We were all assigned different parts of the site to research the proposed themes.

My theme is wildlife corridors - here is some research and examples:

GREEN CORRIDORS

Precedents:

Wildlife corridors/ green bridges.

A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities (such as roads, development, or logging). This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity (via genetic drift) that often occur within isolated populations. Corridors may also help facilitate the re-establishment of populations that have been reduced or eliminated due to random events (such as fires or disease). This may potentially moderate some of the worst effects of habitat fragmentation.

Wildlife corridors are susceptible to edge effects; habitat quality along the edge of a habitat fragment is often much lower than in areas further from the habitat edge. Wildlife corridors are important for large species requiring significant sized ranges; however, they are also vital as connection corridors for smaller animals and plants as well as ecological connectors to provide a rescue effect.

Although wildlife corridors have been proposed as solutions to habitat and wildlife population fragmentation, there is little evidence that they are broadly useful as a conservation strategy for all biodiversity in non-developed or less-developed areas, compared to protecting connectivity as the relevant ecological attribute. In other words, corridors may be a useful meme for conservation planning/ers, but the concept has less meaning to wildlife species themselves. Very few wildlife follow easily-identified "corridors" or "linkages" (e.g., using compuatational modeling), instead most species meander and opportunistically move through landscapes during daily, seasonal, and dispersal movement behavior. Wildlife corridors may be useful in highly-developed landscapes where they are easily identified as the last remaining and available habitat.

One common example of bird species' ranges are land mass areas bordering water bodies, for example oceans, rivers, or lakes, and called a coastal strip. A second example, some species of bird depend on water, usually a river, swamp, etc., or water related forest and live in a river corridor. A separate example of a river corridor would be a river corridor that includes the entire drainage, having the edge of the range delimited by mountains, or higher elevations; the river itself would be a smaller percentage of this entire wildlife corridor, but the corridor is created because of the river.

A further example of a bird wildlife corridor would be a mountain range corridor. In the U.S. of North America, the Sierra Nevada range in the west, and theAppalachian Mountains in the east are two examples of this habitat, used in summer, and winter, by separate species, for different reasons.

Bird species in these corridors are either connected to a main range for the species, (be contiguous), or in an isolated geographic range and be a disjunct range. Birds leaving the area, if they migrate would either leave connected to the main range, or have to fly over land not connected to the wildlife corridor, and thus bepassage migrants over land that they stop on for an intermittent, hit or miss, visit.

According to new research, wildlife corridors are best built with a certain degree of randomness or asymmetry, rather than built symmetrically. The research was conducted at UC Davis.

Paseo pantera

China/Russia tiger programme

Ecologische Hoofdstructuur is a network of corridors and habitats created for wildlife in the Netherlands

Solar-powered Kurilpa Bridge in Brisbane

Designed by the Australian firm Cox Architects, the Kurilpa Bridge is said to be the longest footbridge of its kind. Spanning 470 meters, the footbridge features a LED lighting system that is powered almost completely by 84 integrated solar panels which produce and average of 100KWh a day. And because it is connected to the grid, the bridge can get power when needed or give power back to the grid when a surplus is generated

Telok Blangah Hill Park’s Flying Infrastructure in the Sky

Situated 120 feet above the forest in Telok Blangah Hill Park outside Singapore, this network of pedestrian bridges and suspended walkways gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the park’s breathtaking forest canopy. Rather than disturb the delicate landscape of the park below, engineers designed this network of pathways for visitors to get as close as possible to the ecosystem without disturbing the delicate balance below.

Copenhagen Harbor LM Project

A stunning example of solar bridge-making on a large scale, the Copenhagen Harbor LM Project by Steven Holl Architects combines a host of sustainable technologies like photovoltaic-sheathed skyscrapers, a wind turbine-studded skybridge, sea water heating and cooling systems, and radiant floor heating.

Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia

Another great example of treading lightly on the land, the Langkawi Sky Bridge’s six foot wide deck rises 2000 feet above sea level on the top of Mount Mat Cincang. A marvel of modern engineering, the curving bridge deck allows visitors an intimate experience of the forest canopy and wildlife. And from the built-in triangular lookout decks visitors get panoramic views of Langkawi, an archipelago of 99 islands.

