vernon, CA [ USA ]
118˚ 12’ 40” W
AREA OF SITE 5.157 sq. miles
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DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
4M
ILE
S
VERNON
LAX
DOWNEY
MI LE
S
TORRANCE
16
LONG BEACH
PORT OF LONG BEACH
PACIFIC OCEAN
VERNON
CONTEXT
Pollution Crisis
Vernon’s global potential
T
he global issue of pollution is available to Vernon at a smaller scale. Industry is a source of pollution, and also has the potential to alleviate the environment of harmful toxins. To begin the movement regarding the current pollution crisis, pollution must be removed from the soil, air and water as a start to end health hazards caused by the polluted environment. Vernon has the potential to become a global leader and model for redesigning urban landscapes to accomodate a healthy living city. Although Vernon is not the center of pollution, given its industrial nature it has the potential to lead this change.
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VERNON
ARGUMENT
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY In order to fully benefit the systems that are available in Vernon we are showing the integrated potential for a working landscape. Looking for the main roads, minor roads, BNSF railroads, the LA River, the current bike path along the river and any open fields that are currently being under utilized.
AN OPEN LANDSCAPE VS. A CLOSED LANDSCAPE
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top to bottom Recycling facilites LA River Railroad Main Streets
1. Map of Vernons public right of way; main streets. 2. Map of Vernons public right of way; BNSF railroad
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VERNON
ARGUMENT
EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES TO ELIMINATE INSECURITIES The landscape that is within the urban context is currently closed and inactive. With a landscape that is thoroughly integrated into the city, an active and open landscape is for sure to enhance the vitality of the city. The industrial landscape is an extremely open and active one, why not make the actual landscape surrounding these industries
A WORKING LANDSCAPE VS. A STERILE LANDSCAPE
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just as active and open as its businesses. The resources that are captured, harvested and processed are all happening not only within the industries, but in the landscape as well. The longer term opportunity of using a natural process to cleanse a landscape is extremely lower in price and at the same time the landscape will get a long term investment of a thriving landscape. In the diagram to the right, shows the price versus types of ways to clean out the soil.
$ $ $ $30,000-$60,000
$
$3,000 - $4,900
Cost associated with remediation contaminants on a 1,500 Sq. Ft. vacant lot
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VERNON
Urban Framework The city of Vernon is a place where anything is possible. Compared to nearby cities in Los Angeles, Vernon has lower fees pertaining to electricity, water and natural gas; excellent city services that are accustomed to the diverse industries and businesses; easy access to the major transportation hubs and a huge skilled/local workforce available. With all of these resources and benefits available to all, the process of looking at Vernon as a place for opportunity and not misfortune was simple.
An extremely integrated system, like the food industry with its rendering factories, is a good example of how to see a working landscape on an industrial scale. Just like the rendering facilities, plants or animals are raised or nurtured for an end purpose or should rather say, a meaningful end. The animal or landscape reaches its end cycle to become rendered or grows to be ready to be produced. Then finally, reading its end goal of being harvested out and processed. Whether the meat gets sent to a company like Farmer Vernon is located roughly in the center of the Johns or the landscape gets chopped down LA River, leaving it a perfect spot for any type and processed to a paper facility of a biomass. of program to flourish off of the centralized location. Vernon has the potential to be the Working landscapes is the integration of start and heart of this integrated system that landscapes where production of market already exists from the landscape point of view goods and ecosystem services are mutually and not just on a business industrial standpoint. working together. This means that the people Vernon will embrace this opportunity and of Vernon will be partners to the landscapes begin to grow, produce then harvest. Within and ecosystems that will benefit humanity these three phases is where Vernon will truly and the planet on a continued larger scale. be immersed in a working land.
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Urban Framework
FRAMEWORK
Scrubbing Scapes Phytoremediation
Digestive Scapes Biofuel + Biomass
Cleansing Scapes Mycoremediation
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
WORKING LANDSCAPE
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{
Scrubbing Scape
Phytoremediation
Digestive Scape
Biofuel + Biomass
Cleansing Scape
WORKING LANDSCAPES mar2014
Mycoremediation
Phytoremediation Mycoremediation Bioremediation Lowering surface temperature through evapotranspiration Alternative fuel source Bike path + education
Enhancing quality of Life
Along the BNSF Railroad Along minor streets Along major streets
Inside the LA River
Along side the LA River
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
INTEGRATION
New Overlay Zones
I
n respect to the current zones, the three new zones that will be integrated are zones for potential Mycoremediation industries, harvest and processing industries for Biomass and Biofuel, and Phytoremediation industries. The Mycoremediation/ researching zoning is located at the northern side of the LA River and Vernon. Mainly for the locality of the LA River and Vernon. The Biomass and biofuel zoning occurs near the most open land where these crops will be placed, there is also currently a biofuel processing industry on the southern part of Vernon. Last but not least, the PHytorem1ediation zoning is located on the south side surrounding the largest open land plot to ensure efficiency.
