Acknowledgments I would like to thank Professor Jose Buitrago for his guidance and wisdom throughout the semester. Without his assistance, The Resort and Spa at La Puerta del Sol would not have been such a success. I am hopeful that my research and proposals will not only aid the Viequenese economy, society, and environment but also help rectify the damage caused by the U.S. Navy while occupying Vieques from 1941 to 2003. I am also grateful for the support of my parents throughout my five years at the University of Georgia. Without their love, encouragement, and guidance, my academic career would not be as successful or memorable. I appreciate your sacrifices, and know that they have not gone unnoticed. Thank you, Mom and Dad.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background History Moving Forward Site Selection Site Analyses Development Concept Diagrams Master Plan Airport Illustrative Plan Trainquility Deck Illustrative PLan Endless Fun Pool Illustrative Plan Construction Grading & Drainage Lighting Planting
1-6 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-12 13-26 15-18 19-20 21-22 23-24 25-26 27-38 29-31 32-34 35-38
Sources Image Credits
A-B C-D
Background
“Don’t give your land to foreigners even if they pay you well. He who sells his land sells his country.”
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Long before mankind, Vieques was formed from magma pushing through plates in sea floor, shifting tectonic plates, and volcanic activity. Such activity is evidenced by large amounts of limestone sediment as well as the black sand on Vieques’ Puerto Ferro beach, seen in the image.
From 1843 to 1848, the Spanish colonized Vieques. Soon after the Spanish American War in 1898, the United States took over Puerto Rico and, thus, became the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Vieques, originally known as Bieke, was first inhabited by the Taino Indians, who were discovered when Columbus landed on the island in 1493. The image illustrates an artifact made by the Tainos.
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After years of contention and riots, the U.S. Navy left Vieques in 2003. The Viequenese people could finally live free of military occupation.
From 1941 to 2003, the U.S. Naval Base controlled two-thirds of the island. Approximately 11,000 acres of Vieques’ land was abused, being used for training exercises involving ship-to-shore gunfire and air-to-ground bombing by naval aircraft, according to the 2001 Congressional Research Report. Such detrimental activities caused serious discontent among Puerto Ricans throughout the twentieth century.
Despite the U.S. Navy leaving Vieques, the years of misuse of the landscape and ocean have had terminal affects on the people. Vieques has the highest cancer rate in the United States due to decaying missiles on land and water. From here, environmental cleanup is the only solution to improve the Viequenese standards of health, safety, and welfare.
Citations Found ON “Sources,” Pages A-B
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Moving Forward: Sustainable Development Currently, Puerto Rico is 70% energy-dependent on oil. Such a high percentage of non-renewable energy dependency causes high energy costs for the people of Vieques and has the potential to hinder Puerto Rico’s long-term economic development. To reduce non-renewable energy usage, Puerto Rico has implemented the Energy Diversification Act, which establishes guidelines for generating renewable energy, and the Incentives Act, which provides economic incentives to promote green energy through Green Energy Funds and tax incentives.
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Is there a potential for renewable energy use on vieques? The diagram to the right illustrates prime areas for using solar energy. Vieques is located just south of the Tropic of Cancer in an area known as the “sunbelt,” according to researchers from the New Jersey Institute of technology. installing solar power grid systems will benefit Vieques economically and socially. People will save immensley on energy costs and the installation and maintenece of such power grids will create steady jobs. As far as upfront costs, there are strong indicators that available Green Energy Funds can help cover initial costs like installation. Solar energy is a necessity for recovering the island’s environment, economy, and society.
The Vieques Sustainability Task Force Comprised of federal, local goverment, and Commonwealth members, the Vieques Sustainability Task Force promotes sustainable develpment by setting and attaining various goals. To name a few examples, project goals include missile cleanup, green tourism, green hospitatlity initiatives, and renewable energy. Among other points, the Sustainability Task Force’s 2012 Update Report discusses how increasing hospitatlity sustainability can unilaterally enhance eco-tourism appeal, thus boosting the economy. In order to increase tourism, however, transportation must be easily accessible to tourists, which would include access to the Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport. Coincidentally, as of march 30, 2012, a green Energy Fund had been allocated for a 250 kW solar photovoltaic system at the airport. Citations Found ON “Sources,” Pages A-B
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Existing Site Boundary: Dimensions & Coordinates Top Left: 18°08’24.50”N 65°30’21.85”W then 7,000’ East to top right Top Right: 18°08’24.45”N 65°29’09.30.85”W then 4,000’ South to bottom right Bottom Right: 18°07’44.96”N 65°29’09.81”W then 7,000’ West to bottom left Bottom Left: 18°07’44.83”N 65°30’21.68”W then 4,000’ North to top left
Site Selection Because Green Energy Funds are already allocated to put solar panels on the existing Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport, the immediate area around the airport will serve as the proposed site selection. Hopefully, The Vieques Sustainability Task Force will realize that the airport acts as a gateway into the island for tourists and that creating an inviting, obviously sustainable entryway will attract more eco-tourists. In turn, more tourists mean an improved economy. The above image illustrates the existing site, and the image to the right shows the location of the airport on the whole island of Vieques.
