CHELSEA DEWITT P
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Master of Landscape Architecture | University of Virginia | 2013 Master of Urban & Environmental Planning | University of Virginia| 2013 Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Analysis: Biology | Pomona College | 2006
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RIVER CITY
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EDGE ADAPTATIONS
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SAND ENGINE
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INNER GREEN BELT
WINTER INTEREST PLANT NURSERY
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FERN AS CONSERVATION AGENT
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GARDEN DESIGN & MAINTENANCE
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HAND DRAWING
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STREAM VALLEY AS BACK
STREAM VALLEY AS FRONT
Charlottesville Stream Valley Diagram | GIS & Illustrator
RIVER CITY: STREAM VALLEYS AS PUBLIC SPACES OF SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION Thesis Project | Spring 2013 | Charlottesville, VA | Advisor: Elizabeth K. Meyer | Collaborators: PLACES Task Force of Charlottesville, James Moore, & Brian Flynn
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How might we reenvision our urban hydrological systems as facilitators of productive spaces that enhance the socio-ecological well-being of communities? This thesis reorients Charlottesville’s stream valleys from a marginalized and forgotten back to a vibrant front. Through the proposal of a one mile Streamway, Downtown Charlottesville is connected with the regional trail and stream network, creating a new threshold and multifunctional public realm.
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAM
MULBERRY GROVE & PAULOWNIA PICNIC PARKING LOT
1. EDGE
(BARRIER)
DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTESVILLE +396’ SECTION A
+394’
PUBLIC BUS STOP
2. THICKEN
(CREATE CENTER)
+378’
COMMUNITY CENTER & LIBRARY +382’
+392’
PINE PLAYGROUND & ROPES COURSE
SUNKEN SUMMER STREAM GARDEN
+398’
+403.5’
3. REGRADE
(PROVIDE ACCESS)
+382’ +380’
SECTION B +396’
WETLAND WALK
+410.5’ +403.5’
4. CONNECT
(LINK TO LARGER LANDSCAPE)
MILL PARK & RIVANNA TRAIL 0
50
100 FT
Site Plan: Schematic| AutoCAD, Rhino & Illustrator
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Sunken Garden Perspective | Rhino & Photoshop
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Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
RESIDENTIAL
PERMEABLE PARKING LOT
RAMP & MOSS WALL
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CONSTRUCTED STREAMWAY
STREAMWAY PATH
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COMMUNITY CENTER & LIBRARY
ROPE’S COURSE & PINE PLAYGROUND
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STREAMWAY WALK & WILD EDIBLE PATCHES
BOARDWALK
CONSTRUCTED WETLAND
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Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
Wetland Walkway Perspective | Rhino & Photoshop
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SECTION A | SUNKEN STREAM GARDEN & WETLAND WALK
SECTION B | COMMUNITY CENTER & PINE PLAYGROUND
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Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
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Concept Tapestry, Before | Felt, Yarn & Thread
Concept Tapestry, After | Felt, Beads, Plexiglass & Thread
Coastal Ecosytem Plant Communities | Partner Work
EDGE ADAPTATIONS: MULTIPLE LINES OF DEFENSE IN A GRADUALLY SHIFTING SYSTEM 3rd Foundation Studio | Fall 2011 | New Orleans, LA | Project Partner: Dasha Lebedeva | Instructors: Jorg Sieweke & Pete O’Shea This design envisions a proactive approach of allowing the gradual shift of the Mississippi river to the Atchafalaya basin at 1% per year, over 40 years, reversing the current 70/30 split. A strategy that was proposed in the EPA’s 1987 report, “Long-Term Plan of Action for Saving Louisiana’s Wetlands.” We envision this alternative to a potential catastrophic jump of the Mississippi River as allowing for a period of time for adaptation to take place in a multitude of shifting systems, including sea level rise. Our proposal explores the adaptation of two edges over the next 50 14 years, the urban edge: New Orleans Port, along the Mississippi River, and the new main line of defense at the coastal edge of Bayou LaFourche.
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
Timeline, Collaborative Work | Illustrator & Photoshop
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CURRENT
2050
2030
2100
Coastal Phasing Diagrams| Partner Work
Bayou LaFourche | Coastal Phasing On the coast, we explore adaptation opportunities for what we’re calling, a new line of defense. We focused our design on a new gateway to this coastal experience located at the edge of where the constructed levee ends and exposed territory begins. We propose, clustering, elevated homes for residents that chose to remain in this area, mostly fisherman and recreators. An opportunity is presented to redefine this edge as a recreational zone that provides access to engage and experience the shifting ecosystems of the delta through the adaptive reuse of existing 16 structures for floating boardwalks and platforms for camping. A new waterway trail is defined through mangrove habitat clusters.
