USC Bangpeng Ding ADR Book Thesis 2020

Graduate Program: Landscape Architecture and Urbanism

EcologicalPatternsasBridgeBetweenExisting HydrologyandRestorationMandate Name: Bangpeng Ding Year: 2019-2020 Course: Arch 698A/698B Advanced Design Research Faculty Advisor: Alexander Robinson USACE Engineering Instructor: Charles S. Dwyer

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT

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PROJECT TIMELINE

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CHAPTER A: PROJECT STATEMENT

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Patterns as Adaptable Ecological Planters Patterns as the Best Way to Mimic Nature Patterns as the Frame to Display Natural Processes CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

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Revegetation Technology Field Studies - Glendale Narrows Field Workshop - Pilot Site Field Trip - San Jose CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

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Patterns as Piloting Approach Experiments of Morphology Experiments Based on Flow Conditions CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

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Master Plan Perspectives & Sections CONCLUSION

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT _ Presenting an alternative to the terracing proposal by the Army Corps of Engineers, this project instead proposes to use a pattern approach to organize a channel ecological revitalization. Patterns, as compared to terraces, also provide good habitat, as well as improved flood performance, a more natural aesthetic, one more authentic to the historic conditions. According to Karen M’Closkey, an expert on patterns in landscape architecture “Patterns can be used as bridging mechanisms between a landscape’s utilitarian and aesthetic functions” (2013)., within the LA River ’s compromised situation, ecological patterns can bridge between often competing mandates for maintaining the existing hydrology and adding restoration-features. In this project, two patterns are tested, one for vegetation and another for a water feature.

To add vegetation and habitat on the bank slope, an aesthetic pattern developed from the hydraulic constraints and opportunities of the flood channel. First, as planters, these patterns reduce the amount of plants but maximize the aesthetic effect, a more natural feeling of dynamic water movement. Second, these patterns will be more sustainable by optimizing where the vegetation goes, placing increasingly fewer plants from the top to the bottom based on the flooding frequency.

For an aesthetic water feature at the channel bottom, a “puddle-pattern” was developed. It provides restoration aesthetic, ecological value and feature of seasonal resilience. Aesthetically, puddle pattern is the best way to resemble and recreate the natural moments at the river bottom as it was, making it be like a river. Ecologically, by modifying the low-flow channel, it will create better habitats within a bunch of pools rather than a single sheet of water. Besides, patterns’ scalability and modularity make LA River ’s resiliency controllable. Bigger pattern module will be put in the places where the flood capacity is higher. Last, as the sediment accumulates gradually, these blue puddles that are filled with water initially will finally turn into green mounds, which is a distinctive seasonal feature.

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PROJECT TIMELINE

PROJECT TIMELINE _ Significant Milestones for this LA River Ecosystem Restoration Pilot Project are marked below.

09/17/2017

Kayaking in LA River

08/26/2019

Thesis Project Initiation

08/28/2019

LA River Field Studies

10/05/2019

Intensive River Field Workshop with UofT

12/12/2019

USACE RFP for the Pilot Project

01/24/2020

Revegetation Technology Studies

02/01/2020

Morphology Experiments

03/04/2020

Mid-term Review

03/05/2020

Field Trip to San Jose

03/19/2020

Advanced Design Research

05/13/2020

Final Review

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CHAPTER A: PROJECT STATEMENT

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Target Species

Eco-planters on the wall

Eco-planters at the bottom

Great Blue Heron

9.After Recession

9.Forming Mounds

8.High Water Level

8.Continue Growing

Western Gull

7.Low Water Level

7.Plants Growing

Atriplex prostrate

6.Plants Growing

6.Accumulating

5.Plants Seeding

5.Sediment Arising

4.Adding Soil

4.Water “Migrating”

3.Adding Geotextile

3.Water Splashing

2.Concrete Filling

2.Cutting Concrete

1.Concrete Wall

1.Line-tracing

Great Egret

Canada Goose

Mallard

Anemopsis californica

Baccharis salicifolia

Jaumea carnosa

Salicornia pacifica

Frankenia salina

Festuca perennis

Eleocharis palustris

Typha latifolia

Avena fatua

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Concept diagrams showing the ecological function and adaptability of the eco-planters, both on the channel wall and at the bottom.

