GSD 2241 Planting Systems Lecture Michael Flynn Xuevxi

Representation III
Representing Biotic Ephemera: Floral and Faunal Networks
GSD 2241: Landscape Representation III

Harvard University
Graduate School of Design
Fall 2011
Representing Biotic Ephemera: Floral and Faunal Networks
Downsview Park, Toronto, Ontario

Fresh Kills Park, James Corner Field Operations, 2001 - 2008
University of Puerto Rico Botanic Garden, San Juan, Puerto Rico – JCFO, 2006
Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010
Parque Del Lago, Quito, Ecuador m3project landscape urbanism, 2008
Taichung Gateway Park, Taichung, Taiwan, m3project landscape urbanism, 2011
downsview park, toronto
Downsview Park
Toronto, Ontario (1999)
•320 acres, to grow over time
•Former military airbase outside Toronto, formerly peripheral, but now the geographic center of the
city due to rapid sprawl
•Originally slated for private development, but public demand led to vision of a national wilderness
park
•Phasing, context, and ecology are key issues
•Mostly passive program, but some adaptive reuse of military structures

PHASE 1
The Finalists…
Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau:

Tree City
Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Koolhaas/Mau (1999)

PHASE 1
The Finalists…
Bernard Tschumi and Derek Revington:

The Digital and the Coyote
Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Tschumi/Revington (1999)

PHASE 1
The Finalists…
Field Operations:
Emergent Ecologies
Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Corner and Alan (1999)

PHASE 1
The Finalists…
Brown and Storey:

Emergent Landscapes
Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Brown and Storey (1999)

Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Brown and Storey (1999)
PHASE 1
The Finalists…
Foreign Office Architects:

A New Synthetic Landscape
Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Foreign Office Architects (1999)

PHASE 2
OMA: Tree City
1. Sacrifice and Save 2. Grow the Park
3. Manufacture
Nature
Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau (1999)
fresh kills park, staten island
Fresh Kills Park
Staten Island, New York, NY, USA (2001)
•2,200 acres
•Sited on the former Fresh Kills landfill (largest landfill in the world)
•Ecology is key: site is an ancient glacial lakebed, formerly covered by salt marshes
•Ecological program meets active program: soil making + remediation integrated into educational
and recreational uses
•Memorialization: Landfill used as site for 9/11 WTC debris, memorial requested
Fresh Kills
Staten Island, NY (2001)
FRESH KILLS HAS AN AREA OF 3.4 SQUARE MILES—
MORE THAN 2.5 TIMES THE SIZE OF CENTRAL PARK.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
LANDFILL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)
PHASE 2
Field Operations: Lifescape
2001:
Competition Entry
Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2001)

PHASE 2
2002:
Phase 1

PHASE 2
2002:
Phase 2

PHASE 2
2003:

PHASE 2
2004:

PHASE 2
2005:

PHASE 2
2006:

PHASE 2
2008:

