3 Ecology | Site | Design
Woonasquatuckett River, Providence, RI
The words “Ecology”, “Site” and “Design” reflect understanding of biotic, abiotic and cultural systems. The words reflect our aspirations to conserve, restore and re-shape those systems. Each word is packed with complex and evolving meanings that reflect the state of human knowledge of the physical environments in which we live and our attitudes to the value of those environments. This studio examines these topics with the twin objectives of establishing an evolving and dynamic understanding of ecology.
Proposed Site
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Site The locus for the studio is the corridor of the Woonasquatuckett River and its post-industrial and residential environs extending from Donigian Park in the west to Waterplace Park in downtown Providence. This is a forgotten area, poised between upstream efforts to restore the hydrological, habitat, and recreational integrity of the Woonasquatucket River and the more recent redevelopment of the urban center of Water Place Park. The site is dissected by commuter corridors, subject to flooding, and polluted by surface water and sewage overflows yet it remains an important habitat corridor with the potential of becoming both a significant recreational route into the city and a vital ecological and cultural resource for the surrounding communities. Proposal The program consist of a pedestrian bridge, a gathering platform that engages habitat zone along the river, a public market with shelters and storm water strategies that engage the market and mitigate impact of storm water on the river. The idea is to collect all the runoff from the Main Street & Davis Park on the north of the site, clean the polluted water before it enters the river with the addition of a bioswales along the site. All the market shops are oriented to get the maximum sunlight when they open in the morning. Special attention is given to the pedestrian and vehicular movement on the site.