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