Brett Milligan,“Crop Circles”Landscape Installation, Portland, Oregon, 2010: those experimnets has shown that in the vacant lot, how quick-grow and easily reseeded ryegrass has a constant succession process. Also, it is a great example of how the non-native ryegrass can interact with physical, chemical and ecological process on the site, forming a co-evolving and hybrid vegetation patterns.

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PROJECT STATEMENT _ Patterns as Adaptable Ecological Planters My project challenges the standard USACE practices of historical ecology restoration, which emphasizes the creation and re-establishment of historic riparian and freshwater marsh habitats of the LA River. My critique of existing methodologies is that while their approach may be generally sound in many situations, they are not well adapted to difficult and compromised situations either ecologically or aesthetically. My project, however, aims to create a new ecology that could adapt to current LA River conditions. In most places, the flood protection requirements of LA River are very strict, therefore, the river will never go back to its original state.

Unless an unreasonable amount of maintenance is applied, the proposed new river will always have a mix of native and non-native plants, leaving the site hybrid, wild and continuously adapted. This follows the approach developed by Peter Del Tredici’s approach, using the sustainability and resiliency as the standard to test those plants to see if they can withstand the physical disturbance within these patterns.

The entire Los Angeles River concrete channel runs 51 miles through urban Los Angeles (both through several cities and the County of Los Angeles).

During the flood, the river water usually comes down in high velocities, carrying a lot of sediments, trashes and even big boulders to the downstream.

This causes much burden to the maintenance work of the LA River, which falls under several jurisdictions within the City, County, and Army Corps of Engineers. Besides the soft bottom part such as the Glendale Narrows, the stewardship may include the planter pots that developed from some cracks on the concrete by surviving plants in the channel. Terraces meanwhile don’t really help solve the problem. In this situation, pattern offers an number of important advantages over terraces like scalability, less maintenance, precise adaptation, gradient qualities, appealing aesthetics and modular construction method.

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CHAPTER A: PROJECT STATEMENT

Patterns as adapted planters Aesthetically, as a planter, pattern can hold a lot of varieties. Using cutting concrete technology to nicely cut curvilinear edges out of the existing concrete slabs, these patterns follow the hydraulic forms based on river flow conditions. From the shape, they are also deeply connected to the LA River historical condition when it was full of the fractals in nature of a marsh. This makes patterns more visually compatible with the context. More importantly, no one planter is the same and they compose a gradient relationship to each other, which largely enhance their dynamics and varieties.

The number one priority of the revitalization process is to preserve the flood protection that is provided by the existing river system. On the premise of observing the flood protection requirements, once the high-velocity water gets slower in the channel, there will be great opportunities to use patterns to create these adaptable planters. Therefore, from this perspective, patterns could contribute to the flood protection because the plant size can be controlled. Plant size is strictly limited by these 6 inches deep patterns. Within the limited soil depth, only grass and some shrubs can survive. Larger plants like trees cannot have living conditions to grow because their availability of water, nutrients from dirt and root space is constricted by patterns. Besides, the controlled size could dictate the flood protection, because bigger the area is, bigger the plants will grow and more resilient to water they are. Thus, the patterns could be used to adapt to various sites that have different flood capacities.

Ecologically, the planters can greatly help the restoration of the river ecosystem. It could bring green plants back to the river and create a lot of hybrid adapted habitats, due to its scalability and many dimensional options, which could accommodate different sizes of habitats.

Patterns as ecological puddle-shape ponds Vs. typical approach Right now, among the existing proposals such as the USACE Ecosystem Restoration Project and LA River Revitalization Plan, the approach as proposed by USACE and some distinguished landscape architecture firms is to construct terraced banks with vegetation secured by boulders to create habitats.

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Pattern features My project uses patterns to improve ecological function of the LA River.

Specifically, the pattern used in my proposal aims to mimic what was there originally in the history, when water, sediments and habitats can move around. However, the dilemma that we may face for the site is that if we tear the concrete down, that will be too dangerous, potentially causing flooding issues. But if we keep the concrete, water will be strictly confined in the low flow channel, losing ecological, aesthetic and programmatic opportunities.

