After the Flood: Regenerative Urbanism in North St Louis by Jacqueline Margetts

After the Flood: Regenerative Urbanism in North St Louis Editor: Jacqueline Margetts Published March 2018

This publication documents the work of undergraduate architecture students within a landscape option studio in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St Louis. Available under a Creative Commons Attribution License 2.5 (see https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by 2.5/). All work must be attributed to Washington University in St Louis. The publication of this work has been made possible by a generous grant from CityStudioSTL. Typeface: Garamond, Minion Pro & DIN Paper stock: 80# / 118 gsm, Cover - 100# / 270gsm

AFTE R TH E F LO O D R EGENER ATIVE URB A NIS M IN NO RT H S T LO UIS

Editor: Jacqueline Margetts

Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts Undergraduate Architecture Program Landscape Option Studio 2018

DE S IG N TE AM

ACKNOWL EDGM ENTS

Third and fourth year undergraduate students of Washington Univeristy in St. Louis

Many people contributed to the success of these two studios which took place in the Spring semester of 2016 and 2017 in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. Officials with the Urban Vitality and Ecology Initiative, a cooperative partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Botanical Garden and the City of St. Louis, were instrumental in both suggesting the Harlem watershed as an important site for this investigation as well as offering material support. The following people’s enthusiastic embracing of the studio and their willingness to give their time and expertise to guide and review student work is greatly appreciated:

ED ITO R / S T U DIO I N STRU CTOR Jacqueline Margetts

B O O K DE SI GN Leilei Wu Tianyi Zhang Qinye Chen Nona Davitaia

C OV ER I MAGE Kristen Patino

Catherine Werner - Sustainability Director, St Louis Mayor’s Office Tracey Boaz - Regional Supervisor, Private Land Services Division, Missouri Department of Conservation Laura Schatzman – Landscape Architect, with the City of St. Louis Liz Kramer, Assistant Director, Office for Socially Engaged Practice, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts Studio assistants Ylan Vo (2016) and Shelbey Sill (2017) ably helped to guide students in the development of their ideas and refine the associated graphic representation. Sincere thanks are extended to Bruce Lindsey, Dean of Architecture, and Liz Kramer for securing funds to publish the student work. Other thanks are due to Igor Marinovich, Chair of the undergraduate architecture program, for his openness to such a nonlinear process and for recognizing the importance of landscape thinking in architectural practice. Lastly, special thanks are due to the students themselves for their passion, and the collaborative and supportive approach they brought to the project. It was a pleasure to work with them. Sincere gratitude goes to Nona Davitaia, Leilei Wu, Tiyani Zhang and Amy Chen for their sterling work on the design and production of this book. It couldn’t have been done without them.

CON TE N TS

introduction

student proposals

design teams

118

INTRODUCTION Jacqueline Margetts How can landscape-based interventions transform the harmful effects of urban flood water into a constructive, regenerative approach to urbanism? This is the motivating question behind the designs showcased in this book. There is no better place to conduct this enquiry than the upper reaches of the now-subterranean Harlem Creek in north St Louis, an area plagued by the environmental, social and economic consequences of frequent inundation. The Context In an effort to alleviate persistent flooding in a series of neighborhoods in north St Louis, the Metropolitan St Louis Sewer District (MSD) has

Flooding on Ashland Ave

Detention Basin

removed a significant number of houses through a two-mile stretch of the Harlem watershed and installed three large detention basins. These topographic configurations alleviate flooding by capturing surface water runoff and releasing it slowly into the sewer system. The design proposals presented here explore innovative ways to deal with the newly created vacant lots and how they can be transformed into multi-functional performative terrains. Floods have been occurring in the Harlem watershed ever since the Harlem Creek was diverted underground in the 1920s. Some of the most persistent flooding happens in the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood, but Penrose, Kingsway West, Kingsway East and the Greater Ville are also affected. The City of St Louis Urban Vitality and

No Entry

Ecology Initiative identified the Harlem watershed as a priority and in 2016 began dialogue with MSD and the Wells Goodfellow community to promote the idea of extending the role of the standard detention basin. They noted that the linear form of the flood-prone districts and the removal of houses in the most severely affected areas creates open space. This space is perfectly placed to develop a green corridor with robust social and ecological values right through these neighborhoods.

green infrastructure that increases biodiversity and engages the community socially. Rigorous analytical methodologies structured by the concept of ecological urbanism were deployed to develop sitespecific, environmentally-just interventions through a social, environmental, and economic framework. Using this process students located opportunities for ecological and public open space interventions, and identified key locations for re-investment through the strategic re-intensification of the urban fabric.

