Thesis Book

PROJECT NOTES FOR: MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS REPORT SUPERVISORS: PROFESSOR MARGARET LIVINGSTON PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER TRUMBLE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, TUCSON

ECOTOPIA ON WILLAMETTE RIVER

FOCUS AREA: ARCHITECTURE + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

PART A| ROSS ISLAND WETLANDS

PROJECT INFO GRAD THESIS PROJECT, SUMMER 2018, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

CONCEPT STATEMENT THE PROJECT RISES AND FALLS EVERY DAY WITH THE WATER LEVEL. THE EXPERIENCE IS EPHEMERA. IT IS DYNAMIC AND FLEXIBLE AND FLOOD PRONE YET MAKES US THINK ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBANIZATION. THERE WILL BE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE WATER AND THE DESIGN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER AND RAISE AWARENESS IN PEOPLE’S DAILY LIVES BEYOND A WATERFRONT PICTURESQUE EXPERIENCE. A TRANSFORMATION THAT RECLAIMS THE RIVER AS CIVIC SPACE.

WATER DROPS ON CONCRETE CLOSE-UP

LOW WATER QUALITY THE QUALITY OF WATER AND AIR IS NOT REMARKABLE AROUND DOWNTOWN PORTLAND WITH THE LOWEST LEVELS OF QUALITY AROUND ROSS ISLAND LAGOON. OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (OHSU)

VANCOUVER

SMITH & BYBEE WILDLIFE AREA

HILLSBORO WILAMETTE RIVER WATER QUALITY FOREST PARK FOREST PARK FOREST PARK

PORT.LAND SOUTH WATERFRONT PARK

OAKS BOTTOM WILDLIFE REFUGE

WILLAMETTE PARK BUTTERFLY PARK

SELLWOOD PARK

ELK ROCK ISLAND

CITY OF PORTLAND AIR QUALITY

RIVER FOREST LAKE

GOAT ISLAND

CONTEXT MAP LEGEND TIGARD

CAMASSIA NATURE PRESERVE

WILDLIFE STEPPING-STONES EXISTING BOAT DOCKS BIRDS HABITATS PROPOSED BOAT DOCKS PROPOSED AERIAL TRAM STATION EXISTING TRAILS INDUSTRIAL TRAIL TO BE PRESERVED ON GOING RESTORATION

IN ORDER FOR WILDLIFE TO THRIVE, THEY MUST BE ABLE TO SAFELY TRAVEL ALONG MIGRATION ROUTES, FOOD SOURCES & NESTING SITES. THIS MAKES THE ISLANDS AN ECOLOGICAL STEPPING STONE IN A CONNECTED CHAIN OF HABITATS ALONG THE RIVER.

EXCAVATED INTO A LAGOON

>50 BIRD SPECIES

157 ACRES

1867

the lagoon size

80 YEARS

125 FEET

island length

1.5 MILES

152 YEARS OF HISTORY

resident & migratory birds

constant mining

1927

lagoon length

0.85 MILE

deepest point

460 ACRES

merged to oaks bottom

1981

B

A

PRESENT

C

“the land we inhabit is an accumulation of past events.” aaron betsky

ROSS ISLAND IS LOCATED ONE MILE SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN PORTLAND. IT USED TO BE A MONOLITH PIECE OF LAND. TO BUILD DOWNTOWN PORTLAND, SAND & GRAVEL CO. MINED AGGREGATES FROM IT DURING 1926 - 2001. OVER 75 YEARS OF MINING HAS CARVED IT INTO A FRESHWATER LAGOON ENCIRCLED BY A THIN ARC OF FOREST. THE ISLAND IS WHERE MULTIPLE HISTORIES, INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES, AND WILDLIFE HABITATS OVERLAP.

THE CITY’S TURN TO RE-BUILD THE ISLAND FOR 75 YEARS, ROSS ISLAND HAS BEEN DUG OUT AND DISASSEMBLED BY THE ROSS ISLAND SAND AND GRAVEL CO. IN ORDER TO BUILD THE CITY. BUT NOW THAT THE MINING IS CEASED, IT IS CITY’S TURN TO BUILD THE ISLAND. WHAT ONCE CAME OUT IS NOW GOING IN. WHAT WAS ONCE SACRIFICED IS NOW TREASURED. WHAT WAS ONCE TAKEN APART IS NOW RE-ASSEMBLED.

AN ENDLESS PROBLEM TO SOLVE NOWADAYYS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS; THE FLOODING HAPPENS MORE OFTEN AND MORE SEVERE. IN AN OBSERVATION HELD DURING DEC 2016 TO MARCH 2017, WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATED 4.5 FEET ALONG NORTHEN TIP OF ROSS ISLAND. 1

PORTLAND URBAN WATERFRONT HAS HARD EDGES, ONES THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR COMMERCE; NOT FOR HABITATS.

