Fragments in Time is a proposed wetland restoration project that aims to rehabilitate a section of the Chevron Richmond Refinery. This semester long project utilizes the existing infrastructure to create a space that could bring together the community as well as restore the native flora and fauna of the area.
Site visit catalog
Creative study
Hand-drawn sketches
Paper mache Model
Construction documents
Richmond Refinery
Previously in a Geographic Information Systems class, (GIS), I worked on a collaborative project focused on identifying the areas most at risk of exposure to harmful toxins from the Chevron Richmond Refinery. We analyzed the regions of Richmond with the highest contamination levels, and investigated the ways the refinery footprint blocks residents from accessing the coast. My contribution was a 3D model created using ArchGIS which enabled us to pinpoint
where contaminated water might collect by measuring flood prone zones and their impact on surrounding communities. This allowed us to visualize flood risk in correlation to population density, providing a clear measure of the communities vulnerability. The models and data from this project deepened my understanding of the Richmond Refineries' effect on neighboring communities.
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In order to better understand our location for this project, our studio cohort conducted a site visit where we documented our observations. I compiled a catalog of objects I found scattered along the side of the road during the trip. What struck me most was the contrast between the discarded metal pieces and batteries, and the fine ceramic pieces left neglected in the dirt. In the moment it felt as though I was walking through a graveyard of forgotten memories, silent fragments hinting at the lives of those who traversed the same paths.
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In order to synthesize the research and information I had gathered, I created an abstract sculpture that helped direct my vision for the design. Bon Appétit is a satirical sculpture commenting on the complex relationship between the Richmond refinery and the local community. Fragmentation in a physical sense through the destruction and pollution of the land as well as the displacement of the local community and native Ohlone people from their ancestral home, and emotionally from the fragments of memory and history left behind. The web of gold string was intentionally placed to
represent an effort to distract from the instability of this broken system. Guided by this central theme of fragmentation, I abstracted the urban planning of Richmond to create snaking paths within the oil tank. Rather than erasing the site's fragmentation, like my sculpture, I instead aimed to highlight it. The outer edge of the site invites a passive experience, with a deck by the water where visitors can relax, while the interior promotes exploration and play creating an immersive interaction within the landscape.
During the research phase of this project I found that the Richmond refinery had significantly depleted the landscape, reducing the wetlands in the bay area and contributing to the endangerment of native species, such as the Salt Water Harvest mouse. The area I chose within the refinery was characterized by a large empty oil tank surrounded by a sloping ring that collected water during rainfall. This discovery of water allowed me to connect back to my initial research by focusing this project on wetland restoration.
Guided by this central theme of fragmentation, I abstracted the urban planning of Richmond to create snaking paths within the oil tank. Rather than erasing the site's fragmentation, like my sculpture, I instead aimed to highlight it. The outer edge of the site invites a passive experience, with a deck by the water where visitors can relax, while the interior promotes exploration and play creating an immersive interaction within the landscape.
This project was designed as a space where both native species and the Richmond community could reconnect with the land, while still acknowledging the history of industrialization and colonization. The plants I chose for my site were native California wetland plants with phytoremediation abilities in order to treat the significant pollution of the land. I drew inspiration for my design from the Minghu Wetland Park as well as the park boardwalk in Noosa Australia.
The project below showcases my ability to create construction documents and details using various software including AutoCAD and Adobe Photoshop. For this assignment I created a series of landscape plans and details for my wetland restoration project.
