Owen Harris
(901) 277-5601 JOwenH89@gmail.com Mississippi State University Landscape Architecture Undergraduate Portfolio 2008-2012
1 2 3
OVERTON SQUARE
STATESIDE
ORBIT
4 5 6
STORMWATER WETLAND
HERITAGE MUSEUM
FREELANCE DESIGN
Date:
Spring 2012
The final test for seniors graduating from landscape architecture at Mississippi State is the Capstone Design Studio. This semester hinges on a single project. Sites & project types are selected by individuals based on design interests & future career ambitions. I selected Overton Square in Memphis, TN. This site has a vibrant history that is begging to be brought back to life through urban design & mixed-use, two things I am passionate about. For the sake of the class, I selected a larger area than is actually available for development or revitalization. This opened several opportunities to create ideal situations on Union Ave. & Cooper St. & allowed for a creative, comprehensive approach to the design. My main objective for Overton Square was to create a pedestrian friendly, mixeduse node in the center of Midtown Memphis, an area known for its creative culture & arts atmosphere. The goal of creating an outdoor showcase for the arts evolved from this ecclectic context that surrounds the square.
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EXISTING CONDITIONS
MIXED-USE
THEATER WORKS
(2-3 STORIES)
F LO R E
SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED MIXED-USE
(2-3 STORIES)
(2-3 STORIES)
MIXED-USE (2-3 STORIES)
PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE
AV E N U E
Individual, Capstone Design Studio
M O N RO E
Type:
AV E N U E
Mixed-Use Development, Urban Infill
UNION
Scope:
OVERTON SQUARE
Location: Memphis, TN
MU
PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT
(
EN CE ST REET
LICK CREEK
MIXED-USE
BUFFER ZONE
(2 STORIES)
O N AV ENU
GREEN SPACE & WATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY
ULTI-FAMILY
ENTRY PLAZA
MOVIE THEATER (3 STORIES)
PARKING GARAGE
SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED (2-3 STORIES)
CO U R T
M A D IS
(2-3 STORIES)
AV E N U E
E
MULTI-USE LOT
MAIN PLAZA
EXPANDED PLAZA SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED (2-3 STORIES)
CO O P E R
ST REET
OVERTON SQUARE
Spatial Studies
The overall site design for the square creates a dense, urban atmosphere that gives the streetscape a sense of rhythm & uniformity while forming a series of interior spaces for residents & pedestrians. In order to find the right balance between activity on the street & within interior spaces, several schemes were developed. This process began with rough functional plans, loosely sketched to quickly generate ideas. After selecting the successful pieces from each of these, three overall plans were left. Variations between these conceptual plans include different combinations of keeping & removing small streets, allowing for more or less green space, & investigating the possibility of a parking garage at different sizes. Each of these variables was studied with several tools including 3D massing models, section elevations, & metrics of commercial, residential, parking, & green space areas. Based on these studies, the master plan for the square was developed (see previous page). From this plan, an interior space was selected to be designed in greater detail at a scale that shows the character of the revitalized Overton Square.
Mixed-Use
Multi-Family
PRELIMINARY FUNCTIONAL PLANS CONCEPTUAL SECTION / ELEVATIONS
Single-Family Attached
Entertainment
Existing
OVERTON SQUARE The main interior space is the connection between the North & South portions of Overton Square. Although it is primarily a pedestrian corridor, the space serves several other functions. Behind the existing structures on Madison Avenue is a plaza that can be used for markets, concerts, outdoor dining, & other social or nightlife gatherings. Linear infiltration basins run the length of this plaza & turn the corner into the green space, which features public art pieces. The area adjacent to the multi-family building is a semi-private area for residents to gather. Finally, the multi-use plaza can be used for parking on a day-to-day basis or closed off & transformed into a covered market for special events.
Keeping with the concept for Overton Square as a whole, the interior space is influenced by the arts. In this case, the design stemmed from the performing arts. Spotlights used in plays, concerts, & other performances provided the inspiration for the space’s form. Intersecting rays of light were abstracted to generate the sharp, angular lines that are found within the central green space.
URBAN ARTS
FLORENCE
275
ST.
