URBAN Forestree

Integrating social, cultural, and ecological urban fabric through the lens of Tree Equity Studio head: Alex Wall

Introduction

Map of tree cover in cities is too often of income and race. This is primarily the result of redlining and other discriminating urban policies that have shaped the modern urban landscape. Apart from having physical implications, like poor air quality and low groundwater levels, neighborhoods of color and low income also face serious degradation in the quality of life. Much like buildings, trees, open spaces, and access to fresh air are crucial infrastructures to improve the quality of life. Trees also aid in curbing rising heat trapped in our contemporary urban environment, reducing heat-related health risks in the community.

Critique/ Context / Atlas

Approach

Historically, to address issues of providing open/green spaces in dense urban environments, urban policies have allowed the wiping of low-income neighborhoods. Often such neighborhoods are forced to absorb the burden of regional/urban pollution. Investigating avenues to maximize tree cover in these areas while facilitating social housing, urban connectivity, and a green economy while addressing the issues related to sea-level rise.

Economical
The near future will be based on a circular economic system to avoid waste and achieve optimum profit. Despite having a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas within the Orient Heights fabric, the neighborhood lacks to achieve a circular economic system.

Social / Political / Cultural
Apart from being one of the racially diverse neighborhoods of Boston, the existing urban landscape fails to integrate the various nationalities. Due to the lack of open space. Being racially diverse neighborhoods to its core, the urban fabric lacks open spaces or cultural spaces to celebrate cultural events.

Ecological/ EnvironmentOrient Heights neighborhood is located at the intersection of a dense air route network, which exposes it to continual ultrafine particle pollution disposed of by airplanes. Also, tree canopy cover is the lowest as compared to other parts of Boston city, which affects the human and non-human inhabitants of the area on a cellular level, resulting in severe health issues.

UrbanForestry Framework
The Urban strategies deployed not only perceived to achieve a balance in the natural ecosystem but also provides financial and job opportunities for the existing and future popopulation of Greater Boston area.

Urban Assemblage

Agents

Forest Corridor

Forest Corridor pushes the boundaries and maximizes tree/canopy cover to achieve Tree Equity which is essential in the Near Future. To increase canopy cover and to establish a forest community within the habitat gaps, the tertiary roads are envisioned to grow into an Urban
forest.

Social Saltmarsh

Saltmarsh plays an important role in sediment stabilization and serves as a nursery ground for estuarine sh and invertebrates. It will also habitat social housing strategies in the near future.
The social housing will be elevated as it will allow the salt marsh to grow underneath it. Social saltmarsh will not only be a habitat for distinct estuarine shes but also for the racially
and economically diverse communities of Orientheights.

Groundcover rails

The different communities are not connected throughout orient heights and the
neighboring cities. Groundcover rails facilitate a tram network system on ground covers which not only connects inhabitants of Chelsea and Winthrop with Orient heights but also spreads various groundcovers like (Canadian wild ginger), bunchberry dogwood, and astern teaberry which have pollution absorption capacities.

Stack

Car parking on streets takes over 40% of the road surface. Stack park adopts vertical parking strategies allowing parking spaces on roads to convert into Forest corridors and permeable roads. The facade of stack park hosts creepers like Virginia creepers scientifically known as the Parthenocissus quinquefolia
is a leafed woody vine that provides an abundance of food for hundreds of insects, birds, and other
wildlife. Humans mostly use the plant for ornamental purposes, but it is also used to control soil erosion, attract birds, and for medicinal purposes. While the Virginia Creeper can be a beautiful lawn ornament, it can also harbor numerous species of insects, songbirds, and wildlife

Outcome

Social salt marsh, forest corridors, Groundcover rails, and Stack park weave orient heights together while maximizing tree cover which would eventually orient the orient heights in a more equitable and sustainable future.

Perspectives