John Montefour The Pennsylvania State University Landscape Architecture Portfolio
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. —Michael Jordan All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. —Walt Disney
Personal Statement Since I was young I had the dreams of becoming an architect. After stumbling across the field of landscape architecture, my dreams shifted. After discovering the major and choosing to attend Penn State’s program I found a place to grow a passion for the work I do in school, as well as an optimism for the possibilities I may achieve after I graduate. I crave the opportunity to learn daily. I have made myself known among my peers, and I have become a respected student among faculty. Although I developed a love of landscape architecture, I did not simply become good at the work I produced; I failed countless occasions, to the point of almost transferring. However, I succeed now because I did not allow myself to surrender and abandon my dreams. I have pushed myself harder and farther than I thought possible so that I may succeed. My passion for the field has predominantly showed through my urban environment projects at both the planning and site scales. Creating systems and networks is fascinating to me, which I hope to excel more as I begin to entertain the idea of a graduate career in Urban Planning and Design. This portfolio is a collection of my favorite projects, all the way back to my first design project as a freshman.
Table of Contents
03 11 17 21
Landscape Systems Analysis and Design Closing the Gap - Centre County, PA
Design Implementation Construction Documentation Planting Plans Grading and Stormwater
Issues of Place: The Waterfront Connecting The Waterfront - Philadelphia, PA Victorian-Era Transformed - Bellefonte, Pa
Visual Communication and Design Luxury Through Nature - State College, PA Freshman Year Renderings Internship Summer 2018 Projects
CLOSING THE GAP Date: Fall 2018 Type: Landscape Systems Analysis & Design Location: Centre County, PA Description: Within the Spring Creek watershed, the gap between parks limit society’s interaction with them. This also forms a gap between people and the environment. Closing the Gap is a master planning project that links several parks in the more urban areas of the watershed. The project has waterfront access as the link among the parks, as well as new bike routes to link communities. The master plan also has proposed three new parks within the gap, all having different design goals based on their location.
03
04
Ginkgo Greens
Entry Courtyard
05
Innovation Park Gateway
Rolling Meadows Trail
06
Suitability Analysis
Park Fragmentation
3 2 1 0
Public Land
Special Features
Vicinity to Streams
Desirable Slopes
Urban Develop
Land Use
07
Project Analysis: Analysis for Closing the Gap included many layers of data that carried weight to help decide which location would be best suited for the design I was proposing. One of most important layers that began my analysis is the Park Fragmentation map. This is the data that revealed the gap in parks and green spaces within the watershed.
Bike Route Typologies
Park and Trail Signs
Bike Routes & Signage: The bike routes create strong links between the surrounding neighborhoods with the proposed corridor and parks. The types are based on the areas they are located. The lanes are equipped with signage, lighting, and rain gardens or bioswales to capture runoff. One of the major issues with park connectivity is unity and cohesion. Part of my design intention was to create park and trail signs that would be located at every park and significant trailhead. These signs would help to reinforce the idea of being in the same park and greenway system.
08
PROJECT PROPOSAL
Streams
Date: Fall 2018 Type: Landscape Systems Analysis & Design Location: Centre County, PA Description: Before I could begin designing, I was immersed in layers of data that begin to help sculpt the design I would later achieve. Looking at information such as the sub-basins within the watershed, soil types, slopes and elevation changes all revealed some of the unique and interesting features withing the watershed. I then decided what type of design features seemed most appealing to me based on my own interests. This ultimately led to the Closing the Gap project.
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Programming & Theme: The diagram illustrates the gap between parks and green spaces, as well as the gap between people and the environment. Humans have become disconnected with nature, which has ultimately led to ignorance towards nature and its systems. The idea of the proposed design intervention is that the design will begin to close the gap, physically and socially. The Land Use chart shows possible land types that could be the source of development to help close the gap.
Historical Markers
Ecological Restoration
Trailheads
ADA Accessible
TRAILS & CORRIDORS
Educational Signage
Water Access Parking
PARKS & GREEN SPACES
Picnic/Gathering Space
The Gap
Active Recreation
People and Nature
Emersion in Nature
Passive Recreation
Bicycle Racks/ Shares
Separated Parks
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4176342951.47 Current Park Space
Possible Development
Undevelopable Land
Habitat Restoration
Riparian Restoration
Attention to Water
Waterfront Interaction
Connect to the Urban Fabric
10
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION Date: Fall 2018 Type: Design Implementation Location: State College, PA Description: The goal of this project was to begin forming a design to create a plaza space in the arts college with certain requirements. As the semester progressed, iterations of details would reveal if the design was feasible. The end result was a whole construction document set with details and cross sections. This project helped to develop an understanding of materiality and composition of project designs for realistic construction.
