Water Sensible Sifan Lydia Cheng
Rhode Island School of Design
Water Sensible A Thesis Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture in the Department of Architecture of the Rhode Island School of Design By Sifan Cheng Rhode Island School of Design 2014
Water mediates in between the extremes—in life and death, brightness and darkness, gravity and levity, the physical and the spiritual. It amplifies spatial experience, reflects duration and time pass. In Tao Te Ching, water is the supreme good that nourishes everything without trying to, it keeps the astronomical order of the cosmos. Earth is composed of three elements, solid, liquid, and gas, with water being the only substance on earth that exists in all three. Yet the three elements are connected and exchangeable through the fourth element, warmth. Because of warmth’s permeability, water is free of spatial restrictions, and thus plays a role at the border line of the physical and the spatial. Water reflects the orders of space, time, and every earthly and cosmic matter. Horizontally in space, continents compose the lithosphere; seas are the hydrosphere; and air mantle, the atmosphere. However, vertically in space, one experiences temperature change climbing up a mountain just like the temperature changes from the equator to the poles. Water’s meteorological elements include temperature, air pressure, moisture content, wind direction and velocity. The 1995 Nobel Prize winner for atmospheric chemistry Paul Crutzen proposed a new epoch, the Anthropocene, a period characterized by the growth of Homo sapiens (human beings), by his strong influence on environment, and by the decline of other species caused by its presence everywhere on the Earth.
humans, being solely responsible for the phenomena (the Anthropocene is caused by us…), have the possibility of studying what is happening, and then attempting to manage the change in order to contain the damage. We are not facing an inevitable natural event, like an earthquake, a meteorite impact or a volcanic eruption, but an event caused by humans that humans, for their survival, must seek to control.1
This refreshing and positive ecological consciousness encourages architects and landscape architects to better understand our living environment, make the best use of the nature to serve us instead of leaving it alone. The thesis project “Water Sensible” is devoted to addressing the issue of storm water runoff in Providence, RI. By going running on the site throughout the thesis year, I am redesigning the Indian Point Park into a stormwater management park through my bodily experience; and I am specifically addressing one section in the park--the floating community that serves as a gathering ground for scientists, artists, and the general public. Recycled water, power and food supply are all decentralized and provided on site.
1. Saraceno, Paolo and David Goodstein, Beyond the Stars: Our Origins and the Search for Life in The Universe, World Scientific, 2012
Table of Contents: Part I: Final Project
Waterfront Community
Part II: Process
Degree Project Board--Water Clock
Theme Park--History of Urban Sewer Infrastructure
Institute of Art and Science
Floating Residential Community
Type of Project: Waterfront Community Programs include: a Water Bar, an Institute of Art and Science, and a Floating Residential Community Location: Constructed Wetland Park, Providence, RI Main Concept: The waterbar is the entrance of the community, gathering people together from all walks of life. The Institute of Art and Science is composed of a gallery for public education, a scientist lab for conducting water quality research, and seven artist studios for data visualization and representatio. The residential units wrap around the shoreline while floating on stilts.
Circulation Institute of Science and Art Water Bar Floating Home
This last run I enter the park from a bridge elevated above the highway I-95, I see underneath myself the constructed wetland, and ahead of myself, a floating community riding on the recovered historical shoreline.
At the end of this bridge, I enter the top floor of this new water bar.
The bar has 3 floors, water has 3 states. The top floor gaseous, second floor solid, and the ground floor, liquid. Water’s gaseous state forms the atmosphere. The top floor of the bar is a sky viewing deck, allowing one to watch the sky’s changing clouds.
Cloud Viewing Deck
I follow the circulation down onto the second floor. Water’s solid state forms the lithosphere. The second floor is an ice skating rink.
Water continues its flow down the hill, I follow the circulation down into the first floor. Water’s liquid state forms the hydrosphere. The ground floor becomes a bar overlooking the river. The atrium is where the rainwater gets collected, purified, and served by the bartender.
Celebrating the harvest of rainwater with people from all walks of life in a semi-open space, I quenched my thirst, calmed the heartbeat, and was ready to enter into interior spaces.
The doorway by the bar connects to a gallery. To my left is an exhibition wall. On display are works of art that visualizes the data collected by scientists. The windows are high above the eye level so that I can focus on the works on display. When I look out, I only see the sky. Gallery Roof DetailThe gallery space is lit by both ambient light from the north and reflcted light from the south.
Gallery Window Detail
Science Lab Roof DetailThe steel truss roof collects solar power and rain water. Running down the gutter, the fresh water gets filtered and examined through the lab.
