osseous aerial-scape

M A R I S S A FA B R I Z I OA D V I S O R : T E D N G A IR E N S S E L A E R S O AFALL 2011 - SPRING 2012

OSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPEREORGANIZING SHANGHAIS URBAN RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

TABLE OF CONTENTSOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

2 R E N S S E L A E R S O A2 R E N S S E L A E R S O A

URBAN METABOLISM FOR MEGA-URBAN GROWTH M A R I S S A F A B R I Z I O

332 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FocusResearch Intent

Precis

Shanghai: Regional BackgroundGeography

Population Growth + DensityLand Growth + Use

Agriculture

Chinese Interface with NatureEastern Versus Western Urbanization

Interface with Landscape

Urban Issue: Commercialization

Urban Issue: WaterFlooding and Flood WallsDestruction of Wetlands

Urban Issue: Waste

Shanghai Flooding Scenarios

Case Study

Urban ProjectionWalls

WetlandsElevated Urbanism

Material ResearchBacillus Pasteurii

Calcium Carbonate

Site + Typologies

Aerial-Scape

Acknowledgements

Sources

04

08

18222830

3438

42

4856

64

68

80

869094

102106

112

128

140

142

RESEARCH INTENTURBAN METABOLISM FOR MEGA-URBAN GROWTH

(TITLE)FIGURE 1.00: Spongy bone structure(LEFT)FIGURE 1.01: Crowds on pedestrian street, Nanjing Lu

RESEARCH INTENT

SHANGHAI

NEW YORK CITY

MEXICO CITY

SAO PAULO

TOKYOFIGURE 1.02: Megacities with highest growth rates

OSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER


2010 marked the year when more than half of the worlds population was residing in urban areas. The dramatic rise of urban population in the twentieth century, from 13% in 1990, 29% in 1950, 46% in 2000, to finally reaching 50.46% in 2010, marks an unprecedented condition of our human - urban - ecological environment (Population Growth in Cities, United Nations). With global urban population increasing at a rate of 1 million per week, cities are growing faster than planners and policy makers can react, and it is strangulating city infrastructure across the world. The implication of such accelerated and often uncontrolled growth is immense since there are more than a half dozen cities growing at this rate, many of which are without adequate public infrastructure to even support a fraction of this growth.

Cities that prospered in the 19th and 20th Century often grew out of a similar rapid industrialization and economic expansion. Without exception, all disregard human health and ecological impacts, leading to many serious urban related crisis such as high oil prices, high energy consumption, and last but not least, depleted fresh water access. When facing this inevitable growth of these new megacities, we must ask and anticipate how such an accelerated growth would mean to a citys infrastructure such as a potable water and system, power grid, waste management, and transportation network? In addition, we must also be cognizant of the deeper ecological impact due to the hugely intensified food consumption, waste generation, pollution, land use conversion, and seek to symbiotically thrive with its immediate biome (Parametric Urban Sustainability, Ted Ngai).


SHANGHAI

NEW YORK CITY

MEXICO CITY

SAO PAULO

TOKYOFIGURE 1.02: Megacities with highest growth rates

772 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

PRECISRE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

(LEFT)FIGURE 2.01: Intrusion of new highrises

THESIS ABSTRACT

EACH YEAR AN INCREASING NUMBER OF RESIDENTS GET DISPLACED FROM SHANGHAIS URBAN CENTER TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY.

FIGURE 2.02: Destruction of Lilong housing to make room for new commercial highrises




THIS FORCED RELOCATION HAS CAUSED THE

DESTRUCTION OF ALMOST ALL OF WHAT IS LEFT OF

SHANGHAIS NATURAL WETLANDS, MOVING

SATELLITE CITIES INTO UNPROTECTED FLOOD

PRONE AREAS.

FIGURE 2.03: Residential and high rises moving into wetland and agricultural land

11112 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

THESIS ABSTRACT

THE CURRENT URBAN SYSTEM IS FAILING SHANGHAI, LEAVING THE HEAVILY USED GROUND LEVEL UNPROTECTED.

FIGURE 2.04: Flooding on the ground level




HOW CAN SHANGHAIS RAPIDLY GROWING INFRASTRUCTURE UTILIZE WATER, RATHER THAN CONTRIBUTE

TO THE IMPENDING CATASTROPHE OF FLOODING WATERS?

FIGURE 2.05: Flooding pausing ground level use on the ground level

13132 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

THESIS ABSTRACT

Urbanization in Shanghai has been primarily fueled by the economic growth that came after the Chinese Economic Reform in 1978. Prior to this reform, a planned economy existed in China, where industrial production was the focus, rather than economic development. As part of the economic reform, the real estate market was opened up to foreign investment in 1993, creating the ability for wealthy investors to now choose where specific buildings are located, creating a market oriented urban infrastructure. This market trend was only expanded when in 1995 urban planning was decentralized from the regional government to allow the individual districts to control planning, creating the desire for districts to compete and build projects that will produce high revenues. As a result, Shanghai has now become more centralized, with a gentrified urban center that includes high end commercial and luxury housing.

This centralization has led to the inevitable destruction of poorly maintained and government-owned low rise lilongs, forcing the relocation of the low and middle class to the outskirts of the city and causing the destruction of the natural elements that have mitigated annual flooding patterns. Each year the Huangpu river floods, causing the center of the city and other locations along the river to become partially submerged and as a result pauses the ground level circulation and movement. In addition to the flooding, Shanghai experiences typhoons during the same season, causing extreme high tides, as well as all other built up spaces to become flooded.

This proposal looks to re-organize Shanghai above the flood plane through a phased process, ultimately creating a new urban typology of an elevated city.

FIGURE 2.06: Destruction of Lilong housing

FIGURE 2.07: Constructed wetlands near urban center

THESIS ABSTRACTOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER



THESIS STATEMENT

In the deltaic region of Shanghai, rapid urbanization has created market driven planning, forcing the relocation of the low and middle class to the outskirts of the city and causing the destruction of the natural elements that have mitigated annual flooding patterns. Each year the Huangpu river floods, causing the center of the city and other locations along the river to become partially submerged and as a result pauses the ground level circulation and movement. In addition to the flooding, Shanghai experiences typhoons during the same season, causing extreme high tides, as well as all other built up spaces to become flooded. With this impending catastrophe and continuation of sea level rise, these conditions are worsening and the current floodwall system will eventually fail and a new system will be needed to replace it.

This proposal looks to accept the flooding that Shanghai experiences by re-organizing the infrastructure and ground level activities above the flood plane, through the investigation of a controlled natural process of calcification to aid as a structural solution to grow the city upwards. As a result, the new ground level acts as an extended flood buffer that, through phases, can evolve over time to control, protect, and restructure the urban infrastructure of Shanghai.

FIGURE 2.08: Officials analyzing the Shanghai floodgate

FIGURE 2.09: Annual flooding that has become part of daily life in Shanghai

15152 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

THESIS ABSTRACTOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER



FIGURE 2.10: Fields of highrises in outskirts of Shanghai

It is impossible to envisage the reconstruction of the old

city, only the construction of a new one on new foundations, on another scale and in other

conditions, in another society.

-Henri Lefebvre (1968)

17172 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

SHANGHAI: REGIONAL BACKGROUNDGEOGRAPHY, POPULATION, AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE

(LEFT)FIGURE 3.01: Satellite image of greater Shanghai

GEOGRAPHY

Shanghai lies on the east coast of China on the Yangtzee River Delta. It is made up of seventeen districts and one county, with a total area of 6,340.5 square kilometers (Shanghai 2010 Census). The current population has reached 23,019,148 people, making it the largest city in China (see figure 3.02).

Shanghai is located near sea level, at an average altitude of four meters. The lowest lying area is Dianshanhu Lake and lies at a two meter altitude, with other intermediate areas that are located at sea level. Within the East China Sea, Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtzee River. To the north, in between the island of Chongming and the other Shanghai districts lies Yangtzee Bay. To the south of Shanghai is Hangzhou Bay (see figure 3.03).

Shanghai is bisected by the Huangpu River, which spans between Dianshanhu lake and Yangtzee Bay. At

REGIONAL BACKGROUND

FIGURE 3.02: Location of Shanghai and geographical location

BAOSHAN

JINSHAN

CHINA

MONGOLIA

KAZAKHSTAN

INDIA

MYANMAR

THAILANDLAOS

JAPAN

N.KOREAS.KOREABEIJING

JIADING

YANGPU

HONGKUZHABEI

XUHUI

QINGPU

MINHANG

FENGXIAN

SONGJIANG

PUDONG NEW

PUTUO

JINGANHUANGPU

CHANGNINGLUWAN

SHANGHAI

17 DISTRICTS 1COUNTY6340.5 SQUARE KM.23,019,148 PEOPLE

CHONGMING

At an average elevation of four

meters above sea level, Shanghai

was once all wetlands.




