STRATEGY IV

INTER-TIDAL AREA

Current channel is made of concrete.

Change the bank into a terracing for bioengineering, slowing down the water.

Change the degree of bending and create more gentle slope for species to settle down.

Current coastline is man-made vertical seawall.

Change the seawall into a gentle slope for the accumulation of mud.

Create revetments to retain water and species.

Crab-eating frog Crab-eating frog

Malayan water monitor

NATURING URBAN: RESOLVE THE TENSION BETWEEN URBAN AND NATURE HABITATS, LEVERAGING ON NATIVE HABITAT STRUCTURES IN SUNGEI PANDAN

In the highly industrialized area of Sungei Pandan, there are two narrow patches of mangrove/ coastal forest habitat remnants, one at the upper stream of Sungei Pandan river is preserved from the original Pandan Forest Reserve, the other is the rejuvenated mangrove at West Coast Park. However, their conditions are compromised by the urbanized context, with constrained space for establishment and disconnected from external ecological connections. To tackle the increasingly intensive relationships between urban and nature, the existing ecosystem of Marsh Garden and the neighbouring concretized canal - Sungei Pandan Kechil - and adjoined urban park space of West Coast Park are chosen for intervention. The design intention is to dissolve and transform the edges between urban and nature, modify barriers and thresholds hindering human-nature interactions, ultimately creating new urban-nature relationships and reforming the interconnection between nature ecosystem and human social system.

Existing urban attributes (landform, drain line, edges) would be utilized through feasible treatments to create conditions for nature to thrive. Leveraging on the established habitat structure of Marsh Garden, more diversified habitats are planned to be developed in phases. Toning between these different habitats is strategized for amplifying nature process and improving the resilience of the ecosystem, meanwhile enabling nature to be woven into urban fabrics.

The thriving ecosystem also function as sustainable landscape infrastructure. Multi-layered and multi-functional spaces serving as transitions between urban and nature improve people’s access and spontaneous interaction with nature. Dynamic programmes are integrated to cater to the needs of surrounding community (particularly urban workers, residents, schools, research institutes, etc.) and further create opportunities for social practice of ecosystem service value articulation. The narratives of new human-nature relationship are conveyed through design, for reshaping regional human ecosystem and morphing new sense of place and sense of nature. Retrofitted into vibrant space for coastal habitat research, learning and recreation where a new identity for West Coast Park is to be derived.

This project is envisioned to realize wider regional impacts through reviving of nature, both ecologically and socially. The co-existence and mutual benefit between urban and nature is to be addressed in a broader sense.

SITE CONDITION & ISSUE

Land use and VegeTaTion densiTy in sungei pandan

The existing land use condition in Sungei Pandan resulted in isolatons of urban environment and nature habitats, with narrow patches of coastal habitat patches and sparse vegetation in urbanized context.

A Sungei Pandan Mangrove Habitat (Unmamaged man grove & coastal habitat)

B Urban Habitat (managed vegetation)

C West Coast Park (mixed managed and unmanaged habitat)

Existing Habitat Condition

Investigation into the coastal habitat condition of the three key areas, A) Sungei Pandan Mangrove; B) Pandan Urban Habitat; C) Marsh Garden at West Coast Park

Habitat Structure for A)

Tidal Mangrove Freshwater Mangrove Coastal Forest

Habitat Structure for B)

Land Use Map. The segregation of different land use areas

Source: URA Masterplan 2014 impaCTs from CurrenT forms of Land use

Sungei Pandan Vegetation Density Map

Freshwater Mangrove Brackish Swamp Park & Garden

Habitat Structure for C )

Habitat Map of Sungei Pandan

Roadside Plantation Canal vegetation

Sungei Pandan Mangrove

Biodiversity Potential Map. Habitat suitability analysis based on 5 birds and 5 mammals. (Purple indicating lower potential for biodiversity).

Dr. Abdul Rahim Hamid

Source:

Temperature Map: High temperature in industry areas.

Source: Chen Chen boundary CondiTion for The TWo major naTuraL habiTaTs

Peak Surface Runoff Coefficient: High runoff rate in urban are.