Science Lab Foundation DetailBrackish water from the Providence river gets pumped into the lab for osmosis experimentation.
Rainwater Purification Experimentation
Salinity, Blue Energy Osmosis Experimentation
To the right of the gallery are windows at eye level. I walked to one of the windows and looked in. It is a science lab. Water runs down the gutter, goes through pre-filter, sand filter, osmosis, and finally gets collected in a tank. The scientists are conducting fresh rain water purification experimentation at this end of the lab. On the other end, they are working on brackish water osmosis experimentation. All the data gets collected on both sides of the walls, while data analysis is happening in the middle of the room. On the Mezzanine are office spaces for scientists.
The storm water runoff and sewer overflow brings the toxins into the water that we depend on everyday. How do the scientists deliver the message and research results to the general public? With that question in mind, I wandered accidentally into an artist studio. The space is conducive to contemplation, with the floor raised on stilts above the river surface. The roof slopes down, almost kissing the water’s surface.
The raised floor so light, that the artist flies in air; and the slanted roof so heavy, that it brings the artist’s view down towards the water only. The view is so focused and humble, that the artist resides her spirit in the wave of the river. In the elusive river body awakens the artist’s unconscious. A reverie starts with the artist’s recollection of memories, daydreams, and dreams. The telescopic experience is achieved by the eschewed angles and edge of the floor, the ceiling, and roof.
Sliding Glass Door DetailEntering the studio, the artist sees not the edges of the floor, but the surface of the river through the tilted glass door.
The second type of studio is conducive to designing and brainstorming ideas for artists. The floor floats on the surface of the water, and the roof is parallel to the horizon line. My view gets divided by this line, with water on the bottom and sky on top. From the certainty of the sky, the artist gathers her thoughts, and from the depth of the water she extends her imagination. The logical and the radical, the rational and the creative, they weave together a song, cradling her as the tide fluctuates and the moon revolves around the earth.
Floating Studio Foundation, Wall, Window, and Roof Detail
The third type of studio space is for production. It is again a space governed by the geometry and dynamics of envelopment. The floor is embedded in the deep, dark ground, and the roof opens up towards the sky. The sunken floor and the slanted roof bring the artist’s view up towards the sky only. Her view of the sky is so open, free and certain, that she finds in her production clear logic and rationality.
DP Board--Water Clock Material: Wood, Plexi-glass, Foam, Plumming pipes, Water The constant flow of water into the tank records time; just like how the constant flow of a river in an urban environment records the history of the city.
Type of Project: Theme Park --History of Sewerage Location: S. Water St., Providence, RI Issue to address: Providence is located on the North end of the Narragansett Bay. Each summer, heavy rainfall/ storm water combined with sewers flow into the Providence River, causing both flood and huge amount of energy waste in Waste Water Treatment Stations. Main Concept: Using sustainable stormwater management to create a functional public park in the city, re-connecting the urban fabric with the river and bringing people closer to water. Saving the costs of stormwater management through decentralized solutions such as raingardens, green streets, disconnected down-spouts to keep as much storm water out of the sewer system as possible.
Providence River Tributaries: Seekonk River, Pawtuxet, Moshassuck, Woonasquaticket
Providence Flood Zone
RI Inundation Surface
RI Flood Hazard
Sewer discharge from industrial buildings in Providence, RI Each color represents an industrial toxin--ammonia, grease, heavy metal and domestic sewage waste.
For 4 years, I run the trail of Indian Point Park, where the Narragansett Bay meets the land of East Providence. Every day for 4 years, my body gradually learns each component in the park through this solitude linear sport. As I put one foot in front of another, I start to draw a line. Along this line, my metabolic rate starts to change, my view starts to change, the feelings and senses with each leap all start to change. Together, these changes help me orient myself. I know when my heart beats 120 times per minute, I shall see a large ship anchored by the bridge, and hear the friction of gravel underneath my feet. When my heart beats 150 times per minute, I shall see a pavilion above the horizon line, and hear my sports shoes tapping against the pervious brick pavement. When my heart beats 170 times per minute, I shall see the entrance of the park, hear the cars speeding by on the highway while I get nestled by 2 rows of trees planted on each side.
Wherever I am on the trail, I notice one thing in the park that is continuous—the hard edge constructed against water. Every summer, the land by the edge of the Narragansett Bay gets flooded. We are building taller and further away from the water. But How far away shall we run from the edge of water? How tall shall we build from the level of water? Can we have love for and submit to water instead of fearing and fighting against it? Nevertheless, the bay water is digesting the waste from our city without any complaints everyday.