The Task Undergraduate architecture students at Washington University in St Louis’ Sam Fox School took up the challenge of developing landscape-based designs that perform multiple functions. Their proposals not only had to reduce surface water run-off entering the sewer system, but also provide

This mixed group of junior and senior undergraduate architecture students had not previously been exposed to landscape architectural design, but they enthusiastically threw themselves into the task and engaged the multifaceted issues faced by the residents within these neighborhoods. Each student developed their own series of design

Site of House Removal

interventions, and while the proposals they devised are by no means comprehensive ‘solutions’, they do offer some alternative ways of thinking about strategies that might be employed. Some of the designs focus on ways to divert surface water runoff from entering the sewer, reducing the overall pressure on the system while increasing biodiversity. Others explore opportunities for engaging the community directly with the new open space by providing educational or economic opportunities. They are all interested in changing the conversation around the ‘problem’ of water into one that explores how new and creative ways of thinking can be leveraged to create a healthy, multi-functional, urban terrain.

Surface Water on Essex St

THE HARLEM CREEK Prior to European settlement of St Louis, a small stream called the Harlem Creek wound its way through the northern part of St Louis before joining the Mississippi River. By the end of the nineteenth century, when St Louis was well established as a thriving city, the Harlem watershed, a sub-watershed within the Bissell Point catchment, still drained mostly open country, although it did receive some sewage and waste from industry and was subject to flooding during heavy rains. By 1908 the lower portion of the Harlem Creek was encased in what was one of the largest concrete sewers in the country, and by 1922 work on the Harlem Creek

Engineering News, 30 July 1908

sewer had made its way up as far as the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood in the upper part of the watershed. The size of the installed sewer was calculated on 10 years of rainfall data and an imperfect understanding of hydrology. There was also considerably less impervious surface at that time. The original sewer still exists and while substantial (28ft wide in places), it is, nevertheless, wholly inadequate. Heavy rain frequently causes system overflow, and since stormwater and sanitary sewage are combined in this same pipe, untreated water is sent onto

streets and into basements, a problem that has been endured by the community since the creek was first diverted underground. In 2015 the MSD allocated $13.5 million through Project Clear to demolish buildings and create detention basins to increase the infiltration of water and alleviate the pressure on the sewer system. Here lies the opportunity for MSD to partner with other organizations to make the stormwater collectors more park-like so they can act as an amenity for the surrounding neighborhood.

The Harlem Watershed in St.Louis, MO

Harlem Stream

Legend Proposed Metro Link station Rail Historic Stream Path (Harlem Creek) Trunk Sewers Flood-prone areas

Map showing the historic Harlem Creek, areas subject to flooding, and the combined stormwater sewer line.

STUDENT PROPOSALS

Over two studios, 21 students developed their own independent design proposals

P R OJ E CT LO C AT I O N S

A S H L A N D AV E N U E R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N Sonya Feinstein

The vacant sites along Ashland Avenue are regraded and existing materials re-purposed in order to create a viable water retention basin and a sustainable public space for the Wells Goodfellow community. Existing foundations of the previous buildings on the site are re-established as usable space and the road is kept as a pedestrian pathway. Public amenities such as a basketball court, and an observation deck are accessible from this path. Stormwater is captured and retained on the south side of the site. Water infiltration is facilitated and habitat created through the inclusion of prairie plants and trees throughout the whole site.

Analysis of the current situation with potential water collection areas identified

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

trees prairie plants SONYA FEINSTEIN

basketball court

gabion walls

ashland a

stormwater collection pond with brick platforms

CROSS SECTIONS

A S H L A N D AV E N U E R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N

ashland ave sewer

On the south side of the Ashland Ave buyout block, a gabion grid is inserted into the retention pond to provide opportunities for human and ecological interactions with the water and the existing foundations.

To the north, a variety of spaces provide seating and planting. The basketball court juts into the existing street and a small deck is added to the west end of the block.

SONYA FEINSTEIN

View of Ashland Ave with new ponds and basketball courts

A S H L A N D AV E N U E R E V I TA L I Z AT I O N

G A B I O N W A L L D E TA I L

W E L L S G O O D F E L LO W PATC H - PA R K K oby M o reno

The Wells Goodfellow Patch-Park serves to relieve pressure on the historic sewer-line while also increasing biodiversity and recreation for the surrounding neighborhood. A study of waterdrainage informed a site regrade to both collect storm-water runoff and divert it from entering the sewer system. Prairie and wetland species are reintroduced in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;patchâ&#x20AC;? like method, organized to be responsive to future conditions.

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water drainage study and location map

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

ashland

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KOBY MORENO

ave

pond

prairie grasses

belt ave

ashland ave

Cross section showing main platform at Belt Ave.

