Portfolio ANNA BLUKE
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Contents Yo r k C a s t l e Pa r k Wo o d b r i d g e E s t a t e R e g e n e r a t i o n Campus Gardens
CASTLE PARK
Castle Park is a proposal for a new southern gateway to York city centre. It celebrates York’s cultural heritage and draws attention to human qualities in an urban environment.
York
CONTEXT The site North
YORK
York Castle and Clifford’s Tower, an 11th Century historical monument, enclosed by car parks and segregated from the rest of the urban fabric by dual carriage-ways.
Yo r k C i t y C e n t r e RIVER FOSS RIVER OUSE
MUSEUM GARDENS
YORK MINSTER THE SHAMBLES
YORK STATION THE SITE
ROWNTREE PARK
CITY WALL
South A historically important meeting point of rivers Foss and Ouse. St George’s Fields now holds little of its past cultural value. Behind the Georgian Elm Walk there is another car park. The site frequently floods.
C onceptual d evelop m ent
Spatial character The design concept emerged from studying the historical influences that make up York’s urban fabric. The project aim is to add to and enhance these layers by focusing on the use today. It celebrates York’s cultural heritage whilst creating a truly enjoyable public space.
S t a i n e d g l a s s o f Yo r k Taking inspiration fom the stained glass windows in York Minster and reflecting York’s spatial character has been the foundation of a design which provides great diversity of habitats for wildlife and spaces for peoples’ enjoyment in Castle Park South.
S T R AT E G I C M A S T E R P L A N
Improved pedestrian connection to footdtreets
REDEVELOPED PICADILLY Shared street with swales
CASTLEGATE
CYCLE HUB +HIRE
THE FOSS WATERFRONT
CASTLE PARK
NORTH
TOWER STREET THE EYE OF YORK
EXTENDED TOWER GARDENS
for people
for wildlife CHAPEL PLAZA with open remains of St George‘s Chapel
THE ARC
Pedestrianised streets Shared streets
Adding to city’s legibility with planting
FORMAL POOLS
Cycling facilities More permeable surafcing
Flexible public green space
PONDS SUPPORTING AQUATIC LIFE
Event space Improved river green corridors
Pedestrianised streets
Connections to Rampart Park
A wide range of areas for recreation
ORCHARD CASTLE PARK
Richer aquatic life
Diversity of habitats
Sustainable flood management
SOUTH THE NEW AVENUE
WETLAND + RESEARCH ROOM
Improved cycle route connections
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CASTLE PARK
SOUTH
The key characteristic of the park is they way in which the character areas and habitats merge and overlap one another creating a diverse yet unified environment.
FOCUS DESIGN
THE FOSS
WATERFRONT The Foss Waterfront creates an opportunity for people to reconnect with the riverfront and enjoy the public spaces that are carved out by the rich layers of architectural heritage.
THE ROBINIA GROVE The tree-covered plaza extends over the re-sculpted mound to create an inviting space that people can take ownership of.
CASTLEGATE
CASTLE PARK
CASTLEGATE HUB Bike hire + storage
NORTH
CAFE TERRACES
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THE FOSS WATERFRONT
PROPOSED PICADILLY BRIDGE
ROBINIA GROVE
SYMBOLIC PLANTING DESIGN - TWO RIVERS COME TOGETHER TO A GREAT PUBLIC SPACE PROPOSED BUILDING EXTENSION
THE EYE OF YORK DRAINABLE POOL MIRRORS CLIFFORD‘S TOWER OR LEAVES ROOM FOR EVENTS
Visual arts composition in landscape architecture B A ( H O N S ) L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E D I S S E R TAT I O N Application to YORK CASTLE PARK
DISCOVERING WAYS TO EMPHASISE THE IDENTITY AND SYMBOLIC MEANING OF A DESIGN (EXCERPT FROM WRITTEN WORK)
The Clifford’s Tower mound has been sculpted to allow easy access from various gateways of the site and create a pleasant journey as one approaches the tower. Visual arts composition principles have been applied to the designed space by considering the journey of the eye during environmental observation in order to emphasise the historic architecture and the usable green space.
