Bridging Edinburgh’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Project details

Student Yixiao Duan

Programme

Design Studio Design Studio 5

Year 2

This design project re-examines the relationship between urban and natural environments. The project’s site is located in Edinburgh, with two well-known Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) adjacent to it. The goal is to transform the site into a new SSSI through thorough study of the ecological environment of the surroundings and innovative design to allow the city to be able to transform and grow in a sustainable way.

The project proposes to rethink the relationship between urban space and natural space. The challenge is how to re-plan and re-design urban space while integrating natural space into it to build a flexible multi-functional space system. This project includes concepts such as sustainability, environmental protection and residential green space. Its aim is to recreate a natural link between Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat. In the report, different measurements of how to rebuild this link will be introduced. The goal of such a link is that the city and nature will be able to form a new type of symbiosis, allowing both people and nature to live together in a sustainable way.

Standard for SSSI

There are several key assessment criteria for a site to be classified as an SSSI. These include size, diversity, rarity, potential value, ecological coherence and recorded history.

Soil Remediation: Existing Biosphere

There are two main ecosystems. The Northern Brown Argus Butterfly ecosystem is dominated by pine trees, sage, common broom and rock rose. The Large Red Damselfly ecosystem is dominated by pine trees, common broom, adder's-tongue fern and nut grass.