KELHAM ISLANDURBAN SUCCESSION
site survey and analysislandscape master planecological designstorm water managementsocial bondingeconomic vision
pop art studios and gra�ties’ square productive landscape
Chi Kong, YEUNG & Xiaoyan, JIAO
Site Location & Evironmental ConditionsSite Survey and Analysis
UK
She�eld
Site Extent River Don Direction of Runo�
Topography
High
High
Lowa valley
Source: Google Earth
She�eld City
Centre
She�eld Railway Station
Important linear habitat for wildlife
�e University of She�eld
She�eld Hallam University
River Don
Site Extent
City Parks and Green Spaces
Connectivity of Habitats is needed
Northen Expansion of City Center is proposed by the City Development Plan
Fallopia japonica (le�) and Impatiens glandulifera (right) - both abundant along river bank
Buddleja davidii - commonly found in derelict spaces and car parks
Source of Noise & Air pollution
High Flood RiskSource: Report of Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
N
N
Colonisation of Invasive Plant Species - long-term management plan needed
i
Statistics
6751060
Crime
Medium
16-240-15 25-49 50-64 ≥65
Perc
enta
ge (%
)
Age
65%
30%
Source: (1) O�ce for National Statistics, UK (2) UK CrimeStats
History Land Use Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
�reats
Characters
Site Survey and Analysis
an industrial district famous for making steel in the past
1900 -1919
Semi-Public Open Space Existing ‘Little Kelham’ Residential Development
Listed Buildings Rich of historic buildings
Poor Interface with watercourseLack of quality public open spacesLack of a strong character of this districtLack of visual cue for the coming destination Dangerous cycle lane
Medium rate of crime
Invasive plant species
High �ood risk along the south of the goit
�e demolition of the central space o�er chance of design alternative to Little Kelham
Valley that increases chances of �ooding
A post-industrial site Male more than female in this neighbourhood Mainly inhbitated by youngsters, i.e. students
Kelham Island Museum bringing in tourists Many nice view points along river �e river is a valuable landscape feature
Derelict Space
Not Well-used Space
Museum
(Currently Car Park)
(Currently Car Park)
Weir
Brid
ge
Brid
ge
Derelict
Derelict
Residential
ChurchPub
Cycle Lane
Key View
Poor Interaction with watercourse
Source: http://www.pictureshe�eld.com/
Source: https://www.�ickr.com/photos/djbp/10335112433/sizes/z/in/photostream/
View 1
View 2
Poor Interaction with Watercourse
Design Strategy
Residential
Mowbray Street
ii
Urban Sucession
I
A
B
C
D
E
Kelham Island used to be an active industrial area that manipulated the energy from River Don to produce countless quality steel and cutlery. As globalisation has been growing quickly, its role of the production house of steel in the UK has gradually faded out. However, the good qualities of this area remain. �e most obvious ones are the intimate space along riverbanks and the historic buildings which subtly remind people how energetic Kelham Island was.
Inspired by the ecological succession happening along River Don, it is believed that by undergoing multiple aspects of succession, including the green infrastructure, the stormwater management, the social bonding, the economy, the emerging industries and the greener life style, Kelham Island will move on to another stage of succession which will comprise a more complex structure of community. It will be home for long-established and new residents and a place for relaxation, production and research and development.
Eco-Ribbon (River Don)
Children Water Play Area
Flood Control Park
Urban Farms and Nurseries
Central Ramble
Kelham Island Square
Memory Avenue
Skateboarders’ and Bikers’ Park
Gra�ties’ Square
Main Car Park
Rain Garden Green Road Semi-public Open Space
ABCDEFGH
Scenic BridgeKelham Island ResortCra� and Art StudioKelham Island LibraryFelicity EstateAgriCentreAlgal Power ColumnsPop Art Studios
I Eco-Boardwalk
N
1:3000 @ A4
Landscape Master Plan
a
b
b’
a’
iii
Ecological Design
“To us, Mother Nature is the most powerful landscape architect in the
world. By offering as simple as a boardwalk along River Don, people can
once again walk along the riverbank whenever they want to appreciate the
stunning, provocative and ever-changing landscape created by
Her.”