To deal with the predicament of river aesthetics and flood performance, this approach proposes to construct a series of ecological puddle-shape ponds inside the channel. To do that, for example, a slide gate could be installed at the edge and then water needs to be diverted from the low flow channel into these puddle-shape ponds. These ponds are created by cutting 6 inches of concrete out from the river bottom and they are separate to each other. When these ponds are being filled with water, it’s very interesting to see the water spill over, move around and create habitats randomly. As Brett Milligan has argued in the article “Design Fieldwork: Reclaiming Affect and Experience as a Primary Locus of Design Knowledge and Expertise”, design fieldwork is “an iterative technique of engaging landscapes that provides unique access to indeterminate formative processes, novelty and serendipity.” Therefore, this pilot project is believed to be a great way to the process of natural evolution.

All in all, even though this approach is expensive and labor-intense, it has significant advantages: • Safety is guaranteed due to no flooding concern issue.

• Based on historical connection embedded in river culture, the pattern is aesthetical appealing and talks to its past.

• Patterns’flexibility gives water much more freedom to create diverse niches of habitats with a random process of natural evolution.

• Low maintenance cost due to the hybrid ecology approach.

• It minimizes the roughness while maximizing the aesthetics because these patterns define the distribution of the plants by providing plants with limited sediments, water and root space to grow.

• Irrigation needs are restricted only on the bank slopes, using small sprinklers installed to spray water from the top, where water runs down to lower patches due to gravitation force.

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CHAPTER A: PROJECT STATEMENT

PROJECT STATEMENT _ Patterns as the Best Way to Mimic Nature The proposals in the existing plans that try to restore historical ecology will fall short of people’s expectations due to the loss of restoration aesthetics. At one time, the Los Angeles River was characterized by perennial and seasonal wetlands, seeps, springs, swamps, riparian forests, and mud and alkali flats. Therefore, terraced banks that have linear feature, are not following natural forms. To really improve the LA River ’s aesthetics, using patterns is the best way to mimic and recreate the natural moments at the river bottom as it was. Specifically, to make the patterns more aesthetically appealing, this project selects the form of marsh to resemble the fractals in nature.

Timeline

Historical Photos

Vegetation & Water

Dynamic Quality

Satellite Imagery

Aesthetic Forms

Dynamic Quality

19th Century

LA River History

1890s

Ca.1900

Early 20th

1938-1960

At Present

Marsh Precedents

Location The Pantanal (Brazil)

The Everglades (Florida)

Okavango Delta (Botswana)

Research on historical aesthetics of LA River and some appealing marsh in the world, exploring the relationship of its water and vegetation and the sense of dynamic quality.

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Bangpeng Ding I Ecological Patterns as Bridge Between Existing Hydrology and Restoration Mandate

Vegetation VegetationMounds Mounds

Process Process

A teardrop-like mound was formed due to Downtown the continuous Existing Existing LA LA River: River: Verdugo Verdugo Wash Wash && Downtown Area Area accumulation of the silt wrapped down from the upstream of the river and the impact of the current.Finally, due to the participation CHAPTER A: PROJECT of STATEMENT A teardrop-like A teardrop-like mound mound was was formed formed duedue to to thethe continuous continuous accumulation accumulation of of thethe siltsilt wrapped wrapped down down various seed-carrying media, the vegetation canofquietly grow on them. from from thethe upstream upstream of of thethe river river andand thethe impact impact of thethe current.Finally, current.Finally, duedue to to thethe participation participation of of various various seed-carrying seed-carrying media, media, thethe vegetation vegetation cancan quietly quietly grow grow onon them. them.

= 2' = 2' 1'' 1''

1'' = 2'

8' 8'

8'

SOURCES: SOURCES: Angeles Angeles River River X on X Inon In1."Los 1."Los stagram: stagram: “From “From youryour @lariv@lariverx erx curator, curator, @tillyhinton:⁠ @tillyhinton:⁠ ThisThis image image is pure is pure meditation meditation for for me.me.

There's There's a lota being lot being written written about about the the restorative restorative SOURCES:mental…”". mental…”".

Instagram.

Instagram. https://www.instahttps://www.instaRiver X on In1."Los Angeles gram.com/p/B7HNw0ingram.com/p/B7HNw0instagram: “From your @larivoeW/?igshid=qebcgff6i55t. erx curator,oeW/?igshid=qebcgff6i55t. @tillyhinton:⁠ This

image is pure meditation for Vegetation Mounds, me. There's a lot being writtenVerdugo Wash & Downtown Area, LA River: a teardrop-like mound was formed due about the restorative to the continuous accumulation of the silt wrapped down from the upstream of the river and the impact of the mental…”".

Instagram. current.

