Radhika Agarwal

LA4010

Reclaiming the Grey's

The project titled Reclaiming the Grey’s aims to remediate the Ash pond, a designated wasteland for dumping fly ash, and convert it into an ecologically responsive design. With the surging need of power generation, numerous sites which are economically unproductive have been converted into ash dumping areas. This makes ecological sites turn into environmentally deteriorated wastelands. Moreover, the unique aspect of the site is the adjacent Sabarmati river which creates a juxtaposition between the degraded Ash scape and the thriving ecological habitat. This coal ash remediation project will showcase that will come together as a space to demonstrate the positive future of such wastelands. On one hand the project will restore and enhance the lost by treating the effluent, explore engineered and creative ways of treating and utilizing fly ash, and on the other, will restore the habitats along the river edge. 

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Absorb | Dynamics of site . Influenced by the first impression about the site, this patch was selected. Ash ponds have been used by thermal power stations for a very long time for dumping the fly ash and bottom ash slurry which has resulted in the seen and unseen water near the pond getting polluted and filled with effluents. The study focuses on critical aspects dealing with the ash pond, Sabarmati River, Koteshwar Mahadev temple and the community residing in the Koteshwar village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad

Absorb and Reflect | Vision and strategies. Resurrecting Connections (Restore, Revive and enhance the cultural and ecological aspects)

Reflect | Site analysis. In order to understand the process of generation and disposal of fly ash, I looked into the functioning of this system and mapped out the ash pond its current state and how the ash dumping sites have been changed over time.

Reflect | Programming. The main vision revolves around Reviving, restoring and enhancing the lost. The project titled Reclaiming the greys has the primary objective to remediate the ash pond, treat effluent water and explore new techniques of ash disposal

Reflect | Phasing. In order to achieve the desired restoration, a series of site development remedial techniques were designed which are a culmination of engineering and biological processes.

Reflect | Master Plan. The four major zones on the site plan are woodland, urban forest , ash pond remediation and water treatment. This has been interweaved with an hierarchy of path system.

Dissipate| Weaving and crafting. This part of the site was chosen as it has resilience with the different seasons, an area with maximum flux. Keeping in mind about the nature, vegetation Palette has been choosen in such a way that these species are tolerant to the peak season.

Dissipate| Site Kinetics. With the change in seasons, the site functions differently, with a change in experiences . The site majorly shows the wetland bed, terraced landscaping and the phytoremediation by flowering shrubs. These 3 zones provide one with different experiences and also different degree of remediation across different seasons

Dissipate| Density model.

Dissipate| Conclusion. The project titled Reclaiming the Grey's aims to remediate the Ash pond, a designated wasteland for dumping fly ash, and convert it into an ecologically responsive design.This coal ash remediation project will showcase a hybrid of engineering and biological that will come together as a space to demonstrate the positive future of such wastelands

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