Freshwater Mussel Cultivation and Conservation Center, 2050
AI-enabled Speculative Urban Design as a tool to reimagine healthier relationships between cities and their waterways.
The Proposal: A Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Cultivation Centre accessible through the pier in Barking Riverside built using end of life River Barges and reused/recycled parts of decommissioned ships aimed at bringing floating communal, recreational and educational spaces to the river as means of providing the community in East London access to low barrier third spaces while also fostering the relationship with their waterways and natural ecosystems.
But why Conserve Freshwater Mussels?
The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a large freshwater mussel which lives in very clean, nutrient-poor rivers and can reach ages of over 130 years. They are a keystone species which means that restoring their habitat will also benefit many other species.
Pearl mussels are extremely important because they filter river water (50L a day!), however they are critically endangered. The cause of their decline is due to a range of pressures including nutrient enrichment, bank erosion, illegal poaching and changes to river flows which makes their conservation an utmost priority to restore the health of natural ecosystems.
Regenerative and self-sufficient Modular Barge Unit complete with a Rainwater Harvesting System, Solar Panels, Compost Facilities and Gardens
Architectural Model of the proposed design for a network of modular barge units accessible through the pier in Barking Riverside.
Awards & Recognitions
-
Projected exhibited and presented at UNESCO HQ, Paris.
-
Winning project out of 130 teams across the school of design chosen by a judging panel including representatives from the RCA, UNESCO, the National Oceanography Centre, Wandsworth Council and the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
-
The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Design Lab is a global competition, launched by King Charles III and Sir Jony Ive in 2021. The Terra Carta Design Lab recognises the role art and design have in helping to address the climate crisis, and partners with prestigious design schools to discover student-led, high impact and commercially viable solutions.
-