T O X I C U R B A N I S M
A non-human urban typology which exists within toxic, anthropogenic landscapes.
(Developing long term, sustainable relationships between the economy, society and ecology; by designing a shared benefits system.)
I N T R O
An investigation into the paradoxical conditions of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone; catalysed through the construction and destruction of the Nuclear Power Plant.
As a virtual visitor to the Exclusion Zone, my research offers insight into how the space is mediated, through the lens of science, photography, personal accounts (STALKERS, Babushkas), media interpretation and tourism etc. There is a lack of understanding of the Exclusion Zone and accumulating conflicting perspectives; which over time have constructed layers of site paradoxes.
The project investigates how Architecture can behave as a mediator between the pressure of ecology, economy, society and toxicity; to negotiate new forms of relationships within the borders of the Exclusion Zone.
- SLAVIC MYTHOLOGY -
Leshy is part of slavic methodology.
A giant who guards and protects the forests and marshes.
In his forests he towers above the trees, but outside, he shrinks to the size of grass.
Within the forests he can be heard whistling and singing.
And when he walks he causes the wind to blow.
Be kind to Leshy and you will receive gifts.
Otherwise, you may be in danger of being tricked or led astray.
- A PARADOX - THE EXCLUSION ZONE -
The Polisie, which translates to ‘in the forest’, is the largest wetland forest of the European Continent; today it’s the home to ‘The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone’ - created as a result of the mass Nuclear fall-out from the catastrophe at the Nuclear Power Station in 1986.
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It was in the 70s, when the Soviets began work on what was going to be the ‘Largest Nuclear Power Station in the World’, along with Pryp’yat, known in Soviet Ukraine as the ‘City of the Future’, and built for the workers of the Power Plant.
At a larger political scale, the catastrophe has been suggested as the catalyst to the demise of the Soviet Union in ‘91. And today, Pryp’yat has numerous names, including ‘ghost city’ or ‘the world’s youngest city and shortest lived.’ The New Confinement Shelter, which encases the Sarcophagus and Reactor 4, serves as a warning and mega monument to the catastrophic event. The tomb's ethos is completely anti the site's original purpose of growth and progress for the Soviets.
Today, the Exclusion Zone is split between the Ukraine and Belarus and enclosed by barbed wire fencing and military guarded checkpoints; which functions as a protection mechanism for humans from the dangers of radiation, as well as containing its further spread.
The representation of this ‘post apocalyptic space’ is continually being presented and re-presented by various linguistic labels, such as ‘dead zone,’ ‘zone of alienation,’ and ‘forbidden zone.’
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But, the evacuation of humans from the Zone has inadvertently created a refuge or 'paradise’ for nature, as they seek to avoid the visible threat of human activity. For the majority of the zone, nature appears to be thriving, but in areas of higher radiation, its existence is manifested through deformed organisms.
- TOXIC URBANISM'S POSITION
Social and economic pressures are increasing due to humans’ impatience to capitalise of the wasteland, through illegal and legal activities. The ‘no-man’s land’ has become a ‘destination,’ attracting tourists, scientists, film makers, as well as illegal crossings of the barbed wire fencing for video game fans, poaching, looting and forestry. This new found human activity threatens the recovery of the Ecology. On top of government plans to potentially reduce the size of exclusion zone; reflecting the declining radiation. Paradoxically, the new found biodiversity is simultaneously being destroyed and protected by the site's toxicity.
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So the interventions aim to contain the radiation within the site, to retain the zone's state of 'exclusion', whilst creating other values, either ecologically, socially or economically. These have been investigated through understanding the opportunities and constraints of the site for potential 'development.'
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The project investigates human's relationship with the landscape, where their presence is limited to minimal or none. 'Toxic landscapes' offers an alternative perspective on how we cultivate and value the Wilderness.