Heron
Information Source: The Riverlution, Environmental Agency, UK and Sheffield Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Sectional elevation a-a’ 1:500
As the watercourse has already been establishing a ecosystem, minimal intervention to it is intended to encourage further ecological succession. It is believed that the animals listed below which has been identified within the site will benefit from this approach of design.
The current riverbank is extensively colonised by invasive plant species, such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. A long-term management plan (e.g. 10 years plan) that gradually introduces diverse, native riverbank flora is proposed. The selection of plant species will take account of both aesthetic and ecological values. During the course of time, the populations of the invasive species is expected to gradually reduce to a unharmful level. The diversity within plant communities will further support the local fauna as both a shelter and a food source.
Daubenton’s Bat
Alnus glutinosa Dryopteris filix-mas Lysimachia vulgaris Iris pseudacorus Lythrum salicariaSalix purpurea
Daubenton’s BatGrey Wagtail
Water Vole
Kingfisher
Brown Trout
Proposed Key Native Plant Species
iv
Storm Water Management
Before
Extensive - mainly composed of Sedum spp.
Semi-Intensive - range of herbaceous plants
Intensive - more shrubs and trees
After
Section b-b’1:200
Hard paving removed for a wider bioswale that detain more water
Edge of cycle path is defined by bioswale for greater comfort and safety
Bioswales, storm water planters and green roofs are applied to the whole site to form a network of green infrastructure and also to make a significant cumulative effect on storm water management. The main road that wraps around the site is identified to be a key site for installing these features because they can reduce the runoff going towards the internal area of Kelham Island. The plant materials and the water detained can trap the pollutants emitted from vehicles, so a better internal environment can be created.
Since most of the buildings in the site have pitched roofs, it is expected that extensive green roofs will be more common in this area, but occasionally some roofs are flat that can accommodate more complex or heavier green roof systems, especially for the new buildings. The different types of green roofs will also contribute to provision of diverse habitats for wildlife, other than detaining storm water.
Stormwater is detained in bioswales and green roofs. Then it is transferred to other sinks
Green Roofs
Pitched Roofs
Flat Roofs
Flat Roofs
“Together with the intertwining green infrastructure, storm water management, especially for Kelham Island which is located in a valley, will make it a more liveable place.”
Storm water planter
run off to the next sink
run off to the next sink
run off to the next sink
Storm water planter
Storm water planter
Suitable fornew buildings
v
Social Bonding
Pa, our tree is growing amazingly well. See? How strong it is now!
Darling, do you still like my artistic, trendy, phenomenal, futuristic, exploratory, modern, post-modern and contemporary sculpture?!
P-P-PP-Pa...Pa...
Kid, see that tree? It’s planted by your pa and your grandpa.
Memory Avenue
Semi-public Open Space
Hey, where are you, mate?
Really?! I’m coming now!
I’m at the Foster Works! There’s a bloody rock band!! Abi, this week’s band is
so much better than last week’s 8D
Many Semi-public Open Space
Memory Avenue
Central Ramble
One of the weaknesses identified in the site is lack of quality public open spaces for people to socialise and build up bonding to this community, although there are constructing, newly built and old residential buildings. In order to address this issue, two schemes are proposed.
Social Sculpture The idea is adapted from the German artist called Joseph Beuys. In Kelham Island, planting of saplings by local community is kept, but companying the trees are sculptures with a theme of steel to commemorate that Kelham Island used to be a industrial site producing quality steel and equipment made of it. The concept is to encourage the local community to “sculpt” their living space and making their memory together. While taking care of their own trees, they will experience the process of changes year by year and making the cityscape a common memory.
