How can urban harbors accrete sediment and stop erosion like the salt marsh;
while improving water quality like the oyster reef
and creating a habitat for other species like eel grass beds?
Two years since Superstorm Sandy, the world is a different place. Everyone is talking about “resilient coastal cities”, but what does that really mean? What can we learn from inherently sustainable and resilient natural systems? And how can we apply nature’s adaptive strategies to our urban harbors?
THE CHALLENGE
How would nature design resilient breakwaters, supporting human and ecological services and functions?
OBJECTIVES
Introduction to the science, philosophy and practice of Biomimicry and the 6 Biomimicry Principles.
PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Design charrette of a local breakwater on Governor’s Island. Work with an interdisciplinary team of designers, biologists, architects, engineers and planners. Final designs will be presented to the NY Harbor School
WHEN Monday, November 17th from 10AM to 5PM
WHERE Pershing Hall, Governor’s Island – the Ferry leaves from the Battery Maritime Building (the historic green building to the left of the glass Staten Island Ferry bldg) promptly at 10 AM. Address: 10 South St, New York, NY 10004
COST $60 per person, $40 for first 10 registrants, 2 student scholarships currently available
RSVP
LEAD INSTRUCTOR : DR. ANAMARIJA FRANKIC
Dr. Frankic is founder and director of the Green Harbors Project®. She is a Biomimicry Educational Fellow, and a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Zadar. Her background in biology, ecology, limnology and marine science guide her interdisciplinary work in coastal and watershed ecosystem stewardship and restoration. Anamarija founded the LivingLabs® program where students and local communities can ‘learn and teach by doing’ biomimicry, applying nature’s wisdom to be healthy, wealthy and resilient.
ABOUT THE DESIGN CHARETTE
Each participant will be assigned to a diverse 5 person team, based on your background and experience. Volunteers from BiomimicryNYC and Biomimicry New England will be assigned to each team in order to provide guidance through the research phase and biomimicry design process.
WORKSHOP PARTNER : THE NY HARBOR SCHOOL
Located in the heart of New York Harbor, Harbor School’s mission is to provide a college-preparatory education built upon New York City’s maritime experience that instills in students the ethics of environmental stewardship and the skills associated with careers on the water.
Inquiries
Student scholarship applicants, please contact adiel@biomimicrynyc.com
If you are interested in being a Community Partner or Event Sponsor, please contact Adiel Gavish adiel@biomimicrynyc.com.
Community Partner and Sponsor Packet_BiomimicryNYC_Urban Green Harbors
We would like to thank our Community Sponsors:
HOK is a global biomimicry leader in the built environment as well as thought leadership on how to integrate Life’s Principles in design, urban development and whole systems thinking. Their “Genius of Biome” report, developed in partnership with Biomimicry 3.8 is a study which explores “how lessons from the temperate broadleaf forest biome, which houses many of the world’s largest population centers, can inform the design of the built environment.”
Environmental Connection, Inc., is a full service environmental firm offering services ranging from industrial hygiene to integrity risk/compliance monitoring and complex forensic investigative analysis. We are dedicated advocates of sustainability, and provide measurement and analytical services for projects with sustainability features.
And many thanks to our Community Partners:
The Urban Future Lab is a marriage of the city’s premiere clean and resilient tech incubator, and is dedicated to envisioning and realizing innovation in the cleantech sector, with a particular focus on energy, sustainable urban infrastructure, water, transportation and air quality.
Impact Hub NYC is a coworking & events space for a membership community of entrepreneurs, activists, creatives, and professionals taking action to drive positive social and environmental change. Biomimicry Charette Design participants are invited to sign up for a free week and experience it for yourselves!
The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities (CISC) works to realize cities as part of the solution to global sustainability challenges. CISC explores the nature and complexity of cities through the themes of: 1. Consumption 2. Vulnerability and Resilience 3. Ecosystem Services
Design for Social Innovation is an emerging discipline that works at a systems level, shifting cultures, igniting collective creativity, and realizing the kind of transformational opportunities for business and society that we need most right now. MFA Design for Social Innovation at SVA NYC is the first program dedicated to teaching design at scale to produce this discipline’s next leaders.
EcoArchitecture Design Works PC is a design consultancy founded by Ms. Janus Welton, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, which combines Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Building Biology, Bio- Geometry, Biomimicry and Classical Chinese F.S. Building Patterns in Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning. Ms. Welton is also a Founding Member of the BiomimicryNYC network.
Workshop Schedule
10 AM Arrival by Ferry
10:30 Introductions
10:50 Frankic: Biomimicry Principles, intro lesson and exercise outside
12:30 Lunch
1:15 Design Challenge
1:30 Working group research and design
4:00 Present designs
5:00 Workshop concludes
6:00 Shuttle back to mainland
7:00 PM Dinner