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Citations Found ON “Sources,” Pages A-B
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Site Analyses
Existing Roads & Impervious Surfaces
Yellow areas on the above diagram illustrate the existing roadways and airport runway. Highlighting such areas is important when determining access points for the airport as well as any other proposed amenities. Once new roads are located and proposed, refering to the existing road analysis allows one to compare amounts of existing versus proposed pavement, then determine amounts and costs of pavement changes.
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Existing Land Cover
The key in the top left corner exlpains the meaning of each color. Understanding the existing land coverage helps the designer to design with nature and respect existing ecosystems and plant-life. Also, landscape architects understand which land coverage categories are most-resilient and which need to be conserved. For example, shrublands and grasslands are more renewable than moist forests, which should be preserved. Citations Found ON “Sources,� Pages A-B
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Site Analyses:
Continued
Existing Slope & Topography
The key in the top left corner represents the meaning of each color. Red, being a color used to bring awareness, delineates locations where building should be avoided. Orange areas have building potential, and yellow areas represent prime, buildable spaces. When considering proposed building locations, designers compare slope location with land coverage in order to build on the most sustainable location.
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Existing Soil
Incepitsols soil type is found in humid and subhumid regions and have altered horizons that have lost bases of iron and aluminum but keep some weatherable materials. They do not have an alluvial horizon enriched with silicate clay or with an amorphous mixture of aluminum and organic carbon, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Services. Understanding soil type can affect bearing load for roads and buildings. Citations Found ON “Sources,� Pages A-B
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Development Ideas & Proposals for a more Sustainable Island
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Concept Diagrams 1 1
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Proposed Master Plan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
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View to ocean Pool and Deck Area Resort Building Resort Entrance Turn-Around Resort Parking
6. Road Entrance to Resort Areas 7. Plane Runway 8. Airport Terminal 9. Airport Parking 10. Service Areas
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1. Potential Area for Wind Power-Generating Turbines 2. Plane Runway 3. View to Ocean and Take-offs from terminal 4. Airport terminal
Proposed Airport Plan
5. Airport Parking 6. Entrance to Board 7. Service Areas 8. Access to Service Areas
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Concept Diagrams:
Continued
Proposed Trainquility Deck 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
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Pool Area Entrance Bar Area Umbrella Seating Pool Lounge Chairs Speciman Flowering Trees
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Proposed Endless Fun Pool 1. View to Beach & Ocean 2. Lounge Chairs 3. Endless Fun Pool 4. Jacuzzi 5. Entrance to Center Island & Jacuzzi 6. Bar & Restaurant 7. Umbrella Seating 8. Hotel Entrance
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Water Bungalows Resort & Spa at La Puerta del Sol
Wind Turbine field potential
Water Bungalows
Service Areas
Runway
120 Parking Spaces Green Space for stormwater
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Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport “La Puerta,” or “The Gateway”
Terminal 128 Parking Spaces
<-The section to the left depicts the
required departure surface and clearway slope (40:1) or “cone of access,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Built Structures over 12’ in height must be constructed outside of the cone of Access.
->The plan to the right illustrates the cone of access at the end of the runway, which is highlighted between the black lines in the shaded area. Note that the resort and water bungalows meet the FAA standards of being located outside of the cone of Access. Also, roads and parking lots are allowed within the clearway because there are no height obstacles for planes. The Resort and Spa at La Puerta del Sol is designed for a range of tourists. The Vieques Sustainability Task Force Report influenced the proposed design because of their points on hospitality, transportation, and already allocated Green Energy Funds for the existing Airport. Each site is beautiful, accessible, and realistic, which is important when proposing large-scale concepts. Above all, the resort and airport proposal is designed to bring sustainable improvements to Vieques. The Airport is solar-powered and redesigned to accomodate the current number of flights in and out of the island as well as tourist influx. Both the resort and airport are eco-tourist destinations due to renewable energy use and innovative stormwater engineering. Not only are both sites environmentally efficient, they are also economically sustainable. Each space uses minimal non-renewable engery, so there are no high costs associated with the project. More so, they provide jobs for locals and on-site parking can accomodate both tourists and citizens.