MIXED-USE (1-2 STORIES)
SMALL PLAZA DECK
RAT BASIN ION
MULTI-FAMILY (2-3 STORIES)
ELEVATED PATIO
L
TURF
FLOW
-THRO PLANT UGH ER
COMMERCIAL (3 STORIES)
(3 STORIES)
NT PL A
STEPS TO MADISON AVE
TURF
FLOW-THROUGH PLANTER
CLOCK TOWER
COMMERCIA L
LL
TRA BAS TION IN
SE
INFILT
WA
INFIL
WA L
EEN
280
AT ING
SCR
(2-3 STORIES)
RA
ISE
D
MULTI-FAMILY
ER
MULTI-USE PLAZA
ST AG E
PLAZA
OVERTON SQUARE It is important for Overton Square to become something unique & different as it was in the 70’s, when the square first opened. The only way to accomplish this is through bold use of space & form. The flexible interior can be used for a wide variety of special occasions or everyday events. Overhead planes are dynamic & feature greenroofs, something new to the Memphis area. The use of art as the focal point for the whole site ties Overton Square back to its roots & contextual environment. It is this combination of innovative design & contextual focus that will make Overton Square unique & thriving again.
Location: Starkville, MS Scope:
Mixed-Use Community Development, Planning Scale
Type:
Individual, Design Studio III
Date:
Fall 2011
The largest assignment completed in Design Studio III, the Stateside project, was a unique challenge due to the site’s steep topography & location adjacent to the MSU campus. Currently, the site is divided into two different areas. The first is a large rolling prairie that overlooks Hwy 12 & the MSU campus. The second, a stand of dense woods. The intent for the Stateside site was to create a community that serves as a transition between the campus & Starkville’s Cotton District, a node of social activity located in the heart of a historic neighborhood. Through implementing mixed-use on the edges & residential structures on the interior, Stateside becomes a community of its own. Yet, the development complements the context in which it is placed. Ultimately, two separate, small developments were proposed, united by a large community garden. This idea of unity drove all aspects of the design. The campus is united with the Cotton District, the buildings with the steep slopes of the land, & the two communities with each other.
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SITE PANORAMA
PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT
Zooming in on the mixed-use area adjacent to University Drive, the character of the development can be seen. This will be the first area of activity that those leaving the MSU campus will see after crossing over Hwy 12. Thus, the space needs to have a lively atmosphere that relates to the university but begins to introduce the history of the Cotton District, located only a few hundred yards down University Drive. Working with the steep topography, buildings are set into the slope. A series of terraces step down the hill in an amphitheaterlike fashion, complete with a small stage turf seating area on the last terrace. Crossing over the private drive that serves residents to the East, focus turns to a view of the preserved prairie. It was important to maintain part of this existing grassland as an acknowledgement of Stateside’s ecological history.
CREATING COMMUNITY
STATESIDE
Entry Portal Design
Front Elevation
Plan
Side Elevation
Steel became a central design material due to it’s presence in manufacturing & cotton processing within Starkville during the early 20’th century. Inspiration for much of the Stateside plan came from an artist that works with enormous masses of steel, Richard Serra. His organic forms created with a highly manufactured material represent the unity desired within the new community. Sculpture by Richard Serra
URBAN PRAIRIE
The prairie that currently covers the majority of the site was preserved in some areas & abstracted in the sweeping form of the development. These curves represent the waves that appear to rush across a windblown prairie. Just as these waves cover an entire grassland, the sweeping lines cover the entire site, cutting across pavement patterns, up the sides of buildings, over roofs & back down the other side. Each line denotes a change in material, color, or use. The gentle curves also help create rhythm within the space.
NEW TRADITION
STATESIDE Due to the location adjacent to the Cotton District, an area with a distinct architectural style & sense of place, it is important to propose a sensitive transition into the neighborhood. By utilizing similar pastel colors, building materials, & density patterns, Stateside fit well within it’s context. Stateside is also designed to be something unique with a more contemporary, urban atmosphere. Through incorporating new architectural styles, materials, & building uses, Stateside becomes a unique community that still relates to the history of Starkville & the Cotton District.
