Mia Scharphie Portfolio

MIA SCHARPHIE DESIGN WORK

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL WORK

01P_

symphony park, SOMERVILLE, MA all the green, all the program

02P_

power plant campus, MEREDOSIA, IL energy ecology landscape

03P_

hawken school, GATES MILLS, OH large views, small jewels

SELECTED ACADEMIC WORK

04A_

accretionary urbanism: working city+ working ecologies

05A_

franklin park: restitching a regional and local resource

06A_

twenty-four hours at walden: remaking the american getaway

_01P symphony park, SOMERVILLE, MA all the green, all the program

The major design challenge in this small park on a vacant single family house lot in Somerville was to accomodate multiple programmatic needs and steep topography, without sacrificing a lush vegetated feel, an element sorely needed in densly-built up Somerville.

Multifunctional spaces, and an integrated topographic and custom furniture strategy pack the program in, and dense planting climbs up and down the site. In addition, due to the presence of a retirement community across from the site, our firm developed a new typology of accessible community garden beds, adding beds accessible to residents with physical challenges to Somerville’s growing portfolio of community gardens.

I WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FROM CONCEPT DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS. I WORKED ON ALL AREAS OF THE PROJECT BUT PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON FURNITURE DESIGN AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANTING DESIGN.

Site plan illustrating programmatic diversity and overlap on a small site

235 sf

130 sf

6” high bed

GLEN PARK 3.5’ perimeter fence semi-controlled

locked

ACCESSIBILITY

high

100 sf

6” high bed

semi-controlled

open

semi-controlled

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

60 sf

PUBLIC ACCESS

ACCESSIBILITY

low

low

high

35 sf

semi-controlled

open

ACCESSIBILITY

high

low

32 sf

0-30” high bed

SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY GROWING CENTER

12” high bed

SOUTH STREET FARM

PUBLIC ACCESS

PUBLIC ACCESS

semi-controlled

5-15” high bed

CHUCKIE HARRIS PARK locked

ACCESSIBILITY

open

high

open

PUBLIC ACCESS locked

semi-controlled

low

18” high bed

JAMES STREET RESERVE

GARDENS FOR CHALRESTOWN

locked

locked

ACCESSIBILITY

low

PUBLIC ACCESS locked

open

ACCESSIBILITY

high

100 sf

PUBLIC ACCESS

semi-controlled

locked

2-12” high bed 12’ perimeter fence

ALBION PARK

PUBLIC ACCESS

open

low

115 sf

4” high bed

MORSE KELLEY 4’ perimeter fence

PUBLIC ACCESS

open

semi-controlled

locked

open

high

30 sf

25” high bed

COSTA PARK PUBLIC ACCESS semi-controlled

locked

ACCESSIBILITY low

open

ACCESSIBILITY high

low

high

ACCESSIBILITY low

20 sf

3’ perimeter fence

BALLARD P-PATCH SEATTLE, WA PUBLIC ACCESS locked

semi-controlled

ACCESSIBILITY low

18 sf

4” high bed 10’ perimeter fence

NATIONALITIES SERVICE CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA PUBLIC ACCESS

open

locked

semi-controlled

low

5 sf

32” high bed

JAMES STREET RESERVE

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

PUBLIC ACCESS open

ACCESSIBILITY high

high

locked

semi-controlled

open

ACCESSIBILITY high

low

high

Study of predominantly local community garden beds focused on sizes and accessibility conditions; an argument for a higher standard of garden accessibility in this park.

above: Planting plan shows density of plantings, chosen for seasonal color and fragrance below: Custom-designed furniture ‘flows’ over topography, and is ‘swallowed’ by dense planting

View from Florence St. shows site’s lushness as well as its programmatic density.

_02P power plant campus, MEREDOSIA, IL energy ecology landscape

This concept design for the renovation of a lower-emissions energy plant puts the focus on the relationship between the site and its river location.Through a circulation loop that runs through a biomass planting and a flexible, floodable new wetland waterfront, the design addresses larger issues of energy and challenges of river flooding.

The site also reframes the river as a site of spectacle--both the spectacle of wetland ecosystems on the smaller scale, and the spectacle of river barge traffic on the larger scale I PLAYED A PRIMARY ROLE IN SITE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT.

