Landscape Architect Portfolio - Caitlin Lewis

Landscape architect Portfolio

Caitlin Lewis

About Me

Caitlin Lewis

Email: Caitlinlewis2002@gmail.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-lewis-a149601b1/

Blog address: https://caitlinlewisblog.blogspot.com/

Contents Page

Alney

My portfolio is a collection of work I have produced over the last three years on my landscape architecture course. It consists of work from my modules, design competitions that I have enResponsive environments is where my passion is derived from. I aim to create designs that respond to the needs of communities, places, and the environment. I create places to increase the mental and physical wellbeing of people, to increase interactions between people, and restore the natural environment through sustainable design. I love creating bold landscapes that people can respond to emotionally, creating human interaction. By including elements of play and interaction, you create spaces that are intriguing and exciting, which creates better public spaces.

I am inspired by the natural environment and naturalistic design. I’ve lived in the Forest of Dean my whole life, constantly surrounded by flourishing vegetation I have a love for naturalistic landscapes and organic forms. Conserving our resources and reducing an environmental footprint motivates me to create better landscapes for the future and preserve our planet.

I am a driven and motivated landscape architect with a passion for art and design. I am a creative individual who strives for innovative design solutions to heal our public spaces. I am excited for a long career within landscape Architecture, and further develop my creative skills. .

Barnwood Park sustainability layers

Dissertation

Chaumont : Natures Resilience

The Quad key scape Planting Plan and development

Forgotten places: LDA design competition

Sketch book work and contact information

Feasibility study

Alney Island SWOC and layers analysis

Key Site Layers

The River Severn circulates the site which was the biggest strength of Alney Island. There are fascinating views of the river that connects people to nature, and provides great circulation to the site.

There is minimal access onto the site, that creates poor use of the site. Electrical pylons run throughout the site, giving a sense of danger, as well as the island having a poor reputation for flooding, damaging hundreds of homes.

The opportunity to create a strong sense of place through connection to the river Severn and the nature reserve on site. There’s lots of existing Fauna and flora, which should be used to connect people with nature.

Noise pollution on site echoes throughout the site. The floodable land makes it inaccessible throughout parts of the year. The privately owned parts of the site also makes some design choices not possible.

Connection to Water Road and rail circulation Privatly owned Site entrances

Native Wildflower patch

Alney Island

Development and Master plan

This development site layout helped locate spaces within the design, and create a place that is well connected and serves the purpose of outdoor spaces and nature reserves.

Amphitheatre with river view

The First Sketch development piece I created had the main focus of the shape of the River Severn running through the centre. Shapes were then formed to reflect the fluidity of the site and create flexible spaces.

Decking onlooking the River Severn

Educational

The River Severn

Conceptual Development - Alney Island

I wanted to create a park that connected to the site better to the wider fabric of Gloucester. Site specific detail of the river was imprinted throughout the site, through water features and site layout. The concept of fluidity was from the surrounding river, it gave the site adaptable space, seasonal change, and fluid spaces. It connects people to the history of the site, highlighting the importance of the River Severn.

These sketches helped me achieve the flow within the design, playing with topography forms while creating a practical design that connects people to nature.

The River Severn trace created places within the site and gave direction to Alney Island.

Model Making

Conceptual models - Furniture

For a My furnitecture project I took the concept of the River Severn Bore. I wanted to bring play back into normal benches and combine with an art feature, to create interest into the landscape.

RHS Border Design

The Garden Of Vivacity

The theme for this RHS border competition was sensory, Una Nolan, Annie Watson and myself created a planter that was vibrant and bold to stimulate the senses of visitors.

Our colour pallet was ‘Spicy’ which was warm and vibrant hues across the gardens from plants like Canna ‘Durban’ and Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaf’. Inclusive design was a crucial part of our theme, we wanted the colours to be seen by a wide range of audience.

We wanted the garden to flow, we opted for a dynamic ribbon feature that meanders through the garden and wraps itself around the tree. The metal posts provide a backdrop to the planting which increases the intensity of the colour contrast. A Rhus Typhina multi stem was chosen to create balance within the border and add to the textural interest with the pinnately leaves and red flowers.