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New Zone for Mycoremediation New Zone for Biofuel + Biomass New Zone for Phytoremediation Slaughtering Zone Commercial Zone Evacuation Zone Residential Zone
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
A GENERATIVE POSITION OF THE INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE Master Plan
Cleansing Scapes Mycoremediation
Scrubbing Scapes Phytoremediation
Digestive Scapes Biofuel + Biomass
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
Scrubbing Scapes
Phytoremediation
Sell Product and Create Income
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Maintenance Jobs
G
D
Vegetation, or trees in our example, specifically poplar trees, can remediate, or clean up pollutants from soil and water.
espite Phytoremediation being a somewhat new method of combating the ecological pollution of man, it is showing promising results in cleaning up the mess that we have made. The idea or concept behind phytoremediation is using nature to clean up our mess.
rowth/ Harvest
Phytostabilization
Phytoremediation has been successfully tested in many locations worldwide. Based on that precedent, it is our intent that the same can be done within the city of Vernon, CA.
Phytoextraction
Phytofiltration
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The Process
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Phytoremediation
PHYTOREMEDIATION
Phytoremediation is the science of using
vegeation to remove contaminants from the environment. Plants have the ornate ability to remediate toxic soils, groundwater, surface water, and other sediments. This low cost alternative removes toxins from the site without having to cut and fill with new soil. With this process, plants remove contaminants from the soil and store it within their plant tissue.
Enzymes in the roots immobilize contaminants
AsE AsE E As
As
E Within the remediation process, plants can sequester or immobilize contaminants by absorbing them into their root system releasing a chemical reaction that degrades the toxicity of the contaminants.
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
Copping
Working trees
Ashes from harvest is sent to a hazardous waste landfill. Contaminants from ashes is less than 10% from excavation and fill treatment method.
Hazardous Waste Landfill
Trees harvested every 4 to 5 years by copping or planting new seedlings in late winter month.
0 1 YEARS
2
3
4
5
Water requirements per tree = 2 Gallons
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10
15
ER P A
P Pulping of harvested trees into paper further breaks down organochloride compound.
P
A
P
E
R
R E P
PA
Max amount of copping harvest for any one tree is 30 years. New seeding to be planted after that max alloted time.
20
25
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
Digestive Scapes
Sell Products and Create Income
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Biomass + Biofuel
Production Jobs
F
ossil fuels have been playing a vital role in both the domestic and industrial needs of mankind’s needs and wants. The benefits that it has provided industry are economical. Forecast show that petroleum based
Growth/Harvest
fossil fuels is depleting and nations will be competing for this dwindling resource. Biomass is an emerging fuel source that has the potential to provide energy to keep industry
running. There are several ways one can acquire biomass-based fuels. Waste products are one source. Another is growing vegetation. It is our intent to use “power crops” as biomass/biofuel to serve the needs that industries in Vernon can utilize to keep its industrial engine running.
Phytoextraction
Phytofiltration
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The Process Transportation
Biofuel + Biomass
Heat Gas
olin
Diesel engines
Biodiesel
e en
Electricity
gin e
s
Cellulosic Ethanol
Biofiber Pellets
Wood Chip/Pellets
Distillation Transesterification Pressing Extraction
Fermentation
Cleaning & Drying
Pelletizing
Hudrolysis
Harvesting Harvesting
Oilseed Crops
Grasses
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
Alternative Fuel
H
ow can we create a working landscape that ignites innovation. A landscape that is synthesized with old technology and new technology that its presence makes you wonder and question normality in this world. A place that not only has an immediate impact but a more significant long term influence.
crops that have adapted to California environment. Although Switchgrass is not a native plant but has one of the highest outputs. There is a Biodiesel processing plant adjacent to this fields which would make ideal for easy transportation to the facility. Arranging plants and rotating crops throughout the field can reassure that soils are not depleted and can allow for a variety of opportunities for hybridizations.
There are 6 sites that are under power line that add up to 10 acres of land. Safflower, Jatropha, and Camelia are
Safflower
Well adapted to California’s semiarid climate.
Camelina
1,500 to 1,600 lbs. per acre on 4-6 inches of winter rainfall.
s
l1
cre 0A
a Tot
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Oilseed Crops Grasses
Jatropha
Can survive poor soil and droughts. Produces 200 gallons of biodiesel per acre per year.
Switchgrass
1 acre = 5- 15 tons of dry biomass =1,150 gallons of ethanol
E 50th St.
Safflower Camelina Jatropha Switchgrass
Fruitland Ave. 5 acres= 5,750 gallons of ethanol
3 acres=600 gallons of biodiesel
1acre =1,600 lbs of biomass
1acre =?
