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Sketchbook work - plans to revive the river’s edge as a place for people to enjoy the natural meeting the urban and keeping Trinity Buoy shed

Lord Byron

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.”

How can hard landscaping be used to create a unique visitor experience and create spaces that are dominated by the wild planting?

Sketching to develop design for new residential development and using the streets to enhance views of the architecture of the museum quarter. Keeping the grade II listed buoy shed as a visitor centre/café.

Bringing in a new road system to separate the tourist traffic from the residents to reduce congestion and improve visitor experience.

Vision for transforming Garrison Side into a living system with green infrastructure where tourists and locals can enjoy the new riverside. Wetland can be designed to flood in certain spaces to enhance habitat and reduce flooding risk to the urban spaces.

Early Hull settlements were situated on the higher and drier ground and the lowest plains were sensibly used for fishing or farming Unfortunately, as urban expansion has taken place settlement has expanded into high risk ground. There is evidence of drains dating back to the Romans, then again it was the Dutch engineers that really changed and shaped the function of the land. In the 17th century they designed drainage channels and dykes which drained the land to ensure it was habitable. The Dutch were also engineers of warping, which was the practice of flooding land with silt. This improved the fertility of the land and improved productivity. These have left scars in the landscape, but now however, are no longer in use (Natural England, 2014, p. 10).

Portland over the last 40 years has been ahead of the game, with multiple plans such as the Big Pipe project and the mass implementation of green infrastructure across the city, giving it a shining reputation for being the “Green City” instead of the “Stump City” as previously mocked. In recent decades 1000 bioswales have been constructed in streets, 64 miles of light rail, 324 miles of bike routes, 11 million square feet of solar panels, which have sparked healthier living and more care for the surrounding environment amongst the community. This push for green infrastructure has resulted in a 22% decrease in carbon emissions per person over 21 years (We Build Green Cities, 2011). Key focuses have been on reducing the pollution that runs into watercourses as the city is dominated by water, it may often be named the “City of Bridges” as it sits at the meeting place of the Columbia and Willamette rivers. In the winter months, Portland faces daily heavy rainfall, so flood threat must be taken very seriously, especially as in recent years the volume and amount of rain days have broken records. A Portland study found that the tree species that intercepts the most rainfall, is the Douglas fir, this and similar research is forming a key collection of information which is helping the city improve its ability to cope with stormwater. They found that the tree lined streets could produce almost zero runoff in small storms, demonstrating the impressive impact that implementing the living systems has on the city.

#portland #green infrastructure

Satelites pin point the drivers of Urban Heat Islands (Maps feature Providence, Rhode Island)

Landscape architects need to question why this is the case. Green infrastructure would capture this runoff before it enters the combined systems, it would also provide an opportunity for cooling before the water reaches natural bodies of water such as streams. The rise in temperature can affect the watercourse as a habitat, reducing the biodiversity when it stresses the aquatic life. This links to the issue of pollution hotspots, something that the urban environment is riddled with. These are predominantly tarmac road systems, car parks and industrial sites, which may be chemically treated, coated with pesticides, fuels and other pollutants. These will all contribute to polluting runoff as it passes along these extensive surfaces before being funnelled away. Some of this runoff enters our watercourses that are used for recreation, which can be a health hazard to humans and wildlife. (Lipton, 2017, p. 41&68) Fines can be charged to those who pollute local rivers, for example, in 2016 a Somerset farmer was charged £22,000 for polluting a stream, incidentally killing approximately 2000 fish. The disaster was marked as a Grade 1 incident by the Environment Agency (Environment Agency, 2017). If these severe charges can be applied to individuals, we must also consider the damage our grey infrastructure is doing, and who will be held responsible. Government policy is needed to ensure future development and regeneration will be sustainable in nature and follow in the footsteps of cities such as Portland, Oregon, which has been leading the way in blue-green infrastructure.

Human activity has shaped the landscape surrounding Hull drastically. Annual dredging to open up water routes and safety for large shipping, has massively reduced the size of the estuary mudflats and created one main channel of open water. This has had a negative impact on habitats, reducing the wide spread spaces which are vital to migrating bird populations. There are issues with coastal squeeze. Local authorities and the environment agencies are currently trying to be counteracted with plans such as Alkborough flats and Barton Clay Pits. Where flooding large pieces of land is creating new lush habitats and reducing flood risk in upstream urban areas.

A summary of Hull’s history from the erection of Hull Minster to the City of Culture 2017

Site Visit to Hull. Observing the waterfront and examining the landmarks.

Statue looking out across the Humber by Steinunn Thorarinsdottir. Voyage represents an important link between Hull and the Icelandic communities the other side of the North Atlantic

There are also more modern spaces emerging through the industrial town, such as the Deep, a huge aquarium which peers out over the Humber. This architecture plays a huge part in emphasising these contrasts between the land and the sea, it almost appears to be battling against the force of the winds. The industrial complexes on the south side of the Humber are mostly distinctive with their oil and gas refineries, warehouses, towers, chimneys and lighting columns. They stand above on the expansive flat land which appears to stretch on forever. The sense of place found in Hull is something unique and rare, but it is unpolished, like a diamond in the rough. (Natural England, 2014, p. 8)

Isolated green spaces in Hull. Green corridors should be implemented to connect these systems to replicate natural systems. This way it will maximise the opportunity for natural infiltration of stormwater run off to reduce flood risk and over flowing combined sewer systems.

Analysing the cultural quarters that exist in Hull and how they have been shaped by the waterfront over time. The marina now sits next Humber street which has been revived into the fruit market with independent bars and cafes. The Docks still have some remaining trade so have little changed. On the East side of the river is Garrison side which was previously a timber yard and cemetery, which is now home to the Premiere Inn hotel and warehouses, with carparks as the surrounding landscape

New Wortley final presentation for neighbourhood group.

We presented our individual plans across the estate as pieces put together which produce a cohesive masterplan to improve the external environment. The new improved green spaces connect from the community centre up through Clyde Walk into Jailey fields with the new skate park.

With aims to improve New Wortley from the ground upwards and encourage community ownership. By getting the people involved it will encourage a sense of pride in looking after the new public spaces.

Green spaces will brighten up the appearance of the aging 60′s architecture and provide healthy spaces for people to gather.

“People do not realise that many of my works are done in urban places. I was brought up on the edge of Leeds, five miles from the city centre-on one side were fields and on the other, the city”. Andy Goldsworthy

#leeds #architecture #andy goldsworthy #foodforthought #sunset #evening #light #landscapearchitecture

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Beatrice Freeman