portlandgreenway.08.23.04

Portland South Waterfront Greenway Conceptual Schematic Design Phase August 2004 Landscape Conceptual Artist Buster Simpson Regional Arts and Culture Council Portland Parks and Recreation Walker Macy/Thomas Balsey Association o Carg n Tow on c ruis e A site in transition is a laboratory (skid at Zidell Shipyard) w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 1 The Public Art Making Process Personal aspirations and public accountability create an exciting common ground for artists, agencies, and the community. As a provocateur, trickster, and healer, the artist can stimulate thinking as well as present a visually legible image with a disarming, poignant viewpoint. Artists working in the public must be cognizant of the responsibilities and obligations inherent in shared space. The approach can vary from temporary to permanent projects, collective or individual efforts, site-specific or selfcontained, and, on rare occasions, stand-alone pieces. The implementation strategies range from self-initiated to commissioned projects to designteam collaborations. Collaborations among artists and historians, scientists, writers, and other design professionals are highly encouraged. This approach can open up the creative process and broaden the project’s scope. Design-team projects incorporating an artist from the outset provide both a seamless and cost-effective outcome. A larger pool of funding sources is available when an interdisciplinary team approach is taken for public art projects. From an administrative standpoint, it is imperative that the goals of any Art Plan are reviewed and integrated into future development projects in a timely manner. Lead time in selecting an artist is important. Make no assumptions about what the artists would want to do; allow them to assess the situation. Projects should develop incrementally so that artists, communities, and agencies can learn and grow concurrently. In this way, thoughtful, site-specific, and creative expressions can evolve into unique solutions. Public art requires a time commitment for all involved, especially to administer a successful program. Public art is on the frontline of community education, providing lessons in civics, art, and social actions. The following recommendation “sketches” provide a schematic framework for further refinement. They are intended to show the potential of an integrated approach and thus, the Art Plan will be found woven through out this report. • The demolition and construction of the South Waterfront project site is the first important opportunity for artist/photographers and conceptual artists to join in the reincarnation of this place. Zidell Shipyard and Willamette River 2 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t • w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Continue the funding of an Artist on the Master Plan Design Team 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 3 1936 1948 1955 4 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 1974 1980 1996 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 5 Composing with erosion control systems Temporary water detention Bio-absorbent depends Cottonwood bio-uptake • At present, there are ongoing mitigation and erosion control efforts throughout the project site. Containment ponds and tanks, erosion barriers and surface techniques, absorbent net tubing, among other systems, all provide an interesting new pallet for an artist interested in ephemeral and ecological artworks. Planting willow sticks in fabric Bilge water table bilge pump 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x Tubular absorbent barrier b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 6 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t • Zidell equipment Saved footing relic On-site concrete recycling process. A material source to re-express in new town hardscape. There are a variety of artifacts, incidences, and anomalies on site which should be preserved or worked with. As development continues many of these details will be lost. It is the discussion of the designers as to the merits of inclusion of these relics of time (manhole covers, concrete processing detail of tower, trees, beaver, big block) Existing riverene habitat First cabin historic marker Ongoing beaver activity Heritage fruit tree survivor w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 7 Laboratories And Studios For Urban Pioneers One of the first opportunities can be acted upon immediately by retrofitting existing unused buildings or by developing portable live/work spaces for artists and entrepreneurial startup businesses. This will create a sense of place and foster a sense of community which is particularly important in the early stages of this redevelopment project. The project should convert existing unused buildings into interim studios until future build out requires the site for development. Another option is to provide modular “habitats” such as the cargo container. This approach is affordable, flexible, and can accommodate any redevelopment strategy. It will provide needed activity in the early stages of redevelopment and function as an incubator for businesses which ultimately might move into new construction. The