Bolang Xie

My current project continues the theme from last term (city play space). During the recalibration phase I focused on the issue of waterlogging and surface runoff in Glasgow. The reason for this focus is that in the context of global warming, rainfall is becoming more frequent and the city's drainage system does not seem to be able to handle such a large amount of rainfall, thus leading to the frequent occurrence of ponding and surface runoff, which is a major cause of water pollution in many urbanised areas of the world. Surface run-off can carry large amounts of harmful substances from road roofs and lawns and discharge unfiltered wastewater into drainage and rivers, leading to ecological pollution and damage.

The kelvingrove has a large number of slopes, with grass slopes of 0-25 degrees generating only road runoff. Grass slopes between 25 and 45 degrees generate road run-off and grass slope run-off, which leads to waterlogging. There are two reasons for this, the first being that the soil becomes more dense due to human stepping and the soil's ability to absorb water is reduced. The second is that the slope of the grass slope is so steep that the water flow becomes too high for the soil to fully absorb the water.

The design strategy is based on the different slopes of the site. Grass slopes with a slope of 5-25 degrees do not generate water but only surface runoff, so a drainage strategy is adopted. bioswale is installed at the roadside to purify the water and drain it into the ground, while logs and stones are added to the bioswale to not only slow down the flow of water so that it is fully purified, but also to give children some space for natural recreation and to provide habitats for insects.

For grass slopes with a slope of 25-45, a water storage strategy is adopted and rain gardens are set up in conjunction with the topography. Surface runoff from the grass slopes is collected in water tanks and pumped to a plant filtration system for repeated filtration, thus achieving a dynamic water system that discharges clean water into artificial ponds and pools to provide space for people to play and habitat for different creatures.

This bioswale rendering shows some of the changes in the site before and after the bioswale was built, from people moving away from the surface runoff to people and animals being attracted to the bioswale. At the body scale, through these sections, I also explain how the bioswale filters and absorbs harmful substances, enhances biodiversity and improves the microclimate of the site.

In the rain garden, for the plant filtration system, I have chosen mainly Moisture-Loving Plants, which also have the function of absorbing harmful substances. For the ecological pond I have also selected the same types of plants as marginal plants, oxygenator and rooted floating plants to provide a good ecological environment for the pond.

This final rendering shows the details of the site. As for the materials, I chose mainly durable materials to reduce the frequency of maintenance. The paving consists of granite and gravel to enhance the permeability of the ground. I installed an artificial pond in the rain garden for children to play in, with a low water level to ensure their safety, and an artificial pump on the pond for children to play with or water their flowers. I also engraved the names of the plants on the surface of the plant filtration area to add to the educational aspect of the site, and volunteers from the community can teach children about the workings of the rain garden and the plants.