The main issue I never came to address was how to resolve the flooding of the site and how that might be incorporated in the design.
Last week was spent to collect information and inspiration to further develop the proposal. I stayed in London to visit a few sites and attend the Eco Build confrence.
Camley Street Nature Park, Kings Cross
Camley street is a 2 acre space of wild nature hidden next to the Regents Canal just behind Kings Cross station. It was previously an old coal yard and was converted into a nature park in 1984.
It is charming to find an area of wilderness in an area like this. And it has only survived the major developments thanks to wildlife enthusiasts and local people. It is run by volunteers and gets most of it's funding from Camden Council who also uses the site for Educational purposes.
It was a much smaller space then I expected. But it's a good example for how a site can be used both for educational purposes and at the same time engage the community. There is a pond, a meadow and a woodland. At the edge of the woodland you have views of the old Gas holders that stands within the fenced of areas in one of the ongoing development around the station.
The day we visit there are quite a few kids around some at the pond identifying pond life. And a few playing with the parks rabbits on the meadow.
There are a lot of activities for the kids throughout the park. The Willow shelters, Beetle Hotel, And Beast City, built to attract. Beetles and other bugs.
On site small scale water management..... Something that was a major theme on Ecobuild.
Sutcliffe Park & Quaggy River, Lewisham
The other site I visited was Sutcliffe park in Lewisham. The park was the first phase in a flood prevention scheme along Quaggy river. The stretch of the river that runs through the park was buried many yeas ago to prevent flooding. The scheme involved uncovering the river preserving it's historical course and use the park as a water storage area. Allowing the water to raise at certain times.
The borders of the park are made up by two fairly busy roads. And in the further surroundings are the massive concrete estates that characterize the whole area and provides the backdrop of the north border of the park.
The main feature of the park are the boardwalks running through the reed beds. The water is low when we visit making the walks float over the water.
It seem to be a hotspot for dog walkers but there are several people walking in the park even though it's not a time when too many people would be around.
I like this project a lot. I like the idea of how the site is changing according to the water flow and that it is allowed to happen rather than trying to prevent it.
I also like the fact that you can see the process. This was another hot topic in the Eco build suds discussion. To try to make suds esthetically pleasing rather than trying to hide them. I think that got loads of potential for designers. And might be something to consider for the Wey and Arun project.
LECTURES
Sustainable Public Spaces.
I had time for two seminars at Eco build. Although each seminar was two hours long with four speakers in each one. The first one concerning Sustainable Public Spaces was the most interesting one.
DR Bill Addis
This talk discussed several points in what might make a space sustainable with the main focus on materials and how to handle waste. 'Closing the loop' and so on. Some main points were using reclaimed materials, making the contractor responsible for packaging and use less materials.
some web pages mentioned that might be good to look at. http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/ and www.aggregain.org.uk.
Liz Lake
Talked about Suds and what a sud is, the different kinds of suds Natural and Man made. It was a very good introduction to what susd are and might be.
Useful Organizations
CIRIA
Carolyn Steel
Carolyn did a talk on food and how food has shaped our cities historically and the relationship of food and cities today. She talked about the relationship of the city and it's hinterland. I think the main point she wanted to make was, what land should be preserved? what land should be available for farming?
That there isn't really such a thing as untouched land anymore so how should the decision be made what land can be kept and what can go. Her book Hungry City I reckon might be worth to read. I will read it anyway.
Roseanne Law
Roseanne is the Director of Urban Design at EDAW. She presented a case study of Upton. A completely new housing development adjacent to Northampton and located in a flood risk area. Here they have used natural suds and since it's a all new development they have had a lot of room to adapt the hoes around the suds requirements. Interesting though that the suds make the area more attractive when it frees space between the houses. She also mentioned the popularity among the kids to play in the suds even though it might not be up to the health and safety standards.
FOCUS
I spent some time in the Focus week reading about materials and a bit on suds.
Waterscape from the Land&Scape series has many good examples of how reed beds and suds have been implemented in both rural and urban environments.
Living Systems, a great book with new materials. Everything from geotextiles to concrete that can absorb pollutants.
Like these Floating Islands from Biohaven. They are great.