methodologies of artists and entrepreneurial inventors compliment the South Waterfront development mission as a technological center. spaces. Large, low-cost housing developments in London and elsewhere have produced high design architectural projects and proved the economic viability this modular approach offers. A proposed Cargo Town adjacent to the Willamette River would continue an international discussion and up the ante by instituting a comprehensive sustainable agenda. Cargo Town is part of a global village discussion, adaptable to changing needs, an incubator for live/work, and a prototype laboratory. The cargo container is an appropriate vessel, a new generation Liberty Ship with its new cargo of ideas. • Cargo Town is intended to foster a dynamic habitat, one which responds to the cost effective, sustainable and flexible needs of a city committed to affordable live/work situations. This site provides a new economic model, one which responds to a “natural capitalism” economy, including limited equity ownership to maintain affordability. Cargo Town is an incubator for ingenuity in economics, design, and environmental health. • Cargo Town uses surplus container modules as the armature to build symbiotic entrepreneurial relationships. The modules can adapt to changing work space needs yet provide community for spontaneously generated ideas. • Cargo Town has a sustainable exoskeleton infrastructure, capable of interlocking green roofs, gray and brown water harvesting and detention systems, passive solar, photo voltaic, and wind power systems. Cargo Town will have the pragmatic efficiency of a Liberty Ship, and the collective energy of a beehive. • Cargo Town can easily be redefined and adjusted to the best long term strategy. Because no foundation is required, their placement can be achieved without excavation thus avoiding brown field issues and a lengthy EIS processes. • Cargo Town’s first industry might be the research and development of low-cost and sustainable live work housing units for export to countries in crisis, providing immediate shelter, and an alternative approach to our other housing model, the unsustainable “trophy house.” The legacy of the efficient Liberty (cargo) Ships lives on in the production of transforming cargo containers into habitat for humanity. Opportunity for an artist/devlopment collaboration developing a Cargo Town model for sustainable live/ work space. Cargo Town There is a global movement of innovators active in transforming the common shipping cargo containers into dwellings, studios, shops and live work • Cargo Town 8 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Cargo Town Lot-ek w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 Scrapyard Of Transformative Potential At present, a unique junk yard of materials exist at various parcels and should be assembled in a transitional location perhaps under the Ross Island Bridge, to safeguard its availability for future art work projects. As the site gets cleared and excavation continues to unearth new material worthy of saving as artifact, that material will join the treasure inventory. This material will provide a resource for artists to draw from and recycle into the making of elements and amenities along the South Waterfront Greenway and future commissioned and collaboration projects with private and public development. This inventory of industrial flotsam and jetsam would be displayed as if a gallery installation, a place where the mind’s eye and tinkering intellect can wander and digest the intrinsic transformative potential. Artists should be invited to browse the Scrapyard of Transformative Potential and to claim material which they wish to work with, a list of these artists would be made available to future developers and a network established to provide an inventory of “artist made building parts” and/or sculpture. • Palette of sculptural resources 10 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Armored Embankment Indiscriminant landfill disposal as rip rap along the Willamette River represents a traditional attitude of how we treat our edges, whether they are at the outskirts of town or along a river bank. It is important not to be apologists and hide this historical fact, but rather to exploit its story. Perversity and beauty bode well side by side. Where possible the indiscriminant dumping should be preserved or enhanced in situation, and where not, then salvaged and retained adjacent the Scrap Yard of Transformative Potential. Here its potential awaits future gleaning and recycling by artists and the craft Tetrapods forming armored embankment • trades. Materials consist of historic cobble ballast, demolished building materials, ripped up street pavement to make way for freeways, and old footings and foundations. It will be important to stipulate in any demolition contract that there is a pecking order to salvage rights with aestheticians at the top. Presently there is on-site recycling of concrete into an aggregate. This material, in addition to being used as fill could be incorporated as aggregate in future building materials and pavements. The use of recycled materials as a viable (and visible) building component reaffirms the sustainable agenda of the project. Similar