3 4 FEB 2017

BIO-DIVERSE AQUATIC HABITATS

2

RE-CLAIM the habitat

5 shallow water habitat

MAR 2017

buttressing slope emergent wetland

SHORELINE PROTECTION

DEC 2016

ELEVATED WALKWAYS 1

CANOPY TREE WALK

2

BALD EAGELS HABITAT WALK

3

SWAMP WALK

4

PEDESTRAIN BRIDGE

5

INDUSTRIAL PARK

CONTEXTUAL DYNAMICS THIS PROJECT IS INSPIRED BY ITS’ CONTEXT TO FORM A SENSIBLE RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER WHICH RESPECTS WATER DYNAMICS. IT MOVES VERTICALLY AND IS ANCHORED TO THE RIVERBED BY ELASTIC ROPES TO MINIMIZE MOVEMENT IN HORIZONTAL PLANE.

PLAN VIEW WALKWAYS ARE CIRCULAR WITHOUT SHARP EDGE TO ACCOMMODATE FREE WATER FLOW AND MINIMIZE THE SURFACE FRICTION.

GRAVITY

TIDAL ENERGY

BUOYANCY

ELASTIC CABLES

SECTION VIEW

FLOATING WALKWAYS A

PERFORMANCE ZONE

B

RECREATIONAL ZONE

C

EDUCATIONAL ZONE

D

RELAXTION ZONE

E

RESEARCH HUB

A REVERENCE TO THE LAND THIS GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE THE QUALITY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT WHILE MINIMIZING ITS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. IT IS A FLOATING LANDSCAPE THAT HELPS NATURE HEAL ITSELF & ENHANCE THE WATER QUALITY AS A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. THE OPPOSING ELEMENTS OF WATER AND STRUCTURE PROVIDE A UNIQUE WAY TO EXPAND VISITORS EXPERIENCE. IT BLURS THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WHAT IS SOLID VS. FLUID.

swamp D

prairie

C

E

floating marshland

B

A meadow

prairie

C

B D

E

F

G

A|PERFORMANCE NODE

A

A

RESEARCH LAB

B

OFFICES AREA

C

MUSICAL WAVES

D

SCULPTURE GARDEN

E

ON-WATER PERFORMANCE

F

REHEARSAL AREA

G

MIRRORED PERFORMANCE

PERFORMANCE|WATER MIRRORING THERE IS A METAL BRIDGE JUST A FEW INCHES UNDERNEATH THE WATER SURFACE THAT WHEN PERFORMERS WALK ON IT; TO THE AUDIENCE IT LOOKS THAT THEY ARE WALKING ON WATER. THEREFORE, THEIR PERFORMANCE IS MIRRORED ON THE WATER. SURFACE.

E

G

F H

B|RECREATIONAL NODE

D

C

B

A

A

RESEARCH LAB

B

OFFICES AREA

C

SPLASH PAD

D

TRAMPOLINE DIVE

E

FAMILY POOL

F

OLYMPIC SIZE POOL

G

KIDS POOL

H

WATER SPORTS DOCK

SWIMMING POOL|WATER FRAMING THE BIGGEST POOL FITS A HALF SIZED OLYMPIC POOL IN IT AND CAN BE USED AS A VENUE DURING THE CITY CONTESTS. IN THE REST OF THE YEAR, IT CREATES AN ENCLOSED PLATFORM FOR SWIMMING/ DIVING BY FRAMING THE WATER.

E

D

B A

C

C|EDUCATIONAL NODE

F

C

C

A

RESEARCH LAB

B

OFFICES AREA

C

OYSTER FARMS

D

HAMMOCK NET

E

FOREST WATCHING

F

MAIN DOCK

HAMMOCK NET|WATER FLOATING THE HAMMOCK NET INSTALLED OVER WATER CREATES A FEELING THAT THE PERSON IS FLUID BETWEEN WATER AND THE SKY. IT PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO BE ENGAGED WITH WATER IN AN IN-DIRECT WAT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

A

C D

E

D|RELAXTION NODE

B

F

A

RESEARCH LAB

B

FOREST WATCH

C

OFFICES AREA

D

STILL WATER POND

E

FALLING WATER

F

SKY WATCH

STILL POND|WATER ENLIVENING THE STILL WATER REFLECTS A PERFECT IMAGES OF THE LAKE AND SKY ATTACHED TO IT RESEMBLEING AN INDEFINTITE HORIZON. A SPECTRUM OF BLUE AND GREEN THAT GIVES LIFES TO THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM INCLUDING THE HUMAN.