Spatial Design
Type:
Individual, Design Studio III
Date:
November 2011
To complete the Fall semester in Design Studio III, the most abstract project statement of the class was issued. Students were given the task of designing a common space within a small residential community that was to convey the meaning of the universe. Along with this unique objective, specific design elements were to be included: a door to the future, a window to the past, & a table for peace talks. Although an unusual request, the project became a liberating experience that forced us to ponder our personal beliefs & convictions, ultimately illustrating them through spatial designs. What emerged are some of the most in depth, creative conceptual designs that push the envelope of public space design in Starkville, MS.
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EXISTING CONDITIONS
Scope:
ORBIT
Location: Starkville, MS
PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT
The project was to be completed in a relatively short period of two weeks. This meant that concept development needed to be done extremely quickly; a daunting task for such a complex project statement. Trying to understand the basic concepts of life as well as the sophisticated physics of the universe & boiling these ideas down into a single concept or form was the greatest challenge of the project. After filling several sketchbook pages, researching surprisingly cosmic subjects, & evaluating personal beliefs, a concept was created.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
ORBIT
Due to the intricate project statement, a great deal of time & numerous sketchbook pages were spent pondering the meaning of the universe. What resulted from this brainstorming was the observation of a common pattern that appears in every scale of life.
A special connection to the sun was also required in the design, leading to the production of several solar angle studies with the help of 3D computer models.
OVERLAPPING
ORBITS
The common thread that ties the universe together is the presence of an orbit. Whether it is an electron around a nucleus or a planet around the sun, orbitals are central to life & existence. These individual orbits overlap & are connected in various ways to create a single, unbelievably massive, yet cohesive system.
To Illustrate the concept of overlapping orbits, a combination of angular & radial forms were stretched over the site. The varying sizes represent the different scales of orbits. The center of each orbit is connected by water, a compound essential to life.
COMMUNITY GREENSPACE
ORBIT Ultimately, the design for the site is composed of three main areas, each with a different purpose. The smallest of the spaces is intended to be an intimate setting for reflection or meditation & the largest, a more open, recreational gathering space. The center, mid-sized space, composed of several series of doorways & concrete panels, is meant to be the most thought provoking. A recent study shows that walking through doorways actually causes people to forget certain memories or thoughts, leaving the past behind. Thus, this series of portals symbolically became a door to the future. The centers of the three radial spaces represent the center of the orbits that inspired the design. Surrounded by water, each pedestal would display a piece of public art just out of reach to those in the space. This is a representation of how, even though they may be known or visible, the central point to many orbits, such as the sun or a nucleus, can never be touched by man.
GREENROOF PAVILION
Scope:
Site Element Design, Construction Documents
Type:
Individual & Group, Construction III
Date:
Fall 2011
Over the past four years, the department of landscape architecture at MSU has developed a very close relationship the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum. This home to numerous pieces of the county’s history was in desperate need of cosmetic & functional improvements. Through various donations from the city, county, private donors, & the university, several projects have been designed & implemented as part of landscape architecture Construction II & III classes. Construction III is centered around building materials & how to design with them. The main project of the semester was to design features that would be constructed on site: retaining wall, wood porch, information kiosk, monument sign, & greenroof pavilion.
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HERITAGE MUSEUM
Location: Starkville, MS
INFORMATION KIOSK
SITE ELEMENT DESIGN
Illustrative designs were presented to board members at the museum as well as landscape architecture faculty. Based on their comments, a handful of students were selected to collaborate on a final design for their assigned element that would be implemented at the museum. This process included the formulation of construction documents, a cost estimate, & a materials takeoff for each design. These students then served as supervisors during the construction phase of the project.
SIDE PORCH RETAINING WALL
Part of the semester in Construction III focused on the physics & mechanics associated with different structures & building materials. Thus, everything designed for the class had to be functional & able to withstand the forces associated with the structure being designed. Calculations for deck beam sizing, joist spacing, bolt sizing, & all other materials were used to ensure structures were up to Oktibbeha County code standards. This, combined with the actual construction phase of the project made it, perhaps, the most tangible & practical design exercise for many students.