TYPICAL SECTION 10x EXAGGERATION

+SURROUNDING HILLSIDES

RIVERBANK SECTION

+ILLINOIS RIVER AND MARSHES

+AGRICULTURAL RIVER VALLEY 1 MILE

Map of site context, showing river valley flood plain and topographic conditions

JUNE

6

2007 JUNE 2012 JUNE 2009

FT

JUNE 200

00

50

FT

00

20

FLUCTUATING RIVER LEVEL

TRAFFIC

00

50

FT

00

20

FT

IFE LIF ILD

W

AL CO

SURFACE WATER

SITE FLOWS W

above: Map of changing water levels in different seasonal and flood conditions below: Mapping of flows of water, materials and traffic across site

“Bargespotting,� a compilation of river barge traffic makes case for riverfront as site of spectacle

ENTRY PAVILLION

NEW WATERFRONT PATH SYSTEM PUBLIC WATERFRONT/ PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH

TREES PLANTED ON LINES TO FRAME BUILDING PLANTED BIOMASS FIELDS high yield species eg.

Miscanthus-grass Populus-tree

possible extension of park

VIEW CORRIDOR

COAL RUNOFF TREATMENT WETLAND VIEW CORRIDOR frame through planting wetland trees

frame through selective removal of trees NEW WETLAND EDGE

LANDSCAPE SCHEME OPTION

Final site concept proposes circulation loop through plant, fields of biomass planting, and a series of new wetland edges flexible to changing water levels

_03P hawken school, GATES MILLS, OH large views, small jewels

This lansdcape design was driven by an extensive renovation of a private school campus. It includes both larger scale moves, such the eventual replacement of a 20 acre mowed lawn with a native grass planting, as well as smaller interventions, from new plazas to atria featuring small-scale topographic interest and plants at every scale.

I WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FROM SCHEMATIC DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS. I WORKED ON ALL AREAS OF THE PROJECT BUT HAD A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE MEADOW AND ITS NESTED ROADWAY, AND PLANTING DESIGN FOR ALL AREAS OF THE PROJECT.

Site design includes eventual transformation of 20 acre mowed lawn into native grass meadow. The design includs a range of smaller spaces from entry courts to atria

slower-growing slower-growing shagback shagback hickories hickories as a as a successional successional speciesspecies

-Outdoor -Outdoor classroom -Outdoor classroom space, classroom space, flexible flexible space, flexible enough enough for formal enough for formal lessons for formal lessons and solitary lessons and solitary and solitary PO TR moments moments moments

2 2 D

-Deck and -Deck stone anddust stone surfacing dust surfacing is is accessible accessible tree

tree

tree

Quaking Aspen Quaking Aspen PO TR Quaking PO TR Aspen

-Planting -Planting palette -Planting palette brings palette brings species species brings usually species usually usually associated associated with associated the with outdoor the with outdoor forest the outdoor forest forest landscape landscape “indoors“ landscape “indoors“ “indoors“

evergreenevergreen shrub shrub evergreen shrub

rip-rap/deck ripgrass -rap/deck grass

Tufted Hair Tufted GrassHair Grass Deschampsia Deschampsia cespitosa cespitosa

-Trees-Trees are a textured are -Trees a textured are canopy a textured canopy of fastcanopy of fast-of fastgrowing growing quaking growing quaking aspen quaking aspen trees and trees aspenand trees and slower-growing slower-growing slower-growing shagback shagback hickories shagback hickories as ahickories as a as a successional successional successional species speciesspecies -Deck-Deck and stone and -Deck stone dust and surfacing dust stone surfacing dust is surfacing is is accessible accessible accessible

M COURTYARD 2

ble exible olitary d solitary

successional successional tree successional tree tree

Shagback Shagback Hickory Shagback Hickory Hickory Siberian Siberian Cypress Cypress Siberian Cypress -Decking -Decking thickness thickness revealed revealed when when Carya ovata Carya ovata Carya ovata Microbiota Microbiota decussata Microbiota decussatadecussata deciduous groundcover deciduous groundcover viewedviewed from the from math theroom. mathThe room. The Maidenhair Maidenhair Fern Fern verticalvertical members members of the deck of the mimic deck mimic Adiantum Adiantum pedatum pedatum a similar a similar moment moment seen inseen the smaller in the smaller atrium atrium with the with cross thesectional cross sectional slicingsslicings of locust of trees locust trees