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VERNON
FRAMEWORK
Cleansing Scapes
Create and Sell Biofuel
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Mycoremediation
Maintenance Jobs
M
ycoremediation is the use of conditioned native fungi and fungal mycelium to remove and degrade contaminants. Studies around the world have shown mycoremediation to be up to 95% effective at removing contaminants from the soil. The mycelium
Phytostabilization
activates the growth of mushrooms, causing both forms of fungi to remediate the soil. A symbiotic relationship between fungal species and the roots of a host plant cause nutrients such as nitrogen to be absorbed into the soil by the mycelium and absorbed to the host
Phytoextraction
plants in exchange for carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. It is our intent to show that the use of this process can contribute the working landscape of Vernon to filter the toxins from the Los Angeles river before they are transferred to Long Beach.
Mycofiltration
10’
20’
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40’
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Hanging in there, another late night in the studio
VERNON
DESIGN
O
n a global scale, pollution is a major cause of climate change, ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, ocean acidification, global freshwater use, and biodiversity loss. This highly affects the health of our population, which corresponds to the productivity of the urban metabolism. The urban metabolism is defined by the relationships of systems that are required to sustain a healthy and efficient city. Vernon’s industry is a significant source of pollution that is currently not properly eliminated on site. As a result, it is transported through the air, soil, and water to nearby communities who directly receive harmful health impacts. In order to reduce the consequences of pollution, we propose to install a system that eliminates pollutants by utilizing them as a source that is recycled back into the urban metabolic system. Our sub-systems involve the extraction of pollutants from the soil, water, and air through a variety of remediation processes. After the pollutants are extracted,
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they are utilized towards Vernon’s production processes. Existing pollution is eliminated, while future pollutants are prevented. By eliminating pollutants and contributing to cleaner production processes, Vernon’s workers and surrounding residents will receive increased health benefits and fewer hazardous health risks. With a healthier city, a healthier urban metabolism will exist within the heart of Los Angeles. Our team will be providing interventions on four systems that are integrated within the city of Vernon. The streets, rail infrastructures, open parcels and the Los Angeles River currently have the potential to extract pollutants on site to be utilized in Vernon’s production processes.
Design Narrative
Narrative
Streets
Jesse Hirakawa
Railroads
Alejandro Castellon
Innovasive Parcels
Ernesto Perez
Los Angeles River Amanda Rogers
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VERNON
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DESIGN
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Design Framework Vernon’s Metabolic System
W
e are proposing to implement a closedloop system in which pollution is utilized as a source for our working landscape. The source of pollution is from the air, water, and soil of the site. These elements relate to Vernon through its streets, railways, parcels, and the LA River. Pollutants available in these sites will be extracted and repurposed towards production in which Vernon is capable of processing and distributing. These production processes do not emit any pollutants while simultaneously eliminating current pollutants from the site. However, these design strategies are not heavily reliant on pollution as a source. They eliminate pollution that is existing, while avoiding current pollution.
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VERNON
DESIGN
Integrating an Intervention
Utilizing exisitng infrastructure
T
his system utilizes Vernon’s existing infrastructure, including the streets, rail, Los Angeles River, and parcels. These spaces are currently underutilized and contain Vernon’s potential for eliminating pollution as well as creating cleaner production processes. Vernon’s Industries can contribute to the production, processing, and distribution of sources created by the proposed systems. The detailed design strategies of the existing infrastructure will be explained on the following pages.
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Working out a storyboard with Pavel and Kevin from SWA Group
VERNON
DESIGN
Narrative
S
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the arteries of Vernon is intense, resulting in a dangerous amount of nitrogen oxide that is being released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxide is three hundred times worse than carbon dioxide and one of the leading causes for global warming, smog pollution and acidic rain. This chemical is being released into the atmosphere by the hundreds of semi-trucks, thousands of workers in their cars and hundreds of trains that deliver freight in and out of Vernon. The massive network of freeways, traffic and trains running in Vernon is a direct influence on the air pollution that is swept across the Southern California region by the South Coast Air basin.
Streets
treets are currently a piece of technical infrastructure that provide a service of getting from point A to point B. Streets are the physical framework of the city and if there is going to be change at an urban scale, it must happen within the streets. Since the development of an automobile we have been extremely dependent on transportation infrastructures and we are constantly on the road whether it’s for pleasure or for work. In the City of Vernon, there are hundreds of trucks and cars that go through the expansive transportation infrastructure to get to a specific factory or simply to get through the city. The amount of traffic that goes through
Streets
Jesse Hirakawa
Railroads
Alejandro Castellon
Innovasive Parcels
Ernesto Perez
Los Angeles River
Amanda Rogers
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DESIGN
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STREETS
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DESIGN
STREETS
Air Pollution
I
n the City of Vernon, there are hundreds of trucks and cars that go through the expansive transportation infrastructure to get to a specific factory or simply to get through the city. The amount of traffic that goes through the arteries of Vernon is intense, resulting in a dangerous amount of nitrogen oxide that is being released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxide is three hundred times worse than carbon dioxide and one of the leading causes for global warming, smog pollution and acidic rain. This chemical is being released into the atmosphere by the hundreds of semi-trucks, thousands of workers in their cars and hundreds of trains that deliver freight in and out of Vernon. The massive network of freeways, traffic and trains running in Vernon is a direct influence on the air pollution that is swept across the Southern California region by the South Coast Air basin.