Another way of communicating of the metaphysical characteristics of a design, thus stimulating the mind, is to use abstraction (Figure 31). This would cause the viewer’s attention to be brought away from the functional aspect of the attributes of the physical world and invited to concentrate on the composition as a whole, which communicates the symbolic meaning of the design (Motloch, 2000). Another level of complexity in a design is added when there is a rich overlay of different meanings and the ambiguity of interpretation is retained (Tyler,2007).
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Painters have often cleverly used composition to add more weight and emphasis to a particular symbol in their paintings, thereby hinting at the meaning of the image (Figure 14) (Poore, 1967). As John L. Motloch has suggested, an advanced landscape designer should not only be concerned with communicating physical characteristics, but also go beyond that and link those characteristics to stored cognitive images and establish associations with the metaphysical (Motloch, 2000). Therefore, the ways, in which a designer can bring attention to the symbolism in a landscape design, could be borrowed from the effective applications of composition, in which artists have accentuated the symbolism of a painting.
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DETAILS
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PLANTING
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BED 01/02 detailed plan excerpt
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15x Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’ planted in a two alternate rows (40cm spacing)
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Briza media planted in rows from the edge of the path (30cm spacing), continuing the following rows in an alternate layout.
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Laburnum watereri ‘Vossii’
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3 alternate rows
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Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’ planted in a row as indicated (40cm spacing)
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Carex elata ‘Aurea’planted from the edge of the path (45cm spacing), continuing the following rows in an alternate layout.
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Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' planted in two alternate rows along the seat (30cm spacing). Tulipa ‘Purissima’ bulbs planted randomly amongst the grasses throughout the planting segment.
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DETAILS
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CONSTRUCTION Excerpt from the layout plan 1:250
Reclaimed Yorkstone setts 250x 150x150 mm laid in stretcher bond on a radius. Max joint width 12mm
DETAIL 01
Cromwell diamond sawn Yorkstone (supplied by Marshalls) 600mm wide, 75mm deep at random lengths, max 900mm. No units to be cut shorter than 400m.
GRAVEL PATH
DETAIL 04 STEPS
DETAIL 02
SANDSTONE FLAGS / COBBLES
DETAIL 03 TREE PIT
DETAIL 05
WATERFRONT / GABIONS
CEDEC self binding gravel
STEPS
Section 1:20
Cromwell Yorkstone diamon sawn setts (200x100x50) on mortar bed in stack bond. All joints 10 filled with lime mortar brushed in dry and well watered. 400
Cromwell Yorkstone diamon sawn bespoke units, see dimensions Detail 04.2
200
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50 10
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350
10 150
350 50
In-situ concrete
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MOT Type 1 hardcore CEDEC® Gold Footpath Gravel, compacted as per manufacturer’s specification. See NOTES (Detail 01) Cromwell Yorkstone diamon sawn 50 thick units cut to 350 width.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Cromwell Yorkstone Tactile paving unit (by Marshalls) 400x400x50mm on mortar bed. All joints to be close butted.
DETAIL 04.1
1100
450 150
Reclaimed Yorkstone flaggs approx. thickness 50 stacked in stretcher bond, mortar joints min 10. Mortar carefully raked out not to be visible on the face of the wall
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BY A PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
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WOODBRIDGE ESTATE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY
Leeds T h e c l i e n t (Housing Leeds) needed this project to be developed in a way to help attract funding and open people‘s minds to how the estate could be changed in a positive way. BECKETT PARK
requested, one that could be implemented in short and long term scales, to help improve the image estate positively for all the residents.
WOODBRIDGE ESTATE
MORRIS WOOD
A v i s i o n for a new Woodbridge was
COURTYARD SPACES
A s t r a t e g y and a masterplan
LOCAL AMENIETIES
showing how to make Woodbridge Estate work better highlighting...