FIGURE 3.03: Satellite image of Shanghai with Huangpu River callout

the urban center, the river separates the financial district from the old city, the Bund, and the Concessions (see callout above). This area contains many of the shipping ports, which is what originally started the economic boom and positioned Shanghai as the economic capital of China. The Huangpu also created a barrier for the growth of Shanghai, constraining all of the historic growth to the west of the river.

As a result of Shanghai being so close to sea level, a large portion of the land is wetlands that contribute to large amounts of flooding. Shanghai has developed radially and is now begining to take over almost all of the geographic area, destroying much of the agricultural and wetland areas. The wetlands that remain are primarily used for wetland ecology and agricultural purposes. These areas are located north of the city center on Chongming Island.

21212 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

REGIONAL BACKGROUND

12345

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5x 10

4

PUDONG NEW AREA HUANGPU LUWAN XUHUI CHANGNING JING'AN PUTUO ZHABEI HONGKOU YANGPU MINHANG BAOSHAN JIADING JINSHAN SONGJIANG QINGPU FENGXIAN CHONGMING

3 462 42 869 33 466 17 580 16 815 32 598 20 717 25 984 32 828 19 862 4 894 5 039 2 381 1 179 1 965 1 217 1 191584

DENSITY: DISTRICT COMPARISON

Data provided by Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

TOTAL: 3,030

FIGURE 3.04: Population density comparison of the districts within Shanghai

DENSITY (PERSON/SQ.KM)584-10,000

10,000-20,00020,000-30,00030,000-40,00040,000-42,869

HONGKOU

YANGPU

HUANGPU

LUWAN

SONGJIANG

POPULATION + DENSITY

The total land area in each of the districts is 6,340.5 square kilometers. The largest district is Pudong New Area, located on the east side of the Huangpu River. The second largest is Chongming, the agricultural island, followed by Fengxian, Qinpu, and Songjiang (see figure 3.06). All of these areas are outliers of the city center. The smallest land area is contained by the central city districts, where the historical urban center was formed.

Like the district areas comparison, the Pudong New Area has the highest population. Even though Chongming has the second largest area, it does not have one of the largest populations because it is primarily an agricultural district with spread out residences. The second largest district is Minhang, followed by Baoshan, Yangpu, and Songjiang. The smallest district population is Jingan (see figure 3.05).

The most densely populated district is the Huangpu district, located to the west of the Huangpu River (see figure 3.04). The density then disperses radially from the city center, following the radial growth trend of Shanghai (Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, 2010 Census).

DENSITY: DISTRICT COMPARISON

Between 2000 and 2010, Shanghais

population has grown by 37.53%, expanding the urban center into

sea level areas.(Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, 2010 Census)




12

34

5

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450 PUDONG NEW AREA HUANGPU LUWAN XUHUI CHANGNING JING'AN PUTUO ZHABEI HONGKOU YANGPU MINHANG BAOSHAN JIADING JINSHAN SONGJIANG QINGPU FENGXIAN CHONGMING

419.0553.226.9496.2764.424.84

113.5976.0377.08120.62181.43136.55110.5469.1

118.9981.5581.969.24

POPULATION: DISTRICT COMPARISON


TOTAL: 1,921.32

FIGURE 3.05: Population comparison of the districts within Shanghai

POPULATION (10,000)24.84-5050-100100-150150-200

400-419.05

PUDONG NEW AREA

YANGPU

BAOSHAN

MINHANG

SONGJIANG

7.62-200LAND AREA (SQ. KM.)

200-400400-600600-800800-10001000-1200

1200-1210.4

PUDONG NEW AREA

CHONGMING

FENGXIAN

QINGPU

SONGJIANG

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400 PUDONG NEW AREA HUANGPU LUWAN XUHUI CHANGNING JING'AN PUTUO ZHABEI HONGKOU YANGPU MINHANG BAOSHAN JIADING JINSHAN SONGJIANG QINGPU FENGXIAN CHONGMING

1 210.4112.418.05

54.7638.37.6254.8329.2623.4860.73

370.75270.99464.2

586.05605.64670.14687.39

1 185.49

LAND AREA: DISTRICT COMPARISON


TOTAL: 6,340.50

1

2

3

4

5

FIGURE 3.06: Land area comparison of the districts within Shanghai

POPULATION: DISTRICT COMPARISON

LAND AREA: DISTRICT COMPARISON

23232 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

REGIONAL BACKGROUND

1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2010-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

DEATHBIRTH

MIGRATION (INFLOW)MIGRATION (OUTFLOW)

YEAR

13,200 B i r t hs 8,630 Deaths12,180 I n fl ow10,720 Outflow

9,230 B ir ths10,670 Deaths15,720 I nflow 4,770 Outflow

1990 2009

3,970 Less B ir ths2,040 More Deaths3,540 More Migrating In 5,950 Less Migrating Out

1990-2009

BIRTH, DEATH, MIGRATION (1990-2009)

Data provided by Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau.

BIRTH, DEATH, MIGRATION (1990-2009)

POPULATION + DENSITY (CONTINUED)

The population growth in Shanghai is attributed solely to the migration into the city In the time span between 1990 to 2009 there have been overall more deaths than births and more people migrating in than migrating out, which has caused the exponential population growth in the city (see figure 3.07).

Compared to other megacities, Shanghai ranks in the top three with one of the highest peak densities of 96,200 people per square kilometer (Shanghai 2010 Census). The average density is much lower, at 24, 673 people/kilometer (see figure 3.08).

In addition, compared to other cities, Shanghais distribution of density from the city center is much more intense, which is why the peak density is so high, as seen in the previous graph. The greatest density happens at the center (1500 people/hectare) and then decreases exponentially. As a comparison, New York Citys density distributes much slower and peaks at about 175 people/hectare (Bertaud). London also has a less intense density in the center and is distributed more evenly (see figure 3.09). Unlike other cities where the density is getting smaller as the area is moving away from the center, the Shanghai model is more exponential than other cities such as New York City and London.

FIGURE 3.07: Population growth broken down by births, deaths, and migration



02

4

6

8

10

12x 104

AVERAGE+PEAK DENSITIES OF CITY

96,200 PEOPLE/KM2

24,673 PEOPLE/KM2

INNER CITY (10 KM RADIUS)

PEAK DENSITY

Data provided by Urban-Age.net


0 5 10 15 20 25

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

SHANGHAINEW YORK CITY

LONDON

DENSITY PROFILE COMPARISON

Data provided by Bertaud, Alain. Metropolis: A Measure of the Spatial Organization of 7 Large Cities. (2001): 1-22. Web

DISTANCE FROM CITY CENTER (km)



AVERAGE + PEAK DENSITIES OF MEGA-CITIES

DENSITY PROFILE COMPARISON

FIGURE 3.08: Densities as compared to other megacities

FIGURE 3.09: Density profile comparison as compared to other megacities

25252 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

REGIONAL BACKGROUNDOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER



FIGURE 3.10: Lilong and high rise housing

Shanghai citizens often complained about the

overcrowding and lack of improvement in the citys

infrastructure...In the late 1970s, in a city without high-rise

housing, the population density of Shanghai was five times that

of London

-Jos Gamble

27272 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

1885

1840

2008

2005

1995

1975

(http://cities.media.mit.edu/pdf/Mobility_on_Demand_ShanghaiCaseStudy.pdf)

1840: AFTER THE OPIUM WAR SHANGHAI ESTABOLISHED AS TRADING PORT OLD CITY

1885: BRITISH ESTABOLISHES A CONCESSION AFTER TREATY AFTER OPIUM WAR FRANCE, USA, JAPAN FORM CONCESSIONS

1937: SHANGHAI ESTABOLISHED AS MOST IMPORTANT PORT IN ASIA JAPAN IS IN CONTROL OF SHANGHAI UNTIL 1945 AFTER BOMBINGS

1956: FOREIGNERS LEAVE CITY AND CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY TAKE OVER

1997: GREAT ECONOMIC GROWTH

REGIONAL BACKGROUND

LAND GROWTH + USE

Shanghai has grown dramatically since it was first established as a trading port. The city grew outwards, encompassing concessions that were established after the end of the Opium War (see figure 3.11). The urban center is still continually growing, as more people keep migrating into the city and housing is pushed outwards. As the housing is pushed outwards, many of the agricultural areas are disappearing, leaving little room for farming, while also depleting the wetlands (see figure 3.12).

