For this post I want to talk a little about some of the people, firms and organizations I have gone to regarding EcoDistricts both in the class and individually. I think it is important to touch base on what I have taken from these visits as I feel they are not just pertinent to the context of the thesis class, but are interesting to my personal studies within design.
1) Achim Menges –
Achim Menges did taught at Harvard and now is a professor and researchers at Stuttgart. Our class had the opportunity to meet and talk with Achim Menges when he visited the University of Oregon for lectures both in Portland and Eugene. As a class we talked with him about his process driven experimental work and installations. I found this to be not only compelling and inspirational, but revolutionary in design execution. The photo below shows my favorite of his projects on Morphogenetic Design, this one titled Hygroscope: Meteorosensitive Morphology.
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In this project, Menges and colleagues intentionally studied how humidity can make wood reach the limits of its expansive and contractile characteristics. To take a step back before moving forward, I think it is important to state that, as a designer, you are taught to account for the expansive characteristics of wood in design within the fasteners and details for fear that this negative feature would otherwise ruin the overall intended purposes of the design. Failure to do so, will otherwise result in problematic concerns and money loss due to corrective action. Looking back, now, at Menges’s studies, what he is doing in this project is not only designing to meet these changing limits, but showing how the design only functions most successfully when these changes do occur. These changes are what makes the design so successful. When watching the video below you will see how with an increase in humidity a canopy is formed and in its absence, the micro wood structure contracts, as expected, allowing the “petals” to peel back. I think this is a fabulous zero energy input idea for a type of screening or facade feature acting is a biomimical way.
2) Ankrom Moisan Associates and Architects
As a class we went and talked with Ankrom Moiston Architects about their work on the South Waterfront EcoDistrict. It was fascinating to listen to information about project development strategies, communications with other firms, infrastructural elements and zoning guidelines. One of the zoning requirements was the allocation of where “skyscrapers” were allowed to be placed (with a cap at around 29 floors depending on the balance programmatic spaces and LEED qualifications). Placement and height locations were restricted and designated based on solar angles and views to the water front. There was also discussion on coordination of the waste water treatment system and how this was instigated and how discussion commenced to allow for the sharing of a utility line with an adjacent business. Other areas which were discussed in much further detail was the components which comprise the requirements for buildings being designed within an EcoDistrict designated area. These include the transportation system and it’s prearranged and designed movement paths, the sharing of larger amenities like storm water, and waste waster treatment drainage, a requirement of LEED accredidation and more. While the information highlighted the South Waterfront, it was applicable and captivating as a general understanding for an EcoDistrict and an example project.
3) Bob Holland with the South Waterfront
Bob Holland gave our class a personal tour of the South Waterfront. Not only were his story telling sound effects helpful for my understanding of the history, but his depth of information was also useful to applications for my own EcoDistrict. One of the many bits of information I specifically took to heart was his collective opinion on the sounds effects of the industrial business on the river front. Bob stated that it was collectively viewed at not a negative, but a positive feature of the S.W.F in that it was not only a reflection of the past, but a movement to the future. Another bit of information I enjoyed was his opinion on the make-shift, last-minute, tenant persuasion of creating a planter area in a currently non developed plot of land. The steered a couple of my programmatic ideas which will be covered in a proceeding post.
4) EcoDistrict Conference Volunteer
I attended the EcoDistricts conference held at PSU and listened to a number of interesting presentations/discussions.
(10:30-12:15 Wed) Smart Grid | This session explored the relationship of stakeholders in the implementation of smart grid strategies. The discussion explored smart grid opportunities, obstacles and best practices at the district-scale, both locally and globally. Panel Members: Joe Barra (PGE); Tom Foley (moderator from Smart Grid Oregon); Jeff Hammerlund (PSU); Michael Jung (Smart Grid Oregon).
(12:30-1:30 Wed) Gateway: Seeing the Future | Working with PoSI, PDC, SERA Architects, local developers and the community members, the University of Oregon architecture students tackled Gateway EcoDistrict’s issues around redevelopment potential and lack of identity. Student and Gateway leaders share their work and where there are right now. Panel Members: Colleen Gifford (Gateway EcoDistrict Screening Committee); Kaarin Knudson (my old professor and leader of UO student group for Gateway Project); Gordon Jones (Real Estate Developer); Students (UO students: Jesse, Liz, Chris).
(1:45-3:30 Wed) Lend Lease’s Victoria Harbour | Discussion with Australia’s Lend Lease’s development committee on the success of a brownfield development site and its many opportunities and challenges. Panel Members: Seamus McCartney (Senior Development Manager); Cate Harris (Head of Sustainability); Kate Pearsall (Sustainability Manager).
(12:30-1:30 Thurs) Portland’s Brewery Blocks | How EcoDistrict developments can learn and grow from one another. City planners and industry leaders discuss how Portland’s Brewery Blocks and newly formed Southwest EcoDistrict, in DC, can help one another to improve livability and resource efficiency. Panel Members: Otto Condon (ZGF Principle Architect); Fiona Cousins (Arup Principle Architect); Charles Kelly (ZGF Architects Partner); Jill Sherman (VP Gerding Edlen); Dennis Wilde (Chief Sustainability Officer Gerding Edlen).
(1:45-3:30 Thurs) EcoDistricts and Urban Ecology | Urban environments are home to novel ecosystems; assemblages of organism and processes that have no historic analog. The same is true for people: new social ecosystems with diverse populations engaged in community in unprecedented ways. These novel ecosystems are being called upon to provide the natural and social capital required to support healthy and resilient EcoDistrits. This session explored methods for restoring and regenerating ecosystem functions (biological and social), at the community scale. Panel Members: Keith Bowers (Owner of BioHabitat); Jason King (Principal and Owner of TERRA.fluxus); Nicole Isle (Chief Sustainability Strategist of Glumac).