Finally, due to the participation of various seed-carrying media, the vegetation can quietly grow on them. https://www.instagram.com/p/B7HNw0inoeW/?igshid=qebcgff6i55t.

Michel Desvigne, Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, USA, 2002-2005: the models are studies in the visual effects of shifting tree densities, spacing and colour.

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CHAPTER A: PROJECT STATEMENT

River Laboratory

Regualr Season 1

Regualr Season 2

Pilot Site

Flood Season Bike Path

Walking Path

LA River Bike Path Closure Assessment Area (Los Angeles Downtown) Los Angeles River

Exising Paths

To Elysian Valley

To City of Maywood

Water Feature After Flood

Planter

Concept diagrams demonstrating the programmatic function of patterns, as the frame to organize the flow of human activities, support the LA Metro Bike Path Connectivity, and display the natural processes during different seasons.

Brett Milligan, The Belmont Goats, SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon, 2010: those experimnets has demonstrated active engagement from nearby communities through constructing a dynamic system (goats as stewards) to exhibit the natural processes.

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Bangpeng Ding I Ecological Patterns as Bridge Between Existing Hydrology and Restoration Mandate

CHAPTER A: PROJECT STATEMENT

PROJECT STATEMENT _ Patterns as the Frame to Display Natural Processes Along the existing LA River, people always like to do programs like walking, running, biking, birdwatching and so on. Therefore, it would be a great opportunity to establish an ecological experiment ground, combining LA Metro Bike Path Connectivity and passive recreation for adjacent communities.

The idea of using patterns to frame the river laboratory is Inspired by “The Belmont goats project” done by Brett Milligan, which has demonstrated active engagement from nearby communities through constructing a dynamic system to exhibit the natural processes. To create the dialogue between people’s programmatic needs and river ’s ecology, this pilot project will primarily perform as a river laboratory to test ecological evolution, allowing specialists doing scientific program with the help of adjacent communities’ monitoring and recording the successional process.

Furthermore, this project builds upon the existing river bike path, which is one of the city’s most important projects in the river, one on the top of bank and another at the river bottom. To get the site fully engaged by citizens, based on community surveys, this pilot project will accommodate strolling, jogging, and biking needs of the surrounding communities. The meandering walking path near the low-flow channel is used by both the maintenance crew and free users that go down from the ramp connecting the bottom and the top bank. It is very interesting for the people walking on the meandering path to hear the sound of water and see water run flow through the bridge under their feet, then spill over and converge into another puddle-shape pond. To avoid the slippery condition that may happen on the surface of walking path and bike path, the road will be constructed 1 inch above the bottom surface, leaving some holes underneath and small gaps between each concrete slab for water to flow through.

Additionally, about the frequency of the program, everyday use: ecological experiment, passive recreation on the top bank. Seasonal use: biking, walking and jogging at the bottom path.

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

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Bangpeng Ding

Loose Sediment

Precedent: Renaturation of the river Aire, Geneva, Switzerland.

Process

Let the seasonal water flow freely in the rhombic matrix, finding the way it wants to go. In this process, the erosion of the riverbank and earth cubes,the continuous deposition and stacking of sediments, revive the growth of vegetation and the restoration of habitats.

1'' = 30'

120'

Renaturation of the River Aire, Geneva, Switzerland: let the seasonal water flow freely in the rhombic matrix, finding the way it wants to go. In this process, the erosion of the riverbank and earth cubes, the continuous deposition and stacking of sediments, revive the growth of vegetation and the restoration of habitats.

SOURCES: 1."Renaturation of the River Aire, Geneva ÂŤ Landscape Architecture Platform | Landezine". Landezine.com. http://landezine.com/index.php/2016/06/renaturation-of-the-river-aire-geneva/.

2. "Renaturation of the River Air | urbanNext". Urbannext.net. https://urbannext.net/renaturation-river-air/.

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REVEGETATION TECHNOLOGY _ Tech 1: Process-based Loose Sediment As a process-based revegetation technology, using loose sediments is one of the best and the most natural ways to get great green patches. It is slow, but it is dynamic and full of unexpected changes, which informs the essence of nature.

Aerial Photos of the Renaturation of the River Aire Project, showing the use of process-based loose sediments, letting water to get its own way in the channel to revegetate the river bottom and banks. Images from Landezine, on June 30, 2016.

