Untitled Document

Ah-Yeon Kim • Detailing	I wanted to have an experience of "city in the water" in the Fens which is one of the "water in the city". Walking in the water was designed to be essential for experiencing "city in the water". To materialized the experience, I introduced a long pathway or causeway in the water, not along the water. Since I was also concerned about flooding issues around the Fens, I wanted to keep the main flow channel clear not to block the water flow during heavy rain. I adapted the dredging proposal of 30' wide channel rather as a way of re-grading and re-programming the Fens. During the time when water level stays at base flow, one can trace some of engineered edge of main channel. When the Fens meets dry season, the geometry of main water channel becomes very explicit. Shimmering lights along the channel below the water will allude the engineered nature of water system today which is not visible in seemingly natural landscape of the Fens. The weirs are designed to have dual functions. One is a pathway in the water, and the other is a gate with alternating pipes across the weirs where water cleanses as it move back and forth between main channel and water plants ponds. A lap pool and planted cascades substituting the Reflection Pool of MFA can be thought to be the symbol of urban hydraulic cycle. Water from potable water pipes will be used in the lap pool. After being used, water will be drained to the planted cascades to be cleaned before being sent to the river. Pipes are introduced as primary materials in the lap pool area to make the urban water system visible in our everyday experience and to add a new dimension of meaning to it.

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