Sebastian Dobiesz and Anna Grajper of the LAX laboratory for architectural experiments studio are the authors of the design for an urban wetland in Stalowa Wola, which is planned to be implemented next year. The innovative concept received an honorable mention in the Design Educates Awards 2021 competition in the Responsive Design category. In their work, the architects used innovative water storage systems patented by Durham University researchers.
The main goal of the project by the Polish architects is to renaturalize a wetland area in Stalowa Wola. The area, as a result of being drained and isolated from recharge from the periodically flooding San River, has deteriorated its water storage properties, which are essential in countering droughts. The development of wetlands in Stalowa Wola will be a pilot implementation for this type of solution. According to the information provided by the authors, such wetland restoration solutions are not yet used anywhere in the world.
urban wetlands project seen from a bird's eye view
© LAX laboratory for architectural experiments
innovative solutions to the rescue of wetlands
The Stalowa Wola municipality plans to raise funds for the investment under the Life for Climate program. For this reason, the project's assumptions had to be based on program guidelines. Thus, the way of shaping the space was subordinated to pro-ecological technological and functional-spatial solutions intended to contribute to increasing the city's resilience to climate change, which are among the main objectives of the said program.
The proposed systems are made of special hydrophilic materials
© LAX laboratory for architectural experiments
In response to these guidelines, the architects have proposed an innovative method of wetland restoration, based on condensation technology, which has not been used for this purpose so far. After evaporation from the site, water is collected in Interactive Passive Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems, made of special hydrophilic materials patented by Durham University scientists, and returned to the site. Implementation of the proposed Systems was proposed in the project on a partnership basis with the university providing the technology and Stalowa Wola.
The beach at the bathing pond and passive atmospheric water harvesting system "At the beach".
© LAX laboratory for architectural experiments
interactive architecture
The systems themselves take the form of colorful, interactive installations. They have been designed in a way that allows them to adapt to the prevailing climatic conditions and increase the efficiency of their operation. The changes taking place in them will be able to be observed by visitors to the wetlands - guests will admire how the elements of the wetland architecture open like flower buds or close, under the influence of weather conditions.
Depending on their specific form adapted to a specific location in the field, the systems respond to the level of humidity, ambient temperature, sunlight level or wind strength. The use of solutions from the field of Interactive Architecture in the design of the absortive part of the designed systems allows to expose and interest visitors in the phenomenon of water extraction, and the process of its collection, the authors explain.
A path through wetlands and ponds, by the passive atmospheric water harvesting system "By the Meadow"
© LAX laboratory for architectural experiments
The interactive systems include:
- "By thewater" - the special shape of the system working by open bodies of water is inspired by tropical flowers that collect water in very humid environments. The architects applied this treatment of attention to the likelihood of fog near the reservoirs.
- "By the forest" - The shape of the systems placed in the forest and in its close vicinity is dictated by the significant evapotranspiration of the upper layers of the treetops. The system located at an appropriate height will allow more efficient collection of water entering the atmosphere from the leaves.
- "At the beach" - open sandy areas promote increased evaporation due to solar heating. The extended shape of the system used in the immediate vicinity of the beach allows to increase shading and thus reduce evaporation, while expanding the range of material absorption.
- "By the meadow" - The shape of systems located in meadows refers to grasses and perennials. The flexible design allows the material to move in the wind, more common in open areas. The additional movement promotes the efficiency of atmospheric water absorption in the system.
- "On an island" - the closed shape of systems placed on islands reduces shading of hydrophytic vegetation located on them.
Bridges among ponds and passive atmospheric water harvesting systems "On an island".
© LAX laboratory for architectural experiments
educational values
The urban wetlands project carries educational values. The architects hope that the opportunity to observe the processes of evaporation of water and its secondary collection will contribute to a better understanding of the importance of widespread storage of the raw material water. Looking at how the designed Passive Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems work will draw visitors' attention to the fact that every bit of space requires a constant supply of water to avoid desertification caused by evapotranspiration. Exposing the systems at different elevation levels and in different natural circumstances (in the treetops, on filter islands located on water bodies, among flower meadows and sandy areas) will draw attention to the rate of water escape depending on the substrate and exposure.
The stated goals of the project are to contribute to the development of new, effective methods of water retention in wetlands. The study area is an excellent field for research [...]. These wetlands, as a result of many years of urbanization and urban development, have been completely incorporated into the urban area and cut off from the processes occurring in the wider biotope of the region. This situation allows for greater precision in determining the impact of the design solutions used on real emission reductions during project implementation," Sebastian Dobiesz and Anna Grajper conclude.