FRESH KILLS PARK: LIFESCAPE
ILLUSTRATIVE SITE PLAN

HABITAT:
CREATION OF NEW HABITATS AND LANDSCAPE TYPES

HABITAT: REGIONAL ASSET FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE

GROWTH OF THE PARK OVER TIME:
10 YEARS

20 YEARS

30 YEARS

university of puerto rico botanic garden, san juan, puerto rico
The Puerto Rico Botanical Garden is located at the heart of the greater Metropolitan San Juan. Bounded by the Rio
Piedras and halved by a six-lane thoroughfare [PR1], the 280-acre parcel is the single largest open, unbuilt land in the
region. This positions the Garden to provide a new and much-needed urban public open space for San Juan residents,
Puerto Ricans and visitors.
field operations designed a comprehensive framework plan for the Botanical Garden with three chief objectives: 1. To
establish a world-class Botanical Garden that is accessible to the public through new education programs, new physical
structures, new public exhibits and other institutional amenities. 2. To expand on the long history of scientific
experimentation, research and knowledge that has existed in the Botanical Garden. 3. To heighten the Botanical
Garden’s role in establishing an ecological corridor as a major green space in Metropolitan San Juan, serving as a
demonstration project for urban ecology and sustainable land management.
pr 1
rio piedras
University of Puerto Rico Botanic Garden, San Juan, Puerto Rico – field operations, 2006
ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK: GREEN CITY, URBAN NATURE
botanical botanical botanical
forest park city
botanical forest
botanical park
botanical city
program plan image program organization circulation buildings
botanical
forest
botanical
park
botanical
city
botanical botanical botanical
forest park city
The University of Puerto Rico Botanical Garden, San Juan, Puerto Rico, James Corner Field Operations (2006)
The University of Puerto Rico Botanical Garden, San Juan, Puerto Rico, James Corner Field Operations (2006)
BOTANICAL PROGRAM FLOODPLAIN
NATURE EDUCATION EXHIBITS
wetland exhibit
wet meadow exhibit
ARBORETUM AND NURSERY wet lowland forest exhibit
tree specimen collection river ecology exhibit
demonstration gardens river research stations
research plots Insect research plots
orchid nursery taino forest exhibit
flowering plants nursery boardwalk interpretative trail
tree nursery picnic area
herb and nut plant nursery
fruit plants nursery BOTANICAL GARDEN
community garden plots
paths and trails DISPLAY GARDENS
market area herbarium
heliconia garden
aquatic garden
palmetum
monet garden
Orchid garden
alemendro garden
FOREST guanacasta garden
ficus garden
ECOLOGY EDUCATION EXHIBITS legume garden
ecological corridor exhibit food garden
forest exhibit sculpture garden
aqueduct exhibit
ficus exhibit
philodendron exhibit
epiphyte exhibit
tree fern exhibit
treetop walk
forest research
walking trails
RECREATION PROGRAM
PROJECT DELINEATION
IMPLEMENTATION SEQUENCE ALTERNATIVE I
RIO PIEDRAS TODAY:
Toe-erosion and mass wasting due to restrictions of water flow.
US Army Corp of Engineers
Channel Proposal
USACE Channel Proposal
Typical section
USACE typical Canal
Downstream affected by flood
50-year flood zone
Neighborhood runoff
Frequently saturated ground
Existing river channel incised on banks
Historic bridge unstable due to scouring
Botanical gardens buildings flooded

due to constriction
RIO PIEDRAS TODAY : FLOOD ZONES

PROPOSED RIVER ALIGNMENT
TRANSITION ZONES
PROPOSED RIVER ECOLOGIES
RIO PIEDRAS CORRIDOR
UPR PROPOSAL
USACE PROPOSAL
UPR PROPOSAL
RIO GUAIRE,
USACE PROPOSAL
CARACAS
UPR PROPOSAL
RIO GUAIRE,
USACE PROPOSAL
CARACAS
NATURE EDUCATION
shelby farms park, memphis, tn
MEMPHIS

A CENTRAL METROPOLITAN LOCATION
WITH GOOD CONNECTIVITY

URBAN CONTEXT: PARKS

SITE PLAN TODAY

CONSERVATION EASEMENT CHARACTER AREAS TOPOGRAPHIC
STRUCTURE
ACTIVITY ZONES ACCESS + CIRCULATION EXISTING CONTOURS
EXISTING SITE HYDROLOGY EXISTING VIEWSHEDS

4 CHALLENGES TO THE PARK’S DEVELOPMENT
1) POOR IDENTITY 2) SEGMENTED BY INFRASTRUCTURE
3) FRAGMENTED ECOLOGY 4) DEFICIENT ACCESS / CIRCULATION

ONE PARK | ONE MILLION TREES | TWELVE LANDSCAPES

USE SPECIFIC ZONES

12 NEW LANDSCAPES

FRAGMENTS TO MATRIX
FRAGMENTS TO MATRIX:
ESTABLISH IDENTITY + CONNECT ECOSYSTEMS

Plant 1,000,000 New Trees
Preserve Primary Site Vistas
50% Open / 50% Wooded

PLANTING | EXISTING CANOPY

PLANTING | PROPOSED PLANTING AREA
1,050 acres
3,200 acres

PLANTING | PATCHES AND CORRIDORS

PLANTING | STRATEGIES
MASS BOSQUE SPECIMEN CLUMP

PLANTING PLANTING PLANTING PLANTING

PLANTING | TECHNIQUES
MASSING ROOMS MIX CLOUDS

4.6 miles
PLANTING | SPRING 2010 PLANTING PROJECTS

PLANTING | MARCH 19 TREE PLANTING

4.6 miles
PLANTING | SPRING 2010 PLANTING PROJECTS

WALNUT GROVE CORRIDOR

WALNUT GROVE CORRIDOR

PHASE 1 | NORTH LAKE “SLOPE PARK”