Tree Protection Fencing
Rain Garden Section
Sidewalk Curb
Seating Wall and Footer
Light Fixture with Footer
Curb Cut & Detectable Warning Strip
Shrub Planting
Deciduous Planting
11
Evergreen Planting
Demolition Plan
Lighting Plan
Landscape Planting Plan
12
LANDSCAPE PLANTING PLAN Date: Summer 2018 Type: Design Implementation Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA Description: This project was one of the major projects that I was assigned to complete during my internship with McLane Associates. It is a foundation plantings and interior landscape plan for a Marriott Fairfield Inn hotel. I worked with a wide range of colors and textures that compliments the color and design of the hotel that will be built. A large piece of this project was to account for the unique zoning and SALDO requirements of the township as well.
SALDO & ZONING REQUIREMENTS ASSUMED ZONING DISTRICT : PDZ (Plan Development Zone)
REQUIRED:
PROVIDED:
SALDO: (1) 14 trees of 1 21 inches minimum caliper (2) Trees are in all parking lot islands to provide maximum shade (3) Interior Landscape Islands: 1835.10 sq. ft. Perimeter Buffer Landscape: 19985.15 sq. ft. = 21820.25 sq. ft. (48.9%) (4) Pollution tolerant species provided (5) Appropriate tree species have been provided (6) Interior landscape required (109 spaces)
ZONING: Zoning regulations stated in 300-19 Landscaping regulations. have been met and specified as needed in the Landscape and Site Notes, found on sheet L-1.
13
SYMBOL
QTY.
SCIENTIFIC NAME
PLANT SCH
COMM
AR -
7
ACER RUBRUM
RED
GT -
3
GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS "HALKA"
HALK
LT -
3
LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA
TUL
AG -
5
AMALANCHIER GRANDIFLORA
AMA
CC -
6
CARPINUS CAROLINIANA
MUS
CR -
2
CERCIS CANADENSIS
EAS
CN -
1
CHAMAECYPARIS NOOTKATENSIS
WEE
AP -
1
ACER PALMATUM
JAPA
CSP -
18
CORYLOPSIS SPICATA
SPIK
BMJ -
10
BUXUS MICROPHYLLA JAPONICA
BOX
CC -
4
JUNIPERUS CHINENSIS
JUN
OV -
1
OSTRYA VIRGINIANA
AME
HS-
225
HEMEROCALLIS SP.
MIXE
JC -
102 JUNIPERUS CONFERTA
JUNI
ES -
92
PUR
ERAGROSTIS SPECTABILIS
SYMBOL
HEDULE
MON NAME
SIZE
ROOT
2.5" CAL.
B&B
KA HONEY LOCUST
2.5" CAL.
B&B
IP POPLAR
2.5" CAL.
B&B
ALANCHIER 'FOREST PANSY'
2" CAL.
B&B
SCLEWOOD/HORNBEAM
2" CAL.
B&B
STERN REDBUD
2" CAL.
B&B
D MAPLE
EPING ALASKAN CEDER
6' HT.
B&B
ANESE MAPLE 'BLOOD GOOD'
2" CAL.
B&B
KE WINTERHAZEL
3-4' HT.
B&B
XWOOD 'WINTER GEM'
3' HT.
B&B
NIPER 'TORULOSA'
6' HT.
B&B
ERICAN HOP-HORNBEAM
6' HT.
B&B
ED VARIETY DAYLILY
12" HT.
#3 CONT.
IPER 'BLUE PACIFIC'
24" SPD. #3 CONT.
RPLE LOVEGRASS
12" HT.
#3 CONT.
QTY.
SCIENTIFIC NAME
PLANT SCHEDULE COMMON NAME
SIZE
AR -
7
ACER RUBRUM
RED MAPLE
2.5" CAL.
B&B
GT -
3
GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS "HALKA"
HALKA HONEY LOCUST
2.5" CAL.
B&B
LT -
3
LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA
TULIP POPLAR
2.5" CAL.
B&B
AG -
5
AMALANCHIER GRANDIFLORA
AMALANCHIER 'FOREST PANSY'
2" CAL.
B&B
CC -
6
CARPINUS CAROLINIANA
MUSCLEWOOD/HORNBEAM
2" CAL.
B&B
CR -
2
CERCIS CANADENSIS
EASTERN REDBUD
2" CAL.
B&B
CN -
1
CHAMAECYPARIS NOOTKATENSIS
WEEPING ALASKAN CEDER
6' HT.
AP -
JAPANESE MAPLE 'BLOOD GOOD'
2" CAL.
B&B
3-4' HT.
B&B
ROOT
B&B
1
ACER PALMATUM
CSP -
18
CORYLOPSIS SPICATA
SPIKE WINTERHAZEL
BMJ -
10
BUXUS MICROPHYLLA JAPONICA
BOXWOOD 'WINTER GEM'
3' HT.
B&B
CC -
4
JUNIPERUS CHINENSIS
JUNIPER 'TORULOSA'
6' HT.
B&B
OV -
1
OSTRYA VIRGINIANA
AMERICAN HOP-HORNBEAM
6' HT.
B&B
HS-
225
HEMEROCALLIS SP.
MIXED VARIETY DAYLILY
12" HT.
#3 CONT.
JC -
102 JUNIPERUS CONFERTA
JUNIPER 'BLUE PACIFIC'
24" SPD. #3 CONT.