The urban texture of Shanghai has also transitioned from communities of lilong housing to fields of high rises. Lilongs were originally developed from the strong Western influence that came into the city in the early 1900s to house one family (Lee). Now they suffer from overcrowding, with typically more than eight people in a two person space. They are now being demolished to make room for high rises.

Mid and high rise buildings are quickly replacing the lilong communities, displacing large amounts of people. These create a new social structure and take away from the street level communities that would exist in areas with one to two story buildings (see figure 3.13).

1840: AFTER THE OPIUM WAR SHANGHAI ESTABLISHED AS A TRADING PORT

1885: BRITISH ESTABLISH A CONCESSION AFTER TREATY (AT END OF OPIUM WAR) FRANCE, USA, JAPAN FORM CONCESSIONS

1937: SHANGHAI AS MOST IMPORTANT PORT IN ASIA JAPAN IS IN CONTROL OF SHANGHAI UNTIL 1945

1956: FOREIGNERS LEAVE CITY AND THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY TAKES OVER

1997: GREAT ECONOMIC GROWTH

FIGURE 3.11: Urban growth pattern

About half of Shanghais land is fully

urbanized, with the rate of urbanization

increasing dramatically each year.

(Shanghai 2010 Census)




JINSHAN

CHINA

MONGOLIA

KAZAKHSTAN

INDIA

MYANMAR

THAILANDLAOS

JAPAN

N.KOREAS.KOREABEIJING

BAOSHAN

JIADING

YANGPU

HONGKUZHABEI

XUHUI

QINGPU

MINHANG

FENGXIAN

SONGJIANG

PUDONG NEW

PUTUO

JINGANHUANGPU

CHANGNINGLUWAN

SHANGHAI

TYPICAL URBAN BLOCKS

Originally developed from the strong western influence that came into the city in the early 1900s to house one family. Now they suffer from overcrowding, with typically more than 8 people in a two person space. They are now being demolished, to make room for high rises.

Mid and high rise buildings are quickly replacing the lilong communities, displacing large amounts of people. These create a new social structure and take away from the street level communities.

OLD LILONG HOUSING

NEW MID-RISE HOUSING

FIGURE 3.12: Land use transition from 2003 to 2010

FIGURE 3.13: Urban grain diagram

29292 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

REGIONAL BACKGROUND

6340.5 SQUARE KM.23,019,148 PEOPLE

1179.3 SQUARE KM.

TOTAL: SHANGHAI

TOTAL: URBANIZED AREA

Total urbanized area from 2005 data: Zhao, Shuqing, Liangjun Da, Zhiyao Tang, Hejun Fang, Kun Song, and Jingyun Fang. "Ecological Consequences of Rapid Urban Expansion: Shanghai, China." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 4.7 (2006): 341-46. Print.

AGRICULTURE

Rapid urbanization has been a large problem for Shanghai, reducing the area that is available for agricultural purposes. After the total area that is urbanized is taken out of Shanghais area the total amount of land left over for cultivation is 5,161.2 square kilometers, which is continually diminishing (see figure 3.14 and 3.16). In 2009, the total land sown was 3,961 square kilometers, which leaves 1,200.2 square kilometers left over. This area is about equal to the size of Chongming Island (Shanghai 2010 Census).

Since 1979, there has been a loss of 129,470 hectares. This is a dramatic decrease in 30 years, and the total area lost, due to urbanization and sprawl, is the relative size of Chongming (Shanghai 2010 Census).

Since Shanghais land keeps being turned into urban areas, it is unclear how Shanghai will support itself in the near future, giving rise to the potential that Shanghai (and China) may have to rely heavily on imported goods.

FIGURE 3.14: Urbanized ares




TOTAL: AREA AVAILABLE FOR CULTIVATION

5,161.2 SQUARE KM.

2009: TOTAL LAND SOWN WAS

3,961 SQUARE KM.

1,200.2 SQUARE KM. (THE RELATIVE SIZE OF

CHONGMGING ) OPEN FOR CULTIVATION OR A CONTINUATION

OF THE URBAN SPRAWL

TOTAL: LAND LEFTOVER

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1979198119831985198719891991199319951997199920012003200520072009

LOSS of 39,610 hectares

1979: 360,010 cultivated hectares




LOSS of 89,860 hectares

//TOTAL LOSS of 129,470 hectares in 30 years

CULTIVATED AREA (1979-2009)

YEAR Data provided by Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics in Shanghai.

FIGURE 3.16: Area available for cultivation

FIGURE 3.15: Loss of cultivated area

31312 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

PERSPECTIVE PLAN LIVESTOCK/USER R E L AT I O N S H I P

ANIMALS ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE ENCLOSED COURTYARD IN THE SOUTHERN AREA SO THEY CAN BE SHADED

SHANGHAIS POPULATION BEGINS TO GROW, LILONG HOUSING DEVELOPED, SOME LIVESTOCK IN ALLEYS, MOST LIVESTOCK PUSHED OUT-WARDS

[RURAL]

[URBAN]

[MEGACITY]SHANGHAIS POPULATION GROWS AT FASTER RATE, INDUSTRIAL FARMING DEVEL-OPS, NO LIVESTOCK IN URBAN CENTER OR SUBURBS

LIVESTOCKKEY:

REGIONAL BACKGROUND

AGRICULTURE (CONTINUED)

In addition to transition of land usage, the housing typology has also changed and affected the way in which argriculture exists in Shanghai. The Chinese relationship with living conditions and their livestock has changed drastically in relation to the urbanization of the city. Prior to the 1850s, when much of housing was the courtyard typology, the livestock was concentrated in the courtyard, typically in the southern side so they would have shade. Between 1850 and 1950, the housing typology switched to lilongs, and livestock was pushed to the exterior of these communities, with some animals still remaining in the alleyways. The current condition, as high rises are begining to take over the city, are industrial farming techniques, with farming pushed to the perimeter of the city, creating an urban condition and a rural, agricultural condition.

As Shanghai continues to grow, the agricultural areas will be pushed out even further, which is problematic due to the coastal geography of the city.

FIGURE 3.17: Housing typologies and agricultural consequence




FIGURE 3.18: Urban destruction in Shanghai

Shanghai is feeding 22% of the worlds population on less than 7% of arable land available worldwide

-Chinese Agricultural Minister Sun Zhencai

33332 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

CHINESE INTERFACE WITH NATUREURBANIZATION AND LIVING WITH THE LANDSCAPE

(LEFT)FIGURE 4.01: Tiered rice paddies, Beijing

CHINESE INTERFACE WITH NATURE

EASTERN VERSUS WESTERN INTERFACE WITH NATURE(WESTERN)

Western architecture and urbanism is characterized by concrete and steel structures, with little integration with nature, whereas Chinese culture is one of the oldest civilizations in the world because of the way they have always interacted with nature and ecology.

Western city skylines are filled with tall iconic towers that create a sense of identity for the urban area. The ground level is entirely covered with masses of concrete and pavement that diminish what is left of the natural landscape (see figure 4.02). Green spaces are inserted periodically, slipping in with the urban grid that is specific to each city.

By building upwards and outwards, cities are begining to sprawl into what was once agricultural land, creating megacities that are faced with the issues of overcrowding, waste management problems, clean water scarcity, flooding, and energy shortages. With the trend of urbanization now following this model, more and more of the earths population will be faced with these problems as everyday situations.

HISTORICALWESTERN URBANIZATION

FIGURE 4.02: New York City

FIGURE 4.02b+4.03b: Eastern vs. Western growth comparisons


1

2

3

1

2

3



(EASTERN)

Ancient Chinese cities were originally designed to create a balance between human and natural elements. The theories of feng shui, as well as the element of axial progression were also contributing factors, creating strong axes for spiritual and governmental power reasons.

Chinese cities utilized the wall typology, a somewhat enlarged version of the courtyard typology to ensure that they could keep their natural resources, create a balance between landscape and man made materials, and for protection. Imperial cities were designed around the axis of the royal palace, with series of low lying buildings and an occasional pagoda that would stand taller (see figure 4.03).

The problem now, which we can see with Shanghai today is the desire for the built environment to become westernized. This is why where there was once marshlands, it is now covered in concrete.

ANCIENTEASTERN URBANIZATION

Cities today need to recognize the very real environmental crises of our time and pay close attention to change and adaption...