OPEN GREEN SPACE CHURCHLANE ALLOTMENTS
The Woodbridge Estate is situated in Leeds, North West of the City Centre, sitting within the areas of Kirkstall and Headingley. It was built in 1965 as permanent housing.
QUEENSWOOD SOCIAL CLUB
Connectivity Identity Defensible space Boundaries Children’s play Ownership issues
C O MM U N I T Y C O N S U LTAT I O N
To understand more about the community of the Woodbridge Estate, and gain some local opinions of the area, we held an engagement session to find out more. Two events were held on the 8th October 2013 at the Queenswood Social Club and at an open green space just outside the estate. Prior to the day flyers were designed and given to the residents as an invitation to participate.
WHAT WOULD BE MOST NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE ESTATE?
COMMUNAL FOOD GROWING
IMPROVED FRONT GARDEN SPACES
IMPROVED GATEWAYS
WILD PLANTING
People were bored with the concrete, broken tarmac, mismatched pavng and bulky bollards.
COLOURFUL PLANTING
Image
MORE TREES
Many said they did not know people living on the other end of the estate - suggesting bad connectivity.
MORE PLACES TO SIT
Community
HIGH QUALITY PATHS
Lack of play inspiration on the estate.
FUNCTIONAL COMMUNAL AREAS
Play
OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS
EXCERPT FROM THE FINDINGS
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We need designated areas for the children - there is no space for local play.
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Using a variety of methods - interactive maps and questionaires it was concluded that the main issues were:
INDIVIDUAL DESIGN PROPOSAL
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BRINGING THE GENERATIONS TOGETHER
The few well-designed square feet next to a dwelling will most often be more useful and more used than the large areas farther away. /Jan Gehl/
ADDRESSING THE OWNERSHIP AND IDENTITY ISSUES The example illustrates a way of creating an attractive boundary between public and private space. The co-operation of neighbours can increase the spirit of community.
The curvilinear theme throughout the front gardens would contrast the dull aesthetic of the estate.
NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS The residents are given the freedom to take ownership of the semi-public courtyards. The community gardens allow space where adults can relax and socialise while children are playing in the natural environment. Play features include teepees, dens mounds, as well as simple structures from wood.Raised beds allow the opportunity for food growing.
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This layout creates a more formal charater and allows freedom of design within the hedges.
WOODBRIDGE PARK The improvements to local green space take into account the disused green by the corner of Woodbridge Garth and Queenswood Drive. The design includes an event space, mounds and interactive, informal play features.
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PLAY
GROUP PROPOSAL
Having received the client‘s feedback on individual design proposals, the team collaborated to develop a masterplan that could be presented to the community and used to apply for funding.
RELAXATION
SOCIALISING Courtyard designs SEATING RAISED GARDEN SPACE
The phased m a s t e r p l a n provides a
solution for turning the courtyards into usable community spaces, improving the estate’s identity by redesigned gateways, maximising green space by re-arranging the parking bays.
were developed under this theme to suit the needs of the residents.
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The Line Garden
The exisiting courtyard is re-developed to provide a variety of places to sit and enjoy the surrounding planting, whilst socialising with neighbours. The linear pattern in the paving is unique to Woodbridge green.
GROUP EXHIBITION The 40th Design & Community exhibition was opened in January 2014 in Leeds, during which the project work was handed over to the client. The group display included a film, an illuminated model and the project portfolio.
CAMPUS GARDENS
Leeds Metropolitan University
This First Year design project aims to transform a university car park, situated right in the heart of Leeds City, into an enjoyable campus outdoor space, which the university is lacking. The design was revisited a year later and was used as the basis for a course which aimed to improve visual communication skills. This gave me the opportunity to develop a digital drawing style, using SketchUp Pro, Photoshop and free-hand drawing techniques.
Thank you!
Contact
ANNA BLUKE
+44 78797 32850 (UK) +371 2633 1120 (International) annabluke@gmail.com