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

Bangpeng Ding

Concrete Geotextile

Precedent: Niaosong Canal, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Textile

On site the white geotextile should be firstly laid on the riverbank slope that has been rammed with gravels.Then, concrete is poured inward from the preset openings to form a grid pattern. Third, the pockets between grids are filled with soil and revegetated with grass.

1'' = 2' 8'

SOURCES:

ACE. 2020.

1.Geosynthetics, Niaosong Kaohsiung, "RiverbankCanal, Protection, Niaosong Taiwan: on site the white geotextile should be firstly laid on the riverbank slope thatKaohsiung, has beenTaiwan rammed with gravels.Then, concrete is poured inward from the preset openings to form a Canal, - Rivand Channel Protection griderbank pattern.

Third, the pockets- between grids are filled with soil and revegetated with grass.

ACE Geosynthetics │ Nigeria".

Geoace.com. https://www.geoace.com/ng/case/River bank-and-Channel-Protection/Riverbank-Protection%2C-Ni aosong-Canal%2C-Kaohsiung%2 C-Taiwan.l

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REVEGETATION TECHNOLOGY _ Tech 2: Concrete Geotextile Concrete geotextile is two-layer and high-strength geotextile mattress grouted with cement mortar or concrete for hydraulic erosion control and channel construction. The geotextiles mainly woven by PP and/or PET yarns are able to accommodate different landforms, and provide a formwork to revegetation the surface. The benefits are summarized as below: • Simple and quick installation to reduce construction time and costs • Reduce the usage of costly materials to save money • Many types and filled thickness to suit diverse project needs • Highly mechanical performance to avoid damage during construction

A series of photos showing the process of the construction and plants’ revegetating in the Niaosong Canal, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Images from ACEFormer™ website.

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

Liangyu Zhao

Concrete “Egg Carton” Proposed Condition

Subtract

This could be a concrete “egg carton” inset into the bank or box concrete storm culverts could be repurposed and inset vertically to create a structural slope with infill that is vegetated. This could present a significant cost saving to cast-in-place boxes while offering some habitat.

1'' = 2' 8'

SOURCES: 1.http://lariver.org/blog/la-river-ecosystem-restoration Proposed Condition (Los Angeles River, By USACE): this could be a concrete “egg carton” inset into the

bank or box concrete storm culverts could be repurposed and inset vertically to create a structural slope with infill that is vegetated. This could present a significant cost saving to cast-in-place boxes while offering some habitats. (Model made by Liangyu Zhao, 2020)

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REVEGETATION TECHNOLOGY _ Tech 3: Cutting Concrete There are five main methods of concrete cutting: • Diamond saw: run faster, make more accurate cuts, and require less operator supervision; they’re also quieter.

• Concrete wall sawing: circular blades set into a track are your best tool for making cuts into concrete walls.

• Wire sawing: a cable covered in diamond fragments forms the “wire” that makes a surprisingly effective cutting edge.

• Core drilling: used to open up spaces in walls and floors for pipes, electrical wires, and air vents.

• Flat sawing: used for floors, pavements, and other flat surfaces.

The Top Two: diamond saw is one of the best choices and widely being used to cut concrete in construction.

The Bottom Two: wire saw could possibly be used to cut curvilinear forms out of the concrete.

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

Marisa Spinella

Concrete Cut-outs

Subtract/Cut

Bending the River Back Into the City (Los Angeles River)

By Metabolic Studios/ Lauren Bon 2019-ongoing A concrete trench was cut from the concrete, with the intention of installing a water wheel and sculptural display. However, the same method can be used for installing vegetation in planters after these cut-outs have been sealed, so no water can compromise the integrity of the concrete channel.

1'' = 6'

24'

Bending the River Back Into the City (Los Angeles River, By Metabolic Studios/ Lauren Bon 2019-ongoing): A concrete trench was cut from the concrete, with the intention of installing a water wheel and sculptural display. However, the same method can be used for installing vegetation in planters after these SOURCES: cut-outs have been sealed, so no water can compromise the integrity of the concrete channel. (Model made 1byMetabolic Studio. https://wMarisa Spinella, 2020)

ww.metabolicstudio.org/bending-the-river 2 Metabolic Studio Instagram Page @metabolicstudio

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

The cutting concrete technology has been implemented by the Metabolic Studio when it wants to build a giant water-wheel in order to “bend the river back into the city�. To get the water supply for the water-wheel, triangle-shape concrete slabs were cut and taken out of the LA River bottom underneath the North Broadway bridge. Therefore, this pilot project wants to take advantage of the same method to revegetate the channel banks.