Populus Populus tremuloides tremuloides Populus tremuloides

tree

tree tree

Quaking Aspen PO TR Quaking PO TR Quaking Aspen PO Aspen TR

-Decking -Decking thickness -Decking thickness revealed thickness revealed when revealed when when successional successional tree tree tree evergreen shrub shrub deciduousdeciduous groundcover groundcover deciduous groundcover successional evergreen shrub viewed viewed from viewed the from math the from room. math theroom.

The mathThe room.

The evergreen

ShagbackShagback Hickory Hickory Siberian Cypress Siberian Cypress Maidenhair Maidenhair Fern Maidenhair Fern Fern Shagback Hickory Siberian Cypress vertical vertical members members of the members of deck the mimic deck of the mimic deck mimic Populus tremuloides Populus tremuloides Carya vertical ovata Carya ovata Microbiota Microbiota decussata decussata Adiantum Adiantum pedatumAdiantum pedatum pedatum Populus tremuloides Carya ovata Microbiota decussata

a similar a similar moment a similar moment seenmoment in seen the in smaller seen the smaller in the smaller atriumatrium with the atrium with cross the with sectional cross thesectional cross slicings sectional slicingsslicings of locust of locust trees of trees locust trees

usually es usually est orest

rip-rap/deck rip-rap grass /deck ripgrass -rap/deck grass

Tufted Hair Tufted Grass Hair Tufted GrassHair Grass Deschampsia Deschampsia cespitosa Deschampsia cespitosa cespitosa

deck surface deck surface ground surface ground surface ground surface

Precast Concrete Precast Concrete Limestone Limestone Stone Dust Limestone Stone Dust Stone Dust

reveal surface reveal and surface plant bed and plant b

Granular Limestone Granular Limestone

astof fastdand akories ies as a as a

s is ng

en when eThe mic mimic aller smaller licings al slicings

deck surface deck surface deck surface

Precast Concrete Precast Concrete Precast Concrete deciduous groundcover deciduous groundcover deciduous groundcover

Maidenhair Maidenhair Fern FernFern Maidenhair AdiantumAdiantum pedatum pedatum Adiantum pedatum

deck surface deck deck surface surface

Precast Concrete Precast Concrete Precast Concrete

rip-rap/deck ripgrass -rap grass rip/ -deck rap/deck grass Tufted Hair Tufted Grass Hair Hair Grass Tufted Grass Deschampsia Deschampsia cespitosa cespitosa Deschampsia cespitosa

reveal surface revealand surface plant reveal and bed surface plant bed and plant bed

GranularGranular Limestone Limestone Granular Limestone

ground surface ground surface ground surface

LimestoneLimestone Stone Dust Stone DustDust Limestone Stone

reveal surface reveal and surface plant bed and plant bed bed reveal surface and plant

Granular Limestone Granular Limestone Granular Limestone

PO TR

Design for one of the building atria that bridges two floor levels, an informal space for outdoor classes; ‘rugged’ species such as trembling aspen and successional tree plantings bring the outdoors in.

above:Topographic study of the great lawn in relation to new road below: New road’s topographic placement allows great lawn to read as continuous, and gives drivers experience of being ‘lost’ in meadow

GRAND OAK 1065

TOP OF SLOPE 1072 ROAD SURFACE 1064.5

MOWED STRIP

WALLED GARDEN ROAD SURFACE 1077

0’ 10’

25’

50’

above: Sectional study of new road in relation to specimen tress, campus and great lawn

_04A accretionary urbanism: working city+ working ecologies

This project explores the potential of ecological systems-in this case, wetlands--to restore the environmentally degraded waterfront of Willet’s Point in New York City.

Its strategy is to bring redevelopment to a neighborhood, subsidizing its environmental restoration, without displacing the site’s existing auto shop economy which provides working class jobs in New York City.