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
Coastal Phasing Diagrams| GIS & Illustrator
New Orleans | Urban Phasing In addition to continued use of freshwater diversions to encourage natural protection from wetlands; adding new city parks and transitioning current neutral grounds into wetter area to help hold more water; we propose pumping water from the city into the Mississippi River, providing an opportunity to create an articulated ground that will define the new river waterfront experience (since the Port will be forced to shut down). Utilizing the salinity gradient of water from fresh to brackish, various habitats will flourish along this new edge, representing a 17 condensed version of the delta ecosystems. New Orleans becomes a fortress, surrounded by a protective, thickened, soft edge.
Edge Adaptations | Urban
Urban Section Perspective | Partner Work
BEFORE 18
AFTER
Urban Axons | Partner Work
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
Edge Adaptations | Coastal
Coastal Section Perspective | Rhino, Watercolor, Hand Drawing & Photoshop
ELEVATED ROADWAY
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON LONG LOTS
ELEVATED CLUSTERED HOUSING
LOCK
SHRIMPING INDUSTRY BARRIER ISLANDS
HOMES BUILT AT GRADE OYSTER REEFS
ERODING SALT MARSH (CORDGRASS) CONSTRUCTE LEVEE (8’)
BEFORE
LIVING WITH WATER
VIEWING PLATFORM ADAPTED SALT MARSH (MANGROVES) NATURE WALK
RECREATIONAL/RESEARCH PLATFORMS
AFTER
Coastal Axons | Rhino, Watercolor, Hand Drawing & Photoshop
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VITORIA-GASTEIZ INNER GREEN BELT | GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & PUBLIC SPACE
Birds Eye View: Corridor Catayst | Photoshop
4TH Urban Landscape Forum : Green Infrastructure | Summer 2012: Two Week Summer Workshop | Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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In the summer of 2012 I was asked to participate in the 4th Urban Landscape Forum Workshop located in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, the European Green Capital of 2012. The focus of the workshop was developing an interior green belt that would connect to the exterior green belt. Our group proposed to revitalize the northern, commercial corridor by designing a series of public spaces that redefined the socio-ecological character of the city by overlapping green infrastructure and public space.
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
Section Perspective: Urban Meadow| Photoshop & Illustrator
BEFORE
Section Perspective: Urban Forest | Photoshop & Illustrator
BEFORE
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BA R
RA CK SR
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Section | Illustrator & Photoshop
EVERL E RLASTIN NG N EVER RGREENS & BRUMA BLOSS BRUMAL SO OMS STOCK ST SPIRITED S RITED STEMS STEMS S& BOLD B BE ERRIES STO ST OC CK
GREENHOUSE & GIFT SHOP GLOWING GL G LOW GRASSES SSES & FA ANCY CY Y FRU FRUIT UITS TS S STOCK
EMMET ST/US 29 0
8
16
32 Feet
Site Plan: Schematic | AutoCAD & Illustrator
TWIGS & BERRIES: WINTER INTEREST PLANT NURSERY Planted Form & Function | Spring 2012 | Charlottesville, VA | Instructors: Julie Bargmann & Cole Burrell
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The design for Twigs & Berries Nursery reimagines the typical nursery as both a commercial enterprise and a public space where stock areas are elegantly divided from publicly accessible display gardens by ornate ironwork screens. Having a special focus on winter interest plants, the stock areas are separated by categories that highlight the following: Bold Berries & Spirited Stems; Everlastings Evergreens & Brumal Blossoms; and Glowing Grasses & Fancy Fruits.
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
VS.
Spatial Concept| Illustrator
Formal Concept | Illustrator
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WET STREAM CORRIDOR Betula nigra ‘BNMTF’ DURA HEAT Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’ Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’ Vernonia noveboracensis Polystichum acrostichoides + Onoclea sensibilis
FANCY FRUIT, BOLD BERRY & SPIRITED STEM GROVE WE WET W ETT & TTW E TWIGGY WIG IGGY IGG GG GGY G GY GY STTTR STR SSTRE R AM AM CO ORR ORRI OR RR RRI R RID DOR DO OR O R
WIN WINE W INE IN NER & EA NE EAR EARL E ARL AR A R RLY SSPRI SPR SP PR PR RIN NG G PE ER EREN ERE RE REN R ENN E NIA NIAL NI IA IIAL A ALL BOR BORD BO B ORD O RD RDE ER R
Cercis canadensis Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ Ostrya virginiana Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ Polystichum acrostichoides + Onoclea sensibilis
WINTER & EARLY SPRING PERENNIAL BORDER
FANC ANC NC CY FFRUIT UIT, U IT, BOL BOLD D BERRY, BE BERR Y,, & SPI Y SP P RITE RIT D STEM TTEM GRO ROVE VE VE SPI SSPIR PIRITED TED ED E D STE STTTE EMSS & BO BOL BOLD OLD BE O BER ER E RRI RIE RIES R ESS E STO STOC TTOC O OC CK
Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyi’ Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ Iris ‘Sparkle’ Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’
WINE W INE NE ER & EARLLY SSP P PRI PR R NG PEREN NNIAL NIA AL AL BORD ORD O DER DER E
Symphoricarpos x chenaultii ‘Hancock’ Festuca ovina var glauca ‘Blue Glow’
WINTER & EARLY SPRING PERENNIAL BORDER EVER VER V VE ER ERLAST ASSTTIING AST AS NG G EVE EVER VE V VER ER ERG GR GREE REE R EENS NS & BRUM B RUM R UMA UM ALL BLO LO LOSS OSSOM OMS OMS MS SSTO STOC TOC OCK OC
Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’ Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ Cornus mas Lindera benzoin Hamamelis virginiana Hamamelis vernalis
WINE WI WIN W IN IN NE ER & EARL EAR ARL RLLY R SPR SSP PRI P PR RIN R NG G PEREN ENNIAL EN A AL BORD BO B O ORD DER
Ilex verticillata ‘Southern Gentleman’ Vernonia noveboracensis Polystichum acrostichoides + Onoclea sensibilis Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’ + Galanthus nivalis
GLOWING G NG G GRAS GRA RA ASSSES SSE E ESS & FFANC FA A Y FR FRUIT UITS UITS TS STOCK
GRASSES & FRUITS EDGE Cercis canadensis Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah
Partial Site Plan: Early Design Development | AutoCAD & Illustrator
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Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
+DZWKRUQ &UDWDHJXV YLULGLV 露:LQWHU .LQJ路 ZONE: 4 to 7 BLOOM TIME : May FRAGRANT: N HABITAT: Upright, vaseshaped youth, spreading vaased to horizontal at maturity
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TOLERANCES: Urban pollution, clay soil, dry soil NOTES: With thorns on its branches, do not position it too closely to walkways.
