Laguna Fields Can infrastructure work as a wetland, cleaning water and preventing flash floods? Given its urban location, the Los Angeles River requires a complicated control system to cope with flash floods. This entails a large amount of soil for drainage. However, property in the downtown area is expensive, and undeveloped parcels of land are impractical. This dilemma is solved by creating a dynamic urban wetland that is both functional and in use by human and animal inhabitants. The wetlands of Laguna Fields actively clean water all year long. During normal weather conditions it works at a low capacity. During the wet months it reduces the danger of flooding by absorbing vast amounts of water. The cleansing process relies on the reed plants growing in the wetland to filter and absorb the harmful particles that normally pollute the water. Even after they’re trimmed, the reeds still plays an important role. Some are harvested and packaged to create the basic building material for a new Pocket Island. Some are transformed into bio fuel. To create a sense of urbanity and an a sustainable economical model, the built environment of the Laguna Fields has a higher density than what’s typically found in Los Angeles. These areas have a F.A.R. (floor area ratio) between 2 and 4. 28
Walking Through the Laguna Fields “Every day during the summer I go for a walk with my wife. The Laguna Fields have become our haven. They’re like a piece of the wilderness tucked into the heart of our city. Since we are old, we can no longer travel much. Thanks to the fields, though, we don’t have to. We find beauty in all the newfound growth. I love the birch trees, the willow trees, and the black chokeberries that the birds munch on. The kingbirds, gray warblers and swallows have all found a nesting place. I can’t say I really understand how it all works, to be honest. I’m just happy we have a quiet, cool place where we can hear the birds chirp.” Pablo, 78 years, retired
THE FIFTH ECOLOGY. Beyond Desire: Los Angeles