Each project’s key design drivers are defined by:
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Containing Radiation
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Client Hierarchy (Between Ecology, Society or Economy. The combined projects should create a shared benefiting system)
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Timespan (Dependant on Radiation Levels)
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The Scalar Effect (Local Ecosystem, Exclusion Zone and International)
0 1
T H E E D G E
Belerus
Ukraine
Boarder Line Perimeter
Key - Site Location (Solid White Line)
Nuclear Power Station
Key Words - Ecological Protection, Social and Economic Activation
Issue - Human activity endangers the recovery and growing biodiversity of the site.
TIMESPAN - 'Permanent'
SITE'S RADIATION LEVEL - Varies
SCALAR EFFECT - The Exclusion Zone - International
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PROTECTION
The primary function of 'The Edge' is to act as a defensive 'wall'; retaining human activity from encroaching on the zone, to protect the recovery and non-anthropocentric values (Biodiversity richness) of the site.
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VARYING CONTEXTS
The Edge responds to a series of contexts; forests, grasslands, wetlands, rivers, urban settlements and the checkpoints. The design intends to establish a permanence for the boundary through materiality, engineering and altering topography, for example in more remote areas Ha-Ha's walls continue the physical line but create an appearance of a continuous landscape.
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STIMULATING ACTIVITY
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The Edge offers social and economic opportunities due to it’s low land prices, proximIty to Kiev and Minsk and its connection with existing settlements and road networks. Encouraging human activity can be utilised as a strategy to establish a longevity for the Edge, as seen in examples such as Wall Street, New York where the original city wall becomes embedded into the urban fabric and society.
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DESIGN
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The core structure of the wall is based on architectural principles of longevity. Repeating arches made from limestone act purely in compression and have the capacity to last hundreds of years, such as the Roman Aquaducts. Fixing to the core structure allows the wall to be adapted for todays and future uses.
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ENERGY STORAGE
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Batteries are fixed to the wall and connected to new energy harvesting systems within the site, which will be further explained in this presentation.
The batteries and power supply, begin to create the foundations for the infrastructure needed for businesses.
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INTERACTING WITH THE WALL
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Placing the batteries on top of the wall provides protection from water, as well as creating a divide between the public space on the ground and management required for the power supply and batteries.
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The move allows for the ground plane to become activated in various ways. The wall becomes effectively a foundation which can be built from, fixings allow the wall to be adapting, becoming part of a shelter, street, living wall, viewing point as well as apart of enclosed spaces; making up one side of the buildings fabric.
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LONG TERM ADVANTAGES
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The Edge establishes a protection mechanism for the ecology whilst stimulating new business through providing the infrastructure they need.
0 2
T H E G R I D
Belerus
Ukraine
Radiation Levels between 0 - 5 Microsieverts per hours
Nuclear Power Station
Key - Site Location (Highlighted White Area)
Key Words - Monitor, Control
Issue - Wildfire's Spread Radiation
​TIMESPAN - 30 - 120 Years
SITE'S RADIATION LEVEL - 0-5 Microsieverts per hours
SCALAR EFFECT - INTERNATIONAL
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Wildfires pose a great threat, as winds spread radiation concentrated in the smoke and ash, far beyond the boarders of the Enclosure; such as the Wildfire this April where the smoke reached as far as Kiev,100 kilometers aways. [1] Radiation at the epicentre of the fire exceed the norm and are also extremely dangerous to combat.
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CONTROL
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Wildfires need three main element; a source of heat, fuel and oxygen. Eliminating one of these will stop the burning. [2]
The control strategy utilises the materiality of the void to prevent mass spreading of the fire. The demolition of trees creates control lines which reduces the fires 'fuel' to effectively none.
The control lines have been drawn out continuously in the perpendicular direction to the prevailing South-Westerly winds. And in the more heavily radiated areas, additional control lines in the South-Westerly direction create a smaller enclosed space to further protect from mass spreading.
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The Grid's design has taken into consideration existing 'natural and man-made' control lines, for examples rivers, lakes, wetlands and roads.
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MONITORING
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To ensure the combat of wildfire's occurs as quickly as possibly to reduce the amount of radiation released; 24/7 monitoring must exist. Integrating with existing observation infrastructures such as satellites in the geostationary obit, can provide this service to continuously monitor the area and alert when a wildfire is detected.
