RIPARIAN RESTORATION INITIATIVE

RECONNECTING TO ENVIRONMENT

SHWETA THAKUR

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

TABLE OF CONTENT

AbstractThesis

South WaterfrontEcological Context

The Brownfi eld SiteClimate Analysis

Design Process Design Documentation

A B S T R AC T

Typology for project has been derived from the problems concerning the disturbed riparian habitat due to urban encroachment. It will also investigate approaches to remediate brownfield sites along the river edge by employing ecological design strategies. The design will incorporate Environment Education and Research Center for Riparian Habitat Restoration within the context of wild and urban fringe. Designing of multi-purpose spaces and diverse program will vitalize newly developed neighborhood. The Riparian Restoration Initiative (RRI) will provide a place to educate people while experiencing wild in the city.

P R O B L E M S TAT E M E N T

How can architecture (built environment) be employed to restore natural environment and ecology within the city?

T H E S I S

Presently, Portland is fl ourishing as sustainable city. But in mid of 20th century, city was struggling for survival. Today, Portland has been survived due to its historic abundance of natural resources. The waterways, forests, woodlands & prairies, fish and fur bearing animals and fertile soils have supported people for thousands of years (City of Portland Natural Resource Inventory Update). Willamette River is one of the opulent natural resource and habitat for aquatic animals and plants.Willamette River has seen a lot of redevelopment in past 100 years, along with the complete re-planning of the City. Ross Island and South Waterfront still show the scars of industrial activities taken place in early 20th century. Consequently, North part of South Waterfront district has been converted into brownfield site. Due to land and water contamination in and around the site, wild life and vegetation has been adversely affected and disappeared gradually. Yet some streams, wetlands, forest has remain interwoven through Ross Island and along the waterfront. In 2004, Blueprint of the South Waterfront Eco-district had been laid with the goal of 10000 jobs and at least 3000 affordable housing units by 2019. Even though, district has been provided with urban built environment, residential apartments, fewer institutional activities and other required infrastructure, neighborhood has been failed to attract people. At present, neighborhood feels lifeless due to lack of diverse activities. It is required to draw attention of people to South Waterfront district in future for optimum utilization of previously built environment and infrastructure.

S I T E I N F O R M AT I O N A N D A N A LYS I S

In 1980’s Portland government took charge of the district and proposed redevelopment plan which designated it as mixed-use neighbour-hood. Rezoning of the South Waterfront took place again in 1988 and once again in 1990. Fi-nally in 2004 blueprint of zoning laid down in the area.

According to the proposal goal is, by 2019 South Waterfront neighbourhood should pro-vide 10000 jobs and at least 3000 housing units affordable to median family income group. The 2004 zoning plan was to attract future resi-dents by its easy access to nearby employment centres, cultural and entertainment amenities, neighbourhood retail services, restaurants and healthcare facilities. Also, OHSU has set up larg-est healthcare facility over here and they are considered as one of the largest employers in the area.

Right now, residential buildings in this district are almost 30-40% occupied. Also, TriMet is ex-pecting to serve light rail between downtown Portland and Milwaukie by year 2015. They are also planning to connect South Waterfront with OMSI and Southeast Portland with new car free bridge across the Willamette.

Ross Island is part of the Holgate Channel and Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge complex. It has been designated as an significant habitat for regional fish and other wild life like Blue heron and Bald Eagle. Ross Island is one of the scenic

area in southern portland.

In 1980’s PPooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrttttttttttttlanndddd goverrnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmment took cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaarrgee ooooooooooooooooooofffffffffffffffffffthe district andddddddddddd ppppppppppppprrrrrrooooooppppppoooooosssssseeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd rrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddddevelooooopppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmennnnnnt planwhich designated it ass mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmixed-uussssssssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee nnnnnnnnnnneeighhhhhbour-hood. Rezoning of the SSSSSSSSSSSSouth WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttteerrffrrooooooooooonnnntt tookplace again in 1988 andd ooooooooooonce aggggggggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnn in 11111990. Fi-nally in 2004 blueprinntt oooooooooooooooooooooooof zoninnggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg llllllllllllllaaaidd down inthe area.

