Design Application | Chapter 5

DESIGN APPLICATION

The intent of this chapter is to utilize the findings from the previous chapter, Case Studies, to provide an example of how a multifunctional agricultural landscape could be designed in a peri-urban environment. In particular the design phase of this report looks at Twin Lakes Park in Homer Glen, IL. As the previous chapter has illustrated, any design solution should carefully address a series of site considerations through an inventory and analysis phase to fully understand the sitespecific opportunities and constraints. Prior to beginning this process any design concerns should be clear. For the purpose of this report the primary design concerns are accessibility, ecological restoration and protection, youth education, community development, and agricultural production. These individual concerns all lead towards the larger goal of creating a multifunctional agricultural landscape that instills joy within its visitors and the surrounding community.

The design process varies between projects due to time constraints, designer personality, and project requirements. In many landscape architecture offices, the traditional design process includes the following stages: site inventory and analysis, design program development, schematic program diagramming, schematic circulation diagramming, and functional program and circulation diagramming. Upon completion of these stages (they can be repeated multiple times), the design is resolved to a master plan level. For the purpose of this report, the design process has been slightly adjusted to successfully integrate the �indings presented in the previous chapter. The design process for Twin Lakes Park includes the following stages: an inventory and analysis of critical existing conditions at a regional scale and a site scale, case study informed analysis at a site scale, case study informed schematic programming, functional programming development, and circulation diagramming. As is traditional, upon completion of these stages the design is resolved to a master plan level. The design of Twin Lakes Park is not developed beyond master planning. Final design graphics include inventory and analysis diagrams, plan images, design diagrams, axonometric circulation sections, and perspectives. Graphics are used alongside written descriptions of inventory and analysis, the design process, programming, circulation, and performance assessment.