The site is parceled in a 24x24 foot grid which references the former buyout lots and Ashland Ave. This grid serves as the basis for the planting layout for a variety of prairie and wetland species. Over time the grid slowly disintegrates. Gabion structures utilize the rubble from the remains of the

old buildings. These baskets become a substrate for plants and a habitat for wildlife. An elevated pathway showcases the excavated historic brick street, providing an immersive experience and framing scenic vantage points.

W E L L S - G O O D F E L LO W PATC H PA R K

CROSS SECTIONS

KOBY MORENO

W E T L A N D

P R A I R I E

IMPLEMENTATION

S P E C I E S

TIME STUDIES

FIVE YEAR STUDY

THIRTY YEAR STUDY

Indian Grass

Missouri Golden Rod

Buffalo Grass Big Blue Stem

Woolgrass

Broadleaf Arrowhead

Upright/Tussock Sedge Turtlehead

W E L L S - G O O D F E L LO W PATC H PA R K

Habitat walls to edge of pond provde shelter for wildlife.

BIRD SONG G uangdi Ya o

While birds are a delightful connection to nature and their song a welcome addition to our lives, avian species also play a key role in urban biodiversity by influencing ongoing species interdependence and adaptation. This project directly supports the habitat of the American Robin and the Rusty Blackbird in the Wells Goodfellow portion of Ashland Avenue where the main buyout of houses has occured. The vacant area is re-formed to create two large ponds which collect and infiltrate excess rainwater. Low walls are inserted into the pond edges in broken concentric circles, encouraging occupation by local residents. Plants which offer food and shelter for birds are incorporated into the planting design. These trees also support efforts to provide a connected tree canopy through the whole neighborhood which, in addition to its value for wildlife, encourages walking and promotes human health.

Ashland Ave buyout is recontoured to form two basins

ON/OFF THE GRID R or y T hi b a ult

The proposal increases biodiversity and community cohesion through net-zero energy and net-zero water strategies. The existing dry detention basins and surrounding buyout lots are replanted with prairie species. The design incorporates a comparative landscape management study of two methods of nonconventional maintenance: the basin being managed through biennial prescribed burning, and the surrounding lots by ruminant (goat) grazing.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

CROSS SECTIONS

R O R Y T H I B A U LT

Initially the existing streets are removed and all non-prairie species are eliminated through burning and grazing. The site is then strategically regraded forming berms planted with a native prairie-mix to allow for groundwater recharge and storm-water mitigation. The street is replaced by a steel mesh

boardwalk. At key points the boardwalk widens allowing for larger community activities to occur, such as a market or performances. The mesh of the boardwalk permits sunlight to reach the ground. Dispersed throughout the landscape are operable photovoltaic canopies. These provide shade and

generate energy for community use. Two of the existing buildings which have yet to be demolished are adaptively re-used and turned into community and educational spaces. They also serve as holding areas for the goats during adverse weather.

STUDY THROUGH TIME

CONNECTING THE WILD A ili ng Zha ng

A set of biohabitats is created by changing the topography of the existing landscape. The newly recontoured ground serves as a water infiltration system to deal with flood issues. The constructed landscape provides residents with intimate connections to wildlife within a recreational green space which has the potential to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood.

St Louis is an important site for monarch migration. There are a great number of butterfly gardens but these are unevenly distributed in the city. There is a need to introduce one into the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

CROSS SECTIONS

A careful analysis of water flows determined the position of the excavated land to maximize the capture of water. Excavated soil is used to create mounds to increase the range of conditions on site and to maximize biodiversity. Platforms are not

only designed to facilitate occupation by people but niches underneath them can be colonized by wildlife, especially rabbits.

S T UOne-year D Y Perspective THROUGH TIME

AILING ZHANG

Constructed Landscape

Spring

One-year Perspective

Autumn

Five-year Perspective

Spring

Autumn

Five-year Perspective

Niches under the platforms provide living space for wildlife

D E TA I L S 3 ft

0 ft -3 ft

SECTION A 1:10 -6 ft

MONARCH ASSEMBLAGE

Tree Corridor

Nectar Flowers For Monarch d ee

RO NT CO L OG IC A OL BI

C LOW-

RABBIT ASSEMBLAGE

IN N MA ARBO

ANCE TAIN

LAWN

Retention Ponds System

3 ft

-6 ft

SECTION B 1:30

CONNECTING THE WILD

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Biological Control

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WOODPECKER GREEN Jo shua S teve n s

The Red-headed woodpecker is declining significantly in parts of its range, but it is slowly adapting to urban conditions by switching from trees to using utility poles and cavities in buildings for nest sites. An increase in the woodpecker population has a significant effect on the associated assemblage of species â&#x20AC;&#x201C; insects, plants, vertebrates and invertebrates. These networks are reassembled and strengthened through the reintroduction of this bird into the ecosystem. Supporting these beautiful and distinctive birds and their associated complex of species is the focus of this project.