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DESIGN
STREETS
Chemical vs. Chemical
T
itanium oxide is a chemical that can directly fight nitrogen oxide through photocatalytic reactions. There are several case studies originating from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands where they have tested this chemical on the streets with heavy traffic, and a huge deduction in the amount of nitrogen oxides being released into the atmosphere was observed. A 40% reduction of nitrogen oxide occurred in the areas that contained titanium oxide. The chemical is infused with the asphalt and through photocatalytic chemical reactions the nitrogen oxide adheres to the street, leaving just nitrogen on the surface. The titanium oxide can also be infused with concrete or laid onto any other types of surfaces allowing for infinite applications.
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DESIGN
STREETS
Integration and Application
T
he titanium oxide infused paved surfaces will have a reaction when exposed to sunlight. When sunlight strikes a particle of titanium oxide, electrons within the particle become engaged and create a higher state of energy within the electrons. The energized electrons transfer energy to water in the air and form free molecules, OH and O2. The free molecules are powerful oxidizers that can attack any organic material either on the surface or floating near it. This chemical can begin to take advantage of a chemical versus chemical and dissolve one of the leading causes to smog pollution in the streets. This integration of titanium oxide will turn the streets of Vernon from a toxic infrastructure to a purifying infrastructure. This intervention can take place in many different locations. One of the quicker ways to impose this mediation is on the current infrastructures that lay within the street boundaries where heavy traffic may occur.
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DESIGN
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STREETS
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Permeable Edges
T
he streets of Vernon are extremely active with trucks and cars on the weekdays; however, on the weekends the exact same corridors are deserted. The difference is almost night and day, the streets on the weekend become unused and wasted space. There are large residential communities surrounding the city of Vernon and even though there are legal edges and boundaries to the city, there is no true edge besides the difference of building typologies. If given the opportunity, these communities can actively engage the streets of Vernon. Vernon side to side is less than two to three miles, and a few blocks can be reached within minutes.
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DESIGN
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STREETS
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Engaging the Ephemeral
A
fter looking at where the local communities can engage within the streets of Vernon we can begin to identify certain paths that can permeate and stay within the boundaries of Vernon. This is just the preliminary path that can exist right away; however as time goes on, there is no reason that all or even most of the streets of Vernon can be transformed and given to the public for multiple uses.
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DESIGN
STREETS
Activating the Streets
W
ith the addition of simple bollards on the streets that are connecting local communities to Vernon, we can begin to limit the traffic that heads into Vernon on the weekends. The streets that are dead on the weekend can become a central hub for surrounding communities to work their health, family, and connections. A closed loop system for bikes can be painted within Vernon, a local and no-cost recreation work out path will benefit everyone. With simple scaffolding, basketball and soccer events can also occur within the streets because there is a lack of park/open space within the boundaries of Vernon. A centralized area for food trucks and farmers markets can thrive because local communities and Vernon live within a food desert. Vernon’s streets have the potential to stitch together surrounding communities to strengthen their image to a cleaner and safer one. The people will soon be looking forward to what the streets of Vernon have to offer during the weekend, what next events can be held within these under utilized and dead corridors. 108 /
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Late night session in the studio
DESIGN
RAILROADS
Narrative
T
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in phytoremediation by the Army Corp of engineers have successfully demonstrated that hybrid poplars are the choice tree for phytoremediation. Native grasses will also aid in the remediation process. A few of these are tall fescue, kentucky bluegrass, and wild rye. Since Vernon has a daily influx of 45,000 to 50,000 employees, part of this project will create green spaces along the railway infrastructure for their use. Studies by universities such as U of Delaware and Virginia tech have shown that employee productivity increases when they are offered green spaces or views of them in the work environment.
Railroads
he city of Vernon has a vast railway system that connects many of its industries to and from one another. The rail infrastructure spans over 35 miles in a 5.5 square mile city. Much of that system is either underutilized or abandoned altogether. This creates a unique opportunity for remediation purposes. By placing select vegetation throughout the rail system, and creating a hierarchy of plants along the railway infrastructure, we can phytoremediate Vernon. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) defines phytoremediation as “the direct use of green plants and their associated microorganisms to stabilize or reduce contamination in soils, sludges, sediments, surface water, or groundwater.“ The main purpose of this project is not to beautify Vernon, but to make the landscape as industrious and productive as Vernon itself. The vegetation within Vernon will help clean and detoxify the soil. The heavier the pollutant site/s within Vernon, the denser the vegetation will be. Case studies
Streets
Jesse Hirakawa
Railroads
Alejandro Castellon
Innovasive Parcels
Ernesto Perez
Los Angeles River
Amanda Rogers
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DESIGN
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RAILROADS
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DESIGN
RAILROADS
Tradition vs. Remediation
T
here are numerous ways to clean a site from toxins that have infiltrated or leached into the soil. The matter in which they got there is of great concern no matter who is at fault. However, what does matter is cleaning sites that have toxicity that is in danger of harming and destroying our habitat. We are using the singular word here for habitat and not the plural because Earth is our one and only habitat that has many sub-habitats in it. What this diagram depicts is the process that we can take into cleansing a site. Our project deals with Vernon CA. We can go forward and cleanse the soil around Vernon in the traditional manner, and that is by the cut and fill and process. The problem with this method, besides it being costly, is that it transports the soil elsewhere. This is not 100% effective. Remediating a site with vegetation allows the nature to do what nature has been doing for millions of years and that is keeping cleansing itself. This process is cost effective when compared to Cut and Fill by being 90% less expensive.