Accordinggggggg ttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooo tthhe prooooooooooopppppppppppoooooosal goal iiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssssssss,,,,,,,,,,,,, bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyy 222222000000111111111999999999999999999Soutthh WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWaaaterfront neighhhhbourhoodd sssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooould pro-vviiddddddddddddddddddddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 11111110000 jobs and at leeeeeeeeeeast 3000 hhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuusssssssssiing unitsaaaaaaffffordable to median fammmmmmmmmmmmmmily incommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrooup. The22004 zoning ppppppppppppppppppppppllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnn wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssss tttttttttttooo attrraaccccccccccccccccccttttttttttttttttt ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttttttuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurre resi-dddents byy ittss eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssyyyyyyyyyyyy aaaaaaaacccceessss ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy eeemmpppppppppppppppllooymentcccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenntressssssss,,,,,,,,,,,, cccccccccccccccccccccccuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllllttttttttttttural and ennnnnnnttttterttainmmeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnntt aammmmmmmmmmmmenities,nnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrhood retail seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrvices, reeeeeesssssssssssssssssstttttttttttaauurrrrrrrrrrrrants andhheeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllltttttttttttttthhccaaaaaarree facilities. Alsoooooooooooooooooooooo, OHSU hhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas seeetttttttt up larg-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssttttttttttttt hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllttttttttttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhcccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccciiiiiiiiiilllllllliiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy oooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr hhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddd tttttttthhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy aaaaaaaarrrrrrreeeeeccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccoooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnsssssssiiiiiidddddddddeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeedddddddddddd aaaaaaaass oonneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee oooooffffffffffffff tttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhee llaarrgggggggggggggeessttttt eeeeeeeeemmpppppppppppppployers inttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeee arrrrrreeeeeaaaaaa.......

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhtttttttttttttttttttt nnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww,, rreessssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiddential bbbuuuildings iiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnn this diisttttttttrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiicctaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee almooosssst 30-40% occupppppied. Alsooooooooo,,,,,,,,,,,,, TriMet is eeeeeeeexx-ppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeccctttttttiiiiiiiiiiiinngg tttttttttttttttoo serve ligght raaaaail betweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen downtowwwwwwwnPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttttttttlllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaannnnnddddddddddd aaaaannnnnddddddd MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllwwwwaaaauuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 22222222222222222200000000000000000001111115. Theeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy aaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrreeeeeeeeeaallllsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooo planning to connect South WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttteerfront withOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMSSI and Southeast Portland wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh new car freebbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss tttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..

RRoosssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss IIssllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddd iiiiiisss ppaarrtt ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooff the Holgateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Channel andOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkssssssssssssssssssss BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBooooooooooooooooooooooooooooootttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllldddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddlllllllllllllliiiiiiiiffe RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRReeeeefuge cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmplex. It hasbeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn designaaaaattttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd aas an ssignificaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannt habitat forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeegggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnaal fish andd oooottttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwild lifee llllllliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikke Blue heronand BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllld Eagle. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss IIsllaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd iiiis oooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee of the scenic

aaaarreeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooooouuthern portland.