G a b i o n H a b i t a t Wa l l s

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

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Gabion walls

E x i s t i n g Po w e r l i n e s w i t h Added Bird Boxes

Gabion walls support water collection areas.

W A L L D E TA I L S

JOSH STEVENS

Gabion walls are built to form water-collection areas which become ponds during periods of heavy rain. Bird boxes are added to existing light and power poles on the site and gabion walls are filled with nesting materials in an effort to encourage breeding pairs to nest in this neighborhood.

WOODPECKER GREEN

STUDY THROUGH TIME

MNEMONIC GARDEN

M a teus I a marin o Farto Pereira

The large, newly created open space is gently recontoured to collect water during storms. Foundations of some of the removed houses are excavated and filled with rich soil and planted with butterfly gardens, recalling the vitality of the displaced community.

arlington ave.

ashland ave.

Two buildings, not yet demolished, are partially deconstructed to form open pavilions that offer opportunities for community activities. A strong physical and visual connection is designed between the vacant school and the new green space in anticipation of the building being adaptively reused.

before

after

URBAN ORCHARD E mi ly M ark

Fruit trees have always been an important part of the domestic landscape. By planting fruiting trees in areas where large numbers of houses have been removed in the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood, the land is re-domesticated, folding it back into peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. The newly vacant lots across from Gundlach School provide a perfect location for an orchard incubator. It begins with a modest blueberry plot - bushes which fruit within a year of planting - providing an excellent starting point for experimentation, which can then be followed by the planting of more long-term fruit trees.

school

apple orchard

blueberries

closed street bioswale

PRUNING AND HARVESTING

E M I LY M A R K

Neighborhood Orchard Association members develop the skills to manage and maintain an urban orchard starting with the blueberries, then plan its expansion by introducing other fruiting trees such as apples. Experiments with fruit processing can begin and the production of wine, cider, pies and jams can be explored. As the Gundlach Orchard becomes more established children from nearby schools and local seniors can become involved.

Compass Plant Silphium Laciniatum

Indian Grass Sorghastrum Nutans

Missouri Goldenrod Solidago Missourienis

Lead Plant Amorpha Canescens

bioswale planting

URBAN ORCHARD

STREET SCENE

The part of Arlington Ave between the school and the orchard is closed to create a pedestrian-only thoroughfare and is renovated to reveal the original brick paving. Pollinator-attracting plants are grown

between the original brick cobblestones. Part of the school is re-purposed to support orchard activities and serve as a processing and storage space.

PRAIRIE PLACE Ji ac hen D eng

Wells Goodfellow is redolent with traces of the past. The creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old channel is discernable in the topography and the historic brick streets are glimpsed beneath the asphalt. The now empty Gundlach School stands among silver maples which allude to the once prosperous suburb and its cherished childhood memories. This project exposes the buried foundations of demolished homes, each one becoming a pond, connected via an ephemeral stream, recalling the long buried Harlem creek. Platforms mark the location of demolished houses, each platform elevation reflecting the age of the building. A mesh boardwalk threads though a newly established prairie meadow, reminding us of the indigenous occupation of this land. Wild flowers and warm season grass are planted in rows reflecting the property lots, but their strict lines are allowed to dissolve and mingle over time. The grid of trees, typical of early settlement, welcomes wildlife and human alike; the evocation of the past inviting people to a brighter future.

RENDERING

JIACHEN DENG

Foundations are exposed and ponds created. Platforms become places for community activities.

Native prairie plants play a vital role in increasing water permeability and for providing wildlife habitat. Demonstration gardens established on the grounds of the Gundlach School show local residents the beauty and functionality of these species, and act as a free seed source for the community to establish gardens of their own.

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

male flower

April

December

March

samara

coppicing

female flower

November

PRAIRIE PLACE

trunk forms cavitity pr

April

developing fruit

Acer saccharinum

silver maple

Tree planting within the school parking lot allows it to become a shaded, flexible-use community space.

BENEFITS OF URBAN TREES

THE URBAN TREE Ja red Cra ne

AIR F I LT R AT I O N

Street trees are a vital component of prosperous, healthy, residential landscapes. They provide the overall framework for a neighborhood giving it strong visual and spatial cohesion, increasing amenity, providing shade as well as numerous ecological benefits. In addition, trees have a demonstrably positive effect on property values. This design strategy proposes the introduction of street trees planted in conjunction with bioswales within the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood. The bioswales provide water to the trees to promote their growth and facilitates infiltration of water into the soil, reducing the risk of surface flooding.