The Top Two: concept drawings done by Lauren Bon and the Metabolic Studio, showing the water-wheel scheme, which obtained water rights for advantageous use of Los Angeles River water in 2014.

The Bottom One: site construction photos showing triangle concrete slabs being cut from the Metabolic Studio website. Bending the River Back Into the City, Implementation Day 1 (September 16, 2019)

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CHAPTER B: RESEARCH & SITE VISITS

Indexical Field Study Drawings （Group Work)

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SITE VISIT _ Field Studies - Glendale Narrows The purpose of this field study is to capture the restoration aesthetics that are embedded within the authentic vegetation patterns of the existing LA River, which are depicted by the Glendale Narrows, one of the four sections of the Los Angeles River that has a natural earthen bottom. Through tracing and redrawing the drone image of Glendale Narrows Section, the sense of variances, in terms of hybird vegetation types and shapes of green patches influenced by hydraulic forces, becomes an important footstone of this project. Furthmore, puddle-shape patterns with gradient quality were found during the field studies.

A series of drone images reveal the variances in texture feelings and shapes of integral patches based on different proportions of hybrid plants, water and embankment.

Analysis of perspective drawings: extracting the relationship between river flow and bumpy concrete, which leaves the puddle-shapes patterns created by the existing hydrology.

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SITE VISIT _ Field Workshop - Pilot Site The field workshop aims to understand the site conditions (infrastructure, surroundings, texture and other elements) of the pilot project, which is located between the North Main Street Bridge and the Railway Bridge in the south near the Chinatown of Los Angeles. Besides, for the first time, through driving the car down to the river bottom is an unforgettable experience. Walking on the site, the large scale of the river channel is perceived as the “industrial sublime�.

The First Impression of the Site: this illustrated analysis drawing shows the basic site conditions (the infrastructure, such as the transmission tower and railway structure, the contrast of texture and materiality like water, iron and concrete) and the scale comparison of human, car and river channel.

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Working with the visiting students from the University of Toronto, this intensive workshop tried to explore different geometric shapes and lay them on the ground by the movement of human bodies. This is a very interesting design or experiment method due to the deployment of an actual scale instead of drawing scale on the compter screen. Through this form-making process, site scale is well comprehended as a solid foundation of the final design.

Form-making Process: starting from an aligned row, everyone walked step by step towards the orientation that represented their interest. Based on the dynamic geometric forms brought to the site, the decision of dividing the vegetation zone and activity zone was made, which achieved patterns on the ground.

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SITE VISIT _ Field Trip - San Jose In the downtown of San Jose, we visited the urban reach of Guadalupe River which lies in a heavily armored concrete channel. This is one of the best precedents for the future of LA River, depicting a nice blueprint for the ecosystem restoration inside a flood protection channel.

This series of analysis drawings demonstrate the gradient quality captured coming from varieties of moisture, water depth and plants’ growth and the materiality contrast, which benefits from the succession process driven by the existing hydrology in the river channel.

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The highlight of this field trip is the natural restoration aesthetic found in a corner of the Guadalupe River, which reveals the dialogue of restoration mandates and existing river hydrology. Though restricted by armored concrete, the hydrolgy still shapes the river ’s gradient quality and succession process.

Rendering of the idea testing, which simply tries to lay the pattern proposals in the Guadalupe River bottom to see if a more natural restoration aesthetic could be achieved on the site.

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

PILOT EXPERIMENTS _ Patterns as Piloting Approach This advanced design research project is to test a new ecological aesthetic approach for the restoration of the LA River, as proposed by USACE, using patterns to see if we can reach a new ecology and aesthetics adapted to the existing conditions.

The current plan is to do the ecosystem restoration and all the plans aim to add ecological features into the river without causing flooding issues.

My project is different from them by using patterns, which are being used to determine planters, control plant size and distribute water or sediments.

Benefits such as the scalability and modularity of patterns could be easier to apply the ecological function while preserving the river ecological aesthetics, which is more compatible to the history of LA River. The project is a pilot project. It is a test of this new ecological aesthetic approach idea.

Junya Ishigami, Art Biotop Water Garden, Tochigi, Japan, 2013-2018: the garden is at once a highly artificial landscape, carefully modelled and dependent on technological artifacts, and an undeniably natural and living organism that grows and changes by its own inherent dynamics. “Ishigami’s beautiful forest is a very interesting example of willingly designing something that is artificial, but also absolutely natural.”

