Here’s my idea for a type of road which grows and purposefully breaks over time to transform itself from smooth roads into classier Parisian-style cobblestones as the surrounding neighbourhood changes over time.

Basically, when a road is newly paved or redone, saplings are planted on top of a root guide at specific nodal flex points alongside a street. Then the pavement poured around these nodes and into the street is perforated in such a way that, over time, as the tree grows it’s roots will be guided to push out and up and break the road surface along those perforations in a controlled way.

Breaking up the perforations will create a cobblestone effect that will act as a traffic calming measure to encourage pedestrian use around the same time desired walkable access to nearby activities and amenities are developed. Additionally, local grasses planted in the perforations along with the highly permeable nature of the system, act to effectively absorb excess storm-water to prevent runoff and overloading sewage systems

Earlier in the summer I submitted this idea to an architectural ideas competition too, posting it here I’ve tried to simplify it somewhat. I’m no CAD or 3D jockey, so I played to my own style when creating the illustrations for the presentation:

It’s very often nowadays that I notice how outside of the very few planned spaces like Dundas Square, everyone is always moving and never stopping. In Toronto, streets are just a place to travel through, and less a social space that people are allowed to just enjoy hanging out in. This inspired me to do this:

I’m a huge fan of biophilia and I think one solution to both improve public space and our experience of it is to better combine nature and relaxing.

p.s. I kinda like how the kebab shop in an alley near the Toronto Reference Library has a cozy little bench in front of it.