Kristine Kopia | Portfolio
landscape architecture | rutgers university | graduate portfolio | 2011 - 2014
Selected Works 01 |
Defensive Plants Garden Design Cook Campus, Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
02 |
Salt River Bay Columbus Landing, St. Croix
03 |
The Forest Southern Ocean County, NJ
04 |
Masters Project New Brunswick, NJ
Defensive Defensive Plants Plants Garden Garden Design Design Over time, plants have been able to develop strategies that improve their survival and reproduction by reducing the impact of herbivores. Some of these mechanisms include mechanical defenses (spines and thorns, armorlike surfaces on fruit, slippery leaves), chemical defenses (toxins within the plant that can harm or kill predators, fragrance), camouflage, thigmonasty (movement in response to touch), early leaf shedding to avoid disease and pests, and attracting the natural enemies of a plant’s predators. These strategies aid in the defense against damage caused by herbivores. The purpose of this design is to create a space where plants with unique defense mechanisms can be discovered and celebrated. Through a series of outdoor classrooms and seating areas, people can experience a variety of plants, each with a defense mechanism that makes it unique to the other plants around it. Any plant that can be extremely harmful to people is planted away from all paths and paved spaces so visitors can experience them without getting hurt.
Planting Design | Jean-Marie Hartman Kristine Kopia | Fall 2013
01 | 02 01 | 02 03 | 03 04 | 04 05
Spring Foliage
Summer Foliage
Autumn Foliage
Winter Foliage
Defensive Plants Garden Design
Planting Design | Jean-Marie Hartman Kristine Kopia | Fall 2013
Vib.car. Gle.tri.in.
Mim.pud.
Vib.car. Con.maj. Dig.pur. Gle.tri.
Vib.car. Ilex
Hed.hel.
Ilex
Pon.tri. Hed.hel. Vib.car.
Opu.hum. Asc.tub. Vib.car. Ilex
Cra.pha.
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 Plant Code
Species Name
Common Name
Size (Mature)
Plant Info
Planting Info
Growth Rate
Additional Notes
Asc.tub.
Asclepias tuberose
Butterfly Weed
Height: 30"-36" Spread: 20"-22"
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: Orange Bloom period: Summer-Fall Fruit: N/a Zones 3-9
1 gallon container
Slow
Soil: Adaptable Moisture: Moderate Full Sun Hazards: Poisonous if ingested
Con.maj.
Convallaria majalis
Lily of the Valley
Height: 6" - 8" Spread: 6" - 8"
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: White Bloom period: May-June Fruit: N/a Zones 3-9
3 inch pot Plant in spring
Fast
Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Moist, well drained Full Shade-Partial Sun Hazards: Poisonous if ingested
Cra.pha.
Crataegus phaenopyrum
Washington Hawthorn
Height: 25' - 30' Canopy: 20' - 25'
Deciduous Foliage: Dark green Flower: White Bloom period: Late spring Fruit: Red, persists through winter Zones 4-8
2'-3' bare root Plant in spring
Moderate
Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Widely Adaptable Full Sun Hazards: Thorns
Dig.pur.
Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Rose'
Foxglove - Camelot Rose
Height: 3' - 4' Spread: 1' - 2'
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: Deep pink Bloom period: Mid-summer Fruit: N/a Zones 4-9
1 gallon container
Moderate
Gle.tri.
Gleditsia triacanthos
Honeylocust
Height: 50' - 75' Canopy: 40' - 50'
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: Green-yellow Bloom period: Spring Fruit: Legume pods Zones 4-9
Fast
Gle.tri.in.
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
Thornless Honeylocust
Height: 50' - 75' Canopy: 40' - 50'
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: Green-yellow Bloom period: Spring Fruit: Legume pods Zones 4-9
Hed.hel.
Hedera helix
Engish Ivy
Height: N/a Spread: 10' - 15'
Evergreen Foliage: Green Flower: White Fruit: N/a Zones 5-10
5'-6' in 10.25 gallon container Plant in spring 5'-6' in 10.25 gallon container Plant in spring 1 gallon container
Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Moderate Partial shade to full sun Hazards: Poisonous if ingested Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Drought Tolerant Partial to full sun Hazards: Thorns
Ilex
Ilex ‘Castle Wall’
Holly - Castle Wall
Height: 5' - 8' Spread: 3'
Evergreen Foliage: Dark green Flower: N/a Fruit: N/a Zones 5-9
Mim.pud.
Mimosa pudica
Sensitive Plant (Touch-Me-Not Plant)
Height: 6" - 12" Spread: 1' - 2'
Opu.hum.
Opuntia humifusa
Eastern Prickly Pear
Pon.tri.
