CHAPTER1 Research

All kinds of human projects seem to do harm to water ecology, even if they have good intentions sometimes. Can mechanical construction and water ecology not coexist?

In the late 19th century, some places along the river were widened for docks, ports, bridges and other infrastructure. With the improvement of industrialization, large-scale infrastructure projects have changed the downstream. The first major change was the interception of the Kud River between 1880s. This major infrastructure project created an island called Kud Island. Most industies will use the river as their downstream waste disposal methods. Today, oil and pollution still exist in several downstream rivers, such as Merri Creek.(Melbourne cIty's River Precinct. 2016)

Comparing the water ecology of Yarra River and port philip in the past and present, it seems that certainly, the development of construction and mechanical technology weakened the relationship between water and people.The obvious pollution sources(eg: Yarraville Oil Terminal, Caltex Melbourne Terminal, Newport Petroleum Terminal) and potential pollution sources along the Yarra River are marked on the map. Besides people throw rubbish along the river every day.

Note. From Flickr. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49922765186_40e8155f35_b.jpg.

Use sticks and nets to limit the overgrowth of seaweed and take them for trading. It can absorb carbon and other pollutants. It is a very good water purifier. At the same time, it also creates new habitats for a variety of marine lives.

Oyster Reef

Note. From SCAPE. https://www.scapestudio.com/projects/oyster-tecture/

The idea came from SCAPE. Use the growth cycle of oysters to purify water. Eventually, all empty oysters will form reefs-habitats for other aquatic life.(Barry Bergdoll, 2011)

Mangroves

Specifically, mangroves form a protection zone between the waterfront and the water. In this way, mangroves become a "pollution catcher". It can indeed purify water. However, when plastic bags and garbage cover the roots and sediments of mangroves, it is easy to cause hypoxia in mangroves; It also threatens aquatic animals.

Concept

WATER SHORE WETLAND

WATER SHORE WETLAND

Oyster reef

WATER SHORE

WETLAND

Oyster reef

Oyster reef

Seaweed farm

Seaweed farm

Seaweed farm

Temperate mangrove field

Temperate mangrove field

Temperate mangrove field

After studying how these organic systems coexist with water ecology in their way. My idea is to cooperate with these organic systems with design, combined with human experience to awaken public engagement with water from wetland to shore and water.

CHAPTER2 Site selection

When Melbourne was developing, due to geological reasons, the government decided to expand to the north and east. So there will be major residential areas and beaches in the east. There are many wetlands in the west, so the government decided to focus on agriculture and industry.

The project is an experimental project. Test the practicability of this new type of infrastructure/architecture in the future. It does not need to be large. However, it needs to meet the growth conditions of mangroves/other plants and be related to people's daily life. The site is located in a wetland in the east of Greenwich Reserve. There are sports parks,fish cleaner and baseball clubs around. It takes 15-20 minutes by car from CBD.