CANOPY H A B I TAT

SOUND F I LT R AT I O N P O L L I N AT O R H A B I TAT

UNDERSTORY H A B I TAT

NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY SHADE & COOLING

W AT E R ABSORPTION

W AT E R F I LT R AT I O N

Drawings showing the different bioswale / road / sidewalk arrangements - each applied according to specific on-site conditions.

Nature Bridge Ave

PROVISIONING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Ja mes M c Clan ahan

Schnucks Fresh food is vital to health, but suitable provisions are not always easily accessible. The Schnucks supermarket plays an important role in the community but currently there is no direct pedestrian connection between this grocery store and the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood. This proposal opens up an entry from Lexington Ave and connects it deep into the heart of the residential area. The connective greenspace not only aids pedestrian flows but manages water runoff and increases infiltration. The existing detention basin on Ashland Ave is re-contoured to provide a variety of conditions and planted with a healthy mix of native prairie flowers and grasses to boost biodiversity and provide habitat and food for native birds and insects.

Lexington Ave.

new connective green space

Ashland Ave.

redeveloped detention basin

Over time water will create the trenches creating a variety of conditions for flora and fauna to flourish

ASHLAND LOTUS PONDS A dare Brown

Ashland Avenue Lotus Ponds reimagine how the existing basins might function, widening their capacity and transforming them into an asset for the community. The project creates a connective axis which stretches from Belt Ave to Union Blvd, opening up the valley of the Harlem Creek. The ponds are planted with American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea), a voracious grower that is most aesthetically appealing and utilitarianâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; almost all parts of the plant are edible. The plan also provides a strategy for the block that sits between Belt Ave and Semple Ave on Ashland. Houses in the flood zone will be removed, existing trees and paving are preserved, and native trees which colonize the site are allowed to develop into a forest. Smaller shrubs are removed to retain visibility through the site.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

lotu

s po

lotu

s po

Detention basins are converted to lotus ponds

VIEW OF LOTUS POND

ADARE BROWN

ASHLAND LOTUS PONDS

The existing detention basins on Ashland Ave are converted to lotus ponds to retain stormwater. The basin by Gundlach school is expanded and bridged by Arlington Ave, greatly increasing the overall capacity of the system. Seating areas, walking paths and platforms connect people to the ponds throughout and allow access to harvest the lotus.

RECYCLE, REUSE, RECLAIM T iany i Zha ng

This project recycles food and green waste, reuses land once occupied by houses and reclaims neighborhood pride. The recycle, reuse, reclaim project uses landscape strategies to socially and ecologically vitalize the Wells Goodfellow neighborhood. Safe, unused food products from local supermarkets, restaurants and individuals are redistributed to help people in need; greenwaste is collected and composted; some vacant land is reused by urban food gardens and the remaining is recontoured and planted to promote stormwater infiltration and enhance ecological diversity.

Sidewalk Condition

Tree Health

Lights

Building age

Powerlines

Building colors

Vacancy

Age older than 64

Bus lines and stops

CLINIC

Facilities

SCHNUCKS

AAA FISH HOUSE

WENDYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

RIB TIP SHOP LEX

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VACANT LAND

VACANT BUILDING

EXISTING DETENTION BASIN

Stressful Circle Healthy Circle Flooding Area Site

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

TIANYI ZHANG

RECYCLE, REUSE, RECLAIM

CONCEPT DIAGRAM

Processes of respiration, photosynthesis, root absorption, and decomposition within trees were studied. Recycling was identified as a significant component. For instance, before a tree drops its leaves, the chlorophyll inside dissolves and is pulled back into the tree branches and stored for future

use. These cyclic processes became the underlying driver of the design strategy. Food products, green waste, soil, vacant houses, metal and glass - abundant but overlooked and wasted - have great potential.