Poncirus trifoliata
Vib.car.
Viburnum carlesii
Fast
Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Drought Tolerant Partial to full sun Hazards: N/a
Fast
Soil: Well Drained Moisture: Widely Adaptable Full shade to Full Sun Hazards: N/a
4.5 inch pot
Slow
Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Widely Adaptable Partial to Full Sun Hazards: Abrasive leaves
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: Pink Boom period: Mid-spring Fruit: Legume pods Zones 8-11
4 inch pot Plant in early spring
Moderate
Height: Spread:
Evergreen Foliage: Green Flower: Yellow-gold Bloom period: Late spring Fruit: Red Hardy, Zone 3
3.5" in pot
Slow
Soil: Drought Tolerant Moisture: Widely Adaptable Partial to Full Sun Hazards: N/a
Trifoliate Orange Flying Dragon
Height: 8' - 20' Spread: 6' - 15'
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: White Bloom period: April-May Fruit: Orange (edible) Zones 5-9
Slow
Korean Spice Viburnum
Height: 5' Spread: 5'
Deciduous Foliage: Green Flower: White and pink Bloom period: Spring Fruit: Red Zones 5-9
1 gallon container Root stock for grafting 3 gallon container
Moderate
Soil: Well Drained Moisture: Widely Adaptable Partial to Full Sun Hazards: Needles can puncture skin
Soil: Drought Tolerant Moisture: Moderate Partial to Full Sun Hazards: N/a Soil: Widely Adaptable Moisture: Moderate Partial Shade to Full Sun Hazards: N/a
Salt River Bay
Praxis Studio - St. Croix | Laura Lawson, Holly Nelson Kristine Kopia | Spring 2013
Long before Columbus and the Tainos, Salt River Bay was a lush, edible landscape ready for the picking. Over time, however, the landscape faded away into the scrubby, thinned out version of what it used to be. Through this design, the connection between this site and the people who visit it will be reestablished through the plants that once flourished throughout Salt River Bay.
L.
A. L. G.
Salt River Bay’s design enables visitors to walk through nature, allowing them to feel a stronger connection to the landscape. Some key features include parking, a one-way round-a-bout for unloading travel equipment close to the beach, shaded paths through various areas for comfort, multiple access points to the beach, a barbeque area for grilling and social interactions, and an edible garden.
H. B. K. G.
L.
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L. D. I.
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LEGEND A. Edible Garden B. Path to NPS House C. BBQ area D. Round-a-Bout E. Fort view F. Parking G. Grass meadows H. NPS parking I. Fort J. Path through forest K. Beach with multiple access points L. Reforested areas
F.
L.
0 ft
50 ft
100 ft
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 Reforestation is the replenishment of the natural landscape after it has been delpleted over time. Much of the Salt River Bay area is thinned out and sparse due to climate, erosion, and human impact. Throught the strategies of reforestation, this design aims to regrow the beach, forest, and grassy areas to the dense, lush landscape it once was.
Dense Canopies Ginger Thomas Lignum Vitae Mammee Apple Tamarind West Indian Locust
Windbreak Autograph Tree Fish Poison Tree Haiti-Haiti Sea Hibiscus Turpentine Tree
Edible Bell Apple Lemon Grass Pond Apple Sugar Apple West Indian Cherry
Drought Tolerant Seagrape Thatch Palm White Manjack
Salt Tolerant Cattails Cocoplum Orange Manjack Seagrape Sea Purslane
0 ft
50 ft
100 ft
Salt River Bay
St. Croix Studio | Laura Lawson, Holly Nelson Kristine Kopia | Spring 2013
A. Edible Garden Humans and the landscape should not be separated, but coexist in harmony. Turning the courtyard into an edible garden gives visitors the chance to interact with nature rather than be distanced from it. The edible garden will also give visitors the opportunity to learn about the edible landscape that existed before Taino presence, as well as how it changed since then.
Large Trees Autograph Tree Bell Apple Guava Mango Passionfruit Pomegranate Sugar Apple Tamarind West Indian Cherry
Small Trees Avocado Banana palm Carambola Cocoplum Sea Grape Soursop
Shrubs Aloe vera Cassava Sweet Potato
Grasses Agave Cattails Lemongrass
Ground Cover Arrowroot Sea Purslane
0 ft
5 ft
10 ft
01 | 02 | 03 | 04
B. Path to NPS House
D. Round-a-Bout
C. BBQ Area
E. Fort View
The Forest
Geo-Design Studio | David Tulloch Kristine Kopia, Julia Li | Fall 2013
When designing for South Ocean County (Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Eagleswood, and Stafford), our first thoughts were of conservation. New Jersey is rich with ecological processes and wildlife that are unique to the area. Rather than build within existing wetlands and forests that surround this region, we are trying to conserve them. We then considered the idea of Long Beach Island being compromised by sea level rise in 100 years or so. According to FEMA data and the NJ Flood Mapper website, sea level rise will eventually inundate much of the New Jersey coast, LBI included. Both ecological conservation and sea level rise data are the two driving forces that aided us in our design which aims to create safer housing for this region's inhabitants and tourists while balancing the protection of nature. In designing for this region, we must consider the site 100 years from now as our starting point. Sea level rise is a barrier we cannot work against, so we must find a way to work around it. By bringing people away from the coast and into the forest, we give them a safer place to live further from the rising sea. The urban forest is the glue that holds our design together, and what we hope will become the leading factor in living a safer, more ecological way.