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Hazardous Waste Landfill
$ $
$30,000-$60,000
EXCAVATION &
Co con
& FILL
ER P PA P A
P
R
E
VS
R
PE A P
PHYTOREMEDIATION
ost associated with remediation ntaminants on a 1,500 Sq. Ft. vacant
$
$
$3,000 - $4,900 WORKING LANDSCAPES mar2014 /
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DESIGN
RAILROADS
Sn
PCB POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL
TIN
Mn
MANGANESE
A AsE ENZYMES
Sn TIN
ENZYMES
AsE ENZYMES
Mn
MANGANESE
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AsE
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PCB POLYCLHORINATED BIPHENYL
Fe IRON
Phytoremediation
P
hytoremediation is the science of using vegetation to remove contaminants from the environment. Plants have the ornate ability to remediate toxic soils, groundwater, surface water, other sediments and airborne toxins. This low cost alternative removes toxins from the site without having to cut and fill with new soil. With this process, plants remove contaminants from the soil and store it within their plant tissue where it undergoes a biological process of cleansing. Within the remediation process, plants can sequester or immobilize contaminants by absorbing them into their root system releasing a chemical reaction that degrades the toxicity of the contaminants.
AsE
AsE
AsE ENZYMES
ENZYMES
ENZYMES
PCB POLYCLHORINATED BIPHENYL
Mn
MANGANESE
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DESIGN
RAILROADS
Where and Why
W
here can the remediation process take place within Vernon CA? By utilizing the same infrastructure that makes Vernon such a unique city. By utilizing the more than 35 miles of railway tracks within the city boundary, remediating the pollutants within Vernon can be an achievable task. Greening Vernon in this aspect is not about beautifying the city but about making the landscape work just as hard as this industrious city itself. This is not the only positive. By allowing the greening of Vernon, this process is showing a good neighbor policy towards the other cities that are in both direct and indirect physical contact with the City of Vernon’s city limits.
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DESIGN
RAILROADS
EXAMPLE OF HARVEST BYPRODUCTS MILLING
PAPER
HARVEST
HARVEST
ER
P PA
HARVEST
HARVEST
START
GROWTH PERIOD
0
GROWTH PERIOD
5
YEARS PER HARVEST
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GROWTH PERIOD
10
GROWTH PERIOD
15
20
SOIL CLEANSED VIA PHYTOREMEDIATIO
Coppicing
S
hort rotation coppice (SRC) is as a system in which fast growing trees are intensively managed and cut down every at winters end every 3-5 years. Fast growing species of willows (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populous spp.) are used in SRC on sites to aid the phytoremediation of contaminated soils and groundwater. Coppicing allows the manufacturing of paper and other wood byproducts.
REMOVE
15
20
HARVEST
5
10
APPROXIMATE HEIGHT IN FEET
GROWTH PERIOD
GROWTH PERIOD
25
ON PROCESS
30
RESTART PROCESS
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DESIGN
RAILROADS
Human Experience
L
andscapes are vital to our emotional health and wellbeing. Experiencing such spaces that accommodate that aspect of our daily lives are vital. Psychiatric studies have demonstrated that green spaces in the work environment increase productivity amongst workers regardless of their occupation. The same holds true of students. Case studies have also shown that a simple view to green spaces has the same effects as being inside said green spaces. With this in mind, Vernon’s industry depends on worker productivity. By implementing green spaces, for our purpose of remediating pollutants within Vernon, a positive outcome is the benefits that this will bring forth not only to employees working inside of Vernon CA but further monetary growth to the various industries within Vernon’s city limits.
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“The experience of nature helps restore the maind from the mental fatigue of work or studies, contributing to improved work performance and satisfaction� -
Effects of the Foliage Plant on Task Performance and Mood. Journal of Environmental Psychology
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Team work session in the Cal Poly Pomona Library
PARCELS
Narrative
T
he strange industrial quality of Vernon includes several underutilized parcels that we propose connecting through a system that purifies the environment while it simultaneously enables the landscape to become a metabolic system. Existing remediation processes disrupts landscapes and requires large amounts of energy. This project is proposing alternative remediation processes that require less energy invested, cost a fraction to traditional remediation, and instead of disrupting landscapes it
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enhances the ecology of Vernon. Parcels are transformed into a cleansing space that purifies while simultaneously feeding the city. Creating a framework where parcels transform and adapt to the environment allows this space to continuously grow and increase its impact in Vernon. Three phases will be introduced in the parcels; the first phase is to remediate the land, the second phase is to purify runoff on site, and the final phase is to store and redistribute the treated water back to industries.
