Creekside Commons Park Chelsea, MA Creekside Commons delivers a diverse range of experiences within a compact, single acre site, which includes a dedicated play area, passive and active recreation spaces, interactive learning experiences, a splash pad, and a tranquility garden. Site features consist of a net play-structure, climbing wall, cascading waterway and splash pad on one side of the park, Kinetic Wind Sculpture & Pergola and a synthetic ice rink, tranquility garden, lawn-game courts, cultural map and music garden on the other. The semi-circular plaza, shaded by tensioned fabric canopies, serves as the central access point for all of surrounding site features. The main walkway leads the visitor under a wooden pergola designed to mirror the silhouette of the nearby Tobin Bridge. The visual axis created by the main walkway terminates at a tall kinetic wind sculpture within the raised circular planter of the tranquility garden. The wooden pergola, decorated by grapevines and string lights, defines the edge of the “synthetic ice” rink to one side, and the horseshoe and bocce courts on the other. Beyond these game courts is a small plaza, paved with granite tiles engraved with a cultural map of Chelsea. Stories and memories from town residents are inscribed in the granite pavers and boulders that decorate the surrounding planting bed. A winding stone-dust path forms the spine of the music garden, and leads to the intriguing “whisper dishes”. Outdoor instruments allow visitors to experiment with sound. Tuned drums, contrabass chimes, a metallophone and a xylophone are tucked in amongst buffer plantings.
Music Garden
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Engraved Cultural Map
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Entry Plaza, Fabric Shade Canopy
Creekside Commons Park Chelsea, MA
Tuned Drums & Fabric Shade Canopy
Music Garden (Xylophone)
View from Water Discoery Zone
On the opposite side of the park, a net play-structure and climbing wall allows children to expend energy while improving strength, coordination, and agility. Adjacent to the play structures is the splash pad and water discovery zone. A “mountain stream” winds its way down a mound composed of excess site fill and arranged boulders, softened with planting pockets. The waterway is formed by a cast concrete channel embellished by smooth river stone embedded on the surface. The top of the waterway is fed by a hand-operated pump from which water cascades down through a series of dams and weirs that allow children to halt and release the flow of water. The winding stream leads to a splash basin before overflowing into the site’s drainage system.
Water Discovery Zone
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781-492-2432
Chester Square, Boston, MA
Client: Project Cost: Constructed:
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Boston Parks Department $738,400 Autumn 2008
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Chester Square is a neighborhood park in Boston’s South End, referred to as “the twin parks” since its mirrored halves are bisected by Massachusetts Avenue. This park provides an open space with seating areas and shade trees that lend a soft texture to this urban environment. Raised planters and seating walls are backed by berms that buffer park goers from the sight and sound of traffic. The center of each park is punctuated by a cast iron Victorian fountain, which provides further noise attenuation. The materials and site furnishings were selected to match the surrounding historical context and aesthetic, while meeting practical contemporary needs.
781-492-2432
Geneva Cliffs - Urban Wild,
Dorchester, MA
Client: Boston Conservation Commission Project Cost: $220,000 Constructed: Summer 2008
Polished Puddingstone Display
Informative Plaques
A refuge from the city streets, Geneva Cliffs is an urban wild that contains a system of wooded trails, an outdoor classroom/gathering space, and an open space for stargazing and community events. Interpretive exhibits encourage outdoor activities--such as the “phases of the moon” display, which illustrates the position of the moon in relation to the earth during its orbit. These graphics are inscribed in stainless steel plaques, which are embedded into salvaged granite curbs. The curbstones are set vertically like monuments, and are arranged in an elliptical path. At the center of this ellipse, visitors will find the “constellation-scopes”: stainless steel sculptural telescopes that display cut-out constellations back-lit by the sky. The Geneva Cliffs site had formerly been a quarry suffering from years of dumping, neglect and overgrowth. This degraded landscape had been overtaken with invasive plant species which were selectively removed and replanted with native species to increase biodiversity. The natural topography was sculpted to create a retention pond that collects storm-water runoff from the site. Biodegradable erosion-control mat is used to stabilize slopes and establish a restoration seed mix including Fescues, Annual Rye-Grass, White Clover, and Little Bluestem to re-vegetate disturbed areas. Piles of rubble salvaged from the site were used to create a retaining wall along the front boundary, and granite piers serve as columns for an ornamental steel gateway. Daniel
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781-492-2432
Dorothy Curran Playground,
Dorchester MA