The project takes a ‘kit of parts’ and ‘rules of organization’ approach to planning, and interweaves environmental, social and economic forces to create an ecologicaly and socioeconomically diverse environment.

7 m wide

10 ft wide

15 ft

15 ft

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

60 ft

90°

75°

45°

15 ft deep

15 ft tall

25° 10 ft wide

7 ft wide

15 ft

15 ft

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

60 ft

15°

dikes

channels

3 ft tall

3 ft deep

10 ft wide

7 ft wide

15 ft

15 ft

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

60 ft

buildings 40 ft deep

20 ft deep 15 ft wide

30 ft

45 ft

7 ft tall

7 ft deep

60 ft deep

15 ft wide

15 ft wide

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

45 ft

60 ft

60 ft

7 m wide

10 ft wide

60 ft 15 ft

15 ft

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

60 ft

90°

paths sidewalk

75°

stairs

catwalk

10 ft wide 45°

15 ft deep

15 ft tall

25° 10 ft wide

7 ft wide 20 ft 15°

15 ft

15 ft

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

60 ft

30 ft

buildings 40 ft deep

20 ft deep 15 ft wide

30 ft

45 ft

60 ft deep

15 ft wide

15 ft wide

30 ft

30 ft

45 ft

45 ft

60 ft

60 ft

60 ft

paths above: “Kit of urban parts” for water conveyance and control sidewalk

stairs

catwalk

left: Diagram showing how simple components can create complex spatial conditions

10 ft wide

w: 20 d: 5 a: 75°-35°

w: 20-5 d: 5 a: 75

w: 5 d: 1 a: 75° 50° turn

w: 20 d: 5 a: 90° 75° turn

w: 10 d: 1 a: 15° 25° turn

w: 10 d: 1 a: 15° 50° turn

w: 20 d: 5-1 a: 75°

w: 20 d: 5 a: 90° 50° turn

w: 5 d: 1 a: 75° 25° turn

w: 10 d: 5 a: 90°-45°

open space analysis open space analysis

“unidirectionally toothy”

“polka dot”

block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf

s

block area 152,000 bldg area 30,000 18% open 122,000 sf

“unidirectionally toothy”

“polka d

block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf

block area 1 bldg area 30 18% open

spatial patterns: the chopshop 18’

15’ 20’

33’

18’

spatial patterns: the chopshop 15’

60’

20’

“unidirectionally toothy”

elevation

“quasi-courtayrd

“polka dot”

block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf

block area 152,000 bldg area 30,000 18% open 122,000 sf

block area 134,000 elevation bldg area 56,000 42% open 78,000 sf

2x10” roof beam

concrete masonry unit with rebar

10”

30’

8”

4” 30’

18’

15’ 20’

60’

2x10” roof beam

section concrete masonry unit with rebar

10”

elevation

spatial patterns: the chopshop

20’

(no more than 30 ft)

8” 2x10” roof beam concrete masonry unit with rebar

4”

10”

50’

30’

“unidirectionally toothy”

8”

“quasi-courtayrd”

“polka dot”

block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf

16”

4”

30’

block area 134,000 bldg area 56,000 42% open 78,000 sf

block area 152,000 bldg area 30,000 18% open 122,000 sf

33’

plan

18’

18’ section 15’ 60’

20’

section 15’

peekaboo moments

20’ elevation

spatial patterns: the chopshop

(no mo

2x10” roof beam concrete masonry unit with rebar

10” 30’

50’

8” 4” 30’

elevation 16”

33’

section

18’

2x10” roof beam

15’

plan

concrete masonry unit with rebar

60’

20’

10”

18’ 50’ 20’

elevation

(no more than 30 ft)

8” 15’ 4”

20’

2x10” roof beam

peekaboo moments

concrete masonry unit with rebar

10”

50’ 30’

16”

8” 4” 30’

16”

elevation

section

plan

section

Willet’s Point urban fabric analysis, existing typologies and conditions 2x10” roof beam concrete masonry unit with rebar

10”

20’