to the Scrap Yard of Transformative Potential opportunity, unwanted stone and concrete material could be made available to stone workers, landscape artists, and others Rip rap collated according to material. A unified mass armor suggesting historical river edge practices. w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 11 Greenway Stroll The Greenway Stroll provides a significant opportunity for artist engagement by creating an episodic journey rich in ideas and viewpoints. Working collectively with the design team, scientist, and the community, a number of approaches and elements could reinforce a multi-layered conceptual premise. The surface of the proposed serpentine pathway is a canvas to compose upon. Artists could develop a concept for a pre-existing pathway surface or by embedding materials into the application processes of the pathway surface, be it concrete, asphalt, or polymer surfaces. This will become the surface viewed repeatedly by pedestrians and wheelers. The pathway composition could reveal the story of this place is such a way that repeated viewings demystifies the multi-layered meanings. The following is an excerpt from an Art Master Plan entitled Levee as Armature, prepared for the San Lorenzo Urban River Task Force and Santa Cruz Art Commission and can be viewed via the link http:// www.bustersimpson.net/sanlorenzo. This approach exemplifies one way to treat the Greenway Stroll. “The two parallel Riverway promenades frame two independent yet interdependent journeys, set at one’s feet as the Riverway Scroll. On one side, there is the neighborhood, the native, and the passive. On the other side, there is the urban, the imported, and the active. Artists would be selected for their abilities to compose and portray an aspect of the ecosystem, habitat, poetic notion, natural or human-determined history, and the current and future state of the Riverway, floodplain, its habitat, and wildlife. These issues could be rendered illustratively or technically, or reinterpreted through a myriad of aesthetic viewpoints, and should be created by artists adept at critical thinking, through the mediums of painting, drawing, stenciling, and paper cutting appliqué. A variety of anamorphic points of view, playing with perspective and illusion, could provide moments of clarity and abstraction to the text and images as pedestrians walk along the scroll.” Other opportunities for encounters along the Greenway Stroll include sculptural stations intended for temporary and ephemeral sculptures, street end features and amenities which respond to The Edge of Entropy (page 11), and habitat enhancements (page 12). The process of art making should be ongoing and evolving, allowing the new residents to witness the act of art making and placement along the Greenway Stroll. Commission painters and two dimensional artists to graphically portray concepts onto the promenade as a pedestrian forum. Ideas can range from reproducing pages out of the urban design guidelines historical accounts and images, technical habitat observations, social observation to ideograms and stories,. The medium and techniques will be selected when the pavement material is determined. • Anamorphic walkway studies 12 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Entropy landscape Artifact street end Art Along The Greenway Promenade The street ends at river’s edge provide a view corridor, promontory, and a location for art opportunities. These nodes will naturally evolve to become social gathering places and that process needs to be embraced by the planning concept. The Edge of Entropy (page 19) is an important river force to factor into the design. Another is the balance between visitor and habitat needs. For example, a promontory could also be a “duck blind” shielding the viewing public from the habitat below, allowing both to coexist. This balance can be expressed in how the street ends and the habitat commingle in their design and purpose. The creation of these w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t substantive nodes would be enriched by the participation of artists, composers, and writers in the art of making places public. The Edge Of Entropy The South Waterfront Greenway landscape along the river’s edge should provide an interface between sylvan and cartesian landscape designs by allowing the city street grid to disintegrate at shore’s edge into constructed habitat. This approach would reinforce the entropy aesthetic discussed earlier as one possible artist premise. Counter to this acceptance of a dynamic shoreline is man’s efforts to stabilize the edge by creating habitat. The balance between both will provide an unfolding story. To this end, it 9 8 1 4 4 is important that the edge provides clues to what it is made of and how the newly engineered overlay works to stabilize it. The pilings anchor constructed shoreline swales just as the willow stakes near the dolphins anchor the shores edge. By providing a transparent design to these stabilization techniques, the landscape philosophy becomes a work in process, an inevitability considering the Willamette River’s flooding tenacity. • Develop an art competition for each of the street ends with the intent to create a new place. A set of guidelines