SENSORY PLAZA Landscape Architecture

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SENSORY PLAZA

Project: MLA Studio 7, Studio Vestibular (2018) Role: Design concept.

The design seeks to amplify the sensory input of a given site by highlighting the stimuli of the 7 senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch, vestibular, proprioception).

It creates a theatre within the landscape that connects the subjects with the river, alternating between the roles of spectator and performer. This relationship is emphasized with different states of water that serve as a relieve for the urban heat island effect. And moreover, the water amplifies the sensory input of the site though different conditions.

URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

As the city faces the challenges of the UHI effect, the square provides a relieve due to its position close to the Yarra River.

Water is the greatest heat absorbent. And the different stages of the water provide new relieves. As the water jets provide cooling most directly, the different vegetations provide freshness with transpiration and the water drop help alleviate the zone trough steam.

The site then provides relieve in the middle of the city, and help them relate even more to the natural elements and can change with the seasons.

Summer cooling showers Winter sun exposure

Vegetation Wind direction Sunlight and shade Access Movements Gatherings

Yarra River Albedo pavement Grass and shrubs

Albedo pavement Water jets and shrubs Cooling air with water drop from the arch Trees

SENSORY JOURNEY

It also activates all the senses as the site responds to them:

Sight: As it gives a view of the city with the sun behind it, where the movement of the trains help relax with their rutinary movements. Smell: the different smell of plants and event the river itself give freshness. Touch: As the different vegetation and surfaces interrupt the journey to ask for pause and connection. Vestibular: With the different levels, it asked us to be aware of our surroundings. Proprioception: The site also provides different routes in which it can be experienced while moving around the site elements.

Spring sensory areas Autumn night displays

Main routes - Peak hours Routes through the sensory zones - Regular hours Routes through the site - Festivals

Sensory gardens Hydrotherapy Circular movements

Water wall every hour Sensory Gardens Birds sing

REFRESHING PANAMA

Project: MLA Thesis project “Refreshing Panama, Creating a new street typology for a humid tropical climate” (2019) Role: Design concept, planting selection, site analysis and theoretical analysis.

The project aims to present guidelines for the developers to improve the streetscapes for the general public through the variables of thermal comfort.

Due to the rapid growth of the Panama City geared by economic profit, the Panamanians face the challenges of a modern city in a hot and humid climate where the developments only provide comfortable indoor spaces and the outdoors areas mainly consider the needs of the cars, even though the population that moves by personal car is less than 35%.

The project views the site through 4 drivers: wind, shade, water and open spaces, all considered in different scales during three stages. Firstly, through the adaptation of existing built and natural conditions, such as the direction of the prevailing wind, existing water bodies, and the city grid. Then follows the addition of elements that increase the comfort of the street, creating a link of green spaces that includes the urban canopies both natural and artificial.

As a result, the city gains an increase in the public realm for the community, where they can engage and enjoy the street life.