-Stan Allen

FIGURE 4.03: Forbidden City, Beijing

37372 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

YELLO W MOUNTA INS TIERED RICE PA DDIES

COURTYARD HOUSING TYPOLOGY

N

PROGRAM

SUNLIGH

T

10

0

LIVING: ADULTS

LIVING: CHILDREN

COOKING

CLEANING

STORAGE

COURTYA

RD CAVE

DWELL

ING

N

BEIJIN

G C

OURTYA

RD H

OUSE

PROGRAM

SUNLIGH

T

10

0

LIVING: ADULTS

LIVING: CHILDREN

COOKING

CLEANING

STORAGE

INTERFACE WITH LANDSCAPE

The ancient Chinese civilization interaction with landscape can be seen at the building level where through the courtyard house typology, their relationship with livestock, and the connection to the exterior was very closely related. The Chinese garden was very important culturally and shows the relationship to the natural habitat in that one of its main purposes was as a shelter to connect with nature, as well as harvesting plants for agricultural and medicinal practices.

The Chinese relationship to the earth through the typology of cave dwellings, which are still inhabited today, use the natural insulation of the earth for heating and cooling purposes, as well as also utilizing the courtyard typology for sunlight and solar gain, allowing the program to be positioned accordingly (see figure 4.04).

The Chinese temple and shrines also utilized the same construction type, carving the worship spaces out of stone and utilizing the earth as a buildings material, rather than a base for new construction.



(a)

(g) (h) (i)

(b) (c)



CA VE DWELLINGS CA VE DWELLINGS

CA VE TEMPLES+SHRINE

COU

RTY

ARD

RE

SPO

NSE

solar

radiati

on

LON

GM

EN G

RO

TTO

S

COU

RTY

ARD

CAV

E D

WEL

LIN

G

Ancient Chinese dwellings used

the landscape as a material, integrating

program, structure, and natural resources into

one entity.

FIGURE 4.04: Chinese utilization of landscape in architectural forms(j) (k) (l)

(d) (e) (f)

39392 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FIGURE 4.05: Pudong development


1990

2010




URBAN ISSUES CURRENT SHANGHAI ISSUES DESIGN FACTORS

STRUCTURE/ INFRASTRUCTURE

TRANSPORTATION

WATER

WETLANDS

ENERGY

ECONOMIC GROWTH

WASTE

HORIZONTAL SPRAWL [METRO]

SALTWATER LEACHINGFLOODING

FLOOD WALLSWATER TABLE SINKING

DESTRUCTION

FIELD OF HIGHRISES

SEWAGE/BLACKWATER IN HUANGPU

MARKET BASED URBANISM

LAND SUBSIDENCEUNSTABLE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE MICROBE BASED INFRASTRUCTURE

SPRAWL=VERTICAL SPRAWL

CONSTRUCTED FRESHWATER WETLANDS

ACCESS TO GROUNDLEVEL

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

NEW URBAN GROUNDLEVEL

INTERFACE WITH LANDSCAPE(CONTINUED)

The problem that Shanghai is facing today, like many cities, is that the urban structure is becoming westernized, with the insertion of iconic buildings and highrises (see figure 4.05). This move away from the utilization of the natural landscape has caused events, such as flooding, to destroy the living conditions and resources of residents within the city center, as well as other periphery locations.

General urban issues, such as transportation, water, energy, and waste have been translated into the current struggles that Shanghai faces today. Land subsidence from the heavy infrastructure and water pumping from Shanghais aquifers is one current issue, essentially sinking Shanghai, while the sea level is also rising. These conditions have caused an unstable soil condition, jeopardizing much of Shanghais infrastructure. At the same time, Shanghai is continually flooding, due to the loss of the natural landscape that has been attributed to westernization (see figure 4.06).

All of these problems are a direct link to the rapidly growing population and the increase in commercialization that has entered the city.

FIGURE 4.06: Urban issues caused by urban population growth

41412 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

URBAN ISSUE: COMMERCIALIZATIONESTABLISHMENT OF A MARKET BASED URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE

(LEFT)FIGURE 5.01: Pedestrian Street, Nanjing Lu

COMMERCIALIZATION

C E N T E R P E R I P H E R YP E R I P H E R Y

URBAN ISSUE: COMMERCIALIZATION

One of the major issues that has most recently been visible due to the restructuring of the market is commercialization. Urbanization in Shanghai has been primarily fueled by the economic growth that came after the Chinese Economic Reform in 1978. Prior to this reform, a planned economy existed in China, where industrial production was the focus, rather than the current model of economic development. This shift in the economy changed the way Shanghai is structured, causing Shanghai to become seen as an international and global city that is now the economic capital of China.

As part of the economic reform, the real estate market was opened up to foreign investment in 1993, creating the ability for wealthy investors to now choose where specific buildings are located, creating a market oriented urban infrastructure. This market trend was only expanded when in 1995 urban planning was decentralized from the regional government to allow the individual districts to control planning, creating the desire for districts to compete and build projects that will produce high revenues.

As a result, Shanghai has now become more centralized, with a gentrified urban center that includes high end commercial and luxury housing. This centralization has led to the inevitable destruction of poorly maintained and government-owned low rise lilongs and the relocation of low and middle class housing to residential high rises located in the outskirts of Shanghai, destroying most of the natural land that has been preventing flooding in the deltaic region (see figure 5.02).

FIGURE 5.02: Commercialization causing all residential to be pushed out of the city center




In 1995, the total volume of relocated

space was 3.23 million square meters.

According to the Shanghai Statistics Yearbook 2005, this

indicator grew almost 80% in less than ten

years, reaching 5.8 million square meters

in 2004.

-Catherine Lee

FIGURE 5.03: Highrises in the relocation areas

45452 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

COMMERCIALIZATION

2000

FIGURE 5.04: Increase in number of highrises over 35 meters tall from 2000 to 2011

There are about 10,000 buildings with more than 10 floors in Shanghai, of which 80 percent have been built in the past 10 years.

-Wang Pingxian




SONGJIANG

FENGXIAN

JINSHAN

LUCHAOGANZHEN

XINCHANGZHEN

PUDONG INERNATIONAL AIRPORT

CHANGNING

JIADING

BAOSHANQU

1 2 3

URBAN ISSUE: COMMERCIALIZATION (CONTINUED)

The commercialization can be seen as recently as looking at the comparison between the number of high rises (greater than 35 meters tall) that have been built between 2000 and today. This area focuses on the urban center where much of the international investment is being driven and seen (see figure 5.04).

As a result, the urban center has expanded both horizontally and vertically, causing these new urban areas to be developed in the local governments attempt to decrease the density and in a sense dispose of and relocate the low and middle class who can no longer afford to live in the urban center. The satellite cities that have developed are located on the next highest elevation available, in order to prevent the threat of flooding. As these areas become more developed, the infrastructure will cause land subsidence, increasing the chances that these areas will act in a similar manner to the urban center and flood periodically.

4

FIGURE 5.05: Expansion of Shanghais urban center and the introduction of satellite cities

47472 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

URBAN ISSUE: WATERFLOODING AND ITS IMPACTS ON SHANGHAI

(LEFT)FIGURE 6.01: Flooding at street level

WATER

SHOALSBELOW 1 METER1-2 METERSABOVE 2 METERS

1.51

2

1.51

2

1.51

2

1.51

2

S P R A W L S P R A W L

O L D C I T Y PUDONG

H U A N G P U

0-1 METERS2-4 METERS >4 METERS


1.51

2

1.51

2

1.51

2

1.51

2



H U A N G P U


FLOODING AND FLOOD WALLS

Flooding has become a major issue in Shanghai because of the distribution of the low lying elevation, its location in respect to the mouth of the Yangtzee River, and the fact that the Huangpu River, which floods annually, bisects the center of the city in half.

The reason why Shanghai developed in the first place and was contained to the historic city center was because of the wetlands and soil quality for agricultural purposes. The old city is where the highest elevation is, which drove the development of the rest of the city. Now that the highrises are expanding to the areas that were once used for agriculture, Shanghai is begining to use all of its resources and land area (see figure 6.03).

Now the city has grown out into these low elevation areas where the wetlands are located. The wetlands, since on the coast, are controlling the flooding in the Yangtzee river delta (in addition to the dams up the river). If these wetlands are removed Shanghai will lose its natural flood mitigation system and Shanghai will soon start to become submerged (see figure 6.04).


