Jing Yuan (Edwin) Zhang

Buoy Grid

Environmental Design

2022

Buoy Grid is a design project that aims to aid soil erosion in freshwater areas such as lakes. Using buoyancy blocks that interconnect each other creates a blockade to prevent surging waves from hitting the shoreline with full force.

“Global warming causes various problems across the globe, with glaciers and sea ice melting, the water level rising, extreme weather and other adverse effects. In the case of Lake Ontario, the water levels fluctuate because of higher temperatures; the hydrology processes occur as the water cycle repeats itself. As a result, there is an increased outflow and reduced water inflows, resulting in soil erosion. Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that influences all landforms. The moving water and wind wear away the topsoil, which contains nutrients and minerals that feed the vegetation. My focus for this project is the Northside of Ward's Island, Toronto. A residential part of the island. By using the Buoy Grid on the Northside of the island, the project can mitigate the damage from incoming waves to the shoreline. On top of the Buoy Grid's protection, this project also includes space for human interactions and a platform for users. The design project intends to aid the shoreline and create a relationship between the community and the natural environment. Buoy Grid provides a stepping stone for visitors and nature creatures; this unified platform connects the user with the surrounding environment through playful pathways and close contact with the water and land(buoyancy block). Expending the curiosity of human desire to step further from the shoreline to reach the horizon ”