to assure respect of the habitat while encourage neighborhood socialization would be part of the common linkage. & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l 13 Art and Habitat: From Water’s Edge to Interstate-5 Collaboration between artists and habitat specialists could create ephemeral, biodegradable works of art which provide habitat, stabilize, and decompose, providing a regenerative asset. This approach allows for an ever evolving experience for the viewer and laboratory for the artist and habitat specialists. The prospect of extending this habitat all the way west to Interstate-5 would provide a significant habitat transitional zone. Landscape plantings could enrich the bird habitat. Frogs could compose (and copulate) in the Blueberry Bog (page 15) in the spring time. The architecture and accompanying landscape could be designed to embrace the beauty of an integrated mission rather than a corporate branding aesthetic. Along the greenway experience, the activity of play could create an act of stewardship. For example, the energy expended in the use of a recreational playground element could be channeled into the pumping of recycled water to irrigate a specific landscape; the greener the landscape, the more evident the participation in it thus raising awareness. Develop a workshop between habitat specialists and interested artists for a scientific collaboration of art and habitat. The installations can be temporary, seasonal, dynamic, responsive to river level rise and fall and any number of natural phenomena. This could be an ongoing project particularly with ephemeral habitat structures which later become offerings to the rising river. Existing habitat upriver Sumobear tetrapods stablizing habitat in the Willamette • City street bioswale, Seattle WA Living willow habitat 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 14 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Liberty Hull Colonnade During WWII, commercial iron works operated on this site building subchasers, mine sweepers, net tenders, and tugboats for the war effort. Two Liberty Ship remnants from the WWII ship building war effort, which were built and later returned to be scrapped at the Oregon Shipbuilding site, provide the metaphorical icon for the redevelopment of this site. These artifacts link the site to its shipbuilding past and suggest the future prospects for this site. Perhaps the placement of these sculptural elements could create a colonnade defining the shipbuilding site or an axis along Gibbs Street. The arrangement should allow for an accumulative placement of Liberty Ship bows as they are unearthed. Oregon Shipbuilding produced the largest number of Liberty Ships at this site and represents a significant place in world history. There is a list of each ship’s name on record which could add to the alignment experience. Commission an artist to develop an approach to marking the overlay of loft lines of the various ships build at this boat yard during WWII. Perhaps the construction of some aspects could be a collaboration with the Zidell Shipyard. The historical significance of this site and the roll it has played in war and commerce is worth telling. One of two Liberty Ship hulls on the Willamette • Liberty Ship detail Ship loft lines delineate at grade the size of ships built at this shipyard during WWII. The plate steel conforming to the various site elevations. Each half culminates at the stair to the barge way where two relic liberty ship bows (presently on site) will formalize and contextualize the site’s history. w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x Shipyard layout during World War II b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 15 Industrial Infrastructure Retrofit Significant pieces of industrial equipment and infrastructure, such as the shipyard cranes, have been identified for preservation. It would be advantageous if the cranes continue to function, performing needed functions during the transformation of the site’s historical ship building industry to the new residential and technical land use goals. This “poetic utility” of keeping equipment operational for a new purpose provides a level of performance art and might prove to be a cost effective redevelopment strategy. The cranes could also be used as part of the Cargo Town project appropriately transforming crane function from cargo boat building to cargo architecture. The Zidell industrial building could play into this strategy including the gantry structure. By allowing this industrial building to approach the river bank and its penetration by the trail and public “urban” plaza next to the ship ramp creates an exciting push and pull of the edge. The Duck Blind Feeder (working title) tea house could provide a casual conversational gathering place and an incubator business opportunity. The addition would be consistent with the tower’s structural approach, would include state of the art sustainable innovations (solar heated tea) and rain and gray water would irrigate the yellow and red twig dogwood planting “blind” around the perimeter of the tea house. The suggested replacement of the lattice tower with a single pole structure is aesthetically and economically the wrong direction. • Footprint