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Landa Park Master Plan
New Braunfels, TX | Asakura Robinson
Situated at the source of Comal Springs (the largest in Texas), this park is the jewel of the New Braunfels park system. The park’s first visitors arrived by train, but the rise of automobile ownership in the 20th century dramatically fragmented the park’s layout.
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The heart of the master plan includes strategies to decrease automobile traffic, reduce impervious cover, consolidate parking areas, and enhance the rich ecological heritage of the park, which includes several endangered species. Diverting thru- traffic and designing a bicycle and pedestrian oriented “festival street” are among my most important contributions to the plan.
MINI-ROUNDABOUT
The mini-roundabout proposed for the connection between Landa Park Drive and the bypass road is a traffic design that has proven to significantly reduce intersection crashes. Though not yet widely used in the United States, it is becoming more popular, and has been implemented successfully in numerous neighborhood locations in Austin. With its small footprint, the mini-roundabout can adapt to tight locations while still providing space for planting. Typical designs often include a raised curb or rumble strip at the edge of the
Tomochichi Federal Courthouse
Savannah, GA | Asakura Robinson
This modern courthouse annex is located on a civic trust lot designated by the 1733 Oglethorpe Plan of Savannah. The $27 million dollar building designed by Page Architects and Hoar Construction enhances security and provides modern work spaces for courthouse employees while respecting the community’s interest in preserving Savannah’s historical charm. As project manager, I worked with local architectural historians to re-use the site’s existing 1800s-era asphalt pavers and granite curbs in a new pervious paver streetscape design that bisects the trust lot. Storm water is directed towards rain gardens and the long term success of street trees is assured through the design of a silva cell system. In addition, I worked closely with the design team to improve pedestrian circulation on the site by locating a flush curb and security bollards at the building’s entry.