Flooding - FEMA data shows flooding approaches closely to Main Street in 100 years
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 Forest
Corridors
Regulated by the Pinelands Commission, development is strictly limited within the pinelands area
Corridors are established to connect marshes and pinelands to avoid ecologic fragmentation
Proximity to Urbanism
Concept
ATV course Downtown Resort Kids Zone Ecotourism/Trails Senior Housing Residential
Observing existing urbanism aided in the placement of our designed land uses
Our newly designed corridors allows for new housing and a rich tourist culture while causing minimal damage to the natural landscape and ecological systems within it, which can be more appreciated through ecotourism
The Forest
Geo-Design Studio | David Tulloch Kristine Kopia, Julia Li | Fall 2013
The Forest Village These residential corridors offer 3 housing typologies, ranging from high density to low density, and can accommodate locals, tourists, and retirees. The new forest villages reveal a unique side of our designed region, and provide a different experience than that of the waterfront.
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 Ecotourism
Downtown
By designing a corridor that connects the wetlands and the pinelands, the opportunity to better the relationship between nature and humans through various outdoor activities has been created.
A downtown with shopping, restaurants, cafes, and bars not only helps increase economic value, but also reconnects visitors back to the pinelands through our newly created urban forest.
Kids Zone
ATV Course
This area is dedicated to educating children on the wildlife specific to our designed region in a fun and active way. Life-size sculptures and silhouettes of native animals will help create a more interactive environment for younger children.
ATV is a popular activity in South Jersey. Instead of shunning it, we are embracing it as part of the culture of South Jersey and designating a place for an ATV course within already urbanized areas. This protects the natural landscape from damage like compaction by people who seek out areas in the Pinelands to drive their vehicles in.
Masters Project
Masters Studio | Richard Alomar, Chair Kristine Kopia| Spring 2014
The process of urbanization generally leads to an environment that is favorable for humans, but also to many environmental problems, including the loss of biodiversity. To increase and enhance biodiversity in cities, I am proposing a design that implements habitat loss mitigation strategies onto green roofs. Green roofs used as habitats provide open, flat green space, which is limited on the ground level. Along with having energy-saving benefits, green roofs are an optimal way to mitigate habitat loss in urban areas. The target of this design is to provide habitat for songbirds because they have been in decline. By replicating songbird habitat on roofs, many of the problems that threaten songbird decline could be addressed, as well as encourage bird presence in urban areas. The site for this design is New Brunswick, New Jersey in Middlesex County because of its proximatey to the Raritan River. New Brunswick is primarily urban and will continue to grow. In order to preserve natural areas for bird populations, they should be replaced. The intention of the design is to pull the natural landscape into New Brunswick using these green roofs as a corridor. It is my goal to provide habitat through these green roofs, increasing and enhancing the existing biodiversity in and around the site. The roofs will create individual green spaces as well as a wider network between the entire group of roofs.