1.51

2

1.51

2

1.51

2

1.51

2



H U A N G P U


FIGURE 6.02: Elevation map of Shanghai

FIGURE 6.03: Sectional growth map of Shanghai, stages one through four




0M

+1M

+2M

+3M

+5M

+9M

FIGURE 6.04: Flood prediction maps

51512 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

WATER

+6M

FLOODING AND FLOOD WALLS (CONTINUED)

The new satellite cities that Shanghai has developed for the relocation of the low and middle class are consequently located in the highest elevated areas (see figure 6.05). The fact that the government did not evenly space the new cities based upon their location to the urban center shows that flooding is indeed a threat and a design factor; however, the issue is not being addressed in the long term because the same typical building strategy is being used in these areas instead of a new way that would prevent flooding. As these areas inevitably start to sprawl, the infrastructure will start to demolish the very thing (wetlands) that is saving the city from flooding and destruction.

FIGURE 6.05: Flood prediction maps in relation to the new satellite cities




LAND SUBSIDENCE (MM)

25.0025.01-50.0050.01-100.00100.01-150.00150.01-200.00

In addition to the threats of the rising sea levels and the destruction of wetlands there is also the issue of land subsidence, causing the land to sink, while the water is also rising. When looking at a land subsidence map, the areas that are sinking the most are the ones that have the highest density and therefore require more infrastructure and more pumping of water. As Shanghai has been rapidly urbanizing, the increase in the number of high rises has been dramatic, increasing the land subsidence threat.

This problem only adds to the level of destruction that would happen if Shanghai were to flood, adding to the land that would be destroyed if water were to inhabit the ground level.

FIGURE 6.06: Land subsidence map of Shanghai

The recorded cumulative subsidence has been 2 to 3 m in the central area of Shanghai.(Chai, 33)

53532 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

WATER

19501940 1960 1970 1980 1990 20003.0

4.0

5.0

3.14 m

3.59 m

4.09 m

5.25 m

CONSTRUCTED IN 1990

CONSTRUCTED IN 1970

CONSTRUCTED IN 1960

FLOODING AND FLOOD WALLS (CONTINUED)

Shanghai is also very prone to typhoons, with one major one happening in 1981, which caused the Shanghai city center to flood, due to the water level rise of the Huangpu river (see figure 6.07). Since the river was the driving factor for what land was urbanized first, important historical buildings and areas, such as the Bund and the French Concession are especially prone to floods with the potential of ruining the buldings at their base. The cities way of dealing with this was to raise the flood barrier of the river, creating a hard boundary between the city and the coastline (see figure 6.08). Each time the city floods the barrier is raised, acting as a response instead of a preventive measure (see figure 6.09).

FIGURE 6.07: Typical typhoon destruction path FIGURE 6.08: Flood wall system

FIGURE 6.09: Historical rise of flood wall system along the Huangpu River




The mean land level is between 3m to 4m above

sea level in Shanghai, but the

flood defense wall is more than 6m

now. It is still not high enough with

the sea level rising and land sinking.

-Quanlong Wei

Yet another problem with Shanghais elevation and flooding issues is the unstable soil condition which causes extreme building disasters where the piles failed and cause the building to fall over (see figures 6.10 a+b).

With the continuation of land subsidence, as well as the increase in the amount of typhoons, rain fall, sea level rise, and the destruction of wetlands, building and urban infrastructural problems like these will become inevitable.

FIGURE 6.10 a+b: Building collapse due to unstable soil conditions

55552 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

WATER

DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS

As the urban population has increased, so has the demand and need for agricultural products, such as rice and grains, which is the major export item and food staple in the Chinese diet. Because of the geography and location of Shanghai at the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, approximately 23.5% of the area consists of wetlands with rich soil that can sustain large quantities of rice production.

Urbanization has led to the deterioration of these wetlands, due to water pollution from untreated waste, rapid growth of urban infrastructure, the use of wetlands as dumps, and overfishing. As the population is growing these rice paddy areas need to produce more efficiently in order to keep up with the rising demand of rice production in the Yangtze River Delta, as well as the rest of the world. Shanghai also sits in an area where much of the wetlands in China are concentrated; making it important that urbanization does not spread and lead to the slow destruction of wetlands in this area.

FIGURE 6.11: Protected and unprotected wetlands



RESERVOIR+POND WETLANDS

COASTAL WETLANDS

RIVERINE+LACUSTRINE WETLANDS

23.5% OF SHANGHAI IS WETLANDS

>300 SQ. KMWETLAND TYPE AREACOASTAL 305,421 haRIVER 7191 haLAKE 6803 haRESERVOIR+POND 299 ha

WETLAND DEGRADATION: -USED AS DUMPS -WATER POLLUTION -OVER FISHING -RAPID URBANIZATION


There are four majors types of wetlands in Shanghai: coastal, river, lake, and reservoir and ponds. Currently, wetlands take up approximately 23.5% of the land area of Shanghai (see figure 6.12).

Because of rapid urbanization, wetlands (both inland and coastal) are facing degradation due to the area being used as dumps, therefore polluting the water. Wetlands are also facing the rapid commercialization and industrialization that is entering the city, causing the wetlands to become filled and replaced with infrastructure

FIGURE 6.12: Types of coastal wetlands

57572 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

WATER

FIGURE 6.13: (a) Infrastructure entering wetlands(b) Constructed wetlands near urban center

(c) Untouched coastal wetlands

DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS (CONTINUED)

Of the wetlands that still exist, many are near the city center and have infrastructure that is quickly approaching and taking over the area (see figure 6.13a), while others near the coast remain untouched, until the urban sprawl of the satellite cities has entered the coastal area (see figure 6.13c). The government of Shanghai has already set up a series of constructed wetland projects near the urban center, showing the importance of restoring these natural flood mitigators (see figure 6.13b).

Because Shanghai is located in a deltaic region, water continually acts to irrigate the land, since it once contained all wetlands and agricultural fields. This is why the wetlands in China are especially important to preserve because of the geographical location near the coast, which is why Shanghai was developed as a port city in the first place (see figures 6.14 and 6.15).


(a)

(b) (c)



SHANGHAI

FIGURE 6.14: Hydrology map, centered around Shanghai

On a more localized level centered around Shanghai, the importance of the Yangtzee river can be seen, and its irrigation importance to the wetlands, as well as its relation to major cities (see figure 6.15).

Shanghai is the largest city along the Yangtzee, but also contains and is built on a majority of the wetlands and grain production in the area. Since Shanghai is on the coast, it is threatened by two water sources, creating the need for new infrastructure to be implemented at the ground level.

Between 1990 and 2000, 30% of Chinas natural wetlands disappeared...Since 1950 50% have dissapeared.

-Gallagher59592 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

SHANGHAI

(data from I.G.D.A.)

cityANALYSIS

DRAINAGE AREAYANGTZE RIVER

RIVER RUNOFF

WETLANDS

CLASTIC ROCKS

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

CARBONATE ROCKS

LAKE + RESERVOIR

DAMS

MAJOR CITIES

Ding, T. "Silicon Isotope Compositions of Dissolved Silicon and Suspended Matter in the Yangtze River, China." Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 68.2 (2004): 205-16. Print.

WATEROSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER


SHANGHAI

(data from I.G.D.A.)


FIGURE 6.15: China wetland map, with the Yangtzee River called out

61612 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

RELOCATED RESIDENTS

INFRASTRUCTURE/STRUCTURE

WETLANDS/RICE PADDIES

NUTRIENTS/STRUCTURE

WATER

FIGURE 6.16: Population density, unprotected wetlands, and developing areas overlayed onto eachother




RELOCATED RESIDENTS

INFRASTRUCTURE/STRUCTURE

WETLANDS/RICE PADDIES

NUTRIENTS/STRUCTURE

DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS (CONTINUED)

These satellite cities that Shanghai is currently developing are essentially adding to the urbanization growth that the city is experiencing. These new cities will not be able to expand according to the needs of the population growth rate because they will start destructing the wetlands, that take up roughly one third of Shanghai, as well as the remaining agricultural areas. This area produces a large population of the grains needed in Shanghai, China, and the world, as well as helps mitigate the flooding that will only continue to worsen in Shanghai.

By layering the information of areas of high density, unprotected wetlands, and new developing areas, you can start to see areas that will very soon become problematic. Land will continue to be lost to tall high rises as the satellite cities begin to follow the same growth model as the current urban center.

At its core, Shanghai doesnt have an agriculture problem, but an urban infrastructure problem that could be solved by separating the systems and providing for the needs of the wetlands and rice paddy fields, but also restore a sense of community that is being lost. This could potentially be accomplished by utlilizing the water that is causing destruction as a building material, rather than being seen as a threat to the urban structure, buildings, and daily events and lifestyles.