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

Existing proposals that use the same terracing method to construct the embankment or the bottom of LA River. Left column: proposals from landscape architecture firms. Right column: proposals from USACE.

Typical terrace section of existing restoration proposals. This section is drawn by USACE.

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

PILOT EXPERIMENTS _ Experiments of Morphology Aiming at exploring better ways to add vegetation to the LA river bank, this series of experiments investigate the interaction of different geometric forms and its irregularities, which ranges from the more engineered grid to more fluvial patterns. As the concept graph below shows, the vertical axis tests basic geometry such as circle, square and triangle. Furthermore, as it Morphology Experiments moves horizontally, the alignment axis of each pattern group keeps changing, which can bring forth new aesthetic experiences. Each green space Systematic Approach: Aiming ataexploring ways to add vegetation the LA river bank, this series of experiments the represents piecebetter of vegetated area to that could benefit the habitat investigate restorainteraction of different geometric forms and its irregularities, which ranges from the more engineered grid to more fluvial the patterns.

As the concept graph shows, thepattern vertical axis work tests basic such as circle,A-2 square and tion and river ecology.

Tobelow make the ongeometry site, the A-1, triangle. Furthermore, as it moves horizontally, the alignment axis of each pattern group keeps changing, which can bring uses forth new aesthetic experiences.

Each green space represents a piece vegetated that could benefit the and A-3 the concrete geotextile technology andofthe restarea could adopt habitat restoration and the river ecology. To make the pattern work on site, the A-1, A-2 and A-3 uses the concrete geotextile technology the rest could adopt cutting concrete as a method. geoconcrete cutting as and a method.

Circle

Axis of Morphology

A-2

A-3

B-1

B-2

B-3

C-1

C-2

C-3

Triangle

Square

A-1

Regular (Engineered)

More Fluvial

Fluvial

Morphology experiments graph that exhibits the thought process of carrying out the series of experiments.

Technology & Sections A-1

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A-2

A-3

B-1

B-2

B-3

Bangpeng Ding I Ecological Patterns as Bridge Between Existing Hydrology and Restoration Mandate Impermeable fabric

Geotextile filling

C-1

C-2

C-3

Concrete planter, drainage hole underneath Cut on the bank, different width Dig holes on the bank, flower pots

Triangle

CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

C-1

C-2

Regular (Engineered)

C-3

More Fluvial

Fluvial

Technology & Sections A-1

A-2

A-3

B-1

B-2

B-3

C-1

Impermeable fabric

Geotextile filling with concrete

C-2

C-3

Concrete planter, drainage hole underneath Cut on the bank, different width Dig holes on the bank, flower pots

Technology & Sections that are used in the experiments of morphology.

References 1. https://www.mastercutconcrete.com.au/concrete-cutting/cutting-through-a-concrete-slab 2. "Abstract Geometric Hipster Fashion Design Print Stock Vector (Royalty Free) 1311002204". Shutterstock.com. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/abstract-geometric-hipster-fashion-design-print-1311002204.

3. Geosynthetics, ACE. 2020. "Riverbank Protection, Niaosong Canal, Kaohsiung, Taiwan - Riverbank and Channel Protection - ACE Geosynthetics │ Nigeria". Geoace.com. https://www.geoace.com/ng/case/Riverbank-and-Cha nnel-Protection/Riverbank-Protection%2C-Niaosong-Canal%2C-Kaohsiung%2C-Taiwan.

Ground-level perspective photo of the experiments of morphology on the channel wall.

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

Vegetation Growth

Human Experience

Bank Slope

Process Overview

Axonometric

Original Cultivate Phase Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4

Photo collection of working process that records the vegetation growth and human experience on the stie.

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

In this stage, a lot of morphology studies have been done to get a better result, a more authentic restoration aesthetic form that is more compactible with the existing LA River.

Finally, two patterns are chosen. One is for channel embankment, using gradient shapes that emphasize the dynamic quality when water moves up and down across the wall slope during the flood period. Another is for the river bottom, which adopts the “puddle-shape pattern� to mimic the historical state of LA River when it still was a marsh with water moving around the site.

Perspective showing how vivid the ecological, aesthetic and programmatic function this proposal can bring in.