Dorothy Curran Playground’s nautical theme takes inspiration from its close proximity to the Boston Harbor. The custom play equipment embodies the form of an old sailing ship and lighthouse. The edge of the blue color-coated pavement defines the play areas and reflects the curvature of the shoreline. The surface is painted with graphics that depict the currents of the nearby harbor water. The tall, wavy spray features have been modified to resemble giant seaweed that sprays water when activated by the children. Other features, such as the teeter boat and a musical sea turtle, further reinforce the theme and add play value. Decommissioned buoys, acquired from the US Coast Guard, have been refurbished and embedded in the paving surface. These aids-to-navigation are painted (red and green) to conform with the “Red-Right-Returning” rule of thumb used in the harbor. Wooden docks and piers mark the walkways’ entry/exit points. Recycled concrete curbs are set on end to form a retaining wall that resembles a wharf. Dorothy Curran Playground caters to the needs of children with disabilities. Accessible ramps and walkways enable those with disabilities to participate in the core play areas. Tactile panels on the play structures depict braille and sign language diagrams to encourage children to learn and communicate better with those who have special needs. Fragrant plants in the rain garden enhance the sensory experience for people with vision impairment. The rain garden filters and absorbs storm water and spray pool runoff, reducing the impact of the project on the City’s storm drain system. Another sustainable feature is the use of recycled materials, such as wood/polymer lumber for the docks, piers and musical sea turtle, recycled plastic benches and picnic tables, reused concrete curbs for the retaining wall, recycled rubber play surfacing, and refurbished buoys. Client: Boston Parks Department Project Cost: $667,150 Constructed: Autumn 2006
Panoramic View: Light House Play Structure, Sea Weed Sprays, Teeter Boat, Big Ship Play Structure, Musical Sea Turtle, USCG Buoys
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781-492-2432
Zhongkai Sheshan Villa Master Plan Shanghai, China
Client: ZK Real Estate Development Co.,Ltd Total Cost: $93,000,000 Construction: in progress
The Zhongkai Sheshan Villa is a high-end, gated residential community located at the foot of Sheshan Mountain within the Sheshan National Travel Resort, approximately 45 minutes west of Shanghai. The master plan integrates 79 thoroughly contemporary villa designs from 17 architecture firms. All 79 villas and the Club House/Guest House are connected by a man-made waterway that meanders through the 46 acre site. This water feature forms the spine of a shared, natural corridor that runs through the rear of each lot. The natural corridor provides vegetative screening from adjacent and opposing villas, while allowing views to the water’s edge and beyond to the backdrop of Sheshan Mountain. Each villa landscape is enclosed by garden walls, with veneers to match each respective villa character and to complement their abutters. All site walls lining the central boulevard and side alleys are designed with limestone facades to unify the composite nature of the community’s architecture. Careful detailing was required to transition between the changes of materials and the points of intersection between each distinctive villa.
Daniel Daniel
J. J.
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781-492-2432 781-492-2432
Zhongkai Sheshan Villa Master Plan Shanghai, China
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Photo Credits: Kevin Levesque, Levesque Design
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Zhongkai Sheshan Villas
South Mountain
Shanghai, China
The Zhongkai Shesan Villa Master Plan contains two major gateways that allow access to the site; the architectural North Gate and the mountainous South Gate. The South Gate reflects the view of Sheshan Mountain in the distance. This man-made mountain stretches across the southern border of the site, varying in height up to a limit of 10 meters. Planting pockets are built into the rocky facade to provide vegetative cover, while waterfalls animate this monumental structure. The site is encircled by a moat which is supplied by the site’s main water feature.
3D Renderings not produced by DJP
Client: ZK Real Estate Development Co.,Ltd Total Cost: $93,000,000 Construction: in progress
Daniel Daniel
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781-492-2432 781-492-2432
Highgate Residence,
Wellesley, MA
This expansion of the existing patio creates multiple terraces that accommodate outdoor grilling, dining, social gatherings and lounging. These terraces offer an easy transition from the home's interior, extending the living space beyond the roof line. The new patio configuration incorporates salvaged bluestone pavers, stair treads and wall caps, as well as thin fieldstone for the walls, stair risers, outdoor kitchen and firepit. The property was overgrown and required a complete landscape renovation, including selective removals, transplants and new planting beds. Other improvements include new fencing, a sports court, a newly expanded parking area and vegetative screening.
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Pleasant Street Residence Belmont, MA
The scope of this project consisted of a compact backyard with an extreme grade change that had been subdivided into a series of narrow terraces 足足 which ultimately created a visual barrier and left little usable space. The new design concept returns the site to its original contours and created a more open, useful and inviting space. A single terrace was formed by cutting into the slope with two perpendicular wing walls. Where the two walls intersect, stadium足style seats now create a cozy sitting nook with a shelf for container plantings. The new patio elevation requires just three steps to reach the grade at the house. A dry stream bed provides visual effect and management for drainage runoff. Groundcovers such as carpet cypress, hay足 scented fern and cranesbill add ornamental value and prevent erosion on the slope.
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Albion Road Residence Wellesley, MA
The existing sundrenched patio served as a blank canvas for the creation of several outdoor living spaces including a fireside seating, grilling and dining area. New masonry planters have been built into the existing patio walls, and filled with wildflower meadow plantings which softens the hardscaping and adds color, texture and fragrance. While preparing dinner at the grill station, the chef can interact with guests seated at the adjoining bar top. A solid cellular vinyl pergola provides relief from the sun when family and guests are assembled at the outdoor dining table. As day fades into night, company can gather around the outdoor hearth to indulge in conversation and s’mores.
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