Innovasive Parcels
DESIGN
Streets
Jesse Hirakawa
Railroads
Alejandro Castellon
Innovasive Parcels
Ernesto Perez
Los Angeles River
Amanda Rogers
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Innovassive Parcels
U
nderutilized parcels exist throughout the city, but they don’t have to be underutilized. Exploring how parcels can remediate soils and water in order to increase public health allows the opportunity to transform parcels into a metabolic system. Soils are constantly in danger of being contaminated by underground storage tanks, and runoff can carry toxins into neighboring communities. Using these parcels as filters throughout Vernon; they will begin to improve Vernon’s urban fabric. Parcels should continue to grow and adapt and improve its metabolic system to continue with Vernon’s growing industries. As a working landscape, parcels become innovassive parcels; its process spreading like invasive plants and growing using innovative strategies.
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DESIGN
PARCELS
Narrative Diagram
W
e take a closer look at an industrial landscape and nutrients that are released in the environment and a remediation process that removes them to create a metabolic system. Underutilized parcels have the opportunity to collect, clean, and distribute resources to the city because of their location, and their amount of acres that are underutilized. Pollutants that are released in the environment are looked as nutrients instead of toxins. Existing remediation strategies are focused on removing these toxins, but in a direct way. This strategy is missing the opportunity that remediation can provide. Remediation begins to take a different approach than traditional strategies and underutilized parcels become key sites in the city that begins to benefit surrounding industries. Using phytoremediation and innovative technology parcels introduce a new landscape into an industrial city.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Parcels Impact + The locations of existing parcels that store regulated toxins help show the extent and locations of potential toxins that could be released in the environment.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Parcels Impact + The locations of existing parcels that store regulated toxins help show the extent and locations of potential toxins that could be released in the environment. + Unfortunately many sites cannot keep every toxin secured. The map on the left shows the location of points currently releasing toxins into the environment. Some of these toxins can be found in surrounding soils and groundwater and they will eventually make their way into the surrounding communities.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Parcels Impact + The locations of existing parcels that store regulated toxins help show the extent and locations of potential toxins that could be released in the environment. + Unfortunately many sites cannot keep every toxin secured. The map on the left shows the location of points currently releasing toxins into the environment. Some of these toxins can be found in surrounding soils and groundwater and they will eventually make their way into the surrounding communities. + We then located vacant parcels and looked at their proximity to sites that store regulated toxins and locations that are currently releasing toxins into the environment. We discovered that vacant parcels can immediately begin to make a difference in Vernon, whether it’s remediating existing conditions or preventing a disaster if toxins were to leak out.
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DESIGN
PARCELS
Sections
U
nderutilized parcels do not have to be designed for a single use. Industries will continue to grow and so will its landscape. Parcels provide space for a diverse framework of remediation; from phytoremediation to electrokenitic processes combining biological with mechanical systems. Other benefits parcels provide is looking at the relationship with streets and how water can be diverted. Existing storm water infrastructure provides an opportunity to divert run off into parcels, which can be later be stored in water towers to redistribute back to industries. Even though phytoremediation may take longer to remediate, the benefits outweigh the time it would take to clean up a site.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Phases
A
llowing parcels to grow and adapt begins to express some level of a dialectical landscape. We begin to see underutilized parcels as a manifold of relationships throughout Vernon. Restricting parcels to one primary function will limit its potential and creating phases will help incorporate different programs as the landscape grows. Phase one is the primary remediation process where most toxins will be removed. It also begins to shape and form the landscape, while allowing movement throughout the landscape. Phase two begins the diversion of water into the site. Locations where phytoremediation occurred in phase one will be transformed into cisterns for water purification. Phase three transforms the landscape into a biological and mechanical system that collects, cleans, and redistributes water.
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DESIGN
PARCELS
Framework
T
he framework begins to organize different remediation processes and looking at which toxins can be removed with certain strategies. Breaking down this framework is helpful in understanding how to arrange certain plants and strategies to maximize their efficiency. It also helps to identify which plant material can be removed after phase one. Electrokinetic and Nanotechnology remediation is introduced to help remediate groundwater and deeper soils that phytoremediation cannot reach.
E
lectrokinetic remediation removes organic, inorganic and heavy metals from soils using electrical currents that flow through a series of cylinders that are dug into the ground.
