EEL OASIS

PROJECT TYPE

2020 LA+ CREATURE COMPETITION

PROJECT TEAM

HEEJUNG SHIN, BINGJIAN LIU

PROJECT LOCATION

NEWBURGH, NY

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

American eels(Anguilla rostrata) are known to be a mysterious nocturnal creature. American, Japanese and European eel, have become scarce, with populations dropping by more than 90% in the past four decades. Restoration of eel population is difficult unless we tackle the list of contributors to their decline: loss of habitat, dams blockage, fishing, pollutants and changes in ocean currents. These factors including our lack of understanding of their life stages make eels population management problematic.

The project takes place along the Hudson River where industrialization and human activities have caused many hindrances in eel migration as well as loss in their habitats. The project consists of two parts. One is creating habitat modules for eels on different parts of the Hudson river and tributaries where the ecosystem became non-functional. These modules are called “Eel Oasis”. “Eel Oasis” module with buoyant plastic reef and limbs are made up of recycled plastics that offer eels a place to hide and rest as habitats and stops for their migration. Secondly, constructing eel ladders on dams where glass eel(early stage eels) have trouble climbing up or using existing fish ladders. The eel oasis and ladder altogether facilitate their long migration journey towards deeper creeks and smaller streams. Not only that, these modules also serve as a walkable trail for people to have awareness of eel’s presence through the new aquatic ecosystem and their habitat underneath the modules.

Project Site: Newburgh, NY & Freshkill Creek

Eggs

Newburgh, NY

Silver Eel (Migratory Adult)

Hudson River

Yellow Eel (Non-mature Adult)

Dams

Eel Migratory Route

Disconnected Route

Environmentally Critical Zones

Elver (Juvenile)

American Eel’s Life Cycle

Leptocephalus (Larva)

Glass Eel (Post-Larva)

On Migratory Route

The eel oasis, composed of connected floating modules along the shores of the Hudson River, improves the migration route with more rest stops for the eels. These modules create a shaded, hospitable underwater environment, which conforms to the favorable environment of eels. The oasis could also provide public space for humans in the adjacent urban area.

EEL LADDER: EXTENDING EELS’ JOURNEY

Designed for All Sizes

Different types of dams have built over time along the tributaries of the Hudson River. These dams obstruct eels along with other migratory fish to travel upward towards smaller streams and creeks where they stay most of their life. Eel ladder is designed to facilitate even small glass eel to pass through different sizes of dams.

Ladder Dsign For Young Eels

Concrete Support

The vaccum pump provides continuous flow within the eel ladder, allowing both upstream and downstream migration. The 3D matting inside the ramp helps young eels to easily crawl upstream even when they have littel strength.

Wetland Module

Habitat Module

Wood planks

Embeded Lighting

Wetland Plants

Soil

Waterproof protection

Wood chips

Coconut fiber mat

Recycled plastic bottles

Wood sticks

Nutrient Uptake Roots

Buoyant Plastic Reef

Anchoring Column

Eel habitable limbs

Bio-film & algae

Native + Contaminants Uptake Plants

Recycled plastic bottles

Juncus effusus

Helianthus angustifolius

Native Wetland Plants

Hibiscus laevis

Wetland plants bring herbivores to the habitat which are foods for eels

Asclepias incarnata

Anchoring to the riverbed holds the wetland and eel modules in place

Achor to riverbed

Plastic reef and limbs create dark and hospitable conditions for eels

Other Works

1. PROFESSIONAL WORK FROM HKS INC. :

2. TANDY HILL DESIGN: IMPRINT

PROJECT LOCATION FORT WORTH, TEXAS

PROJECT TYPE MASTERPLANNING, ARCHITECTURE DESIGN, PATIENT ROOM DESIGN

PROJECT TEAM BRENT SPARKS, GREG TEAL, KARLA PEREZ

Project Objective

The $300 million expansion project will add 144 patient beds, 15 surgical suites and new pre-operative and post-operative units to the Texas Health Fort Worth campus.

The expansion will help Texas Health Fort Worth, which has grown from a small community hospital when it opened in 1930 to one of the busiest medical centers in the state, meet the health care needs of Tarrant County residents and other fast-growing communities it serves, the health system said in a news release. The surgical patient tower will include space for support services and two floors of shell space to accommodate future expansions. Additional parking will be added to the

Imprint

The Pavilion is an iconic structure that enhances the visitor’s experience of the Tandy Hills Natural Area. Nature enthusiasts and surrounding communities converge at the Pavilion for different types of activities and events that inform and raise awareness about preserving and respecting nature. The Pavilion impresses upon its visitors the importance of this place by providing various types of areas to view and experience its natural beauty.

Media IV : Grasshopper Analysis & Modeling

Faculty: Michael Luegering

Project Location: Buffalo, New York

Landscape Architecture continues to see concepts focused on iterating between large scale form studies and analysis appearing in the eco-regional urbanization and landscape infrastructure conversations. Yet, we still need workflows and methods that reflect on such needs and are at the same time critical of such discourse. If we agree that the calibration of our tools (software, machine assisted model production, etc) directly impacts the way we perceive, interpret and develop both data and concepts, than the workflows that key these aspirations should ideally embody them, but at a minimum reflect them.

Light and Space Community Project

Studio: Light & Space: SouthLight Event

Proposal: Community Renewal Istallation Project

Faculty: Laura Briggs

Location: Grace Church Cemetery, Pawtucket, Rhode Island

The studio explored full-scale interventions into the city. Students worked closely with the Providence Office of Planning and Development to design using a full-scale lightweight structure and light to transform a underserved areaas in Pawtucket community. The goal is to activate nodes to make a “pop up” city, where events and space bring life to urban streets. The event is created by an in-depth exercise about relation between light, space and materiality and how light can transform and influence both interior and exterior space.

Cherry Blossom Design Build Project

Studio Title: Architectural Design

Proposal: Design and build Community Project

Faculty: Thomas Gardener

This six-week design and build project was conducted through an agreement and collaboration of RISD architecture design studio class and the Chinese Christian Church located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. An adjacent YMCA and daycare plan on using this site as well. This goal of the construction was to improve and develop a communal, public space that brings awareness to the