Saturating the Built Environment: Infusing Stormwater and the Public Realm
Keihly Moore
Urban Designer / Planner / Architect-in-training keihly.moore@thelawrencegroup.com
In the 1960’s, citizens became increasingly upset regarding the sewage stench from Sugar and Little Sugar Creeks in Charlotte. In response to numerous citizen complaints, the Mecklenburg County Health Department hung 55 gallon drums of orange blossom deodorant from bridges and allowed the fragrant liquid to drip into creeks to mask the odors. This effort proved unsuccessful. Water quality problems came to head in the late 1960’s. http://charmeck.org/stormwater/VolunteerGetInvolved/Documents/ Fun%20and%20Facts%20PDF/HistoryofWaterinOurCommunity.pdf
Lake Superior
Iowa, 2008
Duluth, MN 2012
Charlotte, 2011
My history | My motivations | Local, regional, national + international relevance
Waterfronts
Urban Design / Neighborhood scale
Buildings: interaction with the ground/water
Problems that exists at many scales require solutions that exist in multiple scales.
Visit Order
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Stockholm Sweden Malmo
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Copenhagen Denmark Hamburg Germany Utrecht Netherlands The Hague Rotterdam City of the Sun Amsterdam
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I ti n e r a r y Itinerary | Northern Europe | Summer 2012: May 16-June 15
Amsterdam | Netherlands | Westerpark
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Westersingel: used for water control
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Westersingel: used for water control
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten
Source: De Urbanisten
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten
Rotterdam | Netherlands | Watersquare Benthemplein by De Urbanisten
Portland | USA | bioswale | Taking up space - need more integration in a city setting!
Collect water from the roof
Layer functions, see change
Extra storage to release slowly
Charlotte | USA | Redefine the sidewalk, reveal processes, layer functions
Charlotte | USA | My Site | East Boulevard
planting strip buffer 17,768 sf 0.41 acres 11,076 gallons
of water runoff from 1” rainfall
parking lots 271,392 sf 6.23 acres 169,173 gallons
of water runoff from 1” rainfall
building rooftops 140,150 sf 3.22 acres 87,433 gallons
of water runoff from 1” rainfall
14 01
670’ 680’ 690’
660’ 650’
Charlotte | USA | Site inventory | Potential stormwater collection areas 640’
01
670’
14
680’
660’ 650’
690’
15
16
00
16 01
15
00
01
18
01
640’
pedestrian crosswalk pedestrian mid-block crossing street intersection driveway/parking lot entrance existing buildings on site (calculated impervious surface)
street trees water flow direction
200’
0’
150,000
1100 ft to Little Sugar Creek
Square feet
120,000 Impervious Surfaces
90,000
Parking lots Building Roofs
60,000 30,000 0
1401
1405
1409
1413
1419
1501
1511
1525
1531
1617
1621
1608
East Boulevard Address
Charlotte | USA | Mapping and site inventory
1600
1528 1520
1514
1512
1500
1412
1801 Scott Ave
Area waterways
Storm structures
Storm channels
Storm pipes
Charlotte | USA | Stormwater infrastructure 1100 ft
Storm structures
Storm channels
Storm pipes
There is little open public space along this corridor here. Privately owned spaces are back, away from the street. Can the street become more vibrant with public spaces more visibly on the street? privately owned outdoor public space public space
Charlotte | USA | Public space inventory
Scott Ave | East Boulevard
Cumberland Ave | East Boulevard
Charlotte | USA | Site inventory | Current Conditions
1700
1500 1400
1300 1200 1100
1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100
storing
storing 1800
1600
1800 1700
1600
1500 1400
1300 1200 1100
1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100
one
ek + ek watershed
ding
Slowing
cleansing
Charlotte | USA | Store > Show > Slow > Soak
1� Rain
2000 sf 16'
16'
60'
1000
sf
1000 sf
1000
32'
sf
1000 sf
15'
1800 1700 1600
timed release
1500
Flood zone
1400
1247 Gallons
1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100
Retention
Charlotte | USA | rainfall > channel > collect > see > soak
Destination:
Little Sugar Creek + Little Sugar Creek watershed
Reduce down stream flooding
Sl
c
Ea
st
Bo
Curbless streets encourage a shared space between water, people and vehicles.
ul
ev ar
The white grid indicates the path of water movement
d
Sc ot t
Av en ue
Roof collection moving water to the street.
Phase 1: Parking lot retrofit
Public space functions in commercial and entertainment purposes. Water visibility adds a layer of environmental education and awareness.
Water is collected and brought to the bioswales, watering the trees along the way.
Parking deck water collection and movement corresponds with public space. The movement of the water shapes the place.
Water flow Roof collection conveyance to the street Varied facade that channels, directs, collects
Water conveyance becomes entries, seating, and bus shelters
Charlotte | USA | Store > Show > Slow > Soak
Collect water from the roof
Layer functions, see change
Extra storage to release slowly
Grate hole aperatures vary to allow for peering into, permeability and sustaining healthy plant growth
Stones add texture, filtration and permeability Water weaves down East Boulevard
Stamped concrete
Bridging panel
Sidewalk as collaged experience
Charlotte | USA | Sidewalk as a permable surface
Sidewalk Cistern
Play!
Can down spouts morph into sittable spaces or mailboxes?
Charlotte | USA | Combining systems - cisterns and sidealks
What are the challenges to implementing these kinds of stratgies on the local level? - political? - policies and regulations? - funding? - health and safety?
How can we overcome these challenges? What can we do today to get closer to implementing integrated solutions? Would you like to chat further? Keihly.moore@thelawrencegroup.com Questions | How do we get these integrated solutions implemented?