I apologize for the extremely rough drawing but I wanted to post up something that began to capture my idea in a visual way. I will make better drawings of this design for future proposals. I was recently inspired by William McDonough & Michael Braungart, authors of “Cradle to Cradle” and principles at McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, while reading the aformentioned book. The general principle being that we should focus future industrial products, solutions, designs on objects which are not just enviromentally friendly but eventually end up in a graveyard of sorts but instead on products the are actually reborn as something new when their original intent has run its course. In fact they advocate that we should focus on the rebirth of the product as much as we are focused on the product itself, with an eye on creating manufacturing processes that also generate rebirth instead of destruction.
This is a great task to take in but one that must be considered. While I don’t believe I have a product which meets all of these high standards I do believe that the product I am proposing will meet some of the standards and, with help from more experienced manufacturers, this product could meet all of the above intentions.
Rainwater runoff from the structures of modern society are a huge problem. While we have no control over the rain fall (and we shouldn’t, let nature do what it should) we do have some level of control over how we allow it to function once it reaches the ground. As communities grow so does the amount of pavement and roof decking. While building designers continue to revive ancient roof gardening ideals and innovate new ways of implementing these gardens little has been done to dissipate the effects of our paved masses outside of water retention ponds and cisterns. While these are functional solutions which help to minimize, and in some cases irradicate runoff polution they are still cradle-to-grave solutions instead of cradle-to-cradle solutions.
According to a study completed by Leslie Struble and Jonathon Godfrey at the University of Illinois Urbana Campus the environmental cost between concrete and metal have some comparisons which would make metal grating a possible solution based on the extended lifespan and next use that I would propose. I believe that a newer polymer or possible a carbon fibre based solution could also provide an even greater benefit but my limited experience with such materials makes it more logical for me to present the idea using a substance I understand. I will however make some propositions for other materials which would require substantiation to be completed by an engineer trained in the composition of those materials.
What I want to focus on is for the world of today. According to the environmental cost study the tipping point which makes concrete a more environmentally friendly alternative is the energy spent creating the final product. At 140MJ versus steels 220MJ this is a large gap but I intend to show how steel grating can be used to be reused over time without a cost of reprocessing it whereas concrete must be turned back into aggregate or portland cement prior to being reused. The reprocessing cost of both energy and similar environmental costs as original processing means that when the second or third processing occurs the environmental cost will exceed that of the metal grating option. According to Concrete Technology the best use for recycled concrete is downcycled options such as low traffic or light use surfaces like sidewalks, only 10-20% of reclaimed material is useful for new high traffic options.
The design that I would suggest would be a steel or possibly even a titanium or stainless steel grid with the option of creating unique and beautiful designs as either the blank space or the material component of the grid. In the picture above I used simple ovals as an example but perhaps those could be a business logo or local flora and fauna designs. These grids would be constructed to “float” a few millimeters above the turf using a system of pylons sunk into the earth. This float would protect the turf from further damage and would allow for better water routing to the full surface area instead of only the void spaces of the grating. By remaining within a few millimeters of the earth you would eliminate the risk of injury from tripping on the voids when walking.
In terms of safety the metal would be manufactured with a rough texture so that maximum traction is available both to wheeled vehicles and to pedestrians. If a metal grid system is utilized then solutions to warm it for ice thawing would also be possible. The turf will be planted with hearty native sedums which will benefit the local ecology and without a barrier between the topsoil and the earth (such as in some concrete grid designs) the ground will be safe for local wildlife to burrow into.
Installation of the product will require few steps. After the grading of the parking area piers will be sunk as connection points for the plates. These piers can also be used as basis for lighting and landscaping features. The metal grid plates are then put in place and either riveted or welded. At this point the ground can be seeded and allowed to start growth. If plumbing, sewage lines, electrical or telecom wiring is placed under the parking surface it can be easily serviced by removing the appropriate plates which can then be quickly put back in place as soon as the service is complete. In the future the parking structure can be disassembled and reassembled at a new location, effectively re-purposing the components for its next life. By not molesting the metal with other metals it can also be melted down and reformed without losing a great deal of integrity.
Future material considerations should include polymars and carbon based materials. In the future there is a hope (well, I have a hope) that someone figures out how to utilize the carbon that we create as polution to possibly create carbon fibre products or something similar. Likewise materials which lifecycle out to seed and ground nutrients would also be beneficial in a situation such as this.
Here’s a Google Sketchup of what I’m thinking, still rough but better than my hand drawing.