By creating new building materials with water there will be new potentials for the flow system of materials and nutrients, creating an interwoven urban system (see figure 6.17).FIGURE 6.17: Separation of materials and strategies

[Climate change] requires us to fundamentally reconsider where and how we live as societies;

demands that we reinvent infrastructure design to meet the more variable conditions

cities will face in the future...-Dr. Judith Rodin

63632 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

URBAN ISSUE: WASTEWASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

(LEFT)FIGURE 7.01: Waste collection

WASTE

ORGANI C

CHEMICAL

HEAVY METALS

SOLIDS

ORGANI C

CHEMICAL

HEAVY METALS

SOLIDS

ORGANI C

CHEMICAL

HEAVY METALS

SOLIDS

FIGURE 7.02: Trash in Shanghai streets




WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

In addition to the flooding issues that Shanghai has, there is also a problem with the deteriorating waste water treatment system in that its capacity does not fit the needs of the growing population. Currently, 95% of industrial waste water is treated, while 53% of domestic waste is treated. Three main problems exist with the current system.

The first is that much of the waste is dispersed into the Huangpu river, contaminating the public water system, as well as creating unsanitary conditions for the shipping import and export industry that comes through the center of Shanghai each day.

The second problem is that only 30% of the waste water recieves secondary treatment. This leaves much of the organic waste untreated, further polluting the water.

The third major problem is that the current capacity is less than three million cubic meters of waste water, while the actual discharge of Shanghai is over five million cubic meters. As Shanghai keeps increasing in size (in both built land area, as well as population) the waste management system is not able to keep up.

ORGANI C

CHEMICAL

HEAVY METALS

SOLIDS

HYDRO CARBON

BIOLOGICAL

AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS

FIGURE 7.03: Types of waste

67672 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

SHANGHAI FLOODING SCENARIOSSECTIONAL INVESTIGATION

(LEFT)FIGURE 8.01: Residents moving to higher ground during a flood

FLOODING SCENARIOSOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER



FIGURE 8.02: Shanghai sectional study comparing urban issues as a result of flooding

71712 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

1FLOODING SCENARIOS

WASTE WATER

Currently 95% of industrial waste water, and only 53% of domestic waste water is treated in Shanghai. Three main problems exist with this system:

(1) Much of the waste is dispersed into the Huangpu River, which is where much of the drinking water is taken from.

(2) Only 30% of the waste water gets secondary treatment, leaving much of the organic waste untreated, polluting the water.

(3) The current capacity is less than 3 million cubic meters of waste waster, while the actual discharge of Shanghai is over 5 million cubic meters. Shanghai keeps growing but isnt keeping up with its waste water management system.

If Shanghai were to flood, the main problem would be the long term deterioration of the underground pipes that carry the waste, as well as the lack of infrastructure that will be available for water treatment. Also, the Huangpu River would flood, dispersing waste into the streets and habitable living conditions of Shanghai (Ward).


FIGURE 8.03: Waste water and management consequences as a result of flooding


FLOOD WALLS

Until the 7th and 8th century AD Shanghai consisted of all wetlands and marshes, which acted as natural ways to control flooding. Today, to mitigate the flooding in Shanghai, a flood wall system has been implemented. The current floodgate is 5.86 meters tall, with levees on the Bund in the center of the city that measure 6.9 meters high. This system acts as a short term response mechanism, rather than a system that acts to prevent the damages done by flooding.

In the next 300 years, the estimate of sea level rise in Shanghai is 5 meters. At the same time, Shanghai is sinking due to the growing infrastructure and increased water pumping. Also, if Shanghai were to experience a storm similar to Hurricane Katrina, 8.5 meters of water would enter Shanghai. Currently, the way to solve this problem is to keep increasing the height of the flood walls, which at a certain point becomes unrealistic.

2URBAN METABOLISM FOR MEGA-URBAN GROWTH M A R I S S A F A B R I Z I O

FIGURE 8.04: Flood wall consequences as a result of flooding

73732 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FLOODING SCENARIOS

WATER RUNOFF

To add to problem of flooding, much of Shanghai is now covered in either concrete or pavement. The natural flood mitigation of wetlands is no longer used in the center of Shanghai because of extensive urbanization.

If the Huangpu River were to flood, then Shanghai would not be able to easily drain, causing the destruction and weakening of buildings at their base, as well as the destruction of many modes of transportation.

3


FIGURE 8.05: Water pooling consequences as a result of flooding



WATER PUMPING

The ground pumping of water is also a major concern that is causing Shanghai to sink from its already 3 meter elevation level. When water is pumped from the four main aquifers below Shanghai, water is taken from the clay and sand that Shanghai sits on, causing it to sink.

If in the areas in the outskirts of the city where there is little pavement and the water was to get in the soil, the soil would become unstable, causing buildings to collapse.

4

FIGURE 8.06: Water pumping consequences as a result of flooding

75752 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FLOODING SCENARIOS

WETLANDS MITIGATING FLOODING

The main areas where wetlands still exist are in the coastal areas of the city. These areas flood very easily, and the wetlands there are used to mitigate the water, while also providing agricultural purposes for the city. Because of the small grain size and large surface area of clay particles, the water clings to the clay, creating confining layers in the subsurface. This creates an unstable ground for buidings that are moving into the area

Currently, residential towers are moving into these wetland areas and paving over the natural habitat. If this continues to happen, the wetlands will be completely gone and Shanghai will flood more frequently and severely.

5


FIGURE 8.07: Wetland mitigation for flooding



TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATION

Currently, transportation occurs on two main levels. On the ground level, cars and pedestrians utilize the area for roadways and pedestrian streets. The secondary level is elevated above the ground level and carries train and highway networks.

If Shanghai were to flood, the entire ground level would not be able to be utilized; however, the elevated rails and highways could potentially become the new ground level.

6

FIGURE 8.08: Transportation consequences as a result of flooding

77772 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FLOODING SCENARIOSOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

COMMERCIAL

Since the center of Shanghai is built around market-based planning, there are many pedestrian streets that are fully commercialized. On these roads, the circulation exists only on the ground level, which is fully paved.

When Shanghai floods, pedestrial circulation is paused, and the ground level commercial areas are flooded. In addition to the transportation, the pedestrian level circulation and commercial areas will have to be relocated

7

FIGURE 8.09: Commercial consequences as a result of flooding



COASTAL CONDITION

The natural coastline of Shanghai are wetlands, that successfully mitigate flooding. The growth trend of Shanghai is to expand laterally, pushing the coastline outwards.

To achieve this the coastal wetlands are being drained and replaced with concrete surfaces and highrises.

8

FIGURE 8.10: Coastal consequences as a result of flooding

79792 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

CASE STUDYCHINESE WATER CITIES

(LEFT)FIGURE 9.01: Canal in Suzhou

CASE STUDIES

SUZHOU

FIGURE 9.02: Suzhou and the decrease in the amount of canals

CHINESE WATER CITIES

Suzhou, located to the west of Shanghai, and although an ancient city, utilizes a canal system as a driver for urban structure. Like Shanghai and its problem of the destruction of wetlands, Suzhou has destroyed most of the canals that have been beneficial for the city for reasons such as the build up of waste, space that was needed for infrastructure, and the citys desire for green spaces and gardens (see figure 9.02). Unfortunately in Suzhou, and other water towns like it, they have suffered from flooding, the deterioration of building materials that interact with the water, lack of space for growth, and water contamination (see figure 9.05).

Although not a perfect urban structure, aspects can be taken in association to the urban relationship to water and the use of water as a material. The canals are used daily by the neighboring residences for cooking, washing, organic (and in-organic) waste, and transportation.




SHANGHAILUZHI

ZHOUZHUANGTONGLI

XITANG

WUZHENNANXUN

FIGURE 9.03: Distribution of Chinese Water Cities around Shanghai

The Chinese Water Cities utilize water as a driver for the urban structure, but at

the same time are slowly losing their canal systems.

83832 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

CASE STUDIES

CHINESE WATER CITIES (CONTINUED)

One reason why some of these canals were destroyed were to implement more green spaces and gardens. The garden exemplifies the Chinese relationship to natural elements and provides insight on how urban forms were originally designed.

The goal of the Chinese garden is to capture the greater environment and allow for a visitor to feel as though they are wandering through the landscape. The garden is always enclosed and contains a series of juxtaposing elements that are placed to showcase yin and yang. Architecture, rocks, water, and plants are always used and are situated to create specific views within the enclosed space.

The relationship to the environment can be seen carried over to the Chinese water cities and landscape design.