Solar-powered, Inhabited London Bridge Concept

What will the bridges of the future look like? We’d like to think they might look something like this concept for a redesigned London Bridge. Designed by Chetwoods Architects, this bridge placed first in a design challenge that asked for concepts for an inhabited London Bridge of the future. Chetwood’s design included a hydroponic vertical farm, public organic food markets, photovoltaic sheathing, a vertical wind turbine, rainwater collection and greywater

treatment and recycling. See you there!

JM Schivo & Associati has drawn up ambitious plans for a SUSTAINABLE 'EARTH CITY' (AS BELOW)

that completely redefines what a city can and should look like. In addition to a series of large urban blocks that house commercial, recreational, residential, and retail functions, the city features large swaths of green space (including green walls and roofs) that make up 40 percent of the dense urban fabric. Designed for walking and electric vehicles, this city is 100% powered by a robust mix of renewable energy sources.

Have a raised transport level over this – cycle route – raised over the thames – wildlife corridor below?

Leith walk:

Raised environmental centre over the thames:

Ford Calumet Environmental Center

Located in Hegewisch Marsh, the Ford Calumet Environmental Center’s purpose is to allow visitors to discover the past and present of the Calumet region’s unique patchwork of industrial and natural areas. Calumet was a center of steel production and is also located on an important bird migration route. The exhibits will highlight their co-existence.

Like a bird’s nest, the building uses materials that are abundant, available, and nearby. Salvaged steel from the Calumet industrial region and from other discarded recyclable materials such as slag compose the building’s design. In highlighting these materials, the building demonstrates the sustainable principle of re-use and simultaneously connects to the region’s important cultural history.

The south-facing porch is enclosed within a basket-like mesh of salvaged steel that protects the migrating bird population from colliding with glass that they otherwise could not see (glass collisions currently cause 97 million avian deaths each year). At the same time, the steel mesh creates an engaging outdoor classroom for visitors and becomes a ‘blind’ for observing wildlife.

Geothermal heat pumps, earth tubes, a biomass boiler, and water collection systems are integrated into the overall building design and become part of the educational component of the center and its site and contribute to its sustainability. Through these green building concepts the project is slated for a LEED Platinum rating.

Forest Corridor – a Highway Noise Barrier in Hong Kong by BREAD studio

Greenway corridor:

reflect the patterns of the concepts we are exploring into the design.

Useful notes:

A flood management strategy to provide greater protection and a new riverfront greenway for the community; transportation improvements to increase connectivity and connect the neighborhoods; and a focus on sustainable neighborhood-based initiatives and investment. Sasaki will be putting these ideas to work in an ongoing riverfront feasibility study with the Corps of Engineers and in an intensive neighborhood planning process.

Interesting imagery:

Jinhua Architecture Park Public Toilet

Aqua culture – mussels, scallops, oysters – high value products and food.

Alexandra Arch & Forest Walk by LOOK Architects

raised walkways

Invisible Bridge by Scapelab

Layered transport links:

Bicycle Underpass by ipv Delft

2 Piers by Gora art & landscape

http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2011/11/moses-bridge-by-road-architects/

Park of Luna by HOSPER and DRFTWD Office associates

Park of algae? Based on the shapes of cells.

Water purification maze

layout of the wetlands – flooded area?

Huygendijk wood and Subplan 4. The Druiplanden, with an urban character, offers space for a pop podium with catering establishments and intensive bank recreation (sand beach, sunbathing areas, car parking, a day camp site with waterski). Subplan 4 forms the transition between the urban region of Heerhugowaard-South and the recreational area. The subplan offers ‘outdoor’ living in surroundings with many trees. Spacious recreational routes cross the area and link the recreational area to the urban region of Heerhugowaard-South. The Huygendijk wood has a sheltered character and offers space for walking, cycling, jogging and roller-skating, etc. The decor for these activities is comprised of forested areas, open (sunbathing) grassland and nature banks. Some of the soil excavated for the water has been brought to the Huygendijk wood. This soil has been used, in collaboration with the artists of DRFTWD Office associates, to create a variety of locations in the relatively small area that offer a range of experiences.