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Having the opportunity to construct real projects provided students with the chance to see how site elements are put together in the field. This greatly helps with future designs thanks to the practical knowledge of what can & cannot be done, as well as knowing that every detail must be attended to. Thus, every line on the page begins to have real meaning in the built environment.
MONUMENT SIGN
OKTIBBEHA COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM I was selected to work with another student & the class’ professor to design & construct a new monument sign for the museum. We worked to create a design that fits the museum’s historic character & grabs the attention of those passing by. What we developed is a sign composed of a concrete base & steel sign panels. The base cuts into the slope of the site & features battered sides with linear reliefs, matching the cistern implemented at the same time. Working with a local steel manufacturer, we laser cut the sign panels & new museum logo from steel plates. These are designed to rust over time & are backed with galvanized sheet metal, providing high contrast & visual appeal. With help from other students in the class, we constructed the framework for the concrete base, & poured it ourselves. The three of us on the design team then assembled the sign panels in the department’s workshop &, with the assistance of a few strong backs, transported the panels to the site where they were placed on the base & bolted into place.
Scope:
Stormwater Management Facility, Grading & Construction Documents
Type:
Individual, Construction II
Date:
Fall 2011
Construction II was focused on stormwater management & hydrology. Throughout the semester, students developed designs & construction documents that were intended to slow down, clean, or infiltrate water. Among these were designs for flow-through planters, infiltration basins, stormwater cisterns, & filter strips. Another method of stormwater management explored was the implementation of a constructed wetland, an attractive, ecology-driven practice. After being given a fictional site, students were asked to design a wetland facility to manage water runoff that would function as a public park or greenspace. Each design was to follow the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual, which outlines requirements for wetland features including size, location, & depth. After roughly sizing the wetland & site features in an illustrative design, construction documents were developed, including a site plan, grading plan, piping plan, & sizing diagrams.
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STORMWATER WETLAND
Location: Fictional
ILLUSTRATIVE SITE DESIGN
GRADING PLAN
WETLAND ELEMENT SIZING INFILTRATION BASIN SIZING
GRADING & BASIN SIZING
OVERALL SITE PLAN
STORMWATER WETLAND Construction documents for the wetland include a site layout plan, grading plan, sizing diagrams for the wetland elements as well as overall infilatration basin, & a piping plan. The grading plan was the most challenging of these due to the complexity of the wetland & the accuracy needed when sizing the various topographic features within the basin. Grading was intended to appear natural in an attempt to create a wetland that felt as if it had been there all along.
Location: MSU Campus Courtyard Design, Illustrative Rendering
Type:
Freelance
Date:
August 2012
Thompson Hall is home to the forestry department at Mississippi State University. After receiving a donation from an alumnus, forestry turned to the landscape architecture department to design a new courtyard for Thompson Hall. Two professors & myself worked to create a design that acknowledges the work of foresters while providing a intriguing spatial experience. What materialized is an intimate gathering space that features artful water management strategies with a cove forest inspired planting as the backdrop.
THOMPSON HALL
Scope:
6
Scope:
Planting Plan, Construction Documents.
Type:
Freelance
Date:
Spring 2012
After briefly working with him on a project for the Mississippi State University campus, I was asked by Robert Poore, one of Mississippi’s most renowned landscape architects, to assist in the creation of a planting plan for a church site in Summit, MS. Although it was a short, simple project, it was a great opportunity to work with a wellknown professional & gain more practical AutoCAD & construction document experience.
PLANTING PLAN
Location: Summit, MS
ARKWINGS GRANT
Location: Memphis, TN Scope:
3D Model, Illustrative Renderings
Type:
Freelance
Date:
Summer 2012
In the Fall of 2011, Design Studio III students worked to develop several master plan concepts for the Arkwings Foundation, a non-profit organization in the Memphis metropolitan area. Based my group’s plan, which included a constructed wetland & boardwalk system, Arkwings developed a grant application to fund construction of the design. Per the grant requirements, I was asked by Arkwings to produce a 3D model & illustrative renderings to be included with the application. The grant application was submitted for approval in August of 2012 & is currently under review.