2021 CAT A - Metabolism
The materials crisis is an often-overlooked issue in landscape architecture. In planning, the densification of cities is presented in tidy, shiny visualizations that maximize their sales value. But an immense amount of deconstruction waste is not recycled and sent to landfills before new buildings are built. This performs poorly in the concept of site metabolism - fewer inputs and outputs lead to improved sustainability. The local landscape provides an opportunity to store deconstructed materials that still have life left but need an intermediate place to wait until their reuse is realized. Landscapes are perpetually growing and evolving spaces, so why not take more advantage of this idea?
Our project researches the opportunity for material storage and reuse in Haraldrud, Oslo, Norway. The neighborhood presently is overwhelmingly industrial with aging facilities and centuries of pollution. Due to its proximity to the city center, it is slated to transition from an industrial hub to residential blocks over the next 30 years. One particular corner of Haraldrud is of high importance – it is planned to be a temporary park to foster local community, it has highly contaminated soils, and it is the last point in a polluted watershed before entering the Alna River. Site metabolism can be optimized by storing and reusing harvested materials as sound barriers, seating, and paving. It can be done in a way that is reflective of iconic natural Norwegian features, increasing social acceptance. And sensitive to environmental challenges, existing and strategic phytoremediating vegetation improve soil and water quality.
