From Vertical Territories Methodology to Time-Node Urban Space System
The Brief
The term 'Site' is frequently used in architecture, planning, and landscape architecture design as a way of framing space. However, Peter Eisenman once stated that our way of looking at a site through a constant unit of measure limits our thinking and understanding of the site. Therefore, we took a different methodology (Vertical Territories) to explore Quebec City urban system as a "site". In addition, we emphasized on the time factor in relationship to these vertical layers to create Time-Node Urban Space which will be a key system for future river rehabilitation at Quebec City.
Vertical Territories Methodology
Different than the traditional way of planning that focuses more on the ground plane, this methodology allows us to focus on different layers of Micro Climate (air flow, quality, and visibility in terms of scenery), wildlife specifically bird (migration), human (local recreational and tourism activities, movement, and linkage), Geology (land form, soil type, quality, and vegetation), Hydrology (river corridors, water quality, water species such as fish), and Timeframe (day and night, summer and winter). In a dynamic system, even small causes of these layers can have large effects on the entire system in a long run. For instance, although the air pollutant Sulfur Dioxide level in Quebec City is not high, the upper reaches area has a relatively high level of Sulfur Dioxide which has a chance to increase the acidity level of the hydro system in Quebec City, especially after the rain. This will cause many chain effects in terms of water activities, biological diversity, human health, etc.
Our approach
Based on the studies of existing condition of Quebec City, we classified the city developments into three urban planning prototypes (Protected/Reserved Zone, Buffer Zone and Development Zone). Considering Quebec City is characterized as an international tourist city with lots of water features and activities, we envision four major rivers (the Cap-Rouge, St. Charles, Beauport, and Montmorency rivers) as mobile landscape spaces where users and activities change as the time of the day changes. At the same time, we also foresee the potential conflicts in many ways such as human development vs. hydro system, human activities vs. wildlife habitat, local recreational activities vs. tourism activities, etc. Therefore, we proposed the idea of creating a Time-Node Urban Space to buffer and solve these potential conflicts. By building the relationship between time factor and different layers in Vertical Territories Methodology, we were able to further analyze and compare the diversity and complexity of Quebec City's Hydro System to improve specific environment, created diversified mix of programmed open spaces to balance passive and active uses, enhanced the strong open space network, and introduced sustainable planning and architecture prototypes.
10 testing sites (interest spots) were chosen to demonstrate the concept of Time-Node Urban Spaces and we have created 10 prototype isometric sections to demonstrate the uniqueness of such system for future development of four major rivers.
(Competitor's text)
3 scanned / 3 viewable
- Presentation Panel
- Presentation Panel
- Presentation Panel