RHS Border Design Concept Development

These sketches show the thought process behind our border. We created quick sketches, representing different design choices.

North Place

Development Sketches

These are sketches that created my form for The North Place, giving direction and flow. When looking at form I traced over vegetation as well as ink runs to get an organic form. This was developed further to create a flowing naturalistic landscape.

North Place

Strategic layers

Paving

Creative Strategy

Vegetation Strategy

Creativity strategy

Paving patterns leading people throughout the site.

Public art

Market space

Productive gardens

Natural play

Skate park

Amphitheatre

Viewpoints

Place specific detail in created by the community art that has been placed within the raised planters.

Native planting beds provide seating and natural play that intertwines throughout each.

Green roofs

Planting Tree cover

The paving creates direction throughout the site, while creating a playful interest.

The interactive water feature creates ambiance for the surrounding space.

This form inspired the concept for The North Place. It was created by imagining spaces throughout the site then ‘ribbon’ like lines connected the spaces and created directional flow throughout the site.

North Place

Master plan

The North Place was a concept created to bring colour and vibrancy back into our public spaces. A creative and lively space that connects well to the wider fabric of the city.

Stain glass walk way

Overhead glass features give vibrant energy to the space, giving an alternative route through the site.

Skate park

The skate park gives space for the community to exercise and express themselves.

Roof top gardens

Roof top gardens with bee hives, allotment plots and solar panels provides residents with productive space and creates greener spaces .

Way finding

Signage is positioned throughout the site to help visitors in the city, it allows connectivity and encourages a walkable city.

Bike Hub and Cafe

This hub is positioned near the start of a liked cycle lane throughout the city. It encourages sustainable travel and provides comfort for users

Stage and amphitheatre

The amphitheatre is hoped to radiate energy throughout the site, providing space for local clubs, communities and education to thrive.

Work live units

The buildings create a great street scape on the ground floor by providing a 24 hour civic space.

North Place

Site Section Details

Bike Hub and Cafe

Section B - B

• Outdoor dining space

• Connection to nature

• Recycled oak planks

• Bike Hub and Cafe

Section A - A

• Open public space

• Place specific connections

• Way finding sculptures

• Sheltered micro climate

Outdoor Seating

Underground parking

Urban greening Grass space

Natural element play

Live Work Spaces

Roof Top Gardens

Section Locations

Ground floor shopping

Accommodation Main Road

B

• Underground parking

• Open grass areas

• Open natural play areas

B A A

International Design Studios

Sketches and group work

This was an immersive biophilic three-day project where we worked with international students from Hong Kong. We designed a prototype that worked in both countries, learning all about the benefits of Biophilic design.

This workshop lasted three days where we explored the benefits of working within a multi-disciplinary team, where I worked with architects, interior architects, and urban planners.

We re designed Boots corner in Cheltenham and had a talks on the plans for the space as well as sustainable design.

I learnt how to work productively in a fast-paced environment, with a variety of team members.

This urban Rewilding workshop allowed me to explore the current strategies used to rewild our cities. We had many fascinating talks that pushed us to finish the prototype designs. We based our site on the HoneyBorne line where we introduced native planting and better access to the site.

This is group worked combined after three days.

Barnwood Park

Strategic Layers

Naturalised native planting

Rain gardens

Existing trees will restored and densely planted

A Wetland will be added

Reed beds situated in the streams and ponds increasing aquatic species and slowing water flow

• Extra ponds increasing biodiversity

Rain garden

Rills and swales for SuDs

Permeable paving

Accessible pathways

Cafes and toilets with green roof

• Raised boardwalk

This master plan was designed to maximise suatianability and create community coherence. It has increased circulation of the site and maximised year round giving space for floodable landscapes and re-leave pressure of floods.

The vegetation across the site will be increased to create diverse habitats, increasing the biodiversity across the site. Infrastructure added to create a park for surrounding communities with sustainability at the heart. This planting and material palette displays the naturalistic factors on the site.

Iris reticulata Blue Felicia amelloides ‘Marguerite Daisy Blue’ Butomus umbellatus

Dissertation

2022 - 2023

How can landscape architects use Placemaking strategies to retrofit lost public urban spaces to create valuable city place?