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(Satellites in the geostationary orbit means they continuously stay above the same area on earth and are usually used to 'observe weather and other phenomena that vary on short timescales' [3])
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LONG TERM ADVANTAGES - CONTAINMENT
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The system is designed to protect the health of local environments and urbanisms from radiation escaping the zone.
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[3] - https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/OrbitsCatalog/page2.php
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0 3
A R A D I A T I O N C O N T A I N M E N T B L U E P R I N T
A view for no-one
Belerus
Ukraine
'Hotspots'
Radiation Levels above
5 Microsieverts per hours
Nuclear Power Station
Nuclear Power Station
Key - Site Location (Highlighted White Area)
Note: The Exclusion Zone has a unknown number of other Hotspots due to a lack of fully radioactive mappings. Therefore other than the known Hotspots in close proximity to the Nuclear Reactor there could be any number more, ranging in scale from micro to macro.
- CONTAINMENT/PRESERVATION -
CLIENTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITY
Client I - Ecology
Client II - Society
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TIMESPAN - 30 - 90 Years
SITE'S RADIATION LEVEL - Above 5 Micro Sieverts per hours
SCALAR EFFECT - Local Ecosystem
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ISSUE - RADIOACTIVE HOTSPOTS (TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE)
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A BLUEPRINT
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The Radiation Containment Blueprint considers architectures of extremities; where by the functionality of this structure is containing the spread of dust and water, whilst preserving the interior condition. The architecture becomes a means to maintaining the space, through controlling ventilation, humidity, temperature, light etc.
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ADAPTION
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Scientists have estimated nuclear disasters may occur every 10-20 years. Therefore the Blueprint could be adapted and utilised for the next toxic landscape to increase the speed of containment. The structure creates time to consider what to do with the landscape. When the decision is made then action may be taken within the structure, whilst continuing to protect the wider ecosystem.
The structure's design could be adapted to capture landscapes from small scale to the size of an entire forest.
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The structure brings forth what are the unseen, intangible, immaterial aspects of spatiality.
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AN IRONY
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A structure of repetition and reproduction is normally akin to capitalists motives of economic growth and progress, instead The Blueprint's functionality is one of 'stillness'...
0 4
A U T O T O M Y
Belerus
Ukraine
Wetlands and Cooling Pond
Radiation Levels above
5 Microsieverts per hours
Key - Site Location (Highlighted White Area)
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Nuclear Power Station
KEY WORDS - Containment, Economic Value, Political Interest
ISSUE - Water Evaporation in Radioactive Hotspots
TIMESPAN - Until a new form of more efficient energy harvesting is developed.
SITE'S RADIATION LEVEL - Above 5 MicroSieverts per hours
SCALAR EFFECT - International
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ISSUE - WATER EVAPORATION IN RADIOACTIVE HOTSPOTS
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Radioactivity is concentrated in the sediment of water bodies. The water performs as a tool for radiation containment. If the water evaporates, the sediment becomes exposed and dries; the radiation can then spread in the dispersal of dust. Large areas of water bodies are emptying in the site, due to construction of flood barriers and the draining of the cooling pond.
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CONTAINMENT
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The sun's heat and wind both aid water evaporation therefore the 'Autotomy' has been designed to reduce both these elements.
Large vegetation, rushes and reeds are planted at the waters edge to create wind blocks. Duckweed is a free floating aquatic plant that will be used to cover the waters surface, whilst also acting as a 'natural filter' to clean stagnant waters.
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GENERATION
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Autotomy describes the process when an animal sacrifices a body part to save itself when under threat. [1]
The largest body of water on the site is the cooling pond, which is an area of 22.9 square kilometers. To reduce water evaporation the surface is covered in floating photovoltaics. The intervention would sacrifice the ecosystem, but would contain the radiation whilst generating 1016 MetaWatts of power, enough energy for 247,804 homes. The system would help relieve some of the economic pressures I previously mentioned the site is facing.
Floating Photovoltaics on water is advantageous to improving energy harvesting efficiency, due to the water's natural cooling ability for the system.
