City Water: Redefining Responsible Stormwater Management in the Urban EnvironmentBy Sarah Marshall

“A bad solution is bad, then, because it acts destructively upon the larger

patterns in which it is contained. It acts destructively upon those patterns, most

likely, because it is formed in ignorance or disregard of them. A bad solution

solves for a single purpose or goal, such as increased production. And it is

typical of such solutions that they achieve stupendous increases in production

at exorbitant biological and social costs.”

Wendell Berry, Solving for Pattern

Overflows

Park + Tree Cover

Buildings: ~50%

Roads: 25%

Paved (Impervious) Area

~50%

Thesis Proposal:

The Seattle Central Waterfront has the potential to lay the foundation for

improved water quality in the Puge Sound. The viaduct must be removed, and

the seawall must be replaced. With all of this new development, it is essential

that we embrace the possibility of new approaches to water use and treatment,

and lay the groundwork for building on those systems now. The next big

opportunity for change may not present itself for another 70 years.

The Central Waterfront serves as the most visible and public boundary between

land and water in Seattle. By creating a new approach to water management

here, it will serve as an impetus to improving our urban waterways.

Stormwater Systems

Bathing Facilities

Constructed Wetland: Houtan Park, Shanghai Expo: • treats 500,000 gallons/day• 1 mile long, 30-100 ft wide

Seawall Systems

Diverse

Dirty Stormwater: Road RunoffBlackwater: Sewage

Clean Stormwater: Roof Runoff

Resilient

Incremental

Incremental

Incremental

Incremental

Public Ownership

Three Strategies

Wetland

Wetland

Wetland

Pier 48 Bathing Facility

Habitat Creation

Seawall Replacement Options

History

‘Strolling, sitting and viewing’’Touch the water’

Users

Transient Population

Small craft boaters

Scuba divers

Commuters

Tourists

Families

Swimmers

Program (Unconditioned)

• storage lockers for equipment

• showers (400ft2)

• changing rooms (800 ft2)

• wading/intertidal exploration zone

• outdoor seating/sunbathing

• deep water swimming zone

• diving zone

Program (Conditioned)

• 4 saunas (120 ft2 each)

• administrationoffice/receptionarea(500ft2)

• kitchenette (200ft2)

• flexibleprogramspacethatcanaccomodategroupactivities,camps,etc...

(1000 ft2)