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CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

PILOT EXPERIMENTS _ Experiments Based on Flow Conditions As the experiments of morphology has been configured, this project combines an advanced design research, which investigates the flow conditions of existing LA River hydrology. Furthermore, in the experiments, two locations have been tested, one for the piers underneath the bridge and another for the free-flow section between two bridges.

These experiments strengthen the depth of this project to a large extent, which are more fit for the reality of LA River. Therefore, the final proposal is largely based on these experiments.

A

B

Water Velocity Bridge Pier

Before

Under

After

Middle Section

Left

Middle

Right

Vegetation Distribution Bridge Pier

Before

Middle Section

Under

After

Left

Middle

Right

A comprehensive research on the river flow simulation based on different flow rates and different representation techniques using patterns.

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Bangpeng Ding I Ecological Patterns as Bridge Between Existing Hydrology and Restoration Mandate

CHAPTER C: PILOT EXPERIMENTS

River Flow Simulation Model: red represents where the water speed gets faster, which indicates less vegetation input; blue represents the slower water speed area, where more vegetation are proposed.

Perspective showing the result of the experiments based on flow conditions of LA River, which happens underneath the North Main Street Bridge.

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CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

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Bangpeng Ding I Ecological Patterns as Bridge Between Existing Hydrology and Restoration Mandate

CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

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CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

FINAL PROPOSAL _ Master Plan In the master plan, the features like LA Metro Bike Path Connectivity, site accessibility, construction phasing plan and a stormwater basin have been portrayed.

Built upon existing LA River Bike Path Plan by LA Metro, two bike paths are proposed to close the gap between the City of Maywood and the Elysian Valley, one is set at the top of the left bank near the railroad and another is at the bottom, as a seasonally opened bike path. It is worth noting that there will be a ramp connecting these two bike paths near the North Main Street to strengthen the connectivity.

To really bring people to the site, two open spaces on the left side of the bank are proposed to be the gathering plazas as the entrances for visitors to come. To get people closer and better appreciate the beauty of the site, two stairs are set for each of the entrance. In addition, to accommodate the parking needs of people who would like to drive there, a public parking lot is revitalized based on existing conditions.

There are 3 construction phases that have been planned. The division of these phases are decided according to different river flow conditions as the flow pattern changes each time when water hits the piers. Phase 1 will be underneath the North Main Street Bridge. Phase 2 will contain the longest section between the two bridge structures. Phase 3 will finish the rest of this reach underneath the railway structure.

Besides, a stormwater basin is proposed to capture the rain water and surface runoff for sake of improved flood protection and the irrigation for all the vegetation on the pilot site.

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CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

Perspective looking upstream of LA River

Perspective looking downstream of LA River

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Bangpeng Ding I Ecological Patterns as Bridge Between Existing Hydrology and Restoration Mandate

CHAPTER D: FINAL PROPOSAL

FINAL PROPOSAL _ Perspectives & Sections The perspective drawings are very helpful for people to experience the site scale and lifelike atmosphere from the human eye view. This project provides different angeles for people to be fully immersed in the scenarios that created by these ecological patterns both on the channel wall and the river bottom. Besides the authentic restoration aesthetics, people can read the dialogue between existing hydrology and restoration mandates.

In the sectional drawings, the wide-angel scenes set in the middle section of the pilot site and the North Main Street Bridge are well depicted. Technology such as cutting concrete and drilling holes is also demonstrated.

Perspective underneath North Main Street Bridge

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Section in the Middle of the Pilot Site

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Section near North Main Street Bridge

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Bird-eye View Showing the Patterns underneath North Main Street Bridge 59

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CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION _ Ecological Aesthetics Beyond Restoration This advanced design research project has proved that a new ecological aesthetic that adapted to the existing conditions could possibly be created. Even though it is expensive and labor-intense to really implement the project, it has more significant advantages such as great aesthetic appeal, no flooding concern, low maintenance cost, precise adaptation and diverse habitats creation. In this project, these ecological patterns could well perform as the bridge between existing hydrology and restoration mandate.

However, beyond that, the new ecological aesthetic that created by ecological patterns will keep changing and iterating by itself, further developing a new ecology oriented towards the future of LA River.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Lehrer, Nitay. “Beauty in the Flow? Unravelling the Messy Design Process of an Urban Stream.” Journal of Landscape Architecture 13, no. 2 (May 4, 2018): 74–85. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/18626033.2018.155339 7.

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