of power tower vector and contouring to provide habitat This is an opportunity to create an adaptive reuse of the historic power transmission tower after it is decommissioned. The tower may need to be reduced in height due to adjacent development concerns, but even at half its height its potential as an electronic tea house/habitat blind vector tower has significant potential. Power Tower Vector The historic power transmission lattice tower with its counterpart on Ross Island provides a significant asset, as well as reinforcing the site’s industrial heritage. If the power line is rerouted, this tower could be adapted for many new uses such as an observation/tea house “duck blind” or retrofitted as a high tech communication tower, community radio antenna, solar array support structure, and as a symbolic lighting vector, responding to the twin towers of the Oregon Convention Center down river. The companion tower on Ross Island should be included as part of the equation. The present elevation of surrounding land fill around the tower and the depression within the base of the tower suggest its footings (now buried) were once at grade with the original floodplain, exemplifying the “flowthrough,” civil engineering sensibility. Excavation of the tower footings would provide more wetlands habitat and acknowledge the historical pre-landfill structures placement with the river. Being suspended over this wetland and at grade with Whitaker Street would allow a ADA accessible ramp onto the structure providing a platform viewing “blind” over the river wetlands habitat at the base of the tower and a commanding view up and down the river. 16 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x Power tower b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Hydro Tower Existing faux water tower The cell tower disguised as a water tower suggests an elevated detention tank. A structural analysis of the support structure could allow a retrofit. If the structure can support an actual water tank then it could provide a significant volume and pressure of water to a fountain feature in the proposed adjacent park, in conjunction with the Blueberry Bog or as part of a redevelopment package. The cell antenna now concealed in the faux water tower could be relocated to the Power Tower Vector. Blueberry Bog / Community Garden top Gaviotas manual sleeve pump teeter-totter above and below Blueberry Bog, U-Pick-It, Parks Department, Bellevue, WA right Renaissance concept for a hydraulically activated fountain • w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 The public Blueberry Bog provides a healthy food source for humans as well as a place for social encounters while picking blueberries. A portion of the proposed two block park could provide permanent space for the blueberry bushes, perhaps creating a labyrinth. This amenity would double in winter as a detention pond, receiving and detaining rainwater from adjacent roof watersheds. This detained water provides conducive growing conditions for the Blueberry Bog habitat and integrated mitigation with amenity, poetic utility. Community gardens either on public or private developments provide an important catalyst for social engagement. Set up a relationship between community and artist with the goal to collaborate on the establishing of a community garden. This could become an important first step in creating a sense of community as people make decisions and work toward a common goal. The artist will serve as a catalyst and provide the social armature through the “art of gardening” bringing together this diverse new community. & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t t e l 17 Civic Nursery There are some interim strategies to help define the neighborhood early on, at a time when most of the site is barren, by planting barren blocks with groves, plantations, and nurseries. The Civic Nursery is a temporary “landscape” defining the city blocks (at non-brown field sites) and could occupy sites where no development is planned for some time. This approach would offer a borrowed landscape rather than a vacant lot and provide a cost effective landscape specimen source for street and Greenway landscaping as the need develops. Nurturing of unique and heritage specimens, as well as rescued plants and trees from nearby construction sites, would make this nursery an educational asset. Field of tulips Biotech Plantations The bio-mitigating plantation is a monoculture of hybrid popular trees engineered to draw up toxins from industrial brown fields found on this site. This is another temporary landscape strategy which helps define the city grid as well as provide meaning to landscape. The mature trees would be processed into pulp for a future paper product. This is an educational opportunity to discuss the positive and negative issues concerning bio engineering. Seed bank Yew plantation Community heritage orchard 18 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Daylighting The Watercourses U NDER DEVELOPMEN T • Throughout the development, keeping as much of the surface water course at grade and exposing any buried streams will be key to providing the necessary conditions for bio-mitigating runoff before entering the river. Develop a series