parque del lago, quito, equador
parque del lago, keystone mosaic

targeting a keystone species
Phase 1: Shaping Phase 2: Seeding Phase 3: Early succession Phase 4: Mid succession Phase 5: Mature development
The initial stage of the project involves This critical phase is a two-fold parallel At this mid-stage, the primary responsibility At this later stage, the park will begin to reach At this stage, the mixed wetland-woodland
alteration to the structural components of the approach towards establishing a vibrant mixed will be monitoring of the site’s flora and fauna full maturity, with several of the tree species ecosystem will begin to reach full maturity.
site to lay the foundation for the functioning of wetland-woodland community at the site, to ensure the development of a healthy serving as focal points for a developing mixed The landscape will be a mosaic of dense
a vibrant and productive eco-urban-system. spreading from the focal lake in the south that system. The preponderance of non-native, woodland habitat, interspersed with open trees, interspersed with large and small open
These alterations are critical in the can be integrated with the commercial uses often invasive species in the nearby urban spaces or Plaza’s throughout for gatherings of spaces, as well as wetlands of various sizes
establishment of key ecological links between towards the north. First, many native wetland area will place initial pressure on the newly local residents and visitors (e.g. weddings, teeming with fish and avian wildlife. This
the hydrology and biology of terrestrial and sedges and rushes will be planted around the emerging native ecosystem, potentially farmer’s market, open art exhibits, etc.). As mixed landscape will provide the maximum
aquatic habitats. Inundation in select areas inundated areas. These species naturally undermining its development. As the mature the mixed habitat begins to reach maturity, the diversity of habitats for the various wildlife of
will lay the framework for a mosaic of wetland grow rapidly, and will establish an early-use system develops, this will be less of a threat at structural integration of the park with the urban Ecuador, with several species relegated to the
areas, biodiversity hot spots for several area that will provide habitat for several later stages because many of the native surroundings will be carried out. This will montane flanks to the west likely using the
threatened or endangered species of endemic bird species in Ecuador long absent species are more suitable adapted to the local include several east-west bike and pedestrian park because of its bounty. There will be a
Ecuadorian birds, interspersed with montane in the urban area, including Furnarious climate. Once adequate fertility is established lanes, one central north-south mixed use seasonal life to the park as well, with the
woodlands characteristic of a pre-urban Quito. cinnamomeus, Veniliornis callonotus by the planted leguminous shrubs, target thoroughfare, as well as several elevated verdant greens of the Cedrela and Juglans
callonotus, Galucidium peruanum and Turdus native trees such as Jacaranda spp., Cedrela wooden footpaths around and pedestrian piers during the winter being replaced by the burst
maculirostris, as well as provide an aquatic lilloi (South American Cedar), and Juglans into some of the more prominent wetland of purple flowers from the native Jacaranda in
habitat for light uses by local residents such neotropica (Ecuadorian Walnut) will be areas. As use of the park increases during the spring. At later stages, the mature park
as paddle-boating, fishing, etc. In addition, planted. These slow-growing long-lived trees this phase, care will be taken to ensure the site will additionally serve as a source of
these wetlands, once fully mature, will service include several species that are listed as continued development of the wetland and native flora and fauna to a depauperate urban
the local city through sequestration of threatened on the IUCN Red List from habitat woodland habitats, by monitoring damage ecosystem of the city core, as well as a
pollutants and efficient nutrient cycling. loss, and will promote local biodiversity, from use and invasion by weedy species from significant sink for anthropogenic pollutants as
Second, several keystone species will be provide mixed woodland areas for recreational the nearby urban landscape; however, this a result of productive plant growth.
strategically planted in the terrestrial matrix to use, and serve as the flagship species for the latter concern will likely be diminishing during
improve the soil ecology of this recently urban park, embodying habitat resembling that of this phase.
landscape in order to make the site more pre-urban Quito. During this phase, the
amenable to late-succession trees highly wetland systems will likely reach full maturity,
valued by the local community. These native and will require minimal monitoring and
leguminous species (i.e. Acacia aroma) provide much recreational uses to the
sequester nitrogen from the atmosphere and surrounding populous.
infuse the soil thereby improving site health,
and will be selected in favor of the non-native
legumes that currently predominate (i.e.
Acacia longifolia, Acacia delbota) in order to
promote local biodiversity.

