Today's Challenges in Zhudong

Due to the expansion of the city and development of technology, the problems of the watercourse as the mother river of Zhudong increased. The existing historical culture of Zhudong began to decline as the waterfront space was occupied and the river was polluted. In addition, Hakka culture along the river gradually faded away. The river was gradually forgotten by people and the connection between human activities and water environment ended.

Site Analysis

Problems and Strategies

Through the re-integration of past industrial developments and local cultural landmarks, it will be transformed into a leisure and recreation development in an innovative way and restore the memory of Hakka culture.

【Legend】

Leisure pavilion Hakka Community Garden Planting experience area

Waterfront platform Hakka Waterfront Restaurant Viewing platform

Leisure grass step Lawn Washing space

Pedestrian bridge Catholic church Children's play area

Fountain Square Catholic Church Lawn Square Old Bridge Pier Landscape Cafe

Outdoor dining area Youth Creative Workshop Grass slope

Service channel Healing garden Recreational trail

The original Hakka Opera Park was reorganised and the road between the central market and waterfront was adjusted to allow only pedestrians to pass. The distance from the waterfront was also brought closer. Adjusting the slope of the grass slope made it slowly descend, creating numerous spaces for rest.

Pedestrianising the road between the central market and waterfront reduces the distance from the waterfront. The facade of the reconstructed community public space is refurbished and provides a variety of convenient services.

River space originally occupied by houses will be restored to improve the openness of the waterfront. From the waterfront, you can see Zhudong Catholic Church again. After the dismantling houses to the south of the Church, it was converted into a youth creative workshop to attract young people an promote the development of Zhudong and its industry and economy.

Change the original car park to a leisure park and set up a wooden platform on the pavement as a visual guide to walk down the water bank. Retain and the original laundry-pit space and direct some water into an area where children play.

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Wildlifes Live Matters

Riverdale Park is divided into two pieces by the DVP(Don Valley Parkway), Bayview Avenue, and railway. These traffic infrastructures completely divide the natural area and ravine. And, wildlife usually lives on both sides of rivers and move along rivers. Traffic infrastructures block wildlife migration and movement routes, causing roadkill, especially in highways and express that are much wider than roads and faster speed for driving.

The roadkill affects not only the life of wildlife but also the safety of drivers. A statistics report presented that there are 10% of vehicle accidents happened due to wildlife crossing, and 14 thousand wildlife collisions happened each year in Ontario. As a result, the project aims to reduce roadkill around Riverdale park and to ensure the safety of drivers.

Independent Work

Location: Riverdale Park, Toronto

Professors: Peter North, Behnaz Assadi, Elnaz Sanati

Project Annual / Level: Nov-Dec, 2020. MLA

Studio Design

Flow of Wildlifes Flow of Water Flow of Humans

The river channel will be directed into the west site, which traces the historical route to provide various types of environment and as a corridor for wildlife. With the meandering river channel, the flooding plain will decrease and lead less damage.

To consider for different users, complete circulation system provides opportunities for various human flow, connecting both sides of Riverdale park and neighborhood.

There are four typical types of wildlife corridors, respectively are upland culvert, overpass, viaduct, and riparian culvert. These corridors are distributed at different location based on the existing environment and limitation, building a complete wildlife crossing network base on existing conditions.

Types of Wildlife Corridor