Semi-public Open SpaceMany open spaces surrounded by buildings on the northen side of the site (south of Mowbray Street) has not been fully utilised, so it is proposed to collaborate with land owners, local bands, musician and other arts associations to hold events every weekend in these spaces, so as to provide a platform for the local artists to interact with the local communities.
Let’s make our environment a better place to live in.
This sculpture is lovely <3
Oh ya, Babe! But can we go to the adjacent yard for some folk? :-/
vi
Potential Buyers of Produce and Art Work
Families Tourists Markets C a f e s
Economic Vision“We envisage that Kelham Island will be a hub in Sheffield holding events ranging from local community, national to international functions, and advancing urban agriculture and art industries, through which the local economy can be stimulated.”
REGENERATION OF DERELICT BUILDINGS AND SPACES
Phlegm
vii
Sheets of external structures are placed in Graffities’ Square. Some are interacting with the derelict building and the others are free-standing or twisted. These
abstract sheets act as art boards of the graffiti artists as well as a good site for skateboarders and bike riders. These sheets are meant to
blur the boundary of the building, so that the space and itself
will function as one system, providing a
common ground for artists and
sports enthusiasts.
Pop Art Studios & Graffities’ Square
Existing Frontage of the Proposed Pop Art Studios
Visualisation showing how graffiti injects vibrancy to the derelict building.
Although the main function of Graffities’ Square is for artists to create their art work, it also serves the need of skateboarders and bikers. The difference between Graffities’ Square and Skate-boarders’ and Bikers’ Park is that the former capture more the urban quality and the latter will have more naturalistic features in countryside..
“We treasure the quality of existing post-industrial buildings and wish that by taking a sympathetic approach to regenerating these buildings and their associated spaces will give people a brand new experience while the younger generation can still see how their parents and grandparents lived in the past.”
Reference has been made of Kunsthaus Tacheles in Germany which became a hot tourist spot till its demolition.
Photo depicting tourists roaming inside Kunsthaus Tacheles(Credit: http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/26569099)
Pop Art Studios & Graffities’ Square
Memory Avenue
viii
Productive Landscape“Not to mention the therapeutic benefits of farming and gardening, what food can be healthier than those grown by yourself, your lovely families and neighbours?”
Flood Control Park People can sit beneath the goit enjoying their refreshment and hanging out with
friends. Ones can also fish in here.
Kelham Island Resort It takes less than 5 minutes for tourists to
reach the central open space
Chemical Extraction
Urban Farming Fields Organic farming and permaculture will
be practised in this open field. Contrasting with the indoor productive environment
in AgriCentre, local Communities are expected to get more involvement in this.
Localised Nurseries Gardening is deeply rooted to the British culture, so the demand of
horticultural plants is high. Making localised nurseries can meet the
demand while saving carbon footprint. The native saplings will be
the material for Social Sculpture.
AgriCentre A hi-tech centre, adapted from a derelict
historic works, combining both food production and R&D of urban agriculture
and biofuel
Urban Orchard Fruit trees are planted to be part of the
landscape of the central green space and form a botanical garden featuring edible trees.
Algal Power Columns A futuristic landscape feature that showcases
the prototype of using algae to convert photon to energy-bearing chemicals which eventually
will be converted to biofuel and fertiliser supporting the AgriCentre and farming fields
respectively.(See visualisation and illustration on the left)
The G
oit
Prot
ein
Lipid
NPK
Photosyntheses
Biofuel
Alg
al P
ower
Col
umn
Algal Power Columns act like not only a tree that fixes CO2 and releases O2, but also produces fertiliser and biofuel via chemical harvesting process
Information Source: Mascarelli, A.L.(2009) Algae: fuel of the future?. Environmental science & technology. America, American Chemical Society, 43(19), pp.7160–1.
Alg
al P
ower
Col
umn
Algae cell
The Algal Power Columns will be the future landmark of Kelham Island
CO2
O2
Fertiliser
Existing Conditions of AgriCentre ix