CHARLESTON
PARKLET DESIGNS
These designs were created during my Fall 2020 studio in Charleston, SC. The Master of Resilient Urban Design studio began the semester developing a program of rules, regulations, processes, construction methods, and design options for parklets in the City of Charleston. After extensive research across the Charleston’s Peninsula, I landed on three unique sites to explore potential parklet designs. Some of the designs are geared towards increasing pedestrian spaces, supporting local businesses, and creating new typologies for future parklet designs.
BY DAN KELLY
archdale dock a community gathering space over the water
archdale st magazine
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queen st
king st
clifford st logan st
Archdale Dock serves as a gathering space for the many communities that surround it. The churches will utilize the parklet before and after masses for mingling, youth groups can meet and work in the space, and residents in the neighborhood can use the parklet as a hangout location. The design is focused on the pathway rainwater takes before leaving the parklet. Archdale Dock provides shelter on rainy days and a gathering space all the time.
Water flows down ABOVE the CANOPIES and through the MESH or BELOW away from the RAIN parklet. CHAINS are
WATER FLOWS
MESH CANOPY
used to PACIFY the speed of and redirect the water towards the planters.
RAIN CHAINS WATER PLANTS
SOIL PLANTS STONES
PLANTERS
CONCRETE
All the planters, The filled with highly soil housing the absorptive species are plants is surrounded designed to withstand a heavy flow of by stones that allows for overflow to travel to water. the bottom of the Water planter. moves below COMMUNITY the wooden dock from BOARD a planter, out of the 48” annual parklet and towards a rainfall street drain.
BENCHES WOOD DOCK IRON FENCE
BLESSING’S BOX
FOOD DRIVE DROPOFF
community board and food drive support The community board built into the design serves as a way for the various churches, schools, and neighborhoods to pass along information. Food drives and blessing boxes are integrated into the design to streamline donations for those in need. Saint John’s Lutheran Church and the Unitarian Church of Charleston can host food drives from the parklet.
ARCHDALE ST
ONE WAY
FOOD DRIVE DROPOFF
FOOD DRIVE STORAGE
COMMUNITY BOARD
BLESSING’S BOX
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STREAMLINED FOOD DONATIONS FOOD DONORS
DISTRIBUTION
ARCHDALE DOCK
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
RECIPIENTS
KINETIC PALETTE
A parklet is a sidewalk extension that provides more space and amenities for people using the street. In the case of Kinetic Palette, the sidwalk extension provides opportunity for a new amentitiy in the neighborhood. The park is loaded with sports fields, playgrounds, and a new indoor/outdoor swimming pool, but fresh local food is currently no where to be found. Kinetic Palette aims to promote local food truck vendors and provides their patrons with a place to enjoy their food. With over 220 food truck vendors in the Charleston area, the parklet will always be booked. The design is focused on using pallets in modular forms to create unique experiences within the small space. Native plants are used to bring nature to the street.
planter
planter
pallet as platform
pallet as dynamic facade
planter & platform as lounge area
bench as table
pallet as bench
pallets form a base
food trucks
structure extruded up
wood frame cantilevered roof
pallets form a facade
Native Plant Life Switch Grass
Full sun, attracts butterflies & birds, and can survive with little water.
Tall Grass
Full sun, attracts butterflies & birds, and must be well drained.
Royal Fern
Ground cover in need of full to part time sun used as rain garden filler.
Black Eyed Susan
Full sun to full shade, very robust plant that will bloom every spring.
Climbing Hygrengea
Climing vine that can also be used as ground cover in part to full sun.
220
food trucks in Charleston
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Virginia’s Porch acts
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as a community support parklet for the local artist & musicians while also expanding the table services of Virginia’s on King. The Lowcountry porch aesthetic is pulled from the interior of Virginia’s & placed along the street.
NG KI ST
Trellis with Artwork Planters Porch Seating Performing Platform Outdoor Dining
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indigo
porch style hangout
live music
outdoor dining
local artwwork
local artwwork
Virginia’s on King
Structure $940 = Material $2100 = Assembly
The structure of the parklet is prefabricated off site and transported by container delivery trucks. The result is streamlined, basic construction on site.
Roof $350 = Canopy $1100 = Structure Planter $140/planter x 6 = $840 Hardwood Floor $1.90/sf x 455sf = $860 Plywood Sheathing $19/sheet x 15 = $285 Trellis $115/trellis x 2 = $230 total
=
$6, 705
sidewalk
hardwood plywood 2x6 stud joist hanger I-beam
Built-in wheels allow for quick removal or addition of the parklet