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l Plant Palette | InDesign & Illustrator
Plant Palette | InDesign
Seasonal Color Diagram: Winter | AutoCAD & Illustrator
Seasonal Color Diagram: Spring| AutoCAD & Illustrator
Seasonal Color Diagram: Fall | AutoCAD & Illustrator
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8+ RAEY
0 RAEY
Sand Engine Process | Illustrator
YEAR 0
Flows Model | Cardboard, Plexiglass & Pape
YEAR +8
Sandcatcher Model | Cardboard & Wire Mesh
SAND ENGINE | FORM FOLLOWS FLOWS 2nd Foundation Studio | Spring 2011 | Norfolk, VA | Instructors: Kristina Hill & Kate John-Alder This studio was inspired by the Dutch-invented ‘sand engine’, an alternative to traditional beach nourishment practices. Through the natural processes of shoreline wind and wave action, the sand engine gradually nourishes the beach over a period of 20-25 years. The proposed design uses the idea of a conveyor system to translate the process of the sand engine into a perceivable and achievable system of flows that will thicken the coast while 26 enhancing current beach activities and the reintroduction of dune habitat to the beach.
Regulating Lines Diagram | Hand Sketch
61+ RAEY
T N E M E V O M D N A S | N O I TC
YEAR +16
YEAR +24
Sandcatcher Section | Rhino, Photoshop & Hand Drawing
Sandcatcher Dune Formation| Rhino & Hand Drawing
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Conceptual Perspective | Photoshop
CONTEXT
CONCEPT
FERN ECOLOGY
WASHINGTON DC FORT CIRCLE PARKS
FERN AS CONSERVATION AGENT | EROSION CONTROL FOR HISTORIC EARTHWORKS Design Research Studio I | Spring 2012: Two Week Project | Washington, DC | Instructor: Julian Raxworthy
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In this design, ferns are proposed as an erosion control measure to stabilize the slopes of Fort DeRussy, an historic earthen defense used during the Civil War in Washington D.C. Ferns were chosen both for their slope stabilization qualities and their similar form to ‘abatis’, branches use for protection from attack.. The proposal takes advantage of ferns’ self-propagation and only specifies planting the top edge of the slope, allowing ferns to naturally colonize the remaining slope.
Chelsea DeWitt | Master of MLA & MUEP 2013| University of Virginia
Photograph | Summer Garden
Indigofera tinctoria
Artemisia absinthium
Arachis hypogaea
Passiflora incarnata
Gossypian hirsutum Planting Plan |AutoCAD & Illustrator
THOMAS JEFFERSON DEMONSTRATION GARDEN | GARDEN DESIGN & MAINTENANCE Co-Designer & Paid Garden Coordinator | 2011-2013 | Charlottesville, VA | Co-Designer: Erica Thatcher | Advisor: Nancy Takahashi The TJDG is a teaching garden made up of Jefferson-documented “useful” plants, including varieties used in the production of food, medicine, textiles, dyes, and other materials that sustain and enhance life. Our mission is to teach people about the continued importance of plants and realize Thomas Jefferson’s vision of providing a plant collection for botanical study on UVa grounds. The design was informed by traditional 17th, 18th, and 19th century gardens, as well as modern botanic gardens, particularly those that look to highlight specific plant collections and relationships through the construction of garden rooms.
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VENETO LANDSCAPE & ARCHITECTURE | HAND DRAWING 30
Vicenza Drawing Program | Summer 2011 | Vicenza, Italy | Instructors: Charlie Menefee & Craig Barton
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