D E TA I L S

TIANYI ZHANG

STUDY THROUGH TIME

STAGE 1

YEAR 1 CONSTRUCTION LIFTS UP HOUSES ON SITE RAIN GARDENS WATER STORAGE CISTERN

STAGE 2

YEAR 2 FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN WASTE IS COLLECTED AND DECOMPOSED WITH WINDROWS LUPINE IS CULTIVATED TO AMELIORATE SOIL

STAGE 3

YEAR 5 FOOD BANK AND COMPOSTING CENTER THRIVE URBAN FOOD GARDEN IS WELL ESTABLISHED MORE FOOD PRODUCTION

STAGE 4

YEAR 10 PEOPLE USES VEGETABLE AND FRUIT TO MAKE OTHER PRODUCTS HOME MADE PRODUCTS ARE SOLD TO BIG MARKETS COOKING COURSES ARE HELD AT FOOD BANK

URBAN REFUGE X i y i ng M a

The neighborhoods around Natural Bridge Avenue and Kingshighway Boulevard have a high percentage of seniors. This design focuses on providing safe and comfortable connections between places this segment of the population are most likely to go: the clinic, pharmacy, post office, grocery store, church, and the Community Family Life Center. The intervention aims to make the sidewalks more pedestrian-friendly for the elderly by providing small sitting areas, trees, and safe cross-walks. More people on the street makes it safer for everyone.

A bioswale replaces the middle turning lane of Natural Bridge Ave. to infiltrate rainwater and function as a pedestrian refuge as people cross the road.

S E AT I N G O P T I O N S A N D D E TA I L

XIYING MA

Along the sidewalk, pedestrian refuge areas with permeable surface and benches are designed for the elderly to rest and engage in activities such as playing chess, or to simply converse with a friend.

5 YEAR AND 30 YEAR PROJECTIONS

URBAN REFUGE

The bioswale and bump-out rain gardens near the footpath are planted with native prairie plants. Large canopy trees provide shade and slow traffic.

By bringing more pedestrians to the street, the design aims to activate the area with more public transportation, cyclists, and new stores.

STREETSCAPE

XIYING MA

URBAN REFUGE

new street crossing and bus stop

green recreation

BOSQUE LANDSCAPE Leilei Wu

walkability

clara

The upper portion of the site is currently a fenced, vacant, concrete and asphalt lot with a disused building. The site includes a funeral home with a community chapel and parking lot. The proposal weaves together several components that both alleviates the stormwater runoff from the sewer system through strategic planting and engages the community.

ave

The proposed intervention acts as a connective node. A site was identified near the lowest topography in the area at the intersection of Natural Bridge and Shreve Avenues. Given its proximity to the main commercial district on Natural Bridge Ave. and to existing green infrastructure, the site has potential to rebuild social, biological and hydrological connections.

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74 MAPPING INTENSITIES

SITUATIONAL

ANALYSIS

312_MARGETTS | LEILEI WU occupied & thriving buildings

suspect flooding areas

power lines

lower topography

EXISTING SITE CONDITION

st. louis in 1875 from pictorial st. louis

vacant building

fence

ruderal ecology

power lines

bike routes restaurants bus stops focus powerlines traffic

mar gare

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75 SITE SELECTION

CONNECTIVITY

BOSQUE

LANDSCAPE SITE

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

E..

live stakes /cottonwoods /willows

butterfly seed mix /milkweeds /black-eyed susan /purple coneflower /dwarf fothergilla

LEILEI WU PA

PLAN

BOSQUE LANDSCAPE

CROSS SECTIONS

natural bridge ave. palm street

The design works with topographical change. There is a gentle slope of two meters across the site. The asphalt parking lot is scored with parallel lines that run perpendicular to the slope. These cuts are planted with native prairie seeding mix. Vertical tree elements are planted as stakes in a bosque, marking

the old parking lines. According to the water flow on the site, two butterfly rain gardens are designed to mitigate stormwater runoff. The asphalt surface is carved out in specific areas to form these rain gardens. The planting palette of the garden is based on habitat requirement for the Monarch butterfly,

and includes caterpillar food plants and butterfly host plants, but with strictly native and locallysourced species.

T STUDY

M A K I N G T H E PA R K SITE

PLANTING

DETAILS

312_MARGETTS | LEILEI WU

CUT CONCRETE/ASPHAL SURFACE DRILL OUT SOIL

MAKE LIVE TREE CUTINGS

78 SAW-CUT SCORE LINES ON PARKING LOT

COMMUNITY PLANTING TREE STAKES

SEEDING IN THE SEAMS

BOSQUE LANDSCAPE

The project initially engages the community through the funeral service program. The upper portion of the site can be used as outdoor funeral ceremonial space. The vacant building is converted to a pavilion for shelter. The planting on this part of the site is programed with the funeral service â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the trees by families to memorialize the deceased, the butterfly plants by seeds imbedded in confetti. The parking lot scoring and planting allow members of all age in the neighborhood to participate.

LONGITUDINAL STUDY existing vacant house conveted to pavilion

pavilion use: funeral service, community activities, hanging out

LEILEI WU

Over time, the poplar tree stakes thrive and provide shade. As the site develops, the use is subject to change. Community events take place here spontaneously. As the asphalt parking lot breaks up over the years, it gradually becomes a lively, safe, flexible, open space.