RESTORATION

SW

MO

OD

Y AVEN

UE

SW

BO

ND

AVEN

UE

RIV

ER P

ARKW

AY

RIV

ER P

ARKW

AY

MARQUA

M BRID

GE

OHSU MARQUAM HILL CAMPUSDOERNBECHER CHILDREN HOSPITAL

CEDARWOOD WALDARF SCHOOL

PROPOSED OHSU-SCHNITZER

SW CHARTER SCHOOL

PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

OHSU

PORTLA

ND-MILWAUKIE L

ROSS ISLAND BRIDGE

OMSI

ROSS ISLAND

LIGHT R

AIL BRIDGE

SLSSSSSSS

MARQUAM BRIDGE

SOUTH WATERFRONT

ROSS ISLAND

ROSS ISLAND BRIDGE

MARQUAM BRIDGE

SOUTH WATERFRONT

ROSS ISLAND

ROSS ISLAND BRIDGE

MARQUAM BRIDGE

SOUTH WATERFRONT

ROSS ISLAND

ROSS ISLAND BRIDGE

WILLAMETTE RIVER AND ROSS ISLAND IN 1895WILLAMETTE RIVER AND ROSS ISLAND IN 1850

E CO LO G I C A L CO N T E X T

Note: -Data for map 1 and 2 have been taken from Central City Natural Resource Inventory (June 2011 draft) published by Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (City of Portland, OR)-Land contamination data has been taken from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality- ECSI database (summer 2010) and edited by the Bureau of Environment Services. This data is not offi cial data and should be used only for infor-mational purposes.

LEGENDFLOOD AREA

WETLANDS

RIPARIAN FOREST

FOREST LAND

LAND MINED FOR GRAVEL BY RISG

LAND CONTAMINATION DATA

CONFIRMED CONTAMINATION

SUSPECTED CONTAMINATION

NO FURTHER ACTION TAKEN

WILLAMETTE RIVER AND ROSS ISLAND IN 1932 WILLAMETTE RIVER AND ROSS ISLAND IN 1995

T H E B R O W N F I E L D S I T E

South Waterfront District is subset of the 402-acre North Macadam urban renewal area. The purpose of urban renewal project is to turn former industri-al land, into a mixed- use central city development. Proposed Urban Ecology Centre at brownfi eld site will fulfi ll neighborhood community needs as well as support the larger downtown community by rejuve-nation of contaminated land and restoration of river-front.

SUN CHART

WIND WHEEL

TEMPERATURE CHARTTEMPERATURE CHART

C L I M AT E A N A LYS I S

Portland experiences a temperate climate with mild, damp winters and relatively dry and warm summers. Portland climate falls in the cool, dry-summer sub-tropical zone. In summer July and August have maxi-mum temperature of 800F and much larger day-night variation than in winter. Due to city’s inland location heatwaves occur in months of July and August, which rises temperature over 1000F. Winters are normally mild and extremely moist. Average temperature in January is 380F. Minimum temperature is usually above freezing but it can reach below 370F in night. Snow fall occurs only few times in year, but city ex-periences major snow and ice storms due to cold air outfl ow from the Columbia River Gorge. In spring weather is very unpredictable, ranging from warm climate to thunderstorms. City experiences rainfall for almost 155 days of year. Average rainfall in down-town Portland is 37.5 inches per year.

Advantage of Portland climate can be taken for de-signing passive heating and cooling strategies for the building.

D E S I G N P R O C E S S

These concept sketches were spurring for spatial development of plan. Interior programming of the facility is directly related to the existing as well proposed exterior environments. Reconnecting passage between urban environment and riverfront is placed at the Axis without disturbing free flowing form of the building. Position of the Willamette River, existing and upcoming bridges and proposed sustainable strategies has also worked as catalyst for the design.

THE PARTI ALONG T

RESEARCH EXHIBIT AND LEARNINGCENTER

RECONNECTING URBAN AND NATURE

URBAN NATURAL HABITAT

URBAN-NATURAL INTERFACE

THE RIVER CONNECTION THROUGH BUILDING

D E S I G N D O C U M E N TAT I O N

THE ENTRANCE

WEST ELEVATION

TERTIARY LEVEL WATER FILTER AT ION TANK

WATER FILTERATION TANK

WATER FILTERATION TANK

SITE PLAN

NORTH

1ST LEVEL PLANAT 43’

BASEMENT PLANAT LEVEL 30’

SECOND LEVEL PLANAT 56’

EXHIBIT AND LEARNING CENER

WETLAND

SEC

TIO

N

THR

OU

GH

A

UD

ITO

RIU

M

SEC

TIO

N T

HR

OU

GH

R

ESEA

RC

H F

AC

ILIT

IES