(no more than 30 ft)

peekaboo moments

plan

Original concept for intervention threads new building types through existing urban fabric

industrial wetlands

water cleansing + productive greenhouse

above: Plant species adapted to wetland condition below: Concept sketches exploring wetland-building integration opportunities

car lot + residential

residential wetlands greywater collection

car lot wetland secret garden

channels 1 ft deep 7 ft wide

8 ft wide

12 ft wide 1 ft deep 11 ft ft deep deep 7 ft wide 111 ft deep 15 ft deep deep 7 ftftwide 1 ft ft deep channels 77ftftwide 11 ft wide ft deep deep 715ftftwide

1’ overflow capacity 1’ overflow 3’ optimal capacity water depth 3’ optimal water depth

7 ft deep compound

20 ft tall

7 ft wide 77 ftftftft wide wide 7 wide 30 15ft 7 715ft ftftftwide wide 15 30ft 15 ftft 15 15 ftft 15ft 15 1 ft deep 30 ft 15 15 ft ft 30 30 ft 60ft 30 ftft 30 7 ftft wide 30 ft 30 30 ftft 60 ft 30 30 ft ft 60 ft 15 ft 60 60ftft module becomes 60 ft 60 inhabitable 60 ftft 60ft ft 60 ft 60 60 module becomes 30 60ftft ft 3 ft deep inhabitable

3 ft deep 7 wide 3 ft deep 33 ft ft deep deep 60 7 ft wide 3 ft deep 3 ft deep ft deep deep 33 ft 7 wide 3 ft deep 3 ft deep 7715 wide wide ft

10 ft wide 10 ft wide

7 ft wide 7 ft wide

15 ft 15 ft

15 ft 15 ft

30 ft 30 ft

30 ft 30 ft

45 ft 45 ft

l

l

catwalk catwalk catwalk 4 ft wide catwalk catwalk 4 ft wide catwalk catwalk 4 ftftwide catwalk 4 wide catwalk 4 ft 4 ftftwide wide 4 wide 44 ftftwide wide 4ft wide

25° 2

compound modules

module becomes shade structure module becomes shade structure

15° 1

60 ft 60 ft

90° 7 wide 7 77wide wide wide 7 wide 15 ft 7 90° 7 wide wide 15 ft 90° 4 ft wide 3 ft deep 15 15ftft 90° 4 ft wide 90° 15 30ft ft 15 ft 90° 15 ftft 20 ft 90° 1510 15 ft 90° ft wide 90° 90° 75° 20 ft ft 10 ft wide 715 wide 15 ftft 30 90° 30 ft 90° 30 ft 75° 30 ft inhabitable dike wetland channel circulation dike 30 30 75° 60ftftft 30 ft 30 ft 75° 75° 30 ft 30 ft 30 ftft 30 75° wetland channel circulation dike 60 15 ft ft inhabitable dike 75° 30 90° 75° 30 ft ft 75° 75° 60 ft 75° 45° 75° 60 60ftft 60 ft 60 45° 60 ftft 60ft ft 60 ft 60 60 45° 60ftft ft 30 45° 45° 7 ft deep 75° 45° 45° 45° 45° 45° 45° 7 ft deep 25° 45° 45° 1’ overflow 7 ft deep 60ftftwide 7 25° 1’ overflow 77 ft deep capacity ft deep 7 ft deep capacity 25° 77 ft ft deep 7 ft wide 3’ optimal ft deep deep 7 25° 25° 3’ optimal water depth 7 ft deep 25° 7 ft wide 7 ft deep 45° 25° water depth 25° 25° 25° 77ftftwide 25° wide 15° 25° 7 ft wide 25° 77ft ftftwide wide 7 wide 7 ft wide 15 ftwide 15° 7 7 ft ft wide 15° 7 ft deep 15 ft 15° 15° 15 ft 15° 15° 25° 15° 15° 15° 15° 15 15ftft 15° ft 15 15° 7 ft wide ft 15 ftftft 15 30 15ft 15 ft 15 15 ft 30 ft 30 ft 15° 30 30ftft 30 ft 30 30 ftft 30ftft ft 30 ft 15 30 60ftft 30 30 ft channel with central channel separate channel channelcapacity with60 ft overflow central channel separate channel overflow capacity 60 ft 60 60ftft 60 30 ftft 60 60 ftft 60ft ft 60 ft 60 60 60 ft ft