of civic nurseries and bio-mitigating plantations for the various transitional blocks in the neighborhood. Artists could collaborate with horticuluralists and bio-mitigating specialists to develop a plan and administer its implementation. Companion projects include habitats coupled with roof watersheds and gray water opportunities (see page 20). w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 19 Roof Watershed There are many tall buildings which could provide a significant head of water pressure to be expressed at grade along the greenway, and throughout the project site, which could provide a dramatic ecological and civic fountain feature. Innovative vertical detention systems and vertical landscapes could express a transparent urban water journey. By introducing street runoff runnels and “bio-gutters,” storm water runoff enabling bio-mitigation of hydrocarbons and acid rain to be a visible process before reaches the river. Gray Water, A Dependable Irrigation Source Gray water is an important resource as yet undeveloped. By directing gray water through dedicated plumbing, from civic and private buildings, to the landscape, an uninterrupted source would be assured particularly during the dry months of summer/fall. This approach would include public drinking fountains, restroom sinks, and other highly visible opportunities to show a direct correlation between source and application. Gray water will require the city to rewrite their plumbing standards. Cargo Town could serve as the city’s laboratory to develop and monitor gray water applications. Develop a pool of artists interested in creating water works pieces incorporating rain and gray water sources. The transparency of the water source, the hydraulic potentials, and mitigation associated with these waters would serve as a basis to work from. Green roof and garden with bow truss downspout Beckoning Cistern, Seattle, Washington Vertical Landscape, Seattle, Washington • Drinking fountain with gray water offered to the landscape, Portland, Oregon 20 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Buildings With Pant Legs Rolled Up In the floodplain, it is sensible architectural design strategy to allow “flow-through” buildings, allowing floodwaters to pass through or under buildings. This design criteria should be insisted upon just as the power transmission tower’s raised footings serve as a pragmatic example. Raising the ground elevation of one part of the floodplain has repercussions elsewhere. The landscape should be designed to respond to and withstand the fluctuations of river levels and drought. Pathway Lighting Expressing the floodplain through the landscape and architecture Evening illumination of the pathway should romanticize the darkness, allowing visibility of the stars and respectful of the inhabitants need for darkness. By directing the light on the pathway surface, a variety of reflective diffractive and shadow patterns could be exploited. Light sources incorporating efficient LED white lights, augmented with solar power, present a sustainable message. Movement sensors could provide a kinesthetic choreography of light play. Within the development core, catenary lighting could provide a distinctive and efficient lighting strategy, placing light where needed rather than flooding the whole environment. • Outdoor public ping pong table w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t Catenary street lights Develop works of art which acknowledge the floodplain of this site. By bringing artists to the urban design discussions there is the potential of artist made amenities such as fountains, bollards, pavement, seating, and lighting. Evidence of beavers on-site — model for Beaver Bollard casting 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 21 Public Realm Making Process “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden...” In order to instill community ownership and stewardship, it is important to provide residents involvement opportunities during the evolution of the site design and making. Leaving aspects of the project to be completed or planted by future residents and tenants is a good start. This includes the habitat zone as well as the private development and public amenity spaces. If the community, which includes planners and artists, engages in some of the planting, issues of a successful habitat and respect for particular landscape concepts their support will override negative perceptions of habitat blocking river views, risk management, and maintenance issues. This approach allows the design landscape attitude less by the book and more innovative. New urban landscapes could be the next generation’s sustainable response to Portland’s tradition as being the city with the most garden clubs per capita. There is great potential that within the technically based businesses this district intends to attract, there be the expertise to contribute to a new urban landscape as their laboratory for sustainability; the rose gardens of the future. A public fire pit Community meeting 9 0 1 Y a k i m a A v e n u e S , S e a t t l e , W A 9 8 1 4 4 2 0 6 . 3 2 8 . 6 2 1 2 t e l & f a x b u s t e r @ b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t 22 w w w . b u s t e r s i m p s o n . n e t