Alimentary Convolutions: Blake Bethards

Frei Otto wool thread studies on self organizing pathways.

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UPDATE: 1/17/10

The Los Angeles basin rests above the third largest oil deposit in the United States. During the late 1800’s and into the 1950’s, oil derricks and wells were visible throughout much of LA County (Venice beach, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Long Beach, & Pasadena). Today, much of this infrastructure has been taken down as drilling technologies have improved and in order to accommodate the high demand for property in the region. What most Angelino’s don’t know is that there are still several dormant derricks hidden within the city, concealed behind false walls or within nondescript buildings.

These sites exist within the city fabric, rather than at its perimeter. However, because of pollution and/or a desire by the oil companies to retain the mineral rites at each location, they have (with a few exceptions) remained undeveloped as their surroundings continually evolve.

As the country begins to wean itself off of petroleum in favor of other sources of energy, these sites will face two possible fortunes, resorption into the city fabric, or the development of a new typology to deal with such sites.

Currently, researchers are developing bacteria capable of ingesting crude oil and producing hydrogen, bioplastics, and other commodious compounds as a byproduct of this consumption. Using a combination of bacteria driven production applied to the existing oil infrastructure, each site is capable of becoming detoxified. These sites could be converted into localized centers of production.