The Retreat of the Land

Philadelphia Waterfront Proposal | Thesis | Instructor: Annette Fierro

For centuries, the city of Philadelphia is aggressive toward the rivers. Hundred of docks and ship yards has been established along the Delaware, to extend the land into the water. What we extended to water is not only the land, but also our purpose of making more profit and the desire of achieve higher ambitions. To protect our property from being whirl away by the flood. We elevate the river bank along the water, high enough to ensure there is only 1% of the opportunity for the water to flood the land each year. As a result, today when we are standing by this artificial river bank, we are standing 6 feet higher than the water. However, it becomes an isolation between people and the river.

The land needs to retreat, so people could enjoy the true water front landscape and activities. Furthermore, The retreat of the land is also transplanting water-front programs back to land to fill the abandoned urban negative spaces. Let's flood the land, let the 1% possibility happen.

Episode i. Existing Topography and Natural Flood

The 1% possibility of Land to be flooded is based on the geological data of FEMA100Yr flood plain line. Flooding the land base on the existing topography won't be a carnival but a catastrophe. Especially for the high way by the river (Delaware Ave) which has a heavy traffic.

* Traffic Intensity and FEMA 100Yr and 500Yr Flood Plain Mapping

Episode ii. Transforming Topography and Simulated Flood

The mapping above is based on computational simulation of a flood. The result shows an urban hypothesis that the land not only retreat but it also mingles with the water and create an new organic topography. Despite the incongruity between it and the context, it will be an oppotunity to "flood" the urban negative spaces and transform them into landscapes or higher value-added industries.

* Flood Simulation and Contextual Axes Mapping

"Wetland" buffer zone

The "Wetland" buffer zone is designed to enable the tide to flood the site and change the profile of the waterfront over time. The height of the wetland is designed according to the daily tide of Delaware river.

When the tide is low, the wetland is opened to pedestrain, peole can access to the Slide-Into-River Pool,Dive-Into-River Pool and the podium of the under water theatre from ground floor. When the tide is high, the leisure pool is isolated from the rest of the site on ground floor. People could enjoy an unique solitude experience in the pool and enjoy the nice reflection of water.