taichung gateway park, taichung, taiwan
Environmental Gradients
Environmental gradients abound in natural systems, over mega-scales from the tropics to the tundra, meso-scales from the
coast to the mountains, and micro-scales from a woodland edge into a grassy clearing. Our design embraces this concept,
through juxtaposition of water and land, grasslands and woodlands, north and south. Taichung sits at the ecotone or
ecological border between the drier subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest to the north, and the more mesic tropical
rainforest to the south. This natural setting promotes the fusion of these two habitats, with each anchor point at the poles
propagating along the long axis of the Park, colliding in the center in a hyperdiverse setting. Native species will be
preferentially used to promote local biodiversity, and a range of morphotypes to create a diverse mosaic of habitat types for
organisms and mixes usage by the urban population.
Northern Ecotone
The Northern ecotone embodies the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest. Typically, these areas receive high amounts of
rainfall punctuated by drier periods and even droughts October through April. Target tree species well adapted to this habitat
type include Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa), the golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), Chinaberry (Melia azedarach), and
Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum). All are native to Taiwan and will provide rich habitat for the diverse assemblages of
native birds, amphibians, and insects. These woodlands will be interspersed with grassy clearings (e.g. eternity grass
[Paspalum distichum]) to provide sunny openings for commercial markets, festival spaces, and other gatherings for the local
urban populous. Several educational markers will identify and describe keystone species of Taiwan, such as describing the
soil rejuvenating capacity of the golden shower tree, and the natural health supplements from the leaves of the banaba tree.
Southern Ecotone
The Southern ecotone embodies the tropical rainforest. Though typically these areas receive high amounts of rainfall all
year, the local climate of Taichung includes dry periods. Thus, species will be carefully selected that represent typologies of
the southern rain forest but that are robust to drier conditions. These may include the Percha sap tree (Palaquium
formosanum), the Fountain tree (Spathodea campanulata), and Malay Paduak (Pterocarpus indicus). These wooded areas
will also be punctuated with grassy clearings, though less so, to preserve the more closed shady habitat structure of the
tropical rainforest. This will support high densities of showy songbirds that will provide acoustic entertainment to urban users
of the park. Similar educational markers as in the Northern ecotone will identify and describe keystone species of the
Southern ecotone, including highlighting the ecological relationship between the Fountain tree and hummingbirds, as well as
describing the latex of the Percha sap tree and its many uses by people historically, including in telegraph wires of the
1800s, golf balls of the 1900s, and its continued use today in modern dentistry.
Collision of northern and southern eco-tones