How can landscape architects use placemaking strategies to retrofit lost public urban spaces to create valuable city places?

“What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people” (Project for public spaces, 2010). When designing valuable places Landscape architects have a crucial role when creating places, which is vital to achieve a vibrant city that functions well. Well-designed public spaces are immensely important as they can restore “the identity of a city and also offers great economic, cultural and social values” (Gradefixer, 2020).

Caitlin Lewis

Landscape

Architecture Dissertation

Kings Square in the city of Gloucester is a fitting example how a community lead approach has a good success rate in creating vibrant public spaces. The proximity of the bus station to this site increased regular footfall, however with the lack of place making strategies used in the design, the entrance was uninviting, making it an unpleasant place to walk through. With the lack of purpose, poor maintenance and inadequate building fronts, this site was often avoided and considered a lost public space.

Since recent regeneration it’s been transformed into a vibrant and exciting place. The results of six months of community consultation allowed them to feel ownership and a part of the space. Kings Square is now filled with activity increasing the sense of place through place specific bench designs reflecting the Severn Bore. This community lead approach has brought vibrancy back into the heart of Gloucester, working as a catalyst to retrofit the rest of the cities lost public spaces.

My research revealed that landscape Architects can successfully use place making strategies through involving the community at early stages, designing elements for user comfort and microclimate, assessing the wider context of the site, and providing successful management schemes. However, this alone will not solve the issue of neglected public urban spaces, “Placemaking is an ongoing process that doesn’t end once a place is ‘made’” (Joanna, 2017). Designs should be managed with long term strategies that maintain the space, which will slow deterioration and keep communities proud of their pubic spaces.

The Kings Square In Gloucester in 2006, unsuccessful with no purpose to visit the public space (Nicholls, 2006)

The Kings Square In Gloucester after a successful retrofit by creating a place (Gloucester News Centre, 2022)

Chaumont

Harnessing Natures Resilience

This garden responds to the detrimental situation our climate is in. We wanted to push the feeling of responsibility, for our climate and encourage the right choices through sustainable practice.

Aspects of discovery and juxtaposition unravels around the garden. You begin in a scarce white room which leads then to an immersive experience in a vibrant garden. We wanted to allow contemplation spaces and included still water to emphasis the feeling of ‘reflection’.

The use of resilient planting reinforced our concept of the importance of nature. We hoped to make the space feel full, alive and green

The illustrations show the routes around the garden, representing the planting textures and shapes created around the garden.

FCH Quadrant

Key Scape Planting Plan

Whimsical was the concept for this planter. I wanted to give creative energy to the space through movement in the planting, varied textures and heights and a circular planting form. This led to a cohesive planting design that was playful and draws people into the site.

Sketches

These images show the process in which I developed the flow for the plants. I wanted the planters to create a central space that could be used all year round with autumnal interest. The elements of tranquillity was included by constant running water that surrounds to planters, peace and relaxation constantly circulate the planter.

Sketches

Illustration

Good circulation was vital for the site to work, these were initial sketches to understand the site in a wider context. .

This illustration shows the planter from a side view. It shows the relation to the tree canopy from the Betula pendula and Prunus Pandora.

Forgotten Places

LDA competition - Forgotten places

This competition created an opportunity about reclaiming and putting sustainability at the front of the design. Reconnecting the site to the wider fabric of Gloucester creates better access to green spaces for the surrounding neighbourhoods. It gives communities a place to grow and strengthen. I also had sustainability as a priority, reclaiming the space and building resilience towards climate change.

Community gardens help connect people back to nature and provide space to be educated on growing plants, giving people space to learn and meet new people.

A Community hub, live/workspaces and a cafe creates a 24/7 space. This creates a lively community that thrives.

The wetland increases biodiversity on the site, while providing good circulation

The woodland walks have play integrated throughout of the site.

Site Section A-A

Forgotten place: Gloucester, retail park

Email: caitlinlewis2002@gmial.com

Blog: https://caitlinlewisblog.blogspot.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-lewis-a149601b1/