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LONG TERM ADVANTAGE - PROTECTION/ENERGY GENERATION
Utilising the site to generate renewable energy, paired with the energy storage system on The Edge, will help create a reliable energy resource for Belarus and for the Ukraine, this will specifically aid their national interest to become energy independent from Russia, due to political tensions.
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In the future, I foresee a new more efficient form of energy harvesting, at which point assuming the radiation is at a 'safe level,' below 200 MilliSovierts annually, the waters can be released back to the wider ecosystems.
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0 5
T O X I C G A R D E N I N G
Belerus
Ukraine
'Hotspots'
Radiation Levels above
5 Microsieverts per hours
Nuclear Power Station
Key - Site Location (Highlighted White Area)
Note: The Exclusion Zone has a unknown number of other Hotspots due to a lack of fully radioactive mappings. Therefore other than the known Hotspots in close proximity to the Nuclear Reactor there could be any number more, ranging in scale from micro to macro.
KEY WORDS - Containment, Ecological Stimulation
ISSUE - Radioactive Hotspots
TIMESPAN - Permanent
SITE'S RADIATION LEVEL - Above 5 MicroSieverts per hours
SCALAR EFFECT - Local Ecosystem
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ISSUE - RADIOACTIVE HOTSPOTS
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Toxic Gardening considered a landscaping alternative to the Radiation Containment Blueprint.
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TOXIC GARDENING
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The act of gardening is simultaneously a form of destruction and creation. 'Toxic Gardening' encases highly radioactive ecosystems, eradicating it in the most extreme manor to protect the surrounding environment. Hotspots range from the size of a small structure to an entire forest, this is a consequence of the radiations dispersal via wind and water, as well as a lack of recording during the Soviet’s decontamination process.
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CONTAINMENT
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The Hotspot is bulldozed and compacted. Then, using the same principles of other Near-Surface Nuclear Disposal Facilities, the radiation is contained using a series of protective layers; including intrusion barriers, membranes and clay linings. The designs resists erosion, which would risk exposing the geology.
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Burying the waste above ground height creates a permanent change to the landscape topography; creating a signal for future generation to the location of the radiation.
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LONG-TERM ADVANTAGES - PROTECTION/CREATION
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To compensate for the loss of the cooling pond's ecosystem, the top surface of the mound will be used to create a shallow wetland. Using water pumped from the river and drains back in when the water reaches above 50cms. A mixture of local submergent, emergent and floating vegetation will be introduced to encourage a rich biodiversity.
T R A N S F O R M A B L E K N O W L E D G E
By Year 02106, the main radioisotope Cesium-137 will have finished it’s 4th half-life. By this time we can assume no human who experienced the catastrophe will still be alive. The catastrophe is now only understood through evidence and mediated information.
Since 1986, humans and future generations have become enslaved into a continuous battle to control and contain radiation; monitoring and maintenance became embedded overnight into the zones new culture. The knowledge of Toxic Urbanism becomes part of the labours of the site, such as the rigorous weedings of the lawn on the Soviets radioactive tombs to prevent the roots of stray tree saplings from cracking the clay.
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Due to the nature of radiation and its half-life, the Exclusion Zone is one of the rare spaces on Earth where long-term perspectives are forcibly taken...Toxic Urbanism has investigated designing for extreme longevity through materiality, altering topography, engineering principles and retaining human disturbance. Future generations will be able to ‘map’ the landscape of Toxic Urbanism as related constructions.
A Reflection
Understanding and developing the site has been hugely challenging, due to the complexity of accumulated information and perspectives. Conversations and an iterative design process has revealed discomforts created when designing to ‘the absurdity’. ’ It has been a continuous push and pull between sacrifices and gains and is still a work in progress. ​
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There are no 'perfect solutions’ for the Exclusion Zone,' but the project acts under the assumption that doing something is better than doing nothing, even if new problems are created.
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Over time urbanism has been sustained by protective systems from medieval city walls, to today’s sea dikes of the Neatherlands; the project sits alongside these typologies of defence against the ‘wilderness’, but Toxic Urbanism also fights to protect it.