Land Cover
MANAGED WETLAND IN MAINTAINED LAWN GREENSPACE
ARTIFICIAL LAKES
MIXED DECIDUOUS/CONIFEROUS BRUSH/SHRUBLAND
CONIFEROUS BRUSH/SHRUBLAND
MIXED FOREST (>50% DECIDUOUS WITH >50% CROWN CLOSURE)
CONIFEROUS FOREST (>50% CROWN CLOSURE)
MIXED URBAN OR BUILT-UP LAND
CROPLAND AND PASTURELAND
NATURAL LAKES
DECIDUOUS BRUSH/SHRUBLAND
OLD FIELD (< 25% BRUSH COVERED)
DECIDUOUS FOREST (10-50% CROWN CLOSURE)
ORCHARDS/VINEYARDS/NURSERIES/HORTICULTURAL AREAS
DECIDUOUS FOREST (>50% CROWN CLOSURE)
OTHER AGRICULTURE
DECIDUOUS SCRUB/SHRUB WETLANDS
PHRAGMITES DOMINATE COASTAL WETLANDS
DECIDUOUS WOODED WETLANDS
SALINE MARSH (HIGH MARSH)
DISTURBED WETLANDS (MODIFIED)
STREAMS AND CANALS
HERBACEOUS WETLANDS
TIDAL RIVERS, INLAND BAYS, AND OTHER TIDAL WATERS
MANAGED WETLAND IN BUILT-UP MAINTAINED REC AREA
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 The plant palette is based on recommendations by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society for attracting songbirds. Both organizations offer a list of plant suggestions to encourage the presence of songbirds on their properties. Many of the recommendations were for large trees, but because they would grow to be too heavy for green roofs it was decided that only small shrubs, grasses, and perennial flowers would be used. The selected plants are native to this area and can grow successfully in New Jersey’s climate. There are 5 general time periods during a bird’s annual schedule: spring migration, nesting and fledging, bulking (the accumulation of energy for fall migration), fall migration, and overwintering. Each selected plant plays a unique role during these 5 time periods, whether it’s providing food, nesting material, or attracting insects.
Spring Mig.
Attracts Edible Insects Cornus sericea Redosier dogwood
Ilex verticillata Winterberry holly
Myrica pensylvanica Northern bayberry
Rhus typhina Staghorn sumac
Rubus idaeus American red raspberry
Vaccinium angustifolium Lowbush blueberry
Viburnum lentago Nannyberry
Panicum virgatum Switch grass
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem
Nesting/Fledging
Fall Mig.
J
F
M
A
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J
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S
O
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D
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M
A
M
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J
A
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Asclepias tuberosa Echinacea purpurea Lonicera sempervirens Ratibida pinnata Rudbeckia hirta Schizachyrium scoparium Sorghastrum nutans
Cover Cornus sericea Myrica pensylvanica Panicum virgatum Parthenocissus quinquefolia Rubus idaeus Schizachyrium scoparium Sorghastrum nutans Typha latifolia Viburnum lentago
Nesting
Sorghastrum nutans Yellow Indian grass
Typha latifolia Common cattail
Lonicera sempervirens Trumpet honeysuckle
Cornus sericea Myrica pensylvanica Parthenocissus quinquefolia Viburnum lentago
Nesting Material Panicum virgatum Schizachyrium scoparium Sorghastrum nutans Typha latifolia
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper
Ratibida pinnata Yellow coneflower
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly milkweed
Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan
Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower
Perching Cornus sericea Ilex verticillata Myrica pensylvanica Rhus typhina Rubus idaeus Viburnum lentago O.W.
Bulking
Masters Project
Masters Studio | Richard Alomar, Chair Kristine Kopia| Spring 2014
The conceptual planting plant shows plants installed in clusters with the taller shrubs at the center fading out to smaller shrubs and grasses. The open space surrounding the clusters will be perennial flowers and shorter grasses. Small spaces between plantings will be other material such as soil so that birds can take dust baths. Spacing out the clusters of plantings are varying distances from other clusters allows for a wide range of bird species to utilize. Since the habitat roofs will be seenas a whole system and not as individual roofs, the design can cater to birds that require a larger area within their territory. Having an abundance of resources outside of nesting areas may also increase tolerance of bird species within another species' territory.
Other material
Soil cell modules will provide various depths to allow varied depths of root systems. Plants with shallow roots, like perennials, will be planted into modules that can support 4 inches to 6 inches of soil, and plants with deeper roots, like the larger shrubs, will be planted into modules that can support 24 inches to 36 inches of soil. There will be mid-range module that supports 18 inches of soil.
Perennials
Grasses
Colaptes auratus Northern ďŹ&#x201A;icker
Mimus polyglottos Mocking bird
Thryothorus ludovicianus Carolina wren
Dumetella carolinensis Grey catbird
Poecile atricapillus Black-capped chickadee
Turdus migratorius American robin
Melospiza melodia Song sparrow
13 acres
Shrubs
4 acres
1 acre
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 At the center of the chosen roofs is the Heldrich Hotel, which I have selected as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;observation roof â&#x20AC;?. The Heldrich has the tallest roof, which makes it perfect for a 360-view of the rest of the roofs. With the aid of viewing binoculars, visitors can zoom in on the habitat roofs surrounding them for a closer look at visiting birds. I chose to have only one roof for human access because it minimizes human interference with the habitats and the organisms that utilize those habitats. By allowing the habitats to grow and change on their own with minimal human interaction, I can reinforce the natural aspects of my design.
Observation Roof
Kristine Kopia Rutgers University Masters in Landscape Architecture 2014 krissy.kopia@gmail.com (908) 217 9835