Source: PUB

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Species Map of Sungei Pandan

Area 4

Area 1:

Rhizophora Mucronata

Avicennia officinalis

Rhizophora apiculata

Acacia avriculaformis

Area 2:

Bruguiera Cylindrica

Sonneratia alba

Rhizophora apiculata

Avicennia Alba

Leucaena leucocephala

Area 3:

Rhizophora apiculata

Avicennia rumphiana

Avicennia officinalis

Nypa fruticans

Talipariti tiliaceum

Marsh Garden Mangrove

Area 4:

Bruguiera cylindrica

Rhizophora mucronata

Nypa fruticans

Rhizophora apiculata

Sonneratia caseolaris

Avicennia officinalis

Historical Condition

Fauna Hosting Capacity At West Coast Park

Inspite of the small area, West Coast Park is hosing 35 bird species, using mangrove, wetland, park or urban habitats. Some birds detected here are also using other coastal / mangrove habitats or nature reserves.

Photographic Documentation Of Site Condition

Open park space ourside Marsh Garden

Phasal Establishment

Design interventions are strategized for mitigating the disruption of existing habitats, meanwhile creating spaces and conditions favoring the emergence of new habitat and nature process to take place.

Existing Condition

Marsh Garden pond waterbody: consistent water height 3m

The height of tidal gate would gradually decreae to create tidal conditions

Lower topo area 1: central turf, water ponding happen after the rain, utilize for the creation of riverine habitat

STAGE 1 - PREPARE FOR OPENING

Lower topo area 2: area around carpark, where drainlines are intensively constructed, this site bordering marsh garden forest is chosen for Constucted Wetland

First start with new habitats establishment in the urbanized context

Freshwater Mangroves are identified towards the sea direction

IN LONG TERM - POND BEING TRANFORMED TO TIDAL ESTUARINE

Ultimately, the height of tidal gate is 1m, the brackish pond would be transformed to tidal estuarine

Riverline establishment towards the park sapce

Habitat Emergence

Existing Habitats

Designated tidal zone 30-50m wide

With the established urban habitat in earlier stage, nature habitats development is to be improved

River line flowing into park space, creating transitioning habitat conditions

Establishment of back mangrove forest as transitioning habitat

Stage 1

Completely established

Canal Mounth is widen for improving sedimentation formation

Tidal Gate of 2.9m height is built to continue maintain the water level at Marsh Garden

Introducing seawall mangrove habitat and canal bank mangrove by transform the impermeable canal bank to condition feasible for mangrove and other coastal vegetation to thrive

Tidal condition is also introduced into urban

Surface runoff collected in the extensive drainline would be collected in the nearby Constructed Wetland

In conjuction with Constructed Wetland, Bio-swale are designed, leveraging on existing topography, to prapare the furture establishment of Back Mangrove (which requires salinty gradient created by tidal and freshwater input)

Treatment Methodolgy of concretized canal bank to create habitats for mangrove:

The habitat of Constructed Wetland is designed as a transition from Coastal Forest, which also could function as a buffer, protecting conserved habitat from urban context

Forest Park & Garden Seawall

Freshwater Mangrove Brackish Swamgp

Designated Habitat Condition After Establishement

Length 150m / width 6m

Elevation range: 1.5-3m

Seawall / Canal Bank

Mangrove: Length 530m width 4-14m

Elevation range: 0-4m

Tidal Mangrove: Mangrove zone width of 58m

Elevation range: 1m – 3.5m

Slope 2.8°

Tidal Swamp:

Area: 1,127msq

Elevation Range: 1.5-3m

Strategy 1

COASTAL NATURE TO THRIVE IN CONTROLLED SETTINGS OF URBAN CONTEXT

Strategy 1

COASTAL NATURE TO THRIVE IN CONTROLLED SETTINGS OF URBAN CONTEXT

SECTION

- EXISTING & DESIGNATION

DESIGNATION

Strategy 2

INTEGRATED NATURAL SPACE BETTER ENGAGE AND BENEFIT REGIONAL SOCIETY

Strategy 3

COASTAL URBAN SPACE BE TRANSFORM WITH THE THRIVING NATURE