paths paths

modules

catwalk catwalk 8 ft wide 8 ft wide

12 ft wide 12 ft wide

module becomes module becomes inhabitable inhabitable

inhabitabl inhabita

4 ft wide60 ft

30 ft

8 ft wide 12 ft wide 30 ft 8 ft wide 12 ft wide 4 ft 30 above: ft 4morphologies ft wide wide Section accomodating performative and recreational 8 ft wide 30 30ftft 12 ft wide 88ftftwide wide 30 ft opposite: Multiple water types and quantities to be accomodated 12 ftftwide 30 ft 8 ft wide 12 wide 30 ft water cleansing + productive greenhouse 30 ft 8 ft wide 30 30ftft 88ft ftftwide wide 12 ft wide wide 8 12 ft wide 30 12 ftftwide wide 12ft wide 12 30 ft ft 8 ft wide 8 ft wide 12 ft wide water cleansing + productive greenhouse 4 ft wide 12 ft wide

catwalk

goals

car lo +wet car lo +wet

SYSTEM ASSEMBLY: ‘THE RULES’ N

+

45’

+ 1/2

d d

strategic relocation

growth envelope every

buildings that are relocated go preferentially to block edges on east and west.

existing building keeps the right to grow vertically up to 45 ft tall. they can also sell these rights to another developer or buy into the scheme.

25x residential graywater/sf

30sf / person

wetland positioning

solar access buildings

south of wetland planting should be only as high as half the distance between them and the wetland. Taller buildings preferentially on northern side of wetland.

wetlands should be positioned in the top right corner of city blocks to take advantage of true south given the northwestern tilt of the city blocks

outdoor workspace there should be outside work space accessible to businesses that need it.

” *6 sf a ity x xtr ac e ap c

87.5sf / person

.008sf wetland/ sf building

44’

6”

industrial waterways

residential waterways

for every square foot of industrial space there should be X cubic feet industrial effluent treatment water capacity.

for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.

blackwater treatment for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.

storm capacity leave at least 6” freeboard in all wetlands for storm events. Wetlands draining car lots should have 6” capacity for every sq ft of the car lot.

car lot dimensions are at least 44’ wide to allow for one lane of parking and working, and one lane to drive and work in

neighborhood buildout 90’ offset 2x bldg envelope height

’

176

100’ offset

34

5’

1800 1850 = 1800 2400sf

existing

7850sf 157,000sf

water thread

building thread

Guidelines for system assembly and insertion of new residential units into existing fabric car lots greywater wetland 3600sf industrial effluent wetland 4100sf car lot runofff

drive-thru

44’

6”

industrial waterways

residential waterways

for every square foot of industrial space there should be X cubic feet industrial effluent treatment water capacity.

for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.

blackwater treatment for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.

storm capacity leave at least 6” freeboard in all wetlands for storm events. Wetlands draining car lots should have 6” capacity for every sq ft of the car lot.

car lot dimensions are at least 44’ wide to allow for one lane of parking and working, and one lane to drive and work in

neighborhood buildout 90’ offset 2x bldg envelope height

’

176

100’ offset

34

5’

1800 1850 = 1800 2400sf

7850sf 157,000sf

existing

water thread

building thread

car lots greywater wetland 3600sf industrial effluent wetland 4100sf car lot runofff swale

drive-thru access to lots balconies overlooking wetland

relocated to another block relocated to edge of block

4 story bldg 10 units (avg 3 ppl each) per floor 120 ppl

new building

wetland services

Buildout of new residential fabric and wetland system incrementally

program and access

_05A franklin park: restitching a regional and local resource

This project asks how to reinvigorate and update a public park that has fallen into disrepair and a reputation of danger, given tight municipal budgets. A strategic intervention of food- and garden-based programming along the park’s ridgeline, and at strategic nodes on the park exterior, brings new life and ‘eyes on the park’ to Franklin park which help restore a sense of safety and community investment to it.