N
anotechnology can be used in Vernon by injecting Iron nanoparticles into the groundwater to remove PCB’s and other organochlorine solvents.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Phase One
T
he arrangement of plant material, elecktrokinetic, and nanotechnology in masses help create a landscape driven by flow. Phase one defines the framework that will establish the base for the working landscape. Larger trees like Poplars, Birch, and Willows will be place in the perimeter and key locations in the center to help create a forest of trees. Smaller vegetation will be planted around the trees to help ground and provide contrast. It is not expected to restrain vegetation in their designated areas and some might be planted together to increase productivity. This phase is given 1-10 years to allow enough growth cycles for the plants to remove toxins. Any biomass produced will be properly disposed to prevent further contamination; they can be incinerated to remove any metals that can reuse in other products.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Phase Two
C
leaning the contaminants in phase one prepares the landscape to continue growing and begins to expand the working landscape. As parcels extend their influence their function also begins to expand. Considering the importance of water in southern California, parcels are transformed into water basins for runoff treatment. Diverting water from catch basins and directing them into the landscape will introduce new programs onto the site. Some vegetation from phase one will be cleared as their final growth cycle comes to an end. The importance of landforms from phase one is also important as any depressions created are intended to guide water into the center.
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DESIGN
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PARCELS
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Phase Three
P
arcels can be transformed into complex systems that benefit Vernon and their surrounding communities. Construction of water towers on parcels will help store and distribute water to surrounding communities. Influenced by existing water towers, and recycling material from Vernon, these new water towers will increase Vernon’s urban ecology.
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Work session @ SWA Group Laguna Beach
DESIGN
Narrative
I
norganic and organic pollutants from Vernon eventually make their way into the rainwater runoff within the Los Angeles River. Currently, there is nothing halting these pollutants from entering the ocean. Any species that comes in direct or indirect contact with the polluted water will receive harmful health impacts. These pollutants must be eliminated to prevent further environmental impacts. Therefore, a filtration system in the Los Angeles River is mandatory for the well-being of all people. Since Vernon is a source of industrial pollution and the Los Angeles River directly receives Vernon’s runoff, the toxins within the runoff shall immediately be filtered before they reach the ocean. However, during heavy rainfall, the Los Angeles River shall keep its function for flood mitigation. A filtration system will be installed within the Los Angeles River as a series of channels that decreases the velocity of the water to provide planting spaces for phytoremediation to occur. During pruning season, the metals will be extracted from the plants through incineration and utilized towards the products of Vernon. After the water is cleaned, the oceanic ecosystems will receive cleaner water, thus reducing
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hazardous health impacts for whoever comes directly or indirectly in contact with the ocean’s water. While current pollution is eliminated, future pollution is being prevented through the use of biomaterials and recreational opportunities. The channel structures are grown through mycotecture (or the growing of mycelium within a mold and then fired to produce a hardened brick). A portion of these structures will include molds for creating mycelium building blocks. Mycotecture is a procedure that is less polluting than the current production system of building blocks. Recreational opportunities above the channel structures include an undulating pathway where workers and nearby residents can utilize. This reduces transportation-related pollutants by utilizing a local source of recreation. Existing pollutants are eliminated while future pollutants are prevented, and the future of Vernon is becoming a healthier source of the urban metabolic system.
Los Angeles River
LA RIVER
Streets
Jesse Hirakawa
Railroads
Alejandro Castellon
Innovasive Parcels
Ernesto Perez
Los Angeles River
Amanda Rogers
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DESIGN
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LA RIVER
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DESIGN
LA RIVER
Narrative Diagram
W
e have proposed a closed-loop sustainable system in which pollution is utilized as a source but not heavily dependent on for the pollution-free production of biomaterials. Wastes are removed from the polluted environment, while cleaner production systems are implemented. Vernon will lead the way towards a healthier future.
Ni Cu
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Pb
As
Zn
Hg
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DESIGN
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LA RIVER
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Site Plan
T
he water within the Los Angeles River must be controlled in order for bioremediation to take place. By channeling the water towards the sides of the river rather than center of the river, surface area of shallow water can be maximized. A series of shallow channels are added one by one at the start of each new 1-2 foot difference in elevation. The channel waters are flowing through a lower slope than the river thus slowing the velocity, but also giving rise to the channels until they reach the top of the current river structure. Check dams are also added at each 1-2 foot difference in elevation to hold water to be filtered through the plants, but still allow for flow during rainy weather. As water fills within the channels, it will overflow into the next channel below it. Maximum benefit occurs when the channels are filled with water at an extremely low velocity, perhaps where water is even stagnant in some areas. If this process is carried throughout the four-mile stretch throughout Vernon as well as beyond Vernon, then maximum potential would occur. During the plants’ lifespan, seeds will disperse, and a continuous lifecycle of hyperaccumulators will exist.
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DESIGN
LA RIVER
Three Programs Phytofiltration
W
ithin the proposed channels of the Los Angeles River are three proposed programs. These programs include phytofiltration, mycotecture, and recreation. These programs will exist among the various flood types of the river. The biomass that is a waste of phytofiltration will become a source to the process of mycotecture. The setting of these two systems will provide a practical setting for recreational opportunities. All three of these systems eliminate existing pollution or prevent pollution from entering the urban context.