BOSQUE LANDSCAPE

trees form overhead canopies shading cars

butterfly garden / stormwater infiltration

asphalt parking lot becomes community park roots break up asphalt

LONGITUDINAL STUDY

N AT U R A L B R I D G E S P O N G E PA R K Q i n Ye Chen Memorable experiences are created for community residents through the collection and purification of urban storm water. An unused parking lot between Natural Bridge Avenue and Palm Street becomes a vegetated link between the two streets. The asphalt of the old parking lot has cracked, and despite tough conditions, some vegetation has found a way through the hard surface. The siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character is amplified by further breaking up the surface to increase permeability and by introducing lowmaintenance native vegetation to provide beauty and habitat for butterflies, bees and other native insects. Native flower species with economic potential and aesthetic value support the nearby Perpetua Chapel, Wade Funeral Home and Wade Florist. The vacant garage on site is initially transformed into a dried flower shop, but may be adaptively repurposed in the future, based on community needs.

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Section showing location and connection to other green space

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PLAN OF PROPOSAL

QINYE CHEN

Pal m

St.

N AT U R A L B R I D G E S P O N G E PA R K

CROSS SECTIONS

The upper end of the site is developed into a shady plaza, and the lower end is re-contoured to prevent storm water from accumulating on Palm Street. A range of attractive native plant species are planted throughout the site. A slightly elevated mesh boardwalk connects to wooden platforms that allow

people to sit right in the middle of the vegetation. The park-like quality of the site is extended across Natural Bridge Avenue where trees and rain gardens work in conjunction with small ridges in the road to slow traffic and allow pedestrians to safely cross this major street. Trees and rain gardens are also

introduced into Palm Street to increase water permeability and to make a pleasant shady link to and from Handy Park.

CROSS SECTIONS

QINYE CHEN

N AT U R A L B R I D G E S P O N G E PA R K

D E TA I L S

Pedestrian crossing and bioswale median strip on Natural Bridge Ave.

The neighborhood street and park

BOARDWALK AND RAINGARDEN

seasonal study

N AT U R A L B R I D G E S P O N G E PA R K

STUDY THROUGH TIME

multi-use scenarios

VA LU I N G W AT E R Y i ra n Zha ng

Water is the stuff of life but in the city it is undervalued - engineers aim to send it off-site as quickly as possible, often causing problems downstream. Here, water is valued. It is collected and stored, and allowed to infiltrate slowly into the ground, replenishing important sub-surface systems. Ponds become opportunities for life. They provide for plant and animal diversity within the urban area; a vital component for the overall health of city residents.

PLAN OF PROPOSAL

YIRAN ZHANG

VA LU I N G W AT E R

CROSS SECTION

The block between Shreve Ave and Marcus Ave, directly above Palm Street (an identified problem area for stormwater accumulation), is re-contoured and planted. Water is redirected from surrounding impervious surfaces into a series of plant-filled ponds where it is filtered and allowed to penetrate

into the ground. Paths and stairs are introduced to allow easy access through the area and a small plaza opens up to Natural Bridge Avenue to encourage community activities.

D E TA I L

YIRAN ZHANG

VA LU I N G W AT E R

More than just a place to gather and retain water, the ponds become sites of recreation. Fish and other aquatic species begin to populate the pools adding charm, and providing an unexpected educational dimension to the site.

STUDY THROUGH TIME

YIRAN ZHANG

VA LU I N G W AT E R

Over time, as the landscape matures, it has the potential to become a much-loved pocket of nature within the urban fabric. The trees planted along Natural Bridge Avenue help define plaza-like community space but also serve to beautify the street. Enhanced street appeal will encourage investment into retail and other commercial activities.

E SS E X PA R K T R E A S U R E H U N T K ri sten Pati no

Essex Place, now unoccupied by houses, is converted into an urban park which collects and infiltrates surface water, and becomes the center for a plant-based treasure hunt. Rain gardens are filled with pollinator habitat, fruit and nut bearing trees, and plants tolerant of wet soil. Rain gardens are also located in strategic locations on streets leading into the new park to help manage water flow. People are exposed to the names and qualities of these attractive native plants through the treasure hunt and have the opportunity to grow them in their own gardens as their seed is available from on-site seed dispensers. This is an educational resource for local schools as well as the community generally.

Rain gardens along the old Essex Place road increases permeability and provides habitat.

Sacramento Avenue is connected to the park. Vacant lots are planted with elderberries and milkweed. Essex Place has rain gardens and trees to increase permeability.

D E TA I L S Rain gardens are carefully placed to absorb stormwater and relieve the sewer system while connecting the neighborhood communities and local institutions with educational green spaces. A map of the treasure hunt is painted in the cul-de-sac circle.