The project’s food-based programming provides interlinked options for users of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, creating opportuniites for local economic empowerment and celebration of local food cultures, This intervention makes Franklin Park both an asset for its local community, and once again a destination for the Boston metro area.

above: Original park conditions in contrast with degradation from the 1960’s and ‘70s on below: Analysis of the park perimeter, an unfriendly edge

economic empowerment

socioeconomic access

regional draw

celebrate local cultures Programmatic intentions for the intervention

Site strategy

plan

tailgating

pick-your-own

food trucks

wading pool

picnicing

restaurant

kitchen garden

community garden

The edge activated with socioeconomic and environmental program

above: View of central plaza overlooking rest of park below: Topographic model of park

Pick-your-own orchard and picnic area

Sequential sections through intervention

_06A twenty-four hours at walden: remaking the american getaway

The mandate of this project was to take both Walden Pond, a landscape icon, and its strange ‘mirror’ across the street-a landfill--and to propose interventions that engage with our concepts of what ‘nature’ is.

The intervention at Walden takes on the woods surrounding the famous pond, and plays with flipping the planes of ground surface and sky, inspired by Thoreau’s writings.

The intervention at the landfill takes the relationship between sky and ground as a starting point as well, in taking on the classic American experience of nature, the campground. It takes advantage of the landfill’s unique ecological state as a grassland in the woods of New England, and proposes a nontraditional campground with shifting settlement patterns inspired by the grassland management regime.

above: Model of Walden Pond bathymetry inspired by Thoreau’s sounding survey (10x vert. exaggeration) below: Walden Pond (left) and Concord landfill in Walden Woods (right)

INTERVENTION 1: WALDEN WOODS

Dynamics in the vertical profile of Walden Woods

above: Studies of canopy and ground conditions as figure gounds below: Record of Walden Woods psychogeographic walk

Forest clearing installation using patterning from canopy extruded from forest floor and vice-versa

INTERVENTION 2: CONCORD LANDFILL

GRASS PALETTE

Andropogon gerardii “big bluestem” on site

Solidago Sempervirens “seaside goldenrod” on site

Bouteloua curtipendula “sideoats grama” introduced

Melilotus alba “sweet clover” on site

Grass diversity at Concord landfill at Walden Woods

Miscanthus

introduced

Tortula ruralis “star moss” on site

unidentified

on site

d site grass

Oenothera “evening primrose” on site

Schizachyrium scoparium “little bluestem” introduced

Typha latifolia “cattail” on site

Schizachyrium scoparium “prairie dropseed” introduced

Daucos carota “queen anne’s lace” on site

Artemisia vulgaris “mugwort” on site

SYSTEM DYNAMICS

hanging cabin scaffold system

program gathering spaces & campfire zones disabled access campsite outdoor shower

circulation permanent path dynamic path

topography

DESIGN COMPONENTS

Axonometric of rotational campground system components

S

MAINTENANCE AND SETUP REGIME MAINTENANCE AND SETUP REGIME

STEP 1: MOW STEP 1: MOW

STEP 2: RESEED STEP 2: RESEED

STEP 3: MOVE CAMPSITES STEP 3: M

EMAINTENANCE AND SETUP REGIME ANDMAINTENANCE SETUP REGIMEAND SETUP REGIME

STEP 1: MOW STEP 1: MOW

STEP 1: MOW

STEP 2: RESEED STEP 2: RESEED

STEP 4: GRASS GROWS IN STEP 3: MOVE STEP CAMPSITES 3: MOVE CAMPSITES STEP 3: MOVE CAMPSITES STEP 4: GRASS GROWS IN STEP 2: RESEED

DESIGN COMPONENTS DESIGN COMPONENTS

above: Traditional campground, degraded from overuse below: Rotational campground maintenance system

ONAL CHANGE-SEASONAL MIC CAMPSITE SETUPCHANGE-DYNAMIC CAMPSITE SETUP

STEP 4.: MOW A NEW PATH ...AND REPEAT STEP 4.: MOW A NEW PATH ...AND REPEAT

01

5

01 10

5

10

01

5

10

V O NA ETGEEGVEV EMIT REEM VIE OTMERIG TEN RA EH VEC OGLE GATNHEAC GHELCVALTA

left: Rotational system leads to complexity in plant dynamics over time right: Site plan

Floating camping pods and grass patterning

below: Concept model of grass, topography and pod infrastructure interrelation

above: Camping pods. Plan, section, perspective next page: Time-flow montage of user visit to Walden Pond, including new landfill campground