SHIFTING SHORELINE
EXISTING SHORELINE
ailure ! F
Bring your boots
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OPPORTUNITIES + 0
wet
AREAS susceptible to inundation
EXISTING CONDITION
In many places, land uses near the Bay edge are unrelated to the ecologyandexperienceoftheBay. Leveesprotectlow-lyingareasand filled lands, severing communities from the Bay.
dry
THE OPPORTUNITIES OF FAILURE Global warming:The waters are rising.This is fact. How high and how soon will the waters rise? This is uncertain. We are limitedbyanincompleteunderstandingofEarth'ssystemsand our inability to predict the choices societies will make. Having failed to prevent sea level rise, we are challenged with finding a better way to live at the water's edge. Facing uncertainty, we question an absolute reliance on levees and seawallsforprotection.Thepromiseoftheirsafetyisinherently limitedbytheirdesignandmaintenance.Disastrousfailurewith somanyinharm'swayisnotacceptable,whilepastfillingand dikinghaveisolatedusfromtheBayanddamagedauniqueand highly productive ecosystem. Howdowelearnfromourmistakesinsteadofrepeatingthem? Failurescreatedynamicopportunitiesonanyscale-wehave choices in how we proceed. An adaptive, flexible system is needed,onethatisforgivingofmanysmall,expectedfailures. So BringYour Boots! Failures are fortunate. BringYour Boots presentsanapproachwhichembraceschangingourcollective physical, ecological, and cultural relationships to our home around the Bay.
OPPORTUNITIES
+ 1’ PREPARATION
+1
wet
In these areas at risk of inundation, existing shoreline protection is maintained as a temporary measure while incentives are given to encourage the relocation of buildings and land uses that are not compatiblewithperiodicfloodingandinundation.Vacatedlowlands serve as parks, farms, and habitat areas. Higher areas within this zone are built up, recycling clean wastes as fill to create 'cellmounds'. Uses atoptheselandformsrelatetothemanagementandexperienceofthe Bay and lowlands.
dry
CELLULAR PLANNING AND DESIGN Bring Your Boots is conceptually inspired by basic cellular characteristics-theprojectrecognizesthenecessityforgrowth, adaptabilityandstrength.Thecellinspiresamodular,systematic response that is inherently flexible in process, purpose, and implementation. At a planning scale, cells represent a unit of landsusceptibletoinundationthatmaybeanalyzedandchoices madetodeterminewhethertheymaybecomesubmergedor elevated to remain dry. Cellsatlowerelevationsareexpectedtobecomewetterwhile cellsathigherelevationsmayberaisedtostaydrylonger. New landformsrecalltheBay's6,000yearhistoryofNativeAmerican shellmoundsandtheirrelationshiptoashiftingshore.These newelevatedlandforms,or'cellmounds'-arebuiltupinlayers byrecyclingcleanmaterialsfromsurroundinginfrastructure, buildingmaterialsandcommunitywaste.Thesenewlandforms generateplacesforinnovativecombinationsofwater-related opportunitiesinenergy,housing,agriculture,industry,recreation and conservation.
+ 3’
ADAPTATION AND ADVANCING WATERS
+3
OPPORTUNITIES
wet
Aswatersrise,olderleveesareretired,allowedtofail,andwetlandsand openwatersencroachonthelowlands,creatingadiverseandvibrant habitatzone. CellmoundlandusesleveragetheirproximitytotheBay. Here are oyster and algae farms, fishing and hunting lodges, parks for campingandexplorationbykayak.Thewetlandsandlandformsprovide a buffer protecting inland areas from storm surges.
dry
Ultimately,BringYourBootsisasystemofselectiveelevation andfloodingthatchangesourfundamentalrelationshiptothe water,andacceptstheunpredictabilityoftimeandenvironment. LIFE ON AN AMPHIBIOUS EDGE Aswetakeadvantageofourshiftinglandscape,wewillreshape ourinteractionwiththeplacesweinhabit-thehow,whyandwhere. Weareabletofollowthetransitionandthelandscapebecomes acommunaltestamenttoourownresolveandimagination.We reaffirmacompassionateroleforcivilizationinthenetworkof nature.Ratherthansomethingseparate,theBayisintegrated withoursociety'sexperienceandsuccess.Therewardisgreat; the possibilities are vast and beautiful. Life on the Bay is more connected,sustainableandexciting.TheBayisadynamicedge that breathes and dances. We should celebrate it.
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+0
+3 +5
Conceptual plan
Parks & Open Space
Energy & Eco-Industry
Farming
AMPHIBIOUS LANDSCAPE
+5
OPPORTUNITIES
wet
Housing
+ 5’
Humanlifecontinuestoco-evolvewiththeBayaswatersrise andshorelinesshift. Getready,thefutureisasunexpectedas a gorilla in pink boots!
dry
Renewable Resources
Ecological Preserves
Community Gardens
Recreation
rising tides competition
# 054449 Bring Your Boots.indd 1
7/15/2009 8:47:16 AM