Although water is utilized as a system, the components are still separated and not unified (see figure 9.04). This causes the houses only on the water to be able to benefit, and since the buildings are growing out into the water, many of the canals will continue to dissapear.

Looking into a new urban system for Shanghai, aspects of these water cities can be integrated into the new urban structure; however, the separation of these systems will need to be further integrated.

FIGURE 9.04: Horizontal layout of Suzhou




FLOODING WASHING

LIMITED ROOM FOR GROWTH TRANSPORTATION

DETERIORATION OF MATERIALS COOKING + ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL

WATER CONTAMINATION FRESH WATER SUPPLY

FIGURE 9.05: Problems the Chinese Water Cities face versus the way water is utilized

(a) (e)

(b) (f)

(c) (g)

(d) (h)

85852 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

URBAN PROJECTIONPROJECTED SPATIAL CONSEQUENCES

(LEFT)FIGURE 10.01: Shanghai ground level flooding

SPATIAL CONSEQUENCES IF...

THE CURRENT FLOOD WALL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE BUILT

URBAN PROJECTION

URBAN PROJECTION

If Shanghai continues to use the methods in which they are dealing with their increasing flood problems, the city will ultimately not be protected. The current flood wall system the Shanghai has implemented is working as a responsive system, rather than a preventive one. Because of this, as the flooding worsens Shanghai will not be protected and each year Shanghai will experience detrimental flooding to the ground level, as well as urban infrastructure and existing buildings. As a result, the flood wall system will continue to be rebuilt and grow in height.

FIGURE 10.02: Current Bund waterfront


CURRENT



As a result of the increasing height of the flood wall a few things will happen. One issue that will arise is that the wall will act as a barrier between the city, cutting off visual connections across the Huangpu River. This spatial issue will cause the city to be divided into cells, further breaking off visual and physical connections. This notion is acting similarly to the urban typology of ancient Chinese walled cities, which use the wall as a source of protection. Perhaps the most detrimental would be the loss of fluid transportation across the city and the loss of all ground level activities.

WATER LEVEL RISE: 5M

FIGURE 10.03: Projected Bund waterfront

89892 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

SPATIAL CONSEQUENCES IF...

W E T L A N D S W E R E INTEGRATED INTO THE URBAN CONTEXT

90 R E N S S E L A E R S O A

URBAN PROJECTION

90 R E N S S E L A E R S O A


URBAN PROJECTION (CONTINUED)

Another option would be to utilize the wetland system throughout the city, essentially flooding the ground level that is used heavily daily.

91


91

If this option were to occur, the wetlands would act as voids within the urban context, cutting off all transportation and ground level activity

2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FIGURE 10.04: Wetlands as voids at the ground level

URBAN PROJECTIONOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

TIME

FLOOD MITIGATION

WETLANDS

NO WETLANDS

[Kusler 1983]

WETLANDS

NO WETLANDS

WETLANDS AS FLOOD BUFFERS

Although wetlands create voids within an urban landscape, their uses for retention of water make them excellent flood buffers. As a water storage system they protect against monsoons, storm surges, as well as flooding and the rising sea level.

The use of wetlands in the urban context is not unprecedented. Wetlands are used in the Netherlands because of their elevation at sea level, as well as in the outskirts of New Orleans. Currently, the coastal wetlands around New Orleans are being restored, as they are seen as more valuable than the current levee system.

FIGURE 10.05: Wetlands versus no wetlands for flood mitigation



FILTERED RECHARGE WATER

FINE SILT

WATER STORAGE

FLOOD STORAGE IN WETLANDS

1X

5X

[Wetlands] slow floodwaters and

provide space for water overflowing from rivers,

thereby reducing a floods destructiveness.

-World Wildlife Foundation

FLOOD SEASON

PLUM RAINBELT

TYPHOON SEASON

RICE PLANTING

RICE HARVESTING

POTENTIAL FLOODING

RICE CULTIVATION PERIOD

GROUND LEVEL DESIGN PERIOD

0 31 59

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

90 120 151 181 212 243 273 304 334 365

FIGURE 10.06: Wetlands as voids at the ground level

FIGURE 10.06: Wetlands as a sponge for flood water

FIGURE 10.07: Flood scheduling

93932 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

F U T U R E ELEVATED URBANISM


1

2

3

4

FIGURE 10.08: Elevated urbanism above wetlands



ELEVATED URBANISM

If wetlands are useful for flood mitigation, but create voids at the ground level within the urban context can the city begin to lift above the wetlands (see figure 10.08)? How will urban planning have to be rethought in order to achieve this long-term goal?

By using this new typology of planning Shanghai would begin to utilize the water storage capabilities of wetland ecologies, while also creating a preventive flooding system that will protect the city well into the future.

By accepting this new planning strategy, Shanghai will begin to reject its current mode of flood mitigation and will discontinue the use of the flood wall system. This shift in strategy marks a new era in urban planning: one that values the importance of natural and ecological elements over the current way in which we build and think about urban networks.

In this new planning method, the system of the city starts to form as a response to the current ecological problems and solutions that are needed, creating long term urban planning solutions, rather than short-term urban fabrics that will eventually be negated because of rapidly emerging natural concerns. Urban population growth becomes a secondary factor, rather than a driving concern, and is solved through the use of elevated networks

HOW CAN WETLANDS AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE COEXIST?

95952 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

URBAN LANDSCAPE TYPOLOGY

SMALL COURTYARD PARK LARGE URBAN PARK NEW URBAN LANDSCAPE TYPOLOGY

Create open space in densifying city Protect the urban environment from environmental threats

D R I V E R S

Personal and social gathering space

D R I V E R S1 2 D R I V E R S3P A S T C U R R E N T F U T U R E



D R I V E R S





D R I V E R S




F U T U R E

FIGURE 10.09: Urban landscape typologies



FUTURE LANDSCAPE TYPOLOGIES

Through this new planning process a new landscape typology would begin to emerge. Previous (and current) landscape typologies exist as voids within the city, either as smaller blocks or larger areas. For instance, Central Park in Manhattan exists as an urban park, but cuts off connections in the center of the city. To get from one side to another there are limited transportation routes, forcing people to travel around the park (if using vehicular transportation), rather than through it.

In this new landscape typology, the urban entity is lifted, allowing for a sprawling wetland landscape to exist beneath the city (see figure 10.09). The urban park is no longer seen as a void, but as an endless landscape that serves two main purposes: a destination, as well as a flood protection system for the city.

Scheduled usage becomes a new way to inhabit a city. When flooding is not a threat and the wetlands have not reached their water retention limit, the ground level can be utilized; however, when flooding is an issue, all activity is shifted upwards with no direct threat from flooding.

The idea of how humans interface with nature is shifted. No longer are natural elements destroyed for the introduction of man-made structures, but humans begin to live with their surroundings, rather than depleting them.

WHAT NEW URBAN TYPOLOGIES BEGIN TO EMERGE?

97972 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2


GROUND LEVEL THICKNESS



LINEAR VERTICAL SPRAWL

HORIZONTAL SPRAWL

ELEVATED NETWORKS

LINEAR VERTICAL SPRAWL

HORIZONTAL SPRAWL

ELEVATED NETWORKS

MODES OF GROWTH

This new urban model changes the mode in which Shanghai grows. Instead of growing vertically upwards or horizontally outwards, the entire city will begin to be shifted above the flood plane (see figure 10.10). Instead of having only one mode of access to the ground level, such as the case in high rises or horizontal sprawl, the ground level will begin to be thickened and the city will be lifted into networks. In this new strategy, land availability is not an issue because of the way the city can grow off each other to form networks of urban space.




FIGURE 10.10: Typical urban modes of growth



RESTRUCTURING: RELOCATING DEVELOPMENT UPWARDS OVER THE FLOOD PLAIN

RESTRUCTURING: DENSIFICATION OF COMMERCIALIZATION IN CITY CENTER

This new strategy also changes the way in which Shanghai operates. Instead of densifying the city center with commercial program, the city can focus on the shifting of development upwards (see figure 10.11). This new scheme will blur the concept of compartmentalized programs within the city and will create network connections between residential, commercial, and infrastructural entities. A new mode of densification emerges, with elevated networks responding to the type of urban fabric that is needed for each program. The idea of the grid system is replaced by the introduction of elevational planning.

FIGURE 10.11: Shanghai urban restructuring plan

99992 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2


CHINESE PROPERTY + ZONING LAWS

What makes this restructuring process possible is the Chinese property and zoning laws. These laws state that urban land, as well as rural land, is owned by the state government. This allows the Chinese government to control the land usage, and can change the land usage at any time. Instead of the government controlling the location of commercial program to gentrify the center of the city, the government can begin to zone out Shanghai into elevated networks over time.

