Through an iterative design process, our collaborative design group has studied multiple ways of giving the overall concept developed for the Piggyback Yard a compelling expression in terms of urban design, architecture and landscape architecture. We sought to find the proper balance of building density and open space for the site as a whole, and especially for the Mission Road corridor, we considered various alternatives for major elements of the park and, most importantly, we studied several ways of transforming the river to achieve its naturalization, revitalization and accessibility.
Our group decided to further develop two distinct expressions of the overall vision, which mainly explore two different river configurations.
“The Broadened River” removes the east bank of the flood channel at the Piggyback Yard, and significantly widens the river bed to optimize its naturalization and the emergence of a thriving riparian habitat within its course. All existing railroads are maintained, on a trestle above the river bed, except for a secondary branch which can be relocated to the south.
Explore the Broadened River Possibility
“The River Strand” diverts an important part of the river into emergent wetlands on the Piggyback Yard site while maintaining a separate soft-bottom flood channel to seek an optimum balance between water management and ecology. The presence of the strand allows all existing rail lines to maintain present routes, though those on the east embankment are also on trestles above the river bed.