alvin alvarez cal poly pomona landscape architecture 2014 - 2018 portfolio
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Urban scale adaptive re-use
Packard Plant, Detroit, MI
New River wetland plan
Salton Sea, Imperial Valley, CA
Work Sample
5 11 17
Packard Plant
DETROIT, MI
Once a thriving city built upon industry and innovation, Detroit now faces many challenges as a result of a globalized economy. Located just outside of the inner city of Downtown Detroit, the Packard Plant is a significant symbol of the cities historic struggles. Originally an automobile manufacturing facility (one of the largest in the world), the complex now has potential to support and help rebuild a dwindling community. Due to its adjacency to several types of infrastructure including freeways, main roads and even railways, the Plant is able to connect an aliented neighborhood back to Downtown Detroit.
5
A
Subtractions
Additions
Access+Circulation
Green Space
B
7
1
C
2
4 3
5
6
RE-PLANT THE COMMUNITY
A. Stitch Structure B. Packard Trade School C. Open Landscape Axis
1. West Parking 2. Ice Rink + Sports block 3. Rail Crossing + Station 4. Market Center 5. Main Lawn 6. Public Playground 7. East Parking
Developed mainly as an adaptive reuse project, Motor City aims to provide a central hub for a neighborhood that is slowly losing residents. Major programs on the project include a trade school, marketplace, housing and live-work services, and phytoremediation plantings. All these programs are woven together by a large superstructure called the Stitch that intersects through existing buildings and also acts as large public space as well as a greenhouse during the winter seasons.
Concord St St.
4
6
7 1 2
5
E Grand Blvd.
3
7
Niche Landscapes Axis
Concord St. 11
15
12
10
8 E Palmer St.
14
9
1. Phytoremediation Field 2. Indoor Sports + Recreation 3. Residence Quad 4. Campus Quad 5. Indoor Gardens + Meadow 6. Roof Garden 7. Phytoremediation Field (ext.) 8. Market Plaza 9. Phytoremediation Field + Column Forest 10. Community Gardens 11. Playspace 12. Community Grove 13. Platform Forest 14. Emergency Road 15. Bus Station Parking + Entrance 16. Rail Crossing (to Station)
13
16
0
60’ 100’
Opposite:
Exposed columns (13), emphasizing the contrast between ambitious architectural projects of Detroits past and the overgrowth that has taken over in more recent decades. Inside the Stitch along the phytoremediation trees (1)
Inside the Stitch, crossing Palmer St. towards the southern residential blocks.
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URBAN CONNECTION
While the Packard Plant holds a myriad possibilities for how it may be revived, the surounding neighborhood of Kettering shares the same potential (and same need). The neighborhood curently has approximately 10,000 properties, split nearly 50:50 between structures and empty lots. Of the properties that have structures, approximately 25% are unoccupied. Utllizing this high vacancy rate, and observing the current rise in urban agriculture within Detroit, the Packard Plant not only becomes its own sustainable community, but also an aid to help develop many other smaller communities.
Salton Sea IMPERIAL COUNTY, CA
A prime example of a failed landscape in the California desert, the Salton Sea is facing its final days. Dwindling quickly due to its already shallow depth as well as a lack of stabilization, the health of the sea as well as the quality of the air become a concern as more and more of the dry lake-bed is exposed. Today the Salton Sea currently holds a depth of 60ft at its lowest. In 15 years the lake will lose approximately 20ft of that depth and consiquently expose 100 square miles of lakebed. This in combination with losing 40% of the inflow that currently feeds the lake will lead to a large loss in habitat for the wildlife of the sea as well as more rapid exposure of toxic dust that can be severely harmful to surrounding communities. Three rivers, the Alamo, New, and Whitewater Rivers, currently feed into the Salton Sea. While the contaminants from industrial and agricultural sources do not contribute to the rapid evaporation of the lake, they do provide long term health risks in the form of particulate matter. Dust from the exposed lakebed has potential to be carried by major windcurrents and have major impact on the overall air quality of the Imperial County and even the greater Southern California region. Wind and land form studies.
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REDIRECT
Bend + Curve
SCORE
Trench + Stream Lines
SWELL
River Banks + Pools
DEFORM + POPULATE
WILDLIFE RIVER By redirecting the outlet path of the New RIver, opportunities emerge between Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge and the river. Intersecting wetland systems help to improve the health of the water at least as it drains out into the Salton Sea. Tillage maneuvers mitigate dust carriage from prevailing winds, and may occasionally swell up from river runoff, providing temporary pools. Camping zones extend from the Wildlife Refuges efforts to help improve visitors relationships with the Salton Sea ecosystem.
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Deep Water Pools
Mid-depth / Shallow Water
Mudflats / Playa
15
#glass landscape trickle Winter 2017
glass garden and water collection sculpture Collaboration with CSUSB art students.
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pieces + parts Spring 2016
2�X2� basswood study models.
Construction document samples; planting plan (above) wood deck details (opposite).
Professional work sample; site plan rendering for roof terraces and corner plaza.
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Rhinoceros 3D modeling samples and physical, lasercut replication.
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Silver Lake base model for class-wide use.
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