Restoring the Neponset

This was a thesis project in collaboration with two other students to design a system in which landscape and architecture work together to produce a highly efficient and productive ecology.

We were first asked to separately study a structural system (diagrids and shells) and a plant species (Phragmites Australis) and were then tasked with designing a system with them. Although challenging and very fast-paced, the semester was a great exploration of how to mediate the relationship between the built and natural worlds. It reminded us of the importance of considering the effects construction and development have had on our environments, and the importance of changing our design mentalities moving forward.

We were presented with a very large site south of Boston in the Neponset River estuary. Extensive site studies showed that it had undergone drastic ecological changes due to industrialization. We chose the site for our building close to the mouth of the river because of it was the meeting point of the river, the i-93 highway, and the red MBTA line. What used to be an active salt marsh that contributed to water quality maintenance, wild animal habitats, and protection against storms and sea level rise, was now reduced to an unappealing space surrounded by congested urban development.

Ecological disruption was also caused by the introduction of the invasive plant species Phragmites Australis which spreads quickly and inhibits the growth of other wetland plants, thereby diminishing the efficiency of marshes. However, after learning that these plants are great for soil remediation, sea level rise, and storm protection, we decided to design a center that could act as a prototype to help restore marshlands and ecological diversity in the Neponset River.

Section of a generic wetland ecotone which suggests what the site might have looked like before the industrial revolution. Although phragmites grows close to the water, they are most helpful when planted higher above the lower wetlands plants such a… — **Section** of a generic wetland ecotone which suggests what the site might have looked like before the industrial revolution. Although phragmites grows close to the water, they are most helpful when planted higher above the lower wetlands plants such as spartina

Diagram showing the existing dams, transportation infrastructure, and recreational amenities around the site. — **Diagram** showing the existing dams, transportation infrastructure, and recreational amenities around the site.

Section of the existing ecotone on the site. The truncating of the marshlands overtime has led to major changes in the ecology and will cause significant problems in the future due to sea level rise — **Section** of the existing ecotone on the site. The truncating of the marshlands overtime has led to major changes in the ecology and will cause significant problems in the future due to sea level rise

Diagram showing the ecological history of the site from the 1600’s to the present — **Diagram** showing the ecological history of the site from the 1600’s to the present

Diagram showing the risk of two foot and six foot sea level rise on the site — **Diagram** showing the risk of two foot and six foot sea level rise on the site

Diagramatic Model Photos

Groundwater Condition Beneath the Site

Infrastructural Layers Surrounding the Site

Site in its Current Condition

Phase One of Localized Remediation Plan

Phase Two of Localized Remediation Plan

Phase Three of Localized Remediation Plan

Our strategy to restore the Neponset was to collect soil from where it had built up along dams and use phragmites to treat it, after which it could be used or returned to the river. Our site would act as a prototype for other remediation centers that would similarly treat contaminated soils along the Neponset and eventually restore the river back to its original health.

Diagram showing the localized remediation strategy plan closer to the site which sends soil built up at dams to our site to be processed — **Diagram** showing the localized remediation strategy plan closer to the site which sends soil built up at dams to our site to be processed

Diagram showing the entire Neponset river watershed map — **Diagram** showing the entire Neponset river watershed map

Diagram showing the larger scale remediation plan of the river — **Diagram** showing the larger scale remediation plan of the river

Diagram showing the life cycle of the phragmites plants and contaminated soil as they go through the remediation process. Our intention was to create very little waste and use the plants to produce energy — **Diagram** showing the life cycle of the phragmites plants and contaminated soil as they go through the remediation process. Our intention was to create very little waste and use the plants to produce energy

Diagram explaining the two steps of remediation process for the contaminated soil. It first undergoes phytoremediation using phragmites after which it is chemically treated to ensure the removal of PCB’s — **Diagram** explaining the two steps of remediation process for the contaminated soil. It first undergoes phytoremediation using phragmites after which it is chemically treated to ensure the removal of PCB’s

The next step was to design the prototype that would house the remediation center. After many iterations, we landed on a large shell with multiple “pods” that each housed their own unique program and a remediation bed. An internal street then connects all the pods in order to move the soil to different stages of the process and for future use. A very important aspect of the project was to use the structural system (diagrid) to contain the phragmites and control its spread so as not to affect the lower marshland. Using the diagrid module, the outer edge of the structure acts as a berm to protect against sea level rise and storms, while giving the community a boardwalk park along the water and a way to contain the phragmites. The module allows for many different opportunities to create space and a dynamic parkscape overall.