EDUCATION THROUGH ENCOUNTER PUBLIC LEARNING IS FOUND THROUGH INTERACTING AND PLAY. A DYNAMIC COLLABORATION OF ALL USER GROUP LEADS TO A WIDE ARRAY OF EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL RESPONSES. THESE RESPONSES THAT PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF SHARING & CONSTRUCTING KNOWLEDGE ARE TIMELESS AND SITE-LESS. SOME OF THESE USERE GROUPS ARE:

KAYAKERS PADDELING THROUGH

PUBLIC USERS

SCHOOL KIDS ON A 1-DAY TOUR

VISTING STUDENTS & SCHOLARS

SERVICE & MAINTENANCE STAFF

PRIVATE USERS

COLLABRATIVE RESERACHERS

OHSU PATIENTS IN THE HABITAT

GREAT BLUE HERONS ON ISLAND

CHINOOK SALMON UNDER WATER

WILDLIFE USERS

WILLAMETTE RIVER MIGRATORY BIRDS

PART B| RESEARCH CENTER

RENEWABLE ENERGIES

WETLANDS RESEARCH NETWORK LEARNING HAPPENS THROUGH RESEARCH OR SENSORY EXPERIENCE. CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH FULFILLS OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (OHSU) AND PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY (PSU) RESEARCH GOALS. THESE GOALS ARE PURSUED THROUGH A RESEARCH NETWORK ON SITE. WETLANDS RESEARACH NETWORK CONTAINS A RESEARCH HUB + SEVEN RESEARCH STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SITE; EACH LAB FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC RESEARCH TOPIC CORRESPONDING TO ITS’ CONTEXT. THESE RESEARCH TOPICS ARE: • AIR QUALITY • FAUNA HABITATS • FLORA HABITATS • HEALING LANDSCAPES • RENEWABLE ENERGIES • WASTE TREATMENT • WATER QUALITY

HEALING LANDSCAPE

FLORA HABITATS

WATER QUALITY

FAUNA HABITATS

WASTE TREATMENT

AIR QUALITY

HUB

RESEARCH NETWORK DIAGRAM

ISLAND’S PLANTS INVENTORY

aster subspicatus douglas aster

sisyrinchium californicum golden-eyed grass

viburnum edule high bush cranberry

armeria maritima sea-thrift

chamerion angustifolium fireweed

acer circinatum vine maple

nuphar luteum ssp. polysepalum yellow pond-lily

camassia quamash common camas

blechnum spicant deer fern

0

40

80

160

WETLANDS RESEARCH HUB WATER FUNCTIONS AS AN INTEGRATED MEDIUM IN THE BUILDING’S SYSTEMS TO REDUCE THE ENERGY FOOTPRINT. THE BUILDING EMBRACES AQUATIC HABITAT WHILE EXPRESSING A REVERENCE TO THE LAND. A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP IS FORMED BETWEEN WATER AND STRUCTURE, CREATING LOCAL HABITATS THAT SUPPORT MANY SPECIES INSIDE AND AROUND THE BUILDING.

LEARNING THROUGH SENSORY EXPERIENCE THE DESIGN CELEBRATES THEIR UNEXPECTED COLLISIONS AND ENCOUNTERS AS A CONTEXT TO START A DIALOGUE. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES BY DIRECT ENGAMENT IN THE RESEARCH THROUGH THE DESIGN STRATEGIES WHILE RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON ANALYZING AND SYNTHESIZING THE FINDINGS GATHERED FROM THE RESEARCH NETWORK.

OVERLAYED CEILING PLAN ON FLOOR PLAN 0

20

40

80

RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE THE RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE OF WETLANDS DIFFERENTIATES PRIVATE SPACES FROM PUBLIC SPACE YET PROVIDES MOMENTS WHERE SCIENTISTS AND VISITORS BUMP INTO EACH OTHER AND START CONVERSATIONS. THE DESIGN INTENTION OF EDUCATION WILL REFLECT LEARNING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

ROOMS PLAN KEY

ROOF PLAN

0

ENTRANCE

1

PUBLIC LOBBY

2

DROP-OFF EDGE

3

PRIVATE LOBBY

4

RESEARCH OFFICES

5

MEETING NODE

6

PUBLIC RESTROOMS

7

MECHANICAL EDGE

8

RESEARCH LABS

9

DISCUSSION SPACE

10

OPEN LIBRARY

11

READING EDGE

12

LECTURE ROOM

13

LOADING EDGE

GARDENS PLAN KEY 1

PERFORMANCE GARDEN

2

MEETING GARDEN

3

COMMUNITY GARDEN

4

GREY-WATER GARDEN

5

RESEARCH GARDEN

6

BLACK-WATER GARDEN

7

FLOATING GARDEN

CIELING PLAN

UNDULATING STRUCTURE THE DECK SUFACE UNDULATES LIKE A CALM LAKE. IT ASCENDS AND DESCENDS LIKE A PLAYGROUND ON A TERRAIN AND INVITES TO VISITORS TO EXPLORE IT. THE ROOF IS A REFLECTION OF THE DECK. THEREFORE, IT IS SHAPED AROUND A SERIES OF HIGH POINTS AND LOW POINTS. LOW POINTS ARE THE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO WALK ON THE ROOF WHILE THE HIGH POINTS PROVIDE ENOUGH CLERANCE FOR THE SPACES BENEATH THEM.

RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE | ABSTRACT SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE REQUIRES AN EYE-CATCHING INTEGRITY WITH A SHORT AND CLEAR MESSAGE. WHEN THE ADDITIONAL PIECES ARE TAKEN AWAY, ABSTRACTNESS WILL MAKE ROOM FOR IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY. THE BUILDING IS A MANIPULATION OF A CONVENTIONAL SPACE THAT EMPHASIZES INTRINSIC QUALITIES IN ORDER TO CREATE A SENSORY IMMERSION INTO THE DESIGN.

SECTION A - A

ANTICLASTIC SURFACE THERE ARE TWO OPPOSITE CURVATURES IN THE MASS, PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A HUGE SPAN. TENSION AND COMPRESSION FORCES CAN BE SEEN IN THE BELOW DIAGRAM:

CROSS CURVATURE IN ADDITION TO THE COMPRESSION AND TENSION CURVES, THERE IS A CROSS CURVATURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MASS. LOW CURVATURE SURFACES VS. HIGH CURVATURE SURFACES CAN BE SEEN IN THE BELOW DIAGRAM:

DISPLACEMENT ANALYSIS SINCE ONE OF THE SIDES DOESN’T REACH THE GROUND, CLEARLY IT NEEDS A SECOND STRUCTURAL SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THAT SIDE FROM FAILING. PURPLE SHOWS THE WEAKEST POINT.

RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE | PLAY SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE REQUIRES A STAGE FOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. PLAY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLORATION, EXPERIMENTATION AND MANIPULATION THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CONSTRUCTING KNOWLEDGE. THE EXPERIENCE THROUGH PLAY EVOLVES SPONTANEOUSLY ALL WITHOUT REALIZING HOW MUCH THEY ARE LEARNING. IT IS ABOUT GIVING THEM CHOICES TO GRATIFY THEIR CURIOSITY AND PERSONALIZE THEIR EXPERIENCE. ENGAGING SENSORY PLAY OR GIVING THEM FREEDOM TO TRANSFORM THE SPACE MAKES THE EXPERIENCE DEEPER AND MEMORABLE.

SECTION B - B

SUB STRUCTIRE| COLUMNS THE UNIQUE GEOMETRY OF THE COKUMNS, MAKE THE LOAD TRANSFER STRAIGHT FORWARD. ON THE DIAGRAM BELOW YOU CAN SEE THE AXIAL CENTER OF THE COLUMN ALONG WITH THE LOAD TRANSFER PATH.

F(X)

F(Y)

CALL-OUT A

CALL-OUT A COLUMNS ARE SMALLER AND CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AT THE SIDES WHERE THE CURVATURE IS LOW WHILE THEY BECOME BIGGER AND SUPPORT BIGGER SPANS WHERE THERE IS A HIGH CURVATURE.

TRIANGULATED FRAMING PATTERN

COLUMNS AS BONES THE COLUMNS DESIGN IS INSPIRED BY THE BIRDS’ BONE STRUCTURE. THEYARE SYMBIOTIC ELEMENTS THAT LINK THE CEILING AND THE DECK. WHEREEVER THERE IS A COLUMN, THE DECK GRADUALLY MOVES UPWARD AND THE CEILING MOVES DOWNWARD TO MEET EACH OTHER AND ACT AS A SINGLE ELEMENT.

RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE | REFLECTION SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH ARCHITECTURE REQUIRES THE PASSIVE VISITORS TO BECOME ACTIVE ECOLOGICAL PARTICIPANTS WHO ADD CONTENT TO THE EXHIBITION. IT IS THROUGH SELF-REFLECTION MOMENTS THAT THE EXPERIENCE BECOME PERSONALIZED, EMOTIONS ARE EVOKED, AND DIALOGUES ARE STIMULATED. ON A LARGER SCALE, THE PROJECT AS AN ARTIFACT BECOMES A LENS THAT REFLECTS THE CONTEMPORARY AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE MOMENTS OF CONTEMPLATION AND DELIBERATION.

SECTION C - C