Master Plan Citations Found ON “Sources,” Pages A-B
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Airport Terminal Perspective
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Trainquility Deck Illustrative Plan
The Trainquility Deck is a Resort area meant for relaxing and experiencing the calmness of the Caribbean. Image to the right serves as an example of the proposed pool shape below image represents the relationship between the foliage, building, and lounge chairs
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Entrance Bar Umbrella Seating Pool Lounge Chairs Speciman Tree
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Citations Found ON “Sources,” Pages A-B
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An example of how the bridges over the Endless Fun Pool look
Image illustrates the idea behind the center jacuzzi with lighting and plantings
Representaion of night-time underwater lighting and pool island plantings
Citations Found ON â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sources,â&#x20AC;? Pages A-B
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Construction:
Turning The Resort & Spa at La Puerta del Sol into reality Construction Documents-Plans & Details
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Grading & Drainage Plan
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Grading & Drainage Details
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Grading & Drainage Pool Steps Detail
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Lighting Plan
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Lighting Details
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Planting Plan
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Planting Details 37
Plant Images 38
Thank You
Sources
“AN EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL, BIOLOGICAL AND HEALTH DATA FROM THE ISLAND OF VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO.” (2011): 162-65, 167-173, A27, A32-A33. 8 Dec. 2011. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. Ansari, Azadeh. “Undersea Bombs Threaten Marine Life.” CNN. Cable News Network, 26 Feb. 2009. Web. 22 Jan. 2013. ArcGIS “ATSDR’s Evaluation of Environmental Chemical Exposures on the Island of Vieques - Progress Report.” ATSDR. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2013. Bermudez, Wanda. “BRIEF HISTORY OF VIEQUES.” History of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. N.p., 1998. Web. 11 Jan. 2013. Carrasquillo, Rogelio J. “RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICIES IN PUERTO RICO - TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TO WARDS A GREEN FUTURE.” Gibbons P.C. Gibbons P.C., 10 Mar. 2011. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. “Determining Solar Energy Requirements for a Specific Location.” Renewable Power News. N.p., 27 Nov. 2009. Web. 13 Jan. 2013. EPA. The Vieques Sustainability Task Force Update. N.p., 4 May 2012. Web. 18 Jan. 2013. <http://www.epa. gov/region2/vieques/ViequesMay1.pdf>. Fox, Ben. “Vieques Cleanup: Island at Odds With U.S. Government Declaration That 400-Acre Bomb Site Cleanup Is Complete.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 04 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. Google Earth
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Gwenn. “Visit Museum Fort Conde De Mirasol on Vieques Puerto Rico Day Trips Travel Guide.” Puerto Rico Day Trips Visit Museum Fort Conde De Mirasol on Vieques Comments. N.p., 28 May 2009. Web. 22 Jan. 2013. “Inceptisols.” NRCS Soils. US Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2013. <http://soils.usda.gov/ technical/classification/orders/inceptisols.html>. “Land Cover-Vegetation.” Map. Center for Costal Monitoring and Assessment. National Ocean Service, 26 July 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/vieques/>. Levin, Kate. “Vieques Aftermath.” Vieques Aftermath. TheNation.com, 22 Dec. 2003. Web. 22 Jan. 2013. O’Rourke, Ronald. “Vieques, Puerto Rico Naval Training Range: Background and Issues for Congress.” Vieques, Puerto Rico Naval Training Range: Background and Issues for Congress. N.p., 17 Dec. 2001. Web. 11 Jan. 2013. Padgett, Tim. “Toxic Chemicals at Vieques: Is U.S. Accountable?” Time. Time.com, 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 21 Jan. 2013. “Solar Energy.” National Geographic. The National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013. “Vieques.” Welcome to Puerto Rico. Magaly Rivera, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2013. <http://www.topuertorico.org/ city/ vieques.shtml>. Web Soil Survey “Wind Power.” National Geographic. The National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2013.
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Image Credits
in order of appearance unless wesbite located on page
Acknowledgments Image http://famouswonders.com/vieques-island/
Background http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2006/1106gold.html History Pic 1: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/vieques-playa-negra/ Pic 2: http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43/281.html Pic 3: image http://wildwestend.blogspot.com/2012/02/vieques.html Pic 4: http://www.gcint.org/green-cross-blog/green-crossglobal-green-finds-new-atsdr-report-vieques-bomb ing-range-inadequate Pic 5: http://hawkhaslanded.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html Pic 6: http://repeatingislands.com/2010/01/30/warning-of-nuclear-risk-in-vieques/ Moving Forward Left Page: http://www.renewablepowernews.com/archives/1462 Right page Diagram: http://www.solarnovus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti cle&id=4366: pv-in-latin-america-a-solar-eldorado&catid=63:business-features&Itemid=242 Site Selection Google Earth Underwater: http://www.wallpixy.com/underwater-cayman-islands-wallpaper-normal/ Development http://cheerusup.com/archives/tag/beach
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Tranquility Deck Similar Shaped Pool: http://www.southernwindpools.com/g_pools_geometric.shtml Palm Trees and Lounge Chairs: http://www.reflections.com.au/Cairns/Hotels/PeppersPalmCove.html Endless Fun Pool Plan Pool with Island at Night: http://www.ruangsudut.info/2007/10/curvy-surprises.html Jacuzzi: http://designedoutdoorliving.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/swimming-pool-remodel-rectangular pool-curvy-pool-spa-stone-waterfalls-osprey-florida/ Bridge: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g147311-d150720-i1518794-Sandals_Royal_ Caribbean_Resort-Montego_Bay_Jamaica.html#1518795 Construction http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/wdw/resorts/cb.html Thank You http://paracuando.blogspot.com/2013/04/para-empezardoy-gracias.html
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