The collision of northern and southern ecotones in the center of the park will create a unique mosaic of habitats and
biodiversity, representative of the entire ecological gradient. The habitat complexity will provide ample uses for Taiwan’s
wildlife, as well as mixed uses as a leisure hub for the urban populous. Walkways into the canopy will take city-dwellers
along a unique birds-eye experience, punctuated with spiraling staircases to viewpoints. From these viewpoints overlooking
the city, city dwellers will be reminded of the coasts to the west, and the mountains to the east, providing context to the
urban park and appreciation for the natural surroundings. This collision will provide a contrast to the individual habitats to the
north and the south, accentuating the mosaic of complexity that the park embodies.
Biodiversity
The biodiverse system created in this design, with overlapping mosaics to the north and south, will create “hotspots” of
biodiversity especially in the core of the park. In addition to the species of plants highlighted above the mixed wetland-
grassland-woodland areas will provide ample habitats for many species of bird, amphibians, and insects found nowhere else
in the world. These species are termed “endemic”, and because of Taiwans generally favorable climate and diverse
geography, there are many natural riches on the island. There are approximately 84, 50, and 10 endemic species of birds,
butterflies, and amphibians of Taiwan, several of which may flourish in the park. Some species of bird likely favored include
the White-whiskered Laughingthrush (Garrulax morrisonianus), Taiwan Yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps), and the Taiwan
Barwing (Actinodura morrisoniana), the latter two being endemic; other species include the Orange-belly-tree-frog
(Rhacophorus aurantiventris), the Foromosan salamander (Hynobius formosanus), and the Heng-chun birdwing butterfly
(Troides aeacus kaguya). City-dwellers thus can get to know their local flora and fauna though interactive displays
throughout the park, while enjoying the mixed uses of the hyperdiverse urban-eco-system.

MEASURES OF GRADIENT
cultural
composite gradients hydrological gradients topographic gradients botanical gradients

TOPOGRAPHIC GRADIENTS – HABITAT CREATION STRATEGY
Phasing: A Plan for Change –

Anticipating Multiple Futures:
Growth, Adaptation, and
Flexibility
The many potential futures that the city of Taichung may
experience, from changes in development, climate, and
culture are mirrored in the dynamic development of the
urban park. Dynamism and active adaptation will
support the resilience of the total urban-eco-system to
these multiple potential futures, maintaining a viable
system regardless of the individual path the city
experiences. This dynamic implementation process
facilitates, and promotes, flexibility and resilience in the
fundamental composition of the park.
Growth: Succession of Habitat

and Eco-tones
The development of the landscape will follow a

successional pattern mirrored in natural systems, as soil
formation and habitat development allows greater and
greater complexity to emerge. The stages embodied in
this process include substrate shaping, seeding, early
succession, mid succession, and final mature
development. In total, this process will ensure the
successful development of two habitats representative
of the area, which merge towards the center of the park,
integrate with the surrounding city, and create unique
educational, commercial, and leisure opportunities
within the urban core.

HYDRO GRADIENTS – CLIMATE RESILIENCE
dry season wet season +100 yr event +500 yr event Typhoon event

GSD 2241 Planting Systems Lecture Michael Flynn Xuevxi

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Representation III

Representing Biotic Ephemera: Floral and Faunal Networks

GSD 2241: Landscape Representation III

Downsview Park, Toronto, Ontario

•320 acres, to grow over time

•Phasing, context, and ecology are key issues

•Mostly passive program, but some adaptive reuse of military structures

Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau:

Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Koolhaas/Mau (1999)

Bernard Tschumi and Derek Revington:

Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Tschumi/Revington (1999)

Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Corner and Alan (1999)

Brown and Storey:

Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Brown and Storey (1999)

Foreign Office Architects:

Downsview Park (competition) Toronto, Ontario, Foreign Office Architects (1999)

1. Sacrifice and Save 2. Grow the Park

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2001)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2002)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2002)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2003)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2004)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2005)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2006)

Fresh Kills Park Staten Island, NY, Field Operations (2008)

Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)

Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)

Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)

Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)

Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)

Fresh Kills Park, Staten Island, NY – field operations, (2001-2008)

50-year flood zone

Frequently saturated ground

Existing river channel incised on banks

Historic bridge unstable due to scouring

Botanical gardens buildings flooded

RIO PIEDRAS TODAY : FLOOD ZONES

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

ACTIVITY ZONES ACCESS + CIRCULATION EXISTING CONTOURS

EXISTING SITE HYDROLOGY EXISTING VIEWSHEDS

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

1) POOR IDENTITY 2) SEGMENTED BY INFRASTRUCTURE

3) FRAGMENTED ECOLOGY 4) DEFICIENT ACCESS / CIRCULATION

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

MASS BOSQUE SPECIMEN CLUMP

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

MASSING ROOMS MIX CLOUDS

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010

Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, TN James Corner Field Operations, 2010