K R I S T E N PAT I N O

Seeds are provided for community use.

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E SS E X PA R K T R E A S U R E H U N T

Vacant lots are planted with elderberries and milkweed as an inexpensive way to provide a community resource (for jam and other processed foods), and as food to birds and butterflies.

Elderberry Pocket Park

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STUDY THROUGH TIME

K R I S T E N PAT I N O

Elderberries planted in vacant spaces

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Community gardens

E SS E X PA R K T R E A S U R E H U N T

Educational and recreational opportunities

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PERSIMMON GROVE E ddi e Falkowsk i

The Essex Place buyout area in the Penrose neighborhood is incorporated into the adjacent Eugene Tink Bradley Park and transformed to collect water and increase biodiversity. A strong connection is made to S.E. Sacramento Avenue, by removing the fence and opening up a link to the street. A series of rain gardens is incorporated into the pavement of Essex Place to collect water which sheets off Sacramento Avenue on one side and Marcus Avenue on the other during heavy rain. The existing sidewalk is retained and lined with native persimmon trees to provide shade and fruit. The lowest, wettest, area between Essex Place and the old gas station off Natural Bridge Avenue has a dense grove of bald cypress trees and a boardwalk is introduced through it.

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COMMUNITY PLANTING DAY

building the bioswales

persimmon grove

S T R AT E G Y

bioswale

trees

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park

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PLAN OF PROPOSAL

natural bridge ave

E D D I E FA L K O S K I

Eugene Tink Bradley Park

marcus ave

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PERSIMMON GROVE

D E TA I L

Bioswales are formed in the area between Essex Place and the park, and these are planted with bands of water-tolerant prairie species. The turning circle at the end of the road is vegetated. As a reminder of the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former use, the footprints of the homes on this side are excavated to collect water and planted with reeds.

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THE MOUND Jo ha nna Yee

Eugene Tink Bradley Park is transformed through the introduction of a large, grassy mound. Perfect for play and social interaction, it becomes a beacon within the community. The entire park is covered in buffalo grass. This soft, springy plant, perfect for lying on, registers differences in soil moisture through subtle changes in growth rate and color. Excavation pits collect and infiltrate water during periods of heavy rain.

Stairs make new connection to Sacramento Ave

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existing playground

grassy pits

steps natural bridge ave

mound path

grassy pit

marcus ave

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C R E AT I O N O F T H E M O U N D

JOHANNA YEE

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111 THE MOUND

A CUT IN TIME Jeni ca Wa ng

This project embraces the history of the site by exposing it. In the early 20th century, Eugene Bradley Tink Park was a limestone quarry. After the quarry closed in 1938, it was used as an illegal dumping ground until it was purchased by the city and converted into a park. In this proposal, a series of longitudinal trenches are cut across the site. In some parts they function as bioswales; in others they create conditions for a new grove of swamp chestnut oak trees. These cuts expose the historic quarry and dump, but they also provide new habitat, infiltrate water and mitigate flooding.

Natural Bridge Ave.

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Bioswale year 2

Bioswale year 15

Palm St.

Section showing the position of the old dump site

The series of cuts is based on the plan of the old driveways of the Essex Place homes. On the south side of the of the site, the cuts function as bioswales with an extruded gabion structure to serve as seating. The cuts are shallow and lined

Palm St.

Natural Bridge Ave.

Marcus Ave.

with flood-tolerant plants. Over time, these plants grow beyond the original line and spread to other areas. On the north side of the site, swamp chestnut oaks are planted in the bioswales. As the trees grow the allelopathic nature of the swamp chestnut oak

prohibits undergrowth and the trench will fill with rich plant detritus. The cuts eventually disappear, but the trees will remain.

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CROSS SECTIONS

JENICA WANG

Gabion seating walls and bioswales

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Cut changing over time

A CUT IN TIME

IDEOGRAM

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STUDY THROUGH TIME

JENICA WANG

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117 A CUT IN TIME

E M I LY M A R K

JARED CRANE

GUANGDI YAO

JENICA WANG

JAMES MCCLANAHAN

JIACHEN DENG

E D D I E FA L K O W S K I

AILING ZHANG

JACQUELINE MARGETTS

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ADARE BROWN

DESIGN TEAM

JOHANNA YEE

K R I S T E N PAT I N O

QINYE CHEN

TIANYI ZHANG

JOSHUA STEVENS

LEILEI WU

R O R Y T H I B A U LT

XIYING MA

KOBY MORENO

M AT E U S I A M A R I N O

SONYA FEINSTEIN

YIRAN ZHANG

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