FIGURE 10.12: Shanghai land ownership dispute

R E N S S E L A E R S O A100 R E N S S E L A E R S O A


The next question that begins to emerge is how to lift an entire city above an already existing ground plane. This idea of lifting is not about floating or using scaffolding, but about creating a minimal footprint in order to free up space for a sprawling wetland buffer and park. Examples of minimum footprint structures can be found in already existing typologies, such as oil rigs lifted above the ocean, houses on the coastline lifted above the water, or (at a much smaller scale) in flood stilts used by residents to wade through flood waters (see figures 10.13-10.16). The issue of materiality begins to emerge as an important factor for how to grow a city upwards, while also taking up minimal ground space.

FIGURE 10.15: House on stilts

FIGURE 10.13: Oil rig, New Orleans

FIGURE 10.16: Flood water stilts, Thailand

FIGURE 10.14: Oil rig, New Orleans

1011012 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

HOW DO YOU LIFT AN ENTIRE CITY WITH A MINIMAL FOOTPRINT?

MATERIAL RESEARCHSECTIONAL INVESTIGATION

(LEFT)FIGURE 11.01: Microscopic investigation: bone-like structure

CALCIUM CHLORIDE

UREA

SAND

BACILLUS PASTEURII

PIPETTE ENDS

BURNER

BACILLUS PASTEURII [SAND TO SANDSTONE]

U C D A V I S

BIO SOILSOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

FIGURE 11.03: Chemical materials for sand calcifying procedure

FIGURE 11.04: Microscopic comparison between sand grains that are injected with bacillus pasteurii versus sand grains without injection


CALCIUM CHLORIDE

UREA

SAND

BACILLUS PASTEURII

PIPETTE ENDS

BURNER

BACILLUS PASTEURII [SAND TO SANDSTONE]


CALCIUM CHLORIDE

UREA

SAND

BACILLUS PASTEURII

PIPETTE ENDS

BURNER

BIO SOILS

One issue in building in Shanghai is that much of the infrastructure has destroyed the wetlands and has been built on top of the weak soil, causing buildings to collapse and sink. The pumping of water from the aquifers is also causing land subsidence. Natural building elements are one way to un-ground a city. By looking at natural materials found in landscapes, is there a way to create structural elements in a city by controlling the natural process of calcification?

There is currently a bacteria that is being developed by UC Davis Soil Interactions Laboratory that essentially turns sand sized grains into sandstone. If the scope of this technology is widened, the bacteria has the potential to stabilize the soil beneath Shanghai and eventually grow the city upwards. By injecting Bacillus pasteurii, which already exists naturally in wetlands, calcium gets deposited around the sand grains which causes cementation (see figure 11.04).

Can this natural cementation work as man made bedrock beneath the city, or create natural structures above ground? One issue in using this technology is that the structural formations would have difficulty organically growing without the aid of heavy scaffolding, which would ultimately have to be removed after the structure has solidified, begging the question, is there a more direct process?

FIGURE 11.05: Sand injected with bacillus pasteurii

FIGURE 11.02: Sandstone formations

1051052 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

HOW DO YOU CONTROL A NATURAL CALCIFICATION PROCESS?

CALCIUM CARBONATE

N A T U R A L F O R M A T I O N :

CaO + H 2O Ca(OH) 2

Ca(OH) 2 + CO 2 CaCO 3 + H 2O

calcium o x i d e w a t e r

c a l c i u mh y d r o x i d e

c a l c i u mh y d r o x i d e

ca r b o ndioxide

c a l c i u m carbonate w a t e r

CE

ME

NT

MA

RB

LE

LIM

ES

TON

E

CALCIUM CARBONATEOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

CALCIUM CARBONATE

Another natural structural process occurs through the calcification of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is the main element found in nature and natural building materials, such as cement, marble, and limestone. Coral also does this process naturally to excrete an exoskeleton for protection (see figures 11.08 and 11.09).

This process happens naturally when calcium hydroxide is combined with carbon dioxide. Through the weathering process, the rock formations are shaped. By analyzing the chemical formula, can this natural process begin to be controlled?

FIGURE 11.07: Materials with calcium carbonate as a main element

(a) (b) (c)


coelenteron

1st cell layer

mesoglea

calicoblastic layer

calicoblastic fluid

skeleton

CA

LCIF

ICA

TIO

N

OF

SK

EL

ET

ON

CO

RA

L

Calcium carbonate is deposited on the outermost layer by the reaction of carbon dioxide, water, and bicarboante atoms, all within the layers of the coral organism.


FIGURE 11.06: Grand Canyon

FIGURE 11.08: Coral exoskeletons and calcium carbonate precipitation in water(a) (b) (c)

FIGURE 11.09: Coral exoskeleton calcium carbonate excretion process

1071072 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

FIGURE 11.10: Creation of limewater from calcium hydroxide

FIGURE 11.11: Introduction of carbon dioxide through solution

FIGURE 11.12: Calcification of calcium carbonate on specified formwork

FIGURE 11.13: Calcification of calcium carbonate on specified formwork

C O N T R O L L E D F O R M A T I O N :


MAN-MADE STONE

In order to lift a city upwards, can this calcifying process become controlled to create a new type of building material? Is it possible to create man-made stone? Through the experimentation of the elements that make up calcium carbonate, a new way of controlling the porcess begins to emerge.

In one instance, limewater is created from calcium hydroxide. When carbon dioxide is combined into this solution it yields calcium carbonate as a substance in water (see figures 11.10 and 11.11).


FIGURE 11.14: Creation of scafolding system with controlled densities to control where more structure is needed, as well as controlling the formations at the ground level


MAN-MADE STONE (CONTINUED)

Another process that can be considered is calcium carbonate precipitation through electrical currents produced thorugh electrosys (see figures 11.12 and 11.13). The problems with these two processes is they have little potential for large scale implementations and structural properties.

Also, as a building method, they are equally unrealistic. In order to become possible in an urban setting, a new method will have to be developed to organically grow a city upwards.

1091092 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2


FIGURE 11.15: Calcification tests of different frameworks and scaffolding



MAN-MADE STONE (CONTINUED)

Through experimentation, there is potential for calcium carbonate to be created in a different way to create a building material that can organically and continually grow. If combined with a natural binder, the calcium hydroxide can become a paste that when exposed to carbon dioxide will calcify and become calcium carbonate.

This controlled way of essentially growing a building material has many benefits. One of these benefits includes the relatively low cost of construction because of the accelerated natural process that is developed. Also, because of the building materials that are used, the city becomes a natural carbon sink. Carbon dioxide can get harvested from local coal mines and used to calcify the formed structures, essentially acting as a large scale building material.

Many forms can derive from this process, all fluid and organic in nature. Different scaffolding systems can be utilized in order to seed the process at the ground level and create a foundation for future growth over time (see figure 11.15). Local materials, such as strips of bamboo or rope can be initially structured in order to create a support for future development of an aerial-scape.

FIGURE 11.16: Calcification of scaffolding

1111112 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

SITE + TYPOLOGIESDEVELOPMENT OF AN AERIAL-SCAPE

(LEFT)FIGURE 12.01: Pudong

YE

AR

20

11

SEA

LEVE

L

0 M

ETER

S

1ELECTRIC POWER

GAS

WATER

SUBWAY TRANSPORTATION

SEWAGE

DEEP WATER

HVAC, WATER, ELECTRIC BUILDING SYSTEMS

NANJING LU

In order for this process to be implemented within a city, an initial site needs to be studied to examine the existing conditions and programs that would have to be rethought and re-organized to grow Shanghai upwards. The initial site chosen is Nanjing Lu, a commercial pedestrian street in the urban center of the city. Beneath the site lies heavy infrastructure, such as electric power, gas, water, subway transportation, sewage, and deep water pipes. All of these functions are delaminated, with different connections branching off for individual buildings, such as the water, electrical, and gas systems (see figure 12.03).

SITEOSSEOUS AERIAL-SCAPERE-ORGANIZING SHANGHAIS RELATIONSHIP TO WATER

FIGURE 12.02: Existing site conditions

R E N S S E L A E R S O A114 R E N S S E L A E

osseous aerial-scape

Documents

r i s s

e r s o a2 r e n s s

e r s o a6 r e n s s

water2 r e n s s e

water6 r e n s s e

ir e n s s e

e r s o afall

e r s o a2010