ES -
92
ERAGROSTIS SPECTABILIS
PURPLE LOVEGRASS
12" HT.
#3 CONT.
IV -
23
ITEA VIRGINICA
SWEETSPIRE
12" HT.
#3 CONT.
SJ -
7
SPIREA JAPONICA
SPIREA 'LITTLE PRINCESS'
3' HT.
#3 CONT.
SS -
17
SEDUM SPECTABILE
STONECROP 'AUTUMN JOY'
3' HT.
#3 CONT.
RH -
115 RUDBECKIA HIRTA
BLACK-EYED SUSAN
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
EP -
24
CONEFLOWER 'RUBY STAR'
ECHINACEA PURPUREA GERANIUM SANGUINEUM
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
BLOODRED GERANIUM
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
GS -
72
AF -
58
ASTILBE ARENDSII
BRIDAL VEIL ASTILBE
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
CA -
23
CALAMAGROSTIS ACUTIFLORA
FEATHER REED GRASS
18' HT.
#2 CONT.
LM -
224
LIRIOPE MUSCARI
LILY TURF
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
LV -
198
LIRIOPE VARIEGATA
VARIEGATED LILY TURF
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
LS -
61
LIATRIS SPICATA
BLAZING STAR
12" HT.
#2 CONT.
LANDSCAPE BOULDER
SEE DETAIL 4/L-1
14
GRADING & INTRO TO STORMWATER Date: Spring 2018 Type: Design Implementation Location: State College, PA Description: Emphasizing the importance of grading comes early at Penn State. This project is the final project of the semester. It involved grading steps, parking lots, driveways, swales, FFEs, a mounded buffer, and a road convergence. This design implementation class created a base for grading and stormwater, which is again taught in a later studio course. Part of the class involved learned Earthwork on Civil3D to help understand the cut and fill of our grading.
Earthwork Cut & Fill
Cut & Fill Report
15
16
CONNECTING THE WATERFRONT
Regional Analysis
Date: Spring 2018 Type: Issues of Place: The Waterfront Location: Philadelphia, PA Description: This project was a phased project, beginning with analysis, then master planning , and finally a focus area with details. The design was an Olmstedian approach to contrast the grid of Philly. The main focus of the design was to promote people’s interaction to the water and their environment. The focus area embraced the linear layout of Philly, creating an interactive space that people can use. The design also has several types of programming for different ages.
Bio Swale Section
17
Courtyard Terraces
Site Master Plan
Focus Area
Site Cross Sections
18
VICTORIAN-ERA TRANSFORMED
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Date: Spring 2018 Type: Issues of Place: The Waterfront Location: Bellefonte, PA Description: This project is the first attempt I made at a connecting landscape. The design took the basic ideas of Victorian-style architecture, which is prominent in the surrounding areas around the site. I then applied them to landscape principles, with colorful blooming plants, elegant shapes and curves, and a radial-structured amphitheater that spreads the design throughout the park. The design also extended to a vacant dog park upstream, and a new riverwalk downstream.
Radial Event Space
19
COMMON NAME
BLOOM COLOR
Salix nigra
Black Willow
Off-white
Betula nigra
River Birch
Green, Brown
Acer rubrum
Red Maple
Red
Quercus rubrum
Red Oak
Yellow, Orange
Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood
White, Pink
Lindera benzoin
Spicebush
White, Yellow
Kalmia latifolia
Mountain Laurel
White, Pink
Viburnum acerifolium
Mapleleaf Viburnum
White
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed
Pink, Purple
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
New England Aster
Pink, Purple
Eutrochium maculatum
Joe-pye Weed
Pink, Purple
Lobelia siphilitica
Blue Lobelia
Blue, Purple
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower
Red
Linking to Context
Geometric Plant Pattern
Site Cross Sections
Spring Creek Perspective
20
LUXURY THROUGH NATURE Date: Fall 2017 Type: Visual Communication & Design Location: State College, PA Description: The design for this project was to rework a sheep farm that would have 4-H camps, farm shows, and other Penn State agriculture programming. The design focused around creating a more sustainable landscape that linked the two severed woodlots through elevated corridors. This created new spatial arrangements for the sheep, people, and ecology on site. The design also worked to capture some of the history of the site through the proposed architecture.
Major Concepts Diagram
21
Site Master Plan
Event Space Perspective
Corridor Underpass
Event Space with Barn
22
INTRO TO DESIGN & VISUALIZATION
Photoshop Plan
Date: Fall 2016, Spring 2017 Type: Visual Communication & Design Location: State College, PA Description: These projects are the finals of each section of my freshman year. The two handdrawn renderings and the color perspective are from my first semester, where I was taught rendering techniques and visual skills. The rendered plan is my first design project. The design worked to unify the existing water tower and woodlot on site, as well as create various experiences through landform and vegetation. The site had various user groups to accommodate.
Hand-Drawn Plan
23
Photoshop Perspective
Hand-Drawn Perspective
24
Thank You
jjm6395@psu.edu 570.677.8191 issuu.com/jj.montefour