Project description

The project LAVA LOOP is located on São Jorge Island. After years of confrontation and compromise between humans and nature, the people of São Jorge Island have reached a harmonious balance with nature. But seismic activity over the past year could trigger catastrophic volcanic events that could upset the balance between ecosystems and social systems.  

São Jorge Island has three basic contradictions: Authorities attach great importance to this area because the earthquake that has lasted for a year may lead to a volcanic eruption at any time.; excessive soil pollution caused by extensive livestock husbandry; and the response of the local population to monoculture varieties. Based on these three contradictions, the concept of LAVA LOOP emerged. Taking geological cycle as a cycle, lava loop is divided into five different stages to strengthen the connection between human and nature on the premise of ensuring people's life safety: assume that the last volcanic eruption is phase 5, and the lengthy natural restoration is phase 1, which is the current situation of the site. The design of lava Loop project focuses on phase 2, 3 and 4:  

Phase2 is the highest priority emergency installation: adding emergency ports at appropriate sites. To ensure residents' lives, immediately find escape routes and the nearest shelter in an eruption.  

Phase3: Adjust the agricultural production structure, build community vegetable plots to meet the daily life of residents, and change a small number of pastures around the community into agricultural and animal husbandry rotation mode. Seasonal crop rotation is adopted to produce agricultural and sideline products, and the original farm production mode is changed to crop rotation.  

Phase4: Natural restoration mode, establishment of crater protected areas, restoration of part of pasture to old-growth forest by gradually digging out invasive species, restoration of old-growth forest, and restoration of higher-elevation farms to more manageable forest grazing mode. Provides higher economic and ecological value.  

This is the main strategy for the whole cycle. Four representative sites were selected for further elaboration to address the different phase strategies. 

LAVA LOOP Overall Strategy Site

This strategy only considers the second to fourth stages of the lava loop, because if there is a volcanic eruption, the lava will destroy everything and may develop into different land properties and urban textures, which are highly uncertain.

Select 4 different regional sub zone to deepen and design the terrain of these four regions, landuse is different. However, both have strong landuse and topographic representation of the island.

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LAVA LOOP DYNAMIC PHASES

Set the current status of the site as phase 1. After the last volcanic eruption heralds the end of the previous geological loop, and at the same time completes the natural soil restoration, as the first stage of a lava loop, waiting for the implementation of phase 2 of the lava loop. The implementation selected 4 sub areas in the middle section of Sao Jorge Island for detailed planning and design. The selection of the area covers 90% of the land use properties in the lava flow area, and at the same time can typically represent the characteristic topography and culture of Sao Jorge, each area corresponds to 1-2 different strategies, and each area is designed in detail.

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Fajã do Ouvidor:PHASE2

Phase 2:Emergency Facilities Placement

The recreation area will be redevelopment. Infrastructure like ladder and life-saving supplies will be installed at the natural swimming pool to ensure the recreational convenience and safety of residents. seaside boardwalk will be introduced, and sunshade and beach chairs will be placed in the blank area of escape harbour to meet the sports and leisure needs of different users.Introduce an emergency port, place a number of lifeboats for a long time to ensure the needs of escape, and modify the original davits as prominent landmark structures, so that residents can find the general location of escape harbour in the first time of disaster, and at the same time, place a number of parking points at the distribution center, which greatly improves the escape efficiency.

 

Canada de Africa:PHASE3

Phase 3:Agricultural Structural Transformation

Turn part of reclaimed farmland into community vegetable plots and introduce the production mode of four seasons rotation to meet the daily demand of agricultural products in this area. At the same time, as a relatively busy town, the establishment of community vegetable plot can better activate the vitality of this area, so that tourists and residents can participate in the management of vegetable plot. Build community social centers. Azores' native wildflower meadow was introduced, and tree pool benches were installed to create an open-air social space for residents to socialize. The Torre da Igreja da Urzelina, a historic landmark of the volcanic remains, redevelops the tourist function of the area and creates a comfortable tourist environment.

 

R1-2 Highway:PHASE3&4

Phase 3&4:Agricultural Structural Transformation & Natural Recovery

Restore part of the pasture to native forest. The pasture along the water system and cliffs is the most effective way to restore the native forest to prevent the risk of landslides.  Pastures near residential areas and at low altitudes are converted into farmlands in summer and autumn, providing shelter and food for cattle that lack fodder in winter and early spring. Meanwhile, the low altitude and temperature are more suitable for cattle's life. At the same time, crops growing in late spring are selected, cattle manure is a good fertilizer, and crops can purify soil pollution brought by manure. Form a perfect cycle of four seasons.  Select part of the pasture to establish a long-term silvopasture model where the entire system is designed to produce high-value tree components while continuing to produce forage and livestock components indefinitely or for significant time.

Pico Morro Pelado:PHASE4

Phase 4:Natural Recovery

Reduce the original commercial forest, The felled cedar was simply cut in half on the original site to pave the cedar foot path and steps with a unique natural form. At the same time, additional cedar was further processed into smaller planks for paving the platform. Use a relatively light structure of galvanized steel rail composite plate to weld the prefabricated parts and transport them to the top of Pico Morro Pelado. Cut cedar boards on the top of the original site and install and construct them. Save labor, save time cost and ensure the solid and beautiful platform. The felled commercial forest area is restored to the native species forest, and the natural crater protection area is established to further protect the biodiversity of this area.

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