One day I run as usual in the park to train for an upcoming race. Some changes occur. My metabolic rate change doesn’t match the external scenery change anymore. The Park is redesigned into a Theme Park. As I approach the park from the west, I saw tall trees blocking out the prevailing west wind, creating an enhanced riparian area by the water. The parking lot by the Al Forno’s has vegetated swales to catch storm water runoff. The air that I’m breathing in tastes kind of sweet and fresh because of the evergreens planted to reduce air pollution from the Providence River Bridge.
1700s, Decentralized waste treatment
1800s, First sewer infrastructure development in Providence, RI
Law of Unpredictability
Contemporary Sewer Infrastructure
As I enter the park from the west, I enter into history. Running along the trail, I see the displays of waste treatment from the 1700s. Everything in that time period was decentralized, with no city infrastructure. I keep running, until the first sewer treatmwwent was invented. Providence started building sewer pipes in the 1800s. Although the sewer system that time wasn’t as long, we managed to dispose our waste into the ocean much faster. Today, our fully developed sewer system not only transfers human waste, but also catches storm water runoff, together they all flow into the bay.
The annual Providence climate data (wetbult temperature) fluctuates into an undulating roof structure.
I am not even half way through my usual running trail yet, but strangely, I cannot run any further. I know I have to run from the present to the future, but my fear for the future made me stuck in my current condition. My fear is predictability--If we have a current condition, and a formula, we can predict anything that’s going to happen in the future, according to the dominant western scientific models. But does the nature work every time like the science models? A circle has infinite number of tangents, and pi is just a symbol for the number that we have not precisely calculated yet. We did not predict 911, or Katrina, just like how we cannot predict how much waste we can dump into the ocean before it revenges on us. I remember so clearly what Sakyamuni, the Buddha once said that the only thing that’s predictable is unpredictability. I try to gain my adrenaline back and run forward. In front of me is a Pavilion of Unpredictability Built Upon Love. The sky and water are the limits of design, and the constant flux in between the two is our social construct.
Wave of Love The annual Providence River tidal data finds its floor structure: The sine waves of the high tide and low tide are interpreted into two rows of circles. When low tide occurs, there’s a fish eye looking towards the human’s built environment. When high tide occurs, there’s a human eye looking towards the wave of the water, the tangents of the circles. When the human and the fish see each other, it is love.
The constant flux in between the sky and the water starts from the public spaces. Each node on the site is a center. There are different forces revolving around the centers, which become circles. Each person’s behavior is a tangent to the circle. There are infinite numbers of tangents to one circle. The circle becomes a gear; one gear rotates the next gear, rotates the next gear, rotates the next gear…The people’s energy around the hotel affects the one around the park entrance, affects the one around the boat club, affect al Forno’s and Whiskey Republic, and so on and so forth. The combined energy gets focused on the tip of the pen that draws unpredictably each time. It is the circulation of the Pavilion of Unpredictability.
Pavilion of Unpredictability Built Upon Love
Triennial Woods Gerry Show
Type of Project: Institute of Art and Science Location: Future Section of Proposed Park, S. Water St., Providence, RI Main Concept: Riding on the 1800s’ historical shoreline, the Institute of Art and Science provides a research lab space for scientists to conduct studies on water quality, studios for artists to represent and visualize the data collected by the scientists, and a gallery space for the people from all walks of life to gather and learn about the research on Providence water.
Shoreline of 1600s Shoreline of 1800s Shoreline of 1900s Present Shoreline
Category 1 Hurricane Hazard Zone Category 2 Hurricane Hazard Zone Category 3 Hurricane Hazard Zone Category 4 Hurricane Hazard Zone
Overlay of historical maps of Providence
Shoreline of 1800s
Shoreline of 1900s
Present Shoreline
Section: From land to water: gallery, lab and artist studio. The studio is set deep into the ground while the view of the artist is directed to the sky.
Dry Season
Wet Season
Section: The gallery is stably raised on stilts, while the studio floats with the fluctuating tide. The artist has a view of both the water and the sky.
Dry Season
Wet Season
Section: The floor of the studio is raised on high stilts and the ceiling slants down, which brings and directs the artist’s view towards the water.
Dry Season
Wet Season
Type of Project: Floating Residential Community Location: Future Section of Proposed Park, S. Water St., Providence, RI Main Concept: The community uses the constructed wetland to recycle and purify grey water, and compost toilet for waste treatment.
Future: Floating Community