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Mycotecture
Recreation
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od o l Flo rF r a a Ye e Y 0 50 25 10
d d d o oo Floo o l r rF a a Ye -Ye 50 1
Location Map
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DESIGN
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LA RIVER
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Hg
Zn
Ni
Cu
Pb
As
Metal Products
Phragmites australis
Hyperaccumulator
T Typha latifolia
Typha angustifolia
Elodea Densa
oxins and chemicals must be captured and extracted from the environment to be utilized in other processes that are necessary for life. By utilizing hyperaccumulators within phytofiltration, heavy metals can be accumulated within submerged aquatic plants. As wildlife is attracted to the area through the shallow water ecologies, their waste is nutrition to the hyperaccumulators. After accumulating the toxins within the biomass, the metals are then extracted through pruning of the plants followed by incineration. The extracted metals can be utilized towards products that are currently produced within Vernon.
Spartina alterniflora
Potamogeton pectinatus
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DESIGN
LA RIVER
Mycotecture
M
ycotecture is a recently discovered technology of growing mycelium in a brick-shaped form. This production process utilizes dried plant material as a source for mycelium spores to grow from. This is an alternative fate of the dried biomass that will result from the hyperaccumulators. By repurposing plant material through cleaner biological production processes, the values of industry will evolve towards a healthier future.
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43,243,200 mycelium blocks will be produced in one year along the Vernon’s four-mile stretch of the Los Angeles River.
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DESIGN
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LA RIVER
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Recreation
T
his sustainable system also attracts people from nearby areas to recreate along the river. Pathways that can be created along the river through the 10-year flood zone areas can offer a dense vegetative environment for people to jog or stroll along. With the lack of parks in the area, this reduces the need of transportation for neighboring communities to recreate.
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Practice presentation run with MJS Design Group
Photo credits: MJS Design Group
Final Presentation in Vernon’s City Hall
AJEA
DOING WORK
Team Process
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Doing Work
After exploring Vernon’s existing conditions and opportunities, our team discovered that pollution was a mutual theme of interest. To begin exploring the opportunities within Vernon, unutilized resources were analyzed for potential sites. These sites included rightof-way passages, the Los Angeles River, building facades, street corridors, and parcels. Relationships between these sites and the conditions of soil, air, and water were explored. By creating newer relationships between these components of Vernon, various proactive design strategies came to light. Questions asked during this process include: Is our design the most efficient way of utilizing space? How will our design benefit Vernon and people? How does our design relate back to our narrative? Which issues are solved? How immediate are our solutions? Are these strategies practical? After discovering the rightful design strategies and relating them back to our main narrative, our team has successfully created a web of designs that can be implemented throughout Vernon for public benefit.
Team Process Studio Culture
Visual Model
Section Cut
Lessons of Vernon
A Healthy Urban Metabolism
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Parcels
Titani
Titan
44t
hS
t
o
Model Study
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sJ ele
cti un
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ay
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P
art of our design process had involved us creating a working model to demonstrate spacial qualities within the site. On the northern side of Vernon and south of where the Los Angeles River bends is where we decided to make this section cut. Here you can see the direct intervention of titanium oxide paint on building facades and streets, where open parcels can side up against the buildings, how close the worker outposts are to the businesses and the recreation and production being done along the Los Angeles river.
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on rn
e Av
Worker Outposts
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s
ium Dioxide Painted Buildings & nium Dioxide Infused Streets
ng sA
Recreational Path
Los Angeles River
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t nc Ju
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Ra
ilw
Phytoremediation
Mycoremediation
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Benefits and Outcomes
W
e have proposed a closed-loop sustainable system in which pollution is utilized as a source but not heavily dependent on for the pollution-free production of biomaterials. Wastes are removed from the polluted environment, while cleaner production systems are implemented. Vernon will lead the way towards a healthier future.
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AJEA
DOING WORK
Lessons of Vernon
B
ecause of society’s dependence on industry, Vernon has a designated responsibility of sustaining a healthy urban metabolism. The people and their health are vital to the city’s metabolic functions. The start of a healthier community begins through the immediate
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environment in which design interventions must take place to produce a higher quality of life for Vernon and its neighboring communities.
exists at a smaller scale within Vernon. Vernon must feed its city with no harmful costs to the people within its metabolic system. By eliminating existing pollution and developing Pollution that is currently clean production processes, causing harmful health Vernon is capable of setting impacts at a global scale
a lead example towards a standard pollution-free future. Processes that eliminate current pollution that fuel cleaner production processes work in the landscape to fit the existing urban context regionally and globally.
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THANK YOU.
Andrew Wilcox James Bacerra SWA Group - Laguna Beach MJS Design Studio The City of Vernon Architecture students and professors from the East Los Angeles College and of course our fellow Cal Poly Landscape Architecture Class of 2014