Fiberworks
Wareham, MA, USAProfessor: Montserrat Bonvehi Rosich
Introduction
The Project proposes a conceptual integration of a productive, regenerative landscape that acts as a middle ground between the existing cranberry industry and the natural ecosystem to harvest nitrogen and phosphorous to convert it into fibers. The proposal benefits from the by-product and deploys a system to reduce local eutrophication levels and boost the regional social and economic fabric. Three distinct plants provide a repeatable process of filtration and harnessing harmful chemicals from the water from the core of the productive landscape.
The Project proposes a conceptual integration of a productive, regenerative landscape that acts as a middle ground between the existing cranberry industry and the natural ecosystem to harvest nitrogen and phosphorous to convert it into fibers. The proposal benefits from the by-product and deploys a system to reduce local eutrophication levels and boost the regional social and economic fabric. Three distinct plants provide a repeatable process of filtration and harnessing harmful chemicals from the water from the core of the productive landscape.
Eutrophication Zone
This has given rise to a global issue of eutrophication and hypoxia. Locally, Wareham has several sites which have witnessed higher eutrophication levels The maps reflect the regional context where cranberry bogs dominate the regional fabric. The bogs have multiplied over the years taking over large portions of wetlands and riparian forests. Monoculture has also affected the ecology and the region’s natural habitat
Fiberworks proposes to convert this stored energy into products such as plant-based fibers, natural dye, insulating materials, and organic Compost by introducing a regenerative working landscape of plants that has higher pollution absorption capacities. Typha ( cattail) waterlily and hemp are plants with higher absorption capacities. Along with these, they are also excellent raw materials for plant-based fibers.
These three plants are placed strategically on a landscape to generate a circular economic system. Both these systems act towards a collaborative approach towards zero waste and circular economy
from seed to fabric and agriculture
waste to Compost.
Framework
The Fiberworks network work under three levels of hierarchy, namely production, region, and territory. On the production level, the existing cranberry bog is transformed depending on the plant to be planted. Once the fibers are harvested it travels through the research centers to the respective industries to produce the final fabric.
The Fiberworks network work under three levels of hierarchy, namely production, region, and territory. On the production level, the existing cranberry bog is transformed depending on the plant to be planted. Once the fibers are harvested it travels through the research centers to the respective industries to produce the final fabric.
Reciprocal Landscapes
The maps reflect the regional context where cranberry bogs dominate the regional fabric. The bogs have multiplied over the years taking over large portions of wetlands and riparian forests. The monoculture has also affected the ecology and the region’s natural habitat.
Site 1 which is Fiberfields acts as a production site for the raw materials required for plant-based textile products. The plants which are considered invasive by some western states will be used as an essential by-product for the growing industry of plant-based fabrics.
This would benefit the local and regional economy by generating jobs not only in the fields but as well in the textile industries in Lowell, Ma
The layout of the site is designed along with the existing terrain. The area further from the central river is used for Hemp plantations, followed by cattail plantations which are immersed in 4 inches of water, and at the core of
the site are the white water lily plantations. The accessibility and vehicle circulation are designed along the lines of the process of farming. The organic shape retains the water on the site before moving toward the natural stream. Pipes are laid below the circulation paths for smooth water transition from the holding ponds to the productive landscapes.
The moment of labor and seasonality has been reflected through sections, from planting white water lilies in spring to cattail harvesting in summer. The sections also reflect the restored wetlands and the wetland trail.
The project is envisioned to extract the existing water hyacinth, and algae to produce organic Compost while draining the eutrophication zones by land management strategies like dam removal, wetland, and riparian for-est plantation.
The perspective reflects a probable future where the aquatic life is reactivated, harvesting is done using drone scouting, wetlands are restored along the productive landscape and public access walkways are integrated with the regenerated ecology.
Fibernest works as a nursery integrated with a research center and a greenhouse for plants during winter. The nursery will support the wetland restoration projects by the Massachestes gov and UMASS.
They will also act as an ingredient to the other eutrophication zones, which can be converted into Fiber producing landscapes.
Fibernest will also host operations that would facilitate Co-op activities for developing and cultivating skills related to farming.
Site 2: Fibernest is located in the center of the Wareham area, which allows for the smooth distribution of plants to the potential landscape sites in the Wareham area. The layout is designed in a combination of organic and geometric forms to achieve maximum planting efficiency in the nursery. The composting area comprises three zones namely feedstock, windrower, and refined organic soil. They are located on the northmost tip of the site to avoid minimum intervention with the public areas of the research center.
Sections reflect the activities in the wetland nursery and the riparian forest, Compost generated from the waste from eutrophication zones and the regional ur-ban neighborhood, a Greenhouse for storing plants for winters, bikeways, a research center, and co-op services.
Site B: Fibernest starts its assembly by deactivating the existing cranberry bog industry while reiterating the water infrastructure to install the white water lily holding ponds. Fibernest also provides breathing pockets to rebuild the Riparian forest and the wetlands. The site also lays the foundation for the future greenhouse.
By 2050, Fibernest envisions having bikeways, developed riparian forest fabric, and multiple greenhouses and also funds a research center for the future potential of the plant-based products
