NEW YORK, NEW YORK
As we grapple with the deepening climate crisis that threatens humanity, novel and incremental solutions to combat this complex problem are desperately needed. It requires both broad level policy changes from governments as well as grass roots movements from individuals to address the myriad causes of climate change. In this spirit, West Harlem Going Wild was conceived.
Working with limited resources on a shoestring budget, the design transforms a vacant lot in West Harlem by utilizing discarded construction materials, and plant species that are considered “weeds” spontaneously occurring in the urban environment. These plants not only withstand harsh urban environments, but thrive, allowing this site to become a green respite that will address the mounting challenges cities face in the wake of climate change. As the species grow and spread across the site, the vegetative canopies will improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect, and provide habitat. The aggressive root systems will break up the urban soil profile and allow water to percolate. By reusing materials onsite, waste and emissions associated with the construction industry are minimized during the construction process.
West Harlem Going Wild is a model of how underutilized and marginal urban spaces can be transformed to become productive and thriving landscapes with a limited budget. Taken together these